Editor’s Note
With the world focused on Iran, Israel has once more closed the border crossings with Gaza so no more aid can enter. And in the occupied territories of the West Bank Palestinians are being driven from their villages as Israel steps up its ethnic cleansing. Andrée Ryan has witnessed this horror at first hand and has asked us to share this article. If you wish to contact Andrée, please respond in the comments or email admin@creatingsocialism.com and we will forward it to her email address.
Yanoun Is No More!
The Ethnic Cleansing of the West bank
Yanoun is a tiny hamlet nestled between the rolling hills of the West Bank, a few km East of the city of Nablus.
I spent 3 months in Yanoun as an Ecumenical Accompanier (EAPPI Programme run by the Quakers). We were sent there to protect the villagers from recurrent attacks and harassment perpetuated by the local illegal Israeli Jewish settlers, and to witness and report back on the situation.
Today, Yanoun has been erased from the map, all the villagers have left, and my heart is broken. The settlers’ attacks have made their lives impossible. They have all moved downhill to the town of Aqraba leaving behind their homes, olive trees and crops.
This ethnic cleansing is progressively happening all over the West Bank. The historical village of Sabastiya, where I have spent a lot of days, is experiencing a recurrence of settlers’ attacks as well as army incursions, intimidating the population and firing live bullets. Those who can are now leaving.
Is anyone restraining the Israelis? NO!
Neither the neighbouring Arab countries, nor the international community is giving a fig! Yet we are supposed to have a human rights lawyer as our prime minister!
One way of supporting the Palestinians is to visit and stand with them in solidarity. I have taken many groups over, and if anyone is interested, I will be planning to go back in the autumn.
Andrée Ryan
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