A Message from CfP Activists on the Ground
We write you from the heart of Al Makhrour, an agricultural area west of Bethlehem in Area C of the West Bank. We are co-leading a powerful nonviolent resistance camp in solidarity with Palestinians in Beit Jala. This month, Israel approved a new illegal settlement on the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Battir, threatening the last green space in Bethlehem accessible to Palestinians. Approximately 25,000 Palestinians reside in this area. The establishment of the settlement will rob Palestinians of the cultural landscape, groves, and orchards they have cultivated for thousands of years. One of the families affected is the Kisiyas.
In late July, armed settlers backed by the Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) and the Israeli military forcefully claimed the Kisiya family’s land. Despite the family’s legal ownership, Israeli soldiers evicted them and arrested members for protesting. CfP and the Kisiyas have mobilized a growing group of activists–partner orgs, faith leaders, journalists, diplomats–to establish a nonviolent resistance camp outside the family property. This women-led camp operates around the clock with dedicated activists working in shifts to maintain a constant presence. We are using all forms of creative nonviolent resistance to win back the land and confront further land theft in Beit Jala.
From Mai, CfP Palestinian Activist:
My belief in nonviolence is deeply rooted in my identity as a woman, a Palestinian, and a believer in the power of humanity. Nonviolent resistance, to me, means standing up for everyone equally. It is a call to see the abundance and the real power of humanity, transcending the hate and separation imposed upon both Israelis and Palestinians. In a context where force is rampant and men are often targeted and imprisoned, women’s roles become even more crucial. We are not merely resisting the occupation; we are challenging the systemic violence that tears families apart and perpetuates hatred.
What motivates me to engage in nonviolent co-resistance is the deep faith that this path will lead to true liberation. It is not just a strategy; it is a way of life that refuses to accept dehumanization in any form. The power of nonviolence lies in its ability to bring people together, to build bridges rather than walls, and to envision a future where all people, regardless of their background, can live in peace and dignity.
From Carly, CfP Israeli Activist:
With all the pain and horror we experience in our region, what gives me hope and brings me strength is being a part of a community of Israeli and Palestinian nonviolent activists co-resisting injustice and working together for a better future. It is in no way an obvious choice when we are flooded with such deep collective trauma and so much loss on a daily basis, but I truly believe it is the only alternative that will bring a just peace to all the people of this land.
When I look out over the valley of Al Makhrour in Beit Jala at the breathtaking sunset, I imagine what could be in this land instead of all the violence and control. When I sit under the tent we have built together, and we go around the circle sharing honestly and openly, I’m proud of what we have created - that we are living out this alternative reality of co-resistance.
We will continue to organize with the conviction that nonviolence is the only path to true vliberation. This is not just a struggle for one family’s land; it is a struggle for the soul of our people. We, Palestinian and Israeli women stand by one another to lead the way.
Mai & Carly, Combatants for Peace activists
