A New Year with an Old Blatant Display of Barbarism

Those of you who are saw yesterday's attack in the center of the
heart of Palestinian city in the West Bank, Ramallah, which killed
four civilians know that this is not the first Israeli display of
provocation and disregard for Palestinian human life. Yet this
operation, is only one small display of what happens (no
exaggeration) regularly in West Bank cities of Jenin, Nablus,
Tulkarem, and the villages surrounding. It was only heavily
publicized because it was during the middle of the day in the heart
of the city.

It makes me livid to see the city streets where we have walked and
spent so much time with our dear friends and family, viciously
destroyed, and helpless are we to do anything about it. Those who are
not surprised, but disgusted by yesterday's display know that this
is not the first time the occupying forces have risked the lives of
civilians and massively destroyed Palestinian infrastructure, and it
will not be the last. Just last week I was fuming as I drove down
the highest trafficked street (Kalandia) where all taxis and cars
must use to enter/exit the West Bank from and to Jerusalem, at the
way that the roads had recently been pummeled and watched as cars
bounced up and down and could barely drive, on the large crevices
which can only have been destroyed by the heavy equipment of the
tanks and other military devices. Taxi drivers have told us in the
past that soldiers do this as collective punishment, depending on
whatever little infraction they feel like reacting to. This is
largely due to the fact that most Israeli's consider them selves
better and above the laws of humanity, and the rest of us -therefore
justify acts of terror and violence by their government, in their
name.

Those of you who say that Palestinians deserve this until
they `renounce violence' are just as guilty of perpetuating the rape
and violence against the Palestinian people – and will be so until
you renounce state and governmental violence from Palestine to Iraq
to Somalia.

Who is strengthened by these acts?
I mean, how can Israeli citizens actually think that they are safer
by these acts? How are we ever supposed to trust when Israel speaks
about peace or a cease-fire?? Groups like Hizbollah and Hamas have
gained so much popular support amongst all people not because we
want an Islamic state, it is because of this arrogance,
irresponsibility and the grave abuse of power.

The Palestinian people uphold our right to defend ourselves and
resist the illegal and immoral violence, and uphold the dignity of
our people - as enshrined in international law. You say that
violence only begets more violence, this is true. But if no one is
protecting your family and they are being immorally and unjustly
targeted, I have no question that you would do anything in your
power to do so. Until all people, from all places denounce state
violence, in the streets, in their places of work, at their schools,
an places of worship - we shall continue to support our right to
defend ourselves!

I know I have said all of this before, and there is little left to
say that has not already been said. I part with words for the New
Year that ring as true today as they have since the beginning of all
colonialist, apartheid and other racist ventures: You are either for
all people's right to exist, equally, with out compromise; or you
are for only some people's rights over others. There is no way to be
for both. For the sake of the future of the world - those who are
for the latter, think long and hard about how to reconcile this with
the 21st century and democracy. Otherwise, this year will be yet
another unfolding of more support for civil resistance - until all
of our rights are realized. Go Hizbollah, Go Hamas.

May the struggle, for equal rights never end, until it is over.

Noura