Witnesses to a Birth at an IDF Checkpoint

Carl and Chris Williams

August 15th, 2002

Carl and Chris have left Deheisha and are now in Qalqilya, in the

northern section of the West Bank.  They saw Terry briefly and say

that he is headed to Tulkarem with another group of ISMers. 

In Qalqilya, internationals have set up a routine of checkpoint

watches and ambulance accompanyments, a city walled in by IDF troops

and invaded almost every other day by tanks and APC's. As soon as

they were oriented to things, Chris and Carl began riding in

ambulances, helping them gain access through checkpoints.  On a

recent run, the ambulance they were in was dispached to the outskirts

of Qalqilya to pick up a woman in labor. 

"The soldiers at the checkpoint were asleep and delayed us.  By the

time we arrived the woman was screaming in pain," Chris reported. 

The ambulance tried to take the woman back through the checkpoint to

the hospital but was delayed again.  "The woman gave birth in the

ambulance while we waited at the checkpoint.  It was my first birth,

so that was amazing when we saw the head.  It happened pretty fast." 

(Chris)  

Chris and Carl are happy to report that the baby boy was born

healthy.  "We don't know his name yet but the joke is that he will be

named 'Checkpoint.'

Carl and Chris plan to remain in Qalqilya for the time being, taking

up the grueling schedule set up by previous internationals:  two

ambulance shifts per day plus checkpoint watches.  For the time

being, Chris says they are both feeling good, healthy, and strong.  

-------------------

Carl and Chris are part of a bostontopalestine delegation to the

International Solidarity Movement's (ISM) Palestine Freedom Summer. 

For more information, vistit www.bcpr.org and click "Freedom Summer"

or see the ISM page at:  www.palsolidarity.org