| For those of you that have been following our work for some time will know that we protect the rights of communities living under occupation, and work in solidarity to unite Palestinians and Israelis despite the ongoing conflict, unbearable violence, and daily acts of oppression. One of the villages that we have formed a close connection to is Al-Auja, an agricultural Palestinian village, located 10 kilometers north of Jericho, that sits 230 meters below sea level. The Bedouin community has been surviving under Israeli military occupation since 1967, and has seen their land shrink as settlers create outposts around them, attack their crops and livestock, and threaten their very existence. This coupled with demolition orders, refusal to grant construction permits, and an ongoing effort to de-legitimize and remove the families, makes life on this arid land an ongoing battle to survive. Yesterday, a team of Palestinians and Israelis from Combatants for Peace went back to Al-Auja to make repairs to the children's playground, and create an environment where the kids can play, have fun, and escape their persecution, even if only for an hour a day. We distributed soccer balls, coloring books, pens, a bike, and other toys that all children should have. We put down artificial grass to protect their feet from the scorching sand below, painted and renewed existing swings and slides, and repaired the fence surrounding the playground to keep the area safe. The children's faces lit up as they rolled around on the newly laid Astroturf, and their laughter and joy left most of the volunteers in tears and needing the support of the person standing next to them. The right to play is a human right, guaranteed by the Convention on the Rights of a Child adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1989. The occupation denies the children of Al-Auja this right, so we took action. We are so proud to be able to change lives in this way, and introduce Palestinians to Israelis that care about them, that feel their pain, and want to be the change we need in the world. We will go back to Al-Auja soon to install a brand new swing set, add more shade, and continue to support the community, and work together until they are treated with the equality, dignity, and humanity that we all deserve. Please consider making a donation to support the children of Al-Auja, and the other communities that we work with. We can't let the occupation deny a child their right to play. In Peace & Solidarity from Israel/Palestine, |
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