Thirty
human rights activists from Israel, Europe and America have moved
in with Palestinian families in Beit Jala to act as "human shields"
against heavy IDF firing into the village across the wadi from
Gilo.
The IDF says it is trying to find out exactly where the activists
are staying for fear that wounding or killing any of them would
create an international incident. The group, calling itself "the
International Solidarity Movement," says its mission is to prevent
harm to innocent Palestinians in the village when the IDF retaliates
with artillery and missiles for rifle fire from Palestinian snipers.
Several Palestinians and a German doctor have been killed and
dozens have been wounded by IDF fire at Beit Jala in response
to sniper fire at Gilo.
At least two of the 30 are Israeli women and the group says more
activists are due to arrive soon. Neta Golan, who has been living
in the village for the past few weeks, told Ha'aretz yesterday
the activists are staying with Palestinian families in homes that
have already been shelled.
"I'm living with a family in which a five-year-old boy lost a
hand from Israeli fire a few weeks ago. On Wednesday night, shells
hit the building." Another activist left a house with the family
moments before a missile struck it.
Golan says the activists "are not deluded into believing" that
they can prevent shooting, "but we hope to draw international
attention. It's clear it would be more upsetting to the IDF to
hit one of us than some innocent Palestinians."
Golan says she has spotted Palestinians firing from Beit Jala
toward Gilo. The IDF says it has spotted three women from the
group in a house snipers have used as a base in the past. Golan
concedes the women were in the house, but not while there was
any firing from it.
"We aren't here to provide cover for Palestinian snipers," she
says, "but for the civilians who are hit by Israeli fire." She
says most Palestinian shooting is ineffectual and called the IDF
responses "exaggerated."
She said nobody from the IDF has contacted her to find out where
she or the group is staying. IDF sources say the army is aware
of the existence of the group in Beit Jala and is trying to avoid
hitting any of them. They say that attempts to reach an arrangement
with Palestinian officers to prevent fire from Beit Jala failed
this week following the helicopter attack on the Hamas offices
in Nablus. The sources say the Palestinian officers are "afraid"
to confront the gunmen in Beit Jala.
