The Walls are Closing in

The situation is relatively quiet here in Palestine. Yet it is a strange kind of quiet and calm that surrounds us. While there are no daily incursions, and rarely do we see the Israeli military presenceduring the day - other than while crossing checkpoints - we know the building of the wall continues at a frighteningly rapid pace. Simultaneously, at least hundreds of men have disappeared in the night in the run up to Palestinian elections, jailed indefinitely because of their political affiliations in conditions some of whichwere recently described as "unfit for cattle" by previous justiceminister Yossi Beilin (about Damoun prison which was recently re-opened after he ordered it closed).

With few visible signs of the occupation, we discuss and debate: weather the "pull-out" was valuable or not, who was responsible forseven more viscous days of shelling in Gaza which is stillrecovering from "a state of panic. Children are restless, crying, frightened and many are wetting their beds. Some children are afraid to leave home and refuse to go to school. Many are dazed, pale,insomniac and have a poor appetite. Some pregnant women reportedcolics and some were admitted to hospital with precipitated labour. Many people complain of ear pressure. All are stunned. Israel's newmethod of creating intentional sonic booms in our skies was neverused before the disengagement, so as not to alarm or hurt the Israeli settlers and their children says Dr. Eyad El-Sarraj, the founder and director of the Gaza Community Mental Health Program. It seems our biggest nightmare in Gaza is coming true, awakening usfrom any dreams of liberation.

While we ponder the Palestinian elections and who has won what seats, what we are essentially questioning is who will be thewarden's of the prison that has become Palestine. Who will administer the key, to whom the locks will not even be held - as 57 years of isolation, imprisonment and occupation continue to grow. Meanwhile most Palestinians we meet are beating their heads withfrustration wondering when the next time (or if) they will ever see the ocean again, much less leave their villiges. Before 2000Palestinians were able to travel to Israel with ease. Collectively they are ALL paying the heavy price of resisting the occupation oftheir homeland, with growing pain and resentment. This is the root of the injustice, for collective punishment is sure to enrage the entire society, while turning against it's agressors. We [those seeking human rights] are left longing for a lasting and justsolution to end the generations of suffering.

Cementing the Occupation
Every time I go through the Kalandia checkpoint, there is newinfrastructure built. Every day, it looks more like an administrative building complete with a paved parking lot! It is thestrangest sight - amidst the detroyed land, rubble, trash and dirt is the seemingly innocent office center that will no doubt be used to facilitate and administer the occupation. For any of you who were hopeful that 'Gaza first'would not be 'Gaza last', this may be act as an indication. This "center" is where the paperwork will be done to ensure the daily doses of detentions, control of movement, economy, water and society can continue with more beauracratic order and organization

A Palestinian friend we met was so happy to see that we were here because it expanded her shrinking square of hopewhich she said sometimes gets smaller by the day. I can not stress how hopeless most people are, which I believe is why many don't evenwant to talk about the situation any more. The lyrics to Tupac's songs regularly gothrough my mind. "It's kind of hard to be optimistic when your homey's lying on the pavement twisted." Tupac.

Please feel free to share any observations, thoughts or comments.

love and solidarity,
noura
O C C U P I E D Palestine