Despite a crack-down on internationals, Colin Stuart of Ottawa joined a Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) delegation to Israel and Palestine from 28 May to 8 June 2003.

For weeks, CPT( www.cpt.org )and other peace workers have come under intense, sometimes violent, pressure from the Israeli military and settlers to limit or cease their human rights work.

CPT and organizations such as International Solidarity Movement report that the response to the crack down has been an increased public interest in going to Palestine/Israel.

In describing why he is going to Israel and Palestine during such a high-risk period, Mr Stuart said, "A non-violent international presence demonstrates to people who are suffering daily from violence and intimidation that they are not alone. It is a sign of hope and solidarity". Stuart added, "Simply by their physical presence and their ability to report to the outside world, "internationals" can reduce violence against ordinary people. My decision to make this visit was taken before the most recent harassment of peace workers, but these recent difficulties have only reinforced my belief in the importance of such work."

The 12 members of the Stuart's delegation documented the situation of Palestinian families in the Hebron and Bethlehem areas who have been suffering under the escalation of violence in the West Bank. The delegation met with Israeli and Palestinian peace and human rights workers as well as CPT workers currently in Hebron, engaged in nonviolent accompaniment work.

The group is organized by Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), a project supported by Mennonites, Brethren, and Quakers to reduce violence and promote the resolution of conflicts through nonviolent means. CPT has maintained a full-time peace presence in Hebron since June, 1995. In addition CPT has sent trained violence-reduction teams to Haiti, Mexico, Chechnya, Bosnia, South Dakota, Washington, DC, Richmond, VA, Nova Scotia and Ontario.

Members in Hebron include Sue Rhodes (Bath, England), Germana Nijim (Cedar Falls, IA), Mary Lawrence (Lunenburg, MA), Eric Schiller (Ottawa, ON), Harriet Taylor (Germantown, MD), Chris Brown (San Francisco, CA), Greg Rowlins (Surrey, BC), Kathie Uhler (New York, NY), Diane Janzen (Calgary, AB)