Acting as shields to protect Palestinians

Forty fresh volunteers arrived in the West Bank this week from the US and Europe to act as "human shields" for Palestinian civilians against Israeli attack.

Ms Heidi Arraf, spokeswoman for the International Solidarity Movement, told The Irish Times that private individuals were coming "because their governments have failed to assume this task. Our main purpose is to serve as witnesses and encourage action by the international community. We are not a substitute for a formal international protection force.

"We have had such an overwhelming response to our call to action that we can have an ongoing programme." Volunteers receive training so they can take part alongside Palestinians in the campaign to lift the Israeli blockade of Palestinian towns and villages. Ms Arraf, from Detroit, Michigan, said the volunteers would help efforts to open roads and demolish earthworks thrown up by the Israelis to confine Palestinians to isolated areas. Volunteers would also accompany Palestinian farmers to their fields so they could tend their crops without being shot or beaten by Israeli soldiers and settlers.

Earlier arrivals and locally based activists continue to stay nights in repeatedly shelled Palestinian homes in the village of Beit Jala, adjacent to Bethlehem. Night time duels routinely erupt between Palestinian militants firing at the Israeli settlement of Gilo and Israeli artillery positions and tanks positioned on the hills nearby. During heavy exchanges last week, Ms Arraf says an average of 30 "human shields" were deployed, two to a previously targeted house every night. Among the volunteers who took part were 18 Anglicans from the US.

Before their departure on August 5th, Mr Ronald Forthofer (57), from Colorado, explained their presence. "We believe that we who are protected in America should experience and live in the same way that Palestinians are living"

Ms Brenda Holliday (60), from Orange County, California, said no part of the house where she stayed was safe. At least one house where volunteers were spending the night was hit by Israeli fire. Volunteers staying on include members of other Christian denominations as well as European, Japanese and Israeli peace activists.

Now that the Beit Jala front is quieter, eight "human shields" are deployed, one to each home. Strict secrecy is maintained so the Israeli army does not know where they are billeted. While this policy puts them at risk, it also restrains the Israelis from firing at random.

Ms Arraf remarked: "They do not want a public relations disaster on their hands."

Ms Neta Golan, one of two Israeli women who have been living in the village for the past few weeks, said it would be more upsetting to the Israeli government for its army to hit one of them than some innocent Palestinians. She is staying in a house where a five-year-old boy lost a hand from Israeli fire a few weeks ago.

"We aren't here to provide cover for Palestinian snipers but for the civilians who are hit by Israeli fire," she said.

In her view, most Palestinian shooting at the nearby Israeli settlement of Gilo is ineffectual and Israeli responses are exaggerated. One of the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) sponsoring the campaign is the Palestinian Centre for Rapprochement in Beit Sahour, next to Beit Jala. The centre's offices have been shelled several times.

In addition to volunteers from abroad, 200 locally resident peace activists are involved in the campaign, most of them based in the area with international and local NGOs.