Wadi a Seeq strikes fear into Palestinians as did mention of Deir Yesin in 1948.. On October 12th 2023 Wadi a Seeq residents were told at gunpoint by settlers and “settlers in uniform” backed by the army that they must leave within an hour or die.  Just as many Palestinians fled their homes in 1948 after hearing of the Deir Yassin massacre, many of the communities who since October 12th have fled their homes because of State backed settler violence have said “See what happened in Wadi a Seeq.”  When Palestinians are told that the community wants to attempt the return suggested by the Israeli High Court, we have heard that this would be an inspiration to the tens of uprooted or endangered Palestinian shepherding communities.

 

Volunteers must understand that protective presence is potentially dangerous. We will accept appropriate volunteers for any amount of time, but we are particularly looking for those who are prepared to be with us for as much of September as possible in the name of human rights, human decency and justice.  For us in Torat Tzedek, this is an obligatory implementation of our highest Jewish and human values.

 

Torat Tzedek and the Wadi a Seeq community petitioned the Israeli High Court to remove the nearby outpost that terrorized Wadi a Seeq not just on the day of the final expulsion, but since it was founded in February 2023. We also asked that the area be closed to all but landowners, residents and those invited by them.  Outrageously, the court up until now has said that they would only consider removing this outpost illegal even according to Israel if the community endangers themselves by returning and proving that the Israeli police and army are not able or willing to protect them.  With rising debts, selling off their flocks and in some cases being forced to move time after time every few months, the community decided that they  had no choice but  to take this risk.  We have submitted a final request to the court to reconsider and order the evacuation of the outpost, but must organize to protect  a September return.

 

The community will return only if they feel that they have some minimum level of protection. They  have said that they must have 24/7 protection by the Israeli army, or a private security company, OR AT LEAST 30 HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS.

 

The handful of overextended human rights defenders currently engaging in protective presence for endangered communities throughout the occupied West Bank do not have the capacity to provide the protection that Wadi a Seeq is asking forTo provide the level of protection this community is asking for, we must urgently recruit at least 15 international volunteers to join Israeli human rights defenders. Human rights defenders will stand between the community and all potential threats. If and when settlers threaten, we will attempt to bring the police and army that the court says it believes will protect the community despite all the evidence to the contrary. We must document everything that takes place both for our Israeli court and everybody else who needs to be informed regarding  the reality of state backed settler violence.

 

THIS IS A MASSIVE AND UNPRECEDENTED UNDERTAKING, BUT NOT SUCCEEDING IS SIMPLY NOT AN OPTION

 

It is essential to emphasize that this initiative is more than just an emergency response- this project is a model that can be applied to other uprooted or vulnerable communities looking to return or to stay in their homes. Wadi a Seeq is a critical pilot with far-reaching implications.

 

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO APPLY IF YOU FEEL CALLED AND CAPABLE OF JOINING THIS CRUCIAL UNDERTAKING:

Appilcation Form

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If you have questions before deciding please contact:

Oded Paporisch at paporisch@hotmail.com​​​​​​