A Birthday Party as Resistance
Hebron, Palestine
2006 July 25
The CPT Team in Hebron decided, yesterday, to celebrate the 16th birthdays of Hani’s niece Wisam and her neighbor Safa’a. Some of us bought a cake, and gifts. Others bought balloons and paper plates and plastic forks. We invited a group of internationals and Israelis, led by our soldier friends in “Breaking the Silence” (a large group of Israeli soldiers who have served in Hebron and wish to break the silence about what Israel is doing there), to join us.
All the soldiers at the gate yesterday were new. They were unsure of what to do. Hani invited them to join the birthday party. Yehuda, the “Breaking the Silence” leader, talked with a soldier just inside the gate. A van of blue uniformed Israeli police arrived. Hani invited them also to join the party. Yehuda argued vigorously with a young officer. Ten more soldiers marched up to the gate. Yehuda continued arguing. A van of gray uniformed border police arrived. Yehuda continued arguing.
The birthday girl, Wisam, and her mother came out. Someone suggested to a soldier that he wish her a happy birthday, and he did. Finally the Palestinian guests, including Safa’a, were allowed in. As we entered her home, Wisam’s mother burst into tears of shame that her guests had been treated so rudely. The whole argument had lasted almost an hour, and had involved at least 20 soldiers and 10 policemen.
During the confrontation, several internationals approached us and suggested that we should withdraw, so that the soldiers and/or the settlers would not retaliate against Hani and his family. We explained that Hani is not afraid of retaliation, that he welcomes all support and solidarity, and that it was very educational and helpful to the soldiers and the police to hear, in Hebrew, an articulate and passionate defense of Palestinians and their rights, from an Israeli commander who had served in Hebron. In fact, we are most indebted to the military and the police who so graciously sent so many of their men to learn from Yehuda and his Israeli companions
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