'Paradise Now' on location - Balata Refugee Camp, OPT

Visiting Balata by Noura

I visited Balata refugee camp in Nablus with some friends this
weekend, where tensions were high, wounds were raw and people were
reeling from the two week incursion that left eight loved ones dead.
Everyone I spoke with had a story of horror about the regular
military operations that wreak havoc on their lives and demolish
their homes. Mohammad our guide was called to the house of his
friend that was on the roof fixing his satellite dish when he was
shot by a sniper in the heart. Trembling, he shared the story of how
he died in his arms. Another friend we met had a brother that was
wanted, a few months ago the military demolished their family home,
and arrested one of the eight boys and their neighbor each day,
until the wanted brother was located. We visited the home that was
demolished last week, it was where the fighters were hiding. The
smell of stale, dried blood was still in the air, and all over the
walls. The home was directly next to the cemetery where we saw
several families gathered to visit their loved ones, and kids
playing all around.

As we were leaving Nablus I was reflecting on the year long cease
fire by armed resistance groups that has gone nearly as unnoticed by
the media as the recent incursion into Nablus. To get out of Nablus,
you must pass Huwwara checkpoint which is especially difficult, and
notoriously known for its aggressive soldiers. There was a big
commotion near the entrance where we saw a boy with a shirt over his
head and hands bound, was standing near the checkpoint. Apparently
he had been strapped with a bomb and was caught trying to leave
Nablus. After about ten minutes the bomb was detonated safely in the
field beside the checkpoint. After daily invasions, and a two week-
long killing spree which left two resistance fighters and six
citizens dead, including a child throwing stones, there is no reason
to hope for any change in the near future. We see the simple Israeli
formula at work, they go into a Palestinian city or camp where they
know people will resist, provoke the fighters, who will inevitably
fight back, simply exercising their right to defend themselves.
Irregardless of the rule of law, nor the laws of humanity, Israeli
state sponsored terror yields the same results and are as
predictable as the media that chooses to ignore the reality. Next
time the laws of physics set in - for every action there is an
opposite and equal reaction - let us try to answer a few questions
and we might just stop history repeating itself.

First of all, WHY would Israel carry out a major incursion into the
city of Nablus at this very sensitive time, other than to cause
instability and provoke a response? Is it really possible for anyone
to believe that it was for security reasons? How can one feel secure
at the cost of destroying and terrorizing a poor refugee camp? More
importantly, how can citizens in Israel vote for those in power that
perpetuate such attacks of severe violence? Such military incursions
not only terrorize those in its war path and the entire city, but
all in the area are effected, as it knocks humanity clear back to
the days of barbarism.

When reading about future reactions, don't forget the media trickery
and remember the military spin which always alleges that the
Palestinians killed (in their own towns or cities!) by the IOF were
armed and engaged in gun-fighting with the IOF at the time. When
further investigated, 9 times out of 10 this turns out to be at
best, inaccurate and at worst, a complete fabrication. For more
information on the vague, "legally ambiguous" shoot-to-kill
policies, see an investigative report conducted by an Israeli human
rights organization at:
http://www.btselem.org/English/Video/200602_Rules_of_Engagement.asp
and the excellent report published by Human Rights Watch, Promoting
Impunity: The Israeli Military's Failure to Investigate Wrongdoing,
downloadable at http://hrw.org/reports/2005/iopt0605/. If one can
believe that there is actually a security issue, then nags the
question: why don't they use their vast, superior, advanced
technology to investigate more closely the situation before invading
the public sector of an entire city and opening fire on citizens,
children and medical personnel? More importantly, what right does
the Israeli military have invading a purely Palestinian city?
Meanwhile the US and Israel repeat incessantly in unison that the
Palestinians must obey by the rule of law and live democratically
and renounce violence. Yet how in the hell are Palestinians expected
to live a normal life, free from violence while developing their
society and allowing democracy to take shape when Israel's
aggression is intensified? If Palestinians were given a chance to
breathe, the demands would be fulfilled sooner than expected. When
the media allows the tables to turn on the Palestinians, again
blamed for "senseless acts of violence" let us not forget the five
youths and two children killed in Balata, who as always, died too
young and hopeless in a prison, under Occupation.

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