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Livelihood Not for Sale
Pictured here: Two members of the Fakhori family sit in their shop, painting pots ready for sale, with some of their products displayed on shelves behind them.
On January 2, CPT Palestine visited the Oriental Hand Made Pottery Factory in the Old City of al-Khalil/Hebron after it was brought to their attention that a new barrier was recently constructed outside the shop. Shopkeepers told CPT Palestine that the Israeli military came to their shop with a letter, saying that Palestinians cannot pass the barrier to enter the shop. This restriction of movement will eliminate any possibility of local business.
Israeli settlers have offered the family $7,000,000 USD for the shop as settlements continue to expand in al-Khalil. Shopkeepers told CPT Palestine they said, "No." The family has owned the shop for years, selling pottery to people throughout Palestine, and have no intention of leaving.
(January 2, 2019)
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Checkpoint Delays
Pictured here: A young Palestinian man stands next to his bicycle at a checkpoint near Ibrahimi Mosque waiting for two Israeli Border Police to finish checking his ID so he can continue his journey.
Every day, Palestinians continue to be delayed at checkpoints on their way to worship at the Ibrahimi Mosque in al-Khalil. On January 2, CPT Palestine witnessed multiple adults, children and families being delayed by Israeli Border Police.
On January 3, CPT Palestine observed Israeli Border Police conducting an ID check on a young man near Ibrahimi Mosque, delaying him for over 5 minutes. The Israeli military carry out random and arbitrary ID checks and body searches daily, obstructing Palestinian life, including the ability to freely move and worship.
(January 3, 2019)
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Late Night Incursion
Pictured here: At night, an Israeli soldier paints a red arrow on the wall of one of the buildings in the Old Town of al-Khalil, while two other soldiers stand by and another looks at his phone. In the background, two Palestinian boys stand watching the soldiers.
While patrolling in al-Khalil/Hebron at approximately 10 pm on January 1, CPT Palestine observed 7 Israeli soldiers in the Old Town shining flashlights into the windows of various buildings. They were also observed painting arrows and a number of other symbols on the walls of buildings in the Old City with red, green and gold paint. In reply to a question as to why they were painting on the walls of the buildings, one of the soldiers said, "Because I want to."
Even as Israeli military assert their presence throughout the Old City, Palestinians still work hard to preserve it. According to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hebron (HCCI), "After the 1994 agreement that divided Hebron into H1 and H2 areas, the Hebron Chamber of Commerce and Industry came to realize that it is incumbent upon it to maintain the Arab character of the old town ... tailored to maintaining the old town population and motivate them to stand firm in the face of Israeli systematic displacement policies."
(January 1, 2019)
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New Business
Pictured here: The shop front of a new business in the Old Town of al-Khalil displaying Palestinian handicrafts for sale.
On January 6, CPT Palestine visited a new shop that has opened at Bab al-Baladeya in the Old Town of al-Khalil/Hebron welcoming tourists and selling Palestinian handicrafts. As businesses in the Old Town continue to be affected by the Israeli occupation, with tourists and even other Palestinians avoiding the area as they consider it unsafe due to the presence of Israeli military and settlers, Palestinians in the H2 area continue to go about their daily lives and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hebron HCCI "is considering ways and preparing plans to revive the old town which fights for its life."
(January 6, 2019)
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Old Town at Night
Pictured here: The souq in the Old Town at al-Khalil lit up at night with blue, pink and purple lights with two men standing in the background.
(January 7, 2019)
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