MachsomWatch

Our group had a visit from a member of MachsomWatch. Our guest was a volunteer for an Israeli activist organisation that maintains a presence at the checkpoints to try and prevent violations of human rights for the Palestinians who use them daily to get to their work, hospitals and places of education. The three aims of the group are:

• to protest the very existence of the checkpoints and barricades, which hamper the daily life of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories
• to monitor, observe and document the conduct of the security forces (IDF soldiers, Border Police and Israel Police) at the checkpoints and barriers.
• to intervene, when possible, in order to protect the human rights of Palestinians who try to pass through the checkpoints.

Our guest spoke with passion about how the establishment with power is always insensitive to those who are powerless and they are trying to be a voice against the oppressive behaviour of their government. The volunteers simply alert the soldiers to a differing viewpoint "I see a tired man going to work. You (the soldiers on duty at the checkpoint) see a terrorist."

There is recognition that those serving on the checkpoints have been raised to believe that they are helping keep their country secure. For those born in Israel they have no concept beyond they are serving their country and doing all they can to keep it secure from being taken from them. Many of the MachsomWatch volunteers have immigrated to Israel from other places of conflict and so understand the need to not watch another society crumble from violent, oppressive behaviour. Will it be too late when that generation is gone and no one has a memory beyond the status quo?

Many Israelis suffer from cognitive dissonance. They love their country, but hate what their country stands for. This puts many Israelis in a difficult position where they have to choose whether to alienate themselves from their friends and family in order to stand up for justice, by doing something like these brave volunteers are doing. They do this not only for the Palestinians who have their human rights violated daily, but for those who serve in the Israeli army.

"To explain that it's really complex, that Israel needs to be made to understand that it can't oppress people forever. It's not anti-Semitic, it's not anti-Israel - it's just the opposite. It's so unhealthy, so much alcoholism and violence...murders in Israel...I am convinced it is to do with the occupation. You can't have a spirit like that. Being in the army affects everything."

This brave woman, with a face that held a many songs and stories and much sorrow, was asked what gave her hope for the future. With pain in her face she told us that she did not hold much hope, but the hope she did have was that "the world will help to understand that a solution must be found."

www.machsomwatch.org