LiveFromPalestine

Top 10 reasons why you should support Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions of Israel

2009-09-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

Top 10 reasons to support the Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions of Israel!

10) It is an Apartheid state/cultural genocide within Israel, and ethnic cleansing in the WB and Gaza!

9) The destruction of 522 Palestinian villages in 1948 to make way for the current state and,

8) 750,000 Palestinians forced to flee, now number nearly 7 mill, all waiting for their internationally recognized right to return.

7) Religious and ethnic supremacy are SO passe!

6) the Illegal, Apartheid Wall -which was ruled by the In'tl Court of Justice that it is illegal, immoral and must come DOWN!

5) Trillions of US tax dollars, loan guarantees and military aid etc., we have given to uphold the Apartheid system over the years

4) The ongoing flouting of US demands and outright refusal by every Israeli gov't to abide by international law, UN resolutions

3) The ongoing theft of Palestinian land and water for evil settlers.

2) 11,000 political prisoners locked in and tortured in Israeli jails, WITHOUT trial, held indefinitely with no hope of seeing the light of day. And the number one reason you should support BDS of Israel???

1) It is a colonial settler project - and it has failed miserably...and we see no gov't is going to do the right thing, so just as in racist South AFrica, we people of conscious MUST!!!

Too many to stop there..here are few more in case you're still not convinced!

- The use of US weapons in the illegal Israeli occupation, and ongoing oppression of the Palestinians.

- The consistent censoring of all of these facts, and much, much more: http://www.projectcensored.org/top-stories/articles/9-us-arms-used-for-war-crimes-in-gaza/

- The murder, and regular targeting of non-violent peace activists and leaders: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#/group.php?gid=36429272741&ref=nf

- All the women forced to give birth at Israeli checkpoints!!! This video tells the horrifying story of this pregnant woman, whose husband was shot and killed while driving her to deliver her baby, then she was stripped naked and forced to give birth at the checkpoint on the side of the road, and left in the rain!!!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2504261124830323836#

If this isn't reason enough to end all support for the Israeli state and crimes against humanity...then pray tell, what is????

Israeli Illusionary Democracy: Beyond Apartheid

2007-02-16T06:22:00.000-08:00

The saying that occupation exists best in the dark explains one reason as to the level of controversy, surrounding the use of the word Apartheid to describe the Israeli system. It also explains why, what is a clear simple fact to those intimately acquainted with the reality on the ground, has caused so much confusion, or strife to those who are not. Generally speaking there are three sides of the debate about the term used to describe Israel's political system, as compared to South African Apartheid. Staunch Zionist defenders are completely against the use of the term, charging it as ‘anti-Semitic’ or as part of the ‘war on terror’, with no thoughtful discussion of the issues. By dismissing the criticism as a personal attack, they fail to account for the basic facts and reality on the ground, and reveal their limitations in understanding or wanting to know the severe injustices which are taking place, in their name. Then there are activists, academic and legal experts who support the use of the term. As a matter of convenience, they borrow the term from the oppressive South African regime, which most people know to be reprehensible, to make the Palestinian case. They say though it is not entirely representative of the situation, but the underlying racism and discrimination are the same. Because of the advances made in South Africa to end oppression, it is easier to leverage the parallels and draw on the advances of the anti-Apartheid movement, as a case for boycott etc. Finally, even amongst Palestinians and solidarity activists, there are internal disagreements about the use of the term. Because the term “Apartheid” is borrowed from South Africa, it fails to portray the complexity of the Israeli system and in fact directly leads to more confusion, instead of facilitate further understanding.

Most well intentioned people would agree that the only way to find an end to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict is to first engage in an honest analysis of the situation. Still generalities are made, distinctions are muddled and those with the best of intentions are left to interpret meanings, or worse, completely confused by all of the insidious details of the system at work. This can be clearly seen with Jimmy Carter’s well intentioned book titled, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, which in fact feeds into these misconceptions. His assertion is that Apartheid is alive and well in the West Bank and Gaza, but he generally sidesteps the system that exists within Israel implying that the situation is generally fine. Yet, within Israel, the parallels more accurately represent Apartheid, and the case can be made originating from the basic laws alone; and the effects lead to the cultural genocide of Palestinian-Israeli identity. In fact, the system of domination and militarized control of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, more accurately reflects one on the very real path of ethnocide. Though the means may vary within Israel and the West Bank, the goals are the same and should be analyzed as such. As the Zionist settler project is moving ever so near its patient, but very real colonization of all of historic Palestine, or “Eretz” (Greater) Israel, and its demographic goals which translate into the dispossession and transfer of Palestinians.

Still Zionist leaders know that to the outside world, they must walk the fine line of upholding the appearance of being a democracy, while maintaining its Jewish character. Thus, the conflict for both, extremely dependent peoples - economically, politically and in the realm of public relations – becomes ultimately, a war of public opinion. Perhaps this is why the Israel’s main success in battle, lies in its public relations campaign; over the years, the Zionist leaders have engaged in the world's most brilliant and cunning, PR campaign in history. Adding to the confusion and profound complexity of misunderstanding of the state of Israel, it is perhaps one of the most multi-cultural places on earth! In South Africa, the practice of racist laws was much easier to identify, manifested by separate laws based on the color of one’s skin for “Whites”, and “non-Whites”. Similarly in Israel, you are either a “Jew”, (whether you are religious or not- which makes it therefore a definition of race), or a non-Jew.

Also in Israel as was in South Africa, the goals are colonial and imperialistic in nature. However, in South Africa, the system of control and separation was designed to expropriate the valuable natural resources for the ruling minority, while oppressing the natives, who did not enjoy the right to vote. Because Whites were the underwhelming minority, they realized the impossibility of upholding even a fallacy of a democracy. Therefore the laws of the imperialists were made, and upheld, by and for the ruling class. Since the Palestinian populations of the oPt and Israel, will soon surpass the number of Jews, it has been the single most obsession of every leader of first, how to artificially achieve, and then maintain the demographic majority of Jews in historic Palestine. Because Israeli-Palestinians are allowed to vote, this adds to the confusion and the illusion of upholding a democracy. Still the founding laws-within Israel- and countless military orders, in the oPt, which exclude Palestinians, are so deeply embedded into the fabric of Israeli Apartheid, that they are seldomly questioned on any systemic level.

As a result, the point which begs understanding, and what is obvious to Palestinians, anti-Zionist Jews and other scholars, is that Israel as a state 'for Jews', leads directly to the oppression and subjugation of Palestinians. Herein, lies the inherent racism for Palestinians, both inside and outside the ‘Green Line’. Either we come to terms with Jewish superiority and ’right to exist’ as it is – Greater Israel, or we can not ‘coexist’ at all. The implication here is that it is naïve, unrealistic, perhaps ideal but definitely impossible, to live as equals on this land if Israel continues to be allowed to define itself exclusively as a Jewish state. End of discussion. Yet, as one scholar noted, the only way to resolve the impossible contradiction between Zionism and democracy, “Greater Israel would have to sacrifice some of its Jewish identity – it would seek to fulfill the universal goal of sanctuary for all people facing religious persecution. In that sense, it would be a tribute to the millions of Jews and other minorities who perished in the Nazi Holocaust…the creation of a Greater Israel – would open a path for Israel to emerge as a technological, cultural and financial center for the Middle East. Israel would have the opportunity to integrate its talents with its regional neighbors, thus building the lasting bonds that can augur peace, not war.”

Integration, cooperation and equality, seems like a reasonable demand as pursued by a recent initiative titled, “Future Vision of Palestinian Arabs in Israel” by leaders and academics, and those generally seen as representative of Palestinian-Israeli civil society. Their message was made explicitly clear, that in

“Defining the Israeli State as a Jewish State and exploiting democracy in the service of its Jewishness excludes us, and creates tension between us and the nature and essence of the State. Therefore, we call for a Consensual Democratic system that enables us to be fully active in the decision –making process and guarantee our individual and collective civil, historic, and national rights.”

Yet, Zionists see the mere pursuit of Palestinians seeking equal rights as the ultimate threat – equated by many, to calling for the killing of Jews and the destruction of the Jewish state! Though it implies only, the desire for true equality for peoples living in the same country, the initiative led to the following reaction by some of the most ‘centrist’ of Israeli Jews one of which stated:

“For nearly all Israeli Jews it is also a profoundly disturbing document,” who “must now send a clear signal to the authors of this document that it rejects their extreme demands.” He goes even further to say that it should be seen as a document which can be “understood to bring its authors into line with those in the Arab and Islamic world who refuse to accept the existence of a Jewish people at all, much less one with legitimate roots in the Middle East.”

When the laws of the state are inherently racist, it sets the tone and the precedent for race relations of the country. Whether it is in the oPt where colonial ethnocide is practiced, or within Israel, where open racism has led to cultural genocide – an attitude of superiority and entitlement are commonly accepted on every level of Israeli society.

Israeli ‘Democracy’: The Formula for Dispossession
Since the inception of the state, the very basis of Zionist ideology and Apartheid is personified in the Israeli 'Law of Return’ of 1950, which states very clearly that any Jew in the world – spanning 3 generations, are allowed to 'return' to their 'promised land', of over 2000 years ago. This law stands in stark contrast to the laws for Palestinians which are according to every standard forbids around 6 million of who were displaced because of Zionist terrorism, from returning to their own homes of just 60 years ago! This law alone, makes it impossible to construct, much less uphold, a democratic system. It is this discrimination that contradicts every democratic principle and the otherwise universally recognized right of 6 million 1948 Palestinian refugees who are entitled to Israeli nationality based on the right of return, and the law of state succession.

The Jewish returnees need a place to live! Since 1950, the “Absentee Property Law”, has ensured the new immigrant settlers a comfortable home, with its cherished belongings. Ethnocide and transfer were ensured by applying this law to those who fled or were forced to leave their property because of Zionist terrorism during the 1948 War. The same law was later applied to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip after the 1967 war. The property rights were transferred to the Custodian of Absentee Property without compensation to the property owner or provision to appeal. In the Occupied Territories the seized land has been used predominately for military bases, Jewish-only bypass roads, and settlements. This “state land” also allows for the Apartheid “roads and tunnels plan”. Israel is currently in the process of completing - 24 tunnels for Palestinians to drive underground through - and will connect the prison of Palestinian islands - and cement the 56 settler-only Apartheid roads, for Jews only to travel on!

It does not take a mathematical genius to recognize the agenda at work, once the practices and the formula are understood. These basic laws added to countless supplemental policies equal the clearing of Palestinians, while populating the land with Zionist settlers. Palestinian residents of Jerusalem are suffering of tragic proportions, a destruction of property and economic opportunities, cultural identity and heritage. While illegally occupied, they are considered “permanent residents,” whose residency permits can be taken away if they go abroad for more than 7 years or without a re-entry permit. Jews may have dual citizenship, but a non-Jewish Jerusalemite loses their residency if acquiring additional citizenship. Palestinian communities in East Jerusalem are also enduring the same systematic process as the West Bank, in which the Wall which leads to house demolitions, property confiscation, forced displacement, isolation and a complete denial of access to social services etc. Such practices found in Jerusalem, can be widely seen extending from the Galilee, to the Nakab and the Jordan Valley, also known as the ‘Judea Triangle’ – and are entirely indicative of what is taking place in the West Bank. When added with the sum of its parts, the greater context and an objective analysis, the recipe is clear to see.

An objective analysis is critically needed to see beyond the smokescreen of misinformation. Yet, since the birth of Israel in 1948, the writing was on the wall about what kind of state it would become and (generally), how one viewed the creation of the state then, is still largely respective of one's opinion now. To Zionists, their state is a safe haven for Jews, a bastion of diversity, and democracy an oasis in the otherwise hostile dessert. To Palestinians, the birth of Israel was a Nakba, leading to the dispossession and displacement of hundreds of thousands, and remains today as one ongoing, catastrophe after another. Today, despite enormous differences and disagreements in practice, Zionists across the board agree on one thing: the right of the Jewish state to exist. For Palestinians here in lies the fundamental, inherent contradiction: Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish democracy, unequivocally means a disaster for Palestinian identity, culture, sovereignty and equality - both within Israel and the oPt. Expansionist and exclusionary policies, do not differentiate within or outside the green line – and they are made possible only through expulsion and marginalization of the natives. In addition to 'regular' apartheid of separation – or Palestinian banto-state hood, it becomes necessary to take it beyond Apartheid – in order to fulfill the divine prophecy of 'Eretz', or Greater Israel of which Zionism is based.

While Palestinians hope for a political solution to ease the sheer insanity that Israel has imposed, it has always been the Israeli government's ‘future vision’ to uphold their illusionary democracy. Just as European Imperial systems, set out to ‘tame the savages’, Zionism justification lies in ‘reclaiming the land of Judea and Samaria’, or the West Bank. The Zionists divine proclamation over the land does not leave room for a shred of clear reasoning, debate - or negotiation. The rules become obsolete, and the default system becomes an exercise in military hegemony, imposing its will on the ‘hostile natives’, exerted through control and upheld by force. Innumerably embedded in this context, is also the entitlement and presumption on the deepest level that Jews have a right to exist, convert and/or return, and populate historic Palestine, while the indigenous people do not. It is time to define in our own terms and claim our rights, in practice, as they are recognized in human rights conventions and international law. In addition to the concept of Apartheid, it is critical we challenge the acquiescence of cultural genocide and ethnocide, in part and in full.

On February 22 and 23, Israel is scheduled for review for the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Let us use this time to recognize the terms, in practice as they are on paper. Palestinians deserve a freedom, justice and equality not because their leaders are corrupt or not, or whether the people are good or bad, Palestinians deserve equality because:

“Considering that the Charter of the United Nations is based on the principles of the dignity and equality inherent in all human beings, and that all Member States have pledged themselves to take joint and separate action, in co-operation with the Organization, for the achievement of one of the purposes of the United Nations which is to promote and encourage universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Considering that the United Nations has condemned colonialism and all practices of segregation and discrimination associated therewith, in whatever form and wherever they exist, and that the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples of 14 December 1960 (General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV)) has affirmed and solemnly proclaimed the necessity of bringing them to a speedy and unconditional end”.

Footnotes:
1. Article 7 of the "United Nations draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples" defines Cultural genocide as (a) Any action which has the aim or effect of depriving them of their integrity as distinct peoples, or of their cultural values or ethnic identities; (b) Any action which has the aim or effect of dispossessing them of their lands, territories or resources; (c) Any form of population transfer which has the aim or effect of violating or undermining any of their rights; (d) Any form of assimilation or integration by other cultures or ways of life imposed on them by legislative, administrative or otherwise.

2. Raphael Lemkin, the linguist and lawyer coined the term genocide as “the union of the Greek word genos (race, tribe) and the Latin cide (killing), used ethnocide as an alternative form representing the same concept, using the Greek ethnos (nation) in place of genos.” The broader definition of ethnocide may be useful in addressing perceived shortcomings and restrictions of genocide law and in identifying cultural destruction when it occurs by less violent and less visible means (All Experts Online Encyclopedia: http://en.allexperts.com/e/r/ra/raphael_lemkin.htm)

3. Robert Parry broke many of the Iran-Contra stories in the 1980s for the Associated Press and Newsweek. His latest book, Secrecy & Privilege: Rise of the Bush Dynasty from Watergate to Iraq in his article: One State

4. The National Committee for the Heads of the Arab Local Authorities in Israel, of the Palestinian Arabs in Israel presented titled, A Manifesto for the “Future Vision of Palestinian Arabs in Israel”.

5. Yossi Alpher is coeditor of the Bitterlemons family of internet publications, ‘a website that presents Israeli and Palestinian viewpoints on prominent issues of concern; article “A Profoundly Disturbing Document”, January 29, 2007.

6. Negotiations Support Unit Website - http://www.nad-plo.org/inner.php?view=palisraeli_Roads_faq%20roadfinal

Exit Denied: An Escalation in the Campaign of Ethnic Cleansing

2007-01-26T11:28:00.000-08:00

At around 12:30 am yesterday, I was heading back to Bethlehem, by
myself, from Ramallah as to avoid the early morning delay at the
dreaded Qalandia terminal. At night there are very few cars, so I
thought I'd take advantage and avoid the waiting and anxiousness to
cross such a barrier causes. On some level, everyone must confront
the mental and emotional anguish brought on by such confrontations.

This time, however, I was driving confidently towards my destination,
armed with my American passport and newly issued visa in hand. I was
prepared for the journey.

Or so I thought.

I pulled up to the first gate, where they rarely check ID's since
this is the first passage, the further scrutinizing is normally done
at the following point.

Regardless, I held up my passport, as I always do to show the
soldier my precious piece of blue laminated cardboard and paper.
Then, instead of the regular nod of the head and lifting of the
gate, came the sanctimonious voices from above, in Hebrew, from the
loud speakers. I looked more closely to see what was going on, but
through the bullet-proof windows, gates and darkness of the night,
all I could see were the heels of shoes kicked up, and the burning
butt of a cigarette being smugly smoked.

I asked the soldier what was going on, and what the problem was. He
replied in his perfect British accent, "Just because you wave around
your American passport, you think you can get through here?!"

Yes, of course I do. That is how it is supposed to work!

After about a five minute standoff an exercise in patience and
breathing techniques, I asked in the calmest voice I could, what his
name was. He told me, "Daniel". I asked Daniel if I had done
something wrong. He repeated the bit about waving around my American
passport.

My responses clearly did not satisfy him, and I am not sure anything
I said would have. So I began on - about occupation, and collective
punishment. As the queue was growing quite long behind me at this
point, I asked if he was holding us here for security. Then his
African counterpart chimed in. She said, "yes, they are all
terrorists!" in the only English words I heard her utter. Then I
asked them if they had ever heard of international law. Daniel
asserted, "Here, this is my law".

Then he spoke into his walkie-talkie, and let me though.

Immediately as I pulled forward, there were three soldiers lined up
in a military formation. When I pulled up in front of them, the
female soldier, who later told me her name was "Suzanne", yelled at
me in Hebrew to reverse, and go back. After doing so, she went on to
attempt to intimidate me with her mean looking snarls, and loud
voice. When she asked, I showed her inside my trunk, to prove that I
do not have a bomb. It was then that she told me to empty the
contents onto the ground…that is when I told her that I would not
empty the books that I had in there, and she got really angry. So I
told her if she wanted my books on the ground, she would have to put
them there, as I would absolutely not.

This did not satisfy her insatiable appetite for meanness and
oppression, so then she began mocking me, making fun of my name and
told me that I was not allowed to pass through the checkpoint, and I
must return to Ramallah -- as she threw my passport at me.

If one feels the slightest bit of indignation and sense of injustice
by stories of such ongoing and clear ABUSES OF POWER, and the
suffering that is caused by the checkpoints, it is not even possible
to begin to imagine the feelings of rage, degradation and trauma one
is left with after such first hand experiences. And the treatment I
received was just the tip of the iceberg.

Apparently, it is not even certain that these were soldiers. Similar
to those in Iraq, OCHA recently announced that "Private Security
Companies (SC)" had taken over the manning of this checkpoint – and
that others will be soon to follow suite. This development should be seen as a direct escalation, as these private contractors are illegal according to international law, because they are accountable to no one!

Watching as these armed thugs behaved with me, with complete
immunity, I am afraid to see how they treat the more vulnerable
among us. These soldiers, or whoever they are, are now making up
their own laws and rules. They no longer even have to uphold a
pretense of a chain of command, army rules to follow, or respect for
international law.

And yet, this is just the beginning of the IDF's attack on travel
and freedom of movement in the West Bank. The IDF has recently
announced that the permit system which makes it impossible to travel
to Gaza, which gives Israel 'carte blanche' to impose its deadly
policies, will become the norm in the West Bank. Thus, it is clear
that Israel is stepping up its planned campaign to create Qalandia
as this international border of entry into the Palestinian islands
of prisons. Accountable to no standards of law itself, the IDF
unabashedly admitted that the 44 roadblocks they supposedly 'eased
restrictions' of, never even existed!

Simultaneously they are working 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, to
expand the existing settlements for the likes of immigrants such as
Suzanne and Daniel who are taking their cues from the Israeli
government, who, in turn, are in the process of completing 24
tunnels for Palestinians to drive underground in - which will
connect this prison of Palestinian islands - and cement the 56
settler-only roads above ground, for Jews only to travel on!

While Palestinians hope for a political solution to ease the sheer
insanity that Israel has imposed on them, creating every possible
misery in their lives; it is the Israeli government's hope and
future vision to bring Gaza to the West Bank. We can not possibly
begin to imagine what this will mean on every insidious level.

The map is drawn. The underground tunnels for the Palestinians are
being dug. The settler-only roads are already in place. All they
need to do now is connect the dots - that will be our dear
Palestine. It is just a matter of time.

A New Year with an Old Blatant Display of Barbarism

2007-01-05T04:25:00.000-08:00

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

Visa blues

2006-12-27T21:48:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, I have been toiling over some of my most basic needs which have gone unfulfilled-because of an administrative order that is meant to shut people like me out. My visa is several weeks expired because when I went for my previous appointment in time to be legit, I was told that I couldn’t be helped because I needed to get a letter from the appropriate authorities in order to process my visa. When I returned today, a month later with the letter requested, I was told that I needed to go to an entirely other Ministry, of Foreign Affairs! This is the second time I have come back to the ministry for an appointment that takes a month to get. Therefore, I have been relegated to staying frozen in my place of refuge and traveling only when absolutely necessary as many of you also know that I have been harassed on many occasions while traveling, and even threatened with immediate deportation.

After checking why, after 15 minutes after my scheduled appointment of they had still not called my name, I was assured they would get right to me. A half hour past, and several other appointments later, one finally called my name, this and the several administrators I dealt with finally ‘saw me’, they didn’t even want to bother looking at me.

‘People like me’ are those in a country that are not of a certain religion. I watched today at the ministry while people walked away from their appts. with noticeable grins of relief on their faces, and Jewish head dresses draped on their heads.

When I finally sat down to discuss ‘my case’, it was immediately noted that I filled out the incorrect form, and that I must fill out the ‘visa extension’ form. It was then, to my dismay, I realized that I had accidentally filled out the law of return application. I was immediately struck by the exact likeness of the applications, they were both identical color and the same exact questions raised as if to make a subliminal, little, ironic joke. The only difference was a tiny little box at the very top of the page that read something to the effect of check this box if applying for 'Law of Return', versus extending a 3-month visa.

The Law of Return from 1950 “grants every Jew, wherever he or she may be, the right to come to Israel as an 'oleh' (a Jew immigrating to Israel) and become an Israeli citizen.”

I can not help but feel an inherent feeling of purposeful belittlement and rage at the blatant racism I and all Palestinians are being expected to accept. Though the racism towards me pales in comparison to that experienced by Palestinians both within and outside of the Green Line, I sometimes can uphold the illusion of being immune to it and not letting it get to me. These laws are embedded so deeply in the beliefs and values of those administering and upholding them with their silence, they need not even be written on paper – because the understanding and acceptance of the system.

Whomever says that this is not a plain system of blatant racism and apartheid (separate laws based on race/religion), has not experienced it themselves.

60/40 Campaign for Return & Freedom

2006-12-22T01:23:00.000-08:00

6 June 2007 marks the 40 years since Israel's Occupation
15 May 2008 commemorates 60 years of the Palestinian Nakba (catastrophe).

Let's Make 2007/2008 the Campaign for Freedom and Return!

In 1948 eighty-five percent of the Palestinians living in the areas that became the state of Israel became refugees. More than 500 Palestinian villages were depopulated and later destroyed to prevent the return of the refugees. Today there are a total of 7 million Palestinian refugees, dispersed throughout the world - the largest and longest running refugee problem yet unresolved.

Israel continues to occupy and colonize Palestinian land through the construction of Jewish only settlements and the Wall in the West Bank. The Gaza Strip has been turned into one large prison. Israel violates international law and commits ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity.

A CALL TO ACTION!
The future of the Palestinian people is at a crossroads; 2007 - 2008 marks a historic opportunity for faith-based organizations, individuals, community groups, the solidarity movement, unions and political parties to pool resources and activities and campaign for a rights-based solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Critical is the focus on the enforcement of the rights of Palestinian refugees under international law.

This may well be the last decade anniversary when Palestinian eye-witnesses from the 1948 Nakba are still living. Now more than ever Palestinians are counting on local and global society to build pressure for the enforcement of international law – the foundation for a just peace between Palestinians and Israelis. Let's make 2007 – 2008 into 'the campaign of freedom and return'. Not just the return (al-awda) of the refugees, but also a return to the rule of law and respect for human rights.

Please email mediaenglish@badil.org for more information.

The War of Words & Death that Follows:

2006-12-17T00:31:00.000-08:00

A TIME FOR REFLECTION
By Khaleel Isa

"What you are seeing," he shot, "is a rise in tensions that really emanates and is the direct result of the inability of Hamas to effectively govern in the Palestinian areas." We hold Hamas fully responsible for what happened Thursday at Rafah, both the chaos and destruction" the spokesman for Fatah declared.

"What a war Mahmoud Abbas you are launching, first against God, and then against Hamas. We joined this movement to become martyrs, not ministers," Haniyeh fired back in response, referring to Hamas loyalists' willingness to die for their cause. "The Palestinian government rejects this call for early elections and considers it a coup against Palestinian legitimacy and the will of the Palestinian people," accused Hamas legislator Mushir al-Masri in a statement Saturday. He accused Abbas of illegally calling for early elections, and announced that his plans are one "of defeat and submission to the Zionist enemy."

As I sit and listen to the non-stop gunfire coming from the streets of Gaza city, the above quotes keep running through my mind. While sitting with my colleagues and listening to their words, I see the uncertainty that can create such anxiety and insecurity, a truly horrible space for anyone to be in. Then I start examining how the build up of the events of history could have led us to the harsh reality we are witnessing now. At times, if I am not too involved with a direct event, I am able to explore the arguments or righteousness of the one who had something to say. I used to be very good at listening to and analyzing the intended meanings of the leaders of Palestine, before. But today if I could only ask our leaders: Does the aggression against your brother, make your viewpoint heard more powerfully?? Does the emotional, psychological and physical instability and fear seen in the eyes of your own community justify the divisive and bloody means? How do our Palestinian leaders, make rational sense of this dangerously, chaotic and deeply, sad time for Palestine and Her people?

What is on my mind now is more uncertainty and deep fear. Fear that more Palestinians will be killed by the hands of other Palestinians. I reflect on how the thoughts and emotions from the leaders of Palestine, can bring overwhelming numbness and anxiety, while provoking uncertainty. And then what I wonder is if anyone has a plan in mind? Or are all the players simply doomed to continuously react to one tragic event after another, creating a domino effect of yet more harsh realities. Is the discussion or thought of strategies and future visions even brought up in political discourse??

Living in Palestine, we are surrounded by, and often witness surreal and unimaginable images and a never ending dichotomy of circumstances. You see and experience some of the most callous acts of human cruelty imaginable. Just a few days ago, I witnessed an Israeli soldier ask a mother to put her 5 month baby in the x-ray machine to see if it is a bomb! Let us not forget, there is the Israeli Military incursions, we have long ones and short ones in the Palestinian lands. Some of these Military Israeli incursions, have become so normalized, because they happen SO often without any war criminal tribunal system, that it often becomes a second thought to Palestinians who are not in that particular incursions. Unless such blatant War Crimes like Beit Hanoun occur - I have grown accustomed to unconsciously descentize my emotional self with my daily routine.

But over the past week, since the blatant killing of those children, by Palestinians, I wonder if the invisible coping mechanisms which one develops as a way to defend this unfair life, is destined to take over even when it is at the cost of their own Community in struggle? Should I not reflect and then change this part of my mental psyche, or just allow the overwhelming pain to justify my behavior? Is this not the rat race that so many before us, expressed to beware of?

Today when I look at myself in the mirror what I see inside is rage. Rage from the facts that have occurred and are replayed in my memory. Rage from the exhaustion of feeling sad and uncared for. Rage at the lies that I constantly hear about our Palestinian society. Rage from the pain and injustice, that I constantly see in the children and families who never deserved the wrath inherited by their sordid history; with no positive sign of hope in sight. My rage is compounded by the hopelessness of bankrupt policies and visionless leadership, which guides our world today.

The dysfunctional effects of the cruel years, built upon layers of misguided efforts, have left on our doorstep a testimony of what we are witnessing today. This period can be seen as an inevitable convergence in our history. I only hope that we can begin a kind of healing process in order to make right all of the wrongs.

So today I ask of my Palestinian family members from Jenin, to Jerusalem to Rafah to Nablus, to Beit Hanoun to Ramallah, to stop and take a long, hard look in the mirror and ask yourself what you see, and feel. For me I see the image of blatant US-Israel Led imperial media trickery in front of my face. I see this 60 year senseless Illegal occupation-which has displaced, killed, tormented and maimed so many, taking a toll on my own emotional sensibility and rational framework.

The idea that it is someone's fault, or they one group is solely to blame, is the same rhetoric that I have heard from Israel when killing or displacing Palestinians, as well as from the U.S. government when creating the so called "Democratic violent havoc values" and senseless death within Iraq. We have reached a situation today, that if not all of us individually are to take responsibility for, we will respectively lose and disregard the same human life that we so long have been fighting so hard to defend and honor. I ask for all of us to look in the mirror and see how we all can stop the same blame game, that has colonized our people and left us feeling unheard and uncared for since the Nekba began, and before.

Brothers and Sisters of Palestine, are we so emotionally damaged from these years of being treated so unfairly, that we should allow this type of senseless violence to be justified? In the name of our children's future let us listen to the Great Grand Mothers and Grand Fathers of Palestine. Hear their voices, listen to their emotional memories and pain. Let us be empowered by respecting the souls of the Martyrs of Palestine. Why should we create more blood, when the choice is in our hands?

When I look in the mirror what do I see - I am neither Fatah, nor Hamas. I am a Palestinian, who loves my brothers and sisters. I know if you look in the mirror, I know your answer will be no different than mine. I hear my ancestors singing loudly- without me there is no we, and without the WE, there will never be a ME. Today, yesterday and tomorrow, we are constantly reflecting moments that we can no longer afford to ignore.

For the souls of our ancestors, and the children of Palestine - we call on our leaders and affiliated parties to stop the violence in the streets of Palestine!
"I call on our brothers in Hamas to practice restraint ... to protect Palestinian blood," Meshal in a live radio interview from his base in the Syrian capital of Damascus. "Our battle is against the occupation, and we will not be dragged into a civil war."

In solidarity for Palestinian Rights and Justice

From Occupied Palestine Territories- Gaza

Dr. Khaleel Isa is a psychologist working with UNRWA in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He can be reached at isakhaleel@yahoo. com

Gun Machines and Light Rails

2006-12-16T00:26:00.000-08:00

Summary of latest event - Search of the house of Miras' family in
the middle of the night, Aida Camp.
by Nidal al-Azza
Friday, 15 December 2006

In the night of Thursday to Friday on 15 December, between 3:30 to
3:40am, more than 50 Israeli soldiers surrounded Al-Azza family in
Aida camp. They knocked the door strongly and shouted loudly "open
the door quickly …"

Nidal and his brother Said woke up. Nidal reached the door first and
opened it. Immediately, they asked him: "Whats your name?" He
replied "Nidal Al- Azza." One of the soldiers took him by the neck
and pulled him outside. Nidal pushed the soldier's hands and
shouted "What is going here?" The Israeli commander interfered and
told the soldier to leave him and asked: "Who is living on the third
floor?" "My brother and I" Nidal answered. The commander said, "Call
your brother." Said, Nidal's brother, was standing at the entrance
of the house and said: "I am here, what do you want?" The commander
replied: "Get everybody out of the house, bring them here
quickly." Said replied "they are just children and that they are in
deep sleep." The commander replied: "I said now." Said went up to
his apartment. Twenty soldiers entered the house, one group of
soldiers followed Said and another entered Nidal's apartment, while
the others were watching and surrounding the house. The commander
was connected directly to someone in Rachel Tomb. The one in Rachel
Tomb's directed them to the floor, to the balcony and to the doors
and windows shot last Friday, 8 December and during which Nidal's
son, Miras, was shot and injured.

The soldiers searched Said's apartment and turned it upside down.
Said asked "What are you looking for?" The commander replied: "We
need the gun machine!" Said told him that there was no gun machine.
The commander said to Said "Come with me" and went with Said to the
balcony where Miras got shot last Friday, 8 December. Meanwhile,
soldiers noticed a closed wooden door and started breaking it,
Suheir, Said's wife, told them "I will bring you the key," but
before she had time to finish her sentence, the door was broken.
This door connects the two rooms in Nidal's apartment to Said's
apartment.

The commander pointed to the bullets holes and asked Said: "Where do
these holes come from?" Said: "You are a soldier and can determine
the direction…you shot them." The commander replied: "OK, and why
did we shot them ?" Said: "Do not ask me ..ask yourself." He
repeated the question and Said told him to ask the soldier who shot
the kids while they were playing. The commander ordered Said to
raise his clothes. They wanted to check if Said had been shot…and
then asked the family to keep quiet inside their apartment.

The commander then went to Nidal's apartment, which was also turned
upside down by the soldiers. He called Nidal to go up to the two
bedrooms on the third floor and asked: "Where do these holes come
from?" Nidal replied: "You shot the kids while they were playing on
the balcony and inside their bedrooms." He said "No" then he
said "Well, why?" Nidal responded: "Ask yourself or the soldier who
shot them" and continued, "Are you the one who was on the tower and
shot the kids that day?" The commander was surprised and shocked,
and immediately replied: "NO..NO I was not there!" Nidal continued :
"What are you looking for?" The commander: "The gun." Nidal: "Why
did you not bring your well trained dogs to determine where the gun
is?" The commander looked to Nidal for a while, and said, "We do not
need them…next time we will bring them!"

The commander went down, and moved through the house, then asked
Nidal: "Do you have a camera?" Nidal replied: "Yes, and I took
photos of the bullets holes, and I will take photos of what you did
tonight." The commander asked:
"For what purpose?" Nidal: "I am going to sue you, you will see the
photos in court."

The commander and two other soldiers saw Miras laying on his bed, he
was awake and his mother, Afaf was sitting next to him. Afaf moved
his bed in the living room because friends came to visit Miras, and
also because she discovered that it is the only place from which he
can only be seen by one military tower, making it relatively safer.
The commander and the two soldiers stood in front of Miras' bed for
two minutes, watching him, speechless. They left at 4.50 a.m.

===
For more information, go to the Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign at:
http://stopthewall.org/factsheets/1047.shtml

Connex / Veolia and Alstom are the international investors in the
Citypass consortium that will build and run a light rail project in
Jerusalem that incorporates a number of Jewish settlements around
East Jerusalem, built on stolen Palestinian land. It ensures the
contiguity of these colonies with the central areas of the city and
plays a key role in sustaining the settlements and ensuring they
become a permanent fixture upon Palestinian land.

Veolia's involvement in the tramline makes the company complicit in
Israel's violations of international law reaping significant profits
over a 30 year period, money stained with the blood and misery of
Palestinians under Occupation and currently being expelled from
Jerusalem.

Veolia has rejected to heed the calls from Palestine and
international organizations.

Thus international pressure is mounting on the corporation to stop
their involvement in the Judaization of Jerusalem.

* Connex shuttles have been blockaded in Geneva.

* Following protests by trade unions and IPSC in August 2006, Veolia
Transport Ireland had called off plans to train Israeli personnel to
operate the tramline in Jerusalem.

* In November the Dutch ASN Bank decided to divest from Veolia until
the company respects the relevant UN resolutions.

Support us in putting further pressure on Veolia!

Address the advisors of the Institut Veolia Environnement, the
group's prestige institute aiming to "propose a forum for dialogue
and interchange with academia, institutions and the different actors
in society."

Ask the intellectuals associated with the institute to re-consider
their support of Veolia as long as Veolia supports violations of
Palestinian rights!

To:
Foresight committee Institut Veolia Environnement:
Amartya Sen: ree23@cam.ac.uk (cc weiner@fas.harvard.edu )
Philippe Kourilsky: caput@pasteur.fr
Pierre Marc Johnson: pjohnson@heenan.ca
Harvey Fineberg: fineberg@nas.edu
Mamphela Ramphele: aesmar@bremner.uct.ac.za
Helene Ahrweiler: (no email available)

cc: Georges Valentis: georges.valentis@institut.veolia.org
(Managing Director of Institut Veolia Environnement)

From : Name/Organization:
____________________
____________________

Date: ____________

Open letter to the Foresight Committee members of the Institut Veolia
Environnement

Dear Foresight Committee members,

We are addressing you in your capacity as experts supporting the
efforts of Institut Veolia Environnement.

We know that all of you have dedicated a great part of your life and
expertise to the promotion of human rights and social, economic,
cultural and political rights of people all over the world. We
appreciate your commitment and are writing you now to urge you to
continue your support for human rights for all.

We would like to inform you about the implications of your
association with the Institut Veolia in terms of its' violations of
international law, UN resolutions, and Palestinian human rights and
cultural heritage.

As you may know, Veolia, together with Alstom, are the international
investors in the Citypass consortium that won a 2002 tender put out
by Israeli authorities for a light rail transportation project in
Jerusalem amounting to around 500 million euros. Citypass will be
responsible for operation and maintenance of the system for the next
thirty years.*

The path of the light rail incorporates a number of Jewish
settlements around East Jerusalem, built on stolen Palestinian land. It ensures
the contiguity of these colonies with the central areas of the city and
provides them with a vital transport link. The project boasts that
the "Ammunition Hill" station of the network will operate as the feeder
station for settler traffic from Ma'aleh Adumim, a large Israeli
settlement in the West Bank, and from settlements in the West Bank's
Jordan Valley. The light rail project plays a key role in sustaining
the settlements and ensuring they become a permanent fixture upon
Palestinian land.

In August 2005, the project got the go ahead from War Criminal Ariel
Sharon who stated at a signing ceremony: "I believe that this should
be done, and in any event, anything that can be done to strengthen
Jerusalem, construct it, expand it and sustain it for eternity as the
capital of the Jewish people and the united capital of the State of
Israel, should be done." The Occupation's Mayor Uri Lupolianski
described the light rail to be "the fulfillment of Psalm 122." The
tramline is clearly part of a larger plan to substitute Jerusalem's
historical and unique social fabric and its cultural heritage with a
new brand of a "Judaized" version of Jerusalem.

According to international law, an occupying power is not allowed to
annex or drastically change the infrastructure in the territories it
occupies. The advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice
in July 2004 confirmed that Israel is an occupying power and that
building the Wall and Jewish settlements in occupied Palestinian territories
is illegal. However, the tramline project runs through the occupied
Palestinian territories. Veolia's involvement in the tramline will
make the company complicit in Israel's violations of international
law.

The project, a private-public partnership (PPP) between the Israeli
Occupation government and the consortium, is hinged upon the
willingness of international business groupings to provide a huge
injection of capital. In turn Veolia and Alstom will reap significant
profits and dividends over a thirty-year period, money stained with
the
blood and misery of Palestinians under Occupation and currently being
expelled from Jerusalem.

Veolia has received a lot of criticism since it first announced its
intentions to become involved in the illegal project. Stop the Wall
and
other Palestinian civil society organizations have launched appeals
against its participation in the tramway. President of the
Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas and French President Jacques
Chirac already discussed Veolia's partnership in the tramline
project in the summer of 2005. Amnesty International France
highlighted the unlawfulness of the construction of the tramline in
East Jerusalem in a public statement on 1 March 2006.

The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) revealed in August
2006 that Veolia Transport Ireland had called off plans to train
Israeli personnel to operate a similar tramline in East Jerusalem,
following trade union protests inspired by the IPSC.

Then in November the Dutch ASN Bank ended its relationship with
Veolia and wrote to Veolia:

"....We believe that Veolia's involvement in the light rail project
is not in line with the UN's demand to stop all support for
Israel's settlement activities, and is therefore not in line with ASN
Banks' social criteria. Due to the direct nature of Veolia's
involvement (through a 5% stake in the consortium and as future
operator), we are of the opinion that Veolia's activities in
Jerusalem are in conflict with UN Resolutions. Therefore, on this
current information Veolia will be removed from our investment
universe."

In the light of the above, we urge you to take a stand for justice
and international law and to join the international efforts to
convince the Veolia group to consider the role human rights should
play in investments.

We ask you to re-consider your support of Veolia as long as Veolia
supports violations of our rights and international legality.

As Veolia has not heeded the calls from Palestine and various
international organizations, ending your relationship with
Veolia-just as the ASN Bank did-will allow you to truly
"participate in defining the overall direction and contribute to the
discussions led by the Institut Veolia Environnement."

Regards,

Signature

Rachel's Sniper

2006-12-09T00:38:00.000-08:00

Yesterday my colleague walked out of the office where he spends many tireless days and nights working away. When he did not return for some time I began to wonder where he could have gone. Then came the news that he left in an instant, after he received the news that his 12-year old son who was playing outside on their balcony was shot by an Israeli sniper from his tower that is over looking their house in Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem. This particular sniper tower is the same that runs through the barrier around Rachel's Tomb which is adjacent to the camp. The Wall was recently completed there in September and currently a Jewish only settlement is being built. Two children were on the balcony at the time of the shooting, five more children between 2-10 years old were playing inside the house - running between the balcony and the house. No warning was given to the children before the shooting began.

Miras was shot in the back as he and his brother were running back into the house to seek protection as the bullet pierced his body. Three other children (2 years old to the eye, 9 years old to the leg and Mai'san to the stomach) suffered injuries from glass and stone shrapnel. The children said that shooting continued after they had entered the house. This was a clearly deliberate attack with the intention to kill, injure and/or maim the children. After Miras was taken to hospital, the family found the rest of the children in a state of shock, holding each other minutes after the event, unable to move.

The house is less than 200 feet away from the tower, so it can be clearly seen that they were children playing. As with many homes in the camp, the soldiers can see directly into their home and have probably monitored the movements of the family for quite some time. We all went to the hospital while Miras underwent surgery; thankfully the bullet was removed and he remains in critical but stable condition.

Today, when Nidal went on the balcony to take photos of the damage, soldiers from the tower yelled at him to move back in the house. It seems soldiers do not want them to use the balcony and the upper floor of their house. The rooms on the upper floor have been destroyed 3 times since the beginning of the Intifada. The family had stopped using them since 2000, but after renovation, started using them again in July 2006. Today, a jeep came looking for him; the soldiers are clearly attempting to intimidate and harass him and his family. The children are scarred and terrified that their father will get arrested.

In August 2006, the Israeli's officially severed the Rachel's Tomb area from the rest of Bethlehem, including from those Palestinians who own land and properties there. In fact, my place is very close and I often walk to see the many homes which are completely surrounded on all sides by the wall! Palestinian owners whose properties are located inside the area reported, that as of "the 28th of August that they are no longer allowed to access their properties. The Israeli Occupation forces gave orders not let anyone inside the enclave as they're preparing to isolate the area and rig large iron gate along the 30 foot cement partition surrounding the tomb site thus permanently sealing off the area from Bethlehem." The confiscation of the land and the building of the wall around Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem severs the connection between Christian and Muslim holy sites and is just another example of families devastated on EVERY LEVEL by the building of the wall and settlements on and near their land. That is why many have left and are leaving the city. 400,000 alone have been displaced, from the building of the wall. (For more information on forced displacement and internally displaced persons see the recent study by badil at www.badil.org/wall-report.pdf).

The "little town of Bethlehem" is under serious attack and is being completely economically strangled and physically enclosed by settlers and the wall. Settlement expansion and land confiscations are happening at a most alarming rate. And yet Bethlehem it is only one of the many latest developments of forcible transfer, which involves a deliberate and vulgar cleansing of the local population, a war crime and a crime against humanity. It is said that these settlers are particularly extremist, and they fear that "the town will become another Hebron - where Jewish extremists have expelled Palestinians from their homes and with the support of the Israeli army, who intimidate and harass the local population."
(see: Evil Incarnate: Settlers of Hebron http://palestinehumanrights.blogspot.com/2006/05/evil-incarnate-
settlers-of-hebron.html) It seems as though the fear is well justified.

On 31 October, 2006, when asked, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action the UK Government have taken following the Israeli Defence Force's transfer of the Rachel Tomb neighborhood to the Israeli civilian authority at Jerusalem, Dr. Howells responded: "We have taken no specific action relating to the Israel Defence Force's transfer of the Rachel's Tomb neighbourhood to the Israeli civilian authority, but we raised our concerns, at official level, about the serious impact on the citizens of Bethlehem of Rachel's Tombs' inclusion in the barrier. We believe the barrier's route should be on or behind the Green Line, and not on occupied territory. Construction of the barrier on Palestinian land is illegal. We also remain concerned by settlement activity in nd around the area surrounding Rachel's Tomb. We will continue to raise our concerns about this area with the Israeli Government."

As at least one person suggested that they should not let the kids play on the balcony of the house, and Nidal replied, "Is it my children that should not play there, rather is it not the soldier, that must not shoot him?" Yet, it seems that no one knows exactly what to do to stop them, and the `raising of concerns' world wide are not enough to safe guard the children of Palestine who enjoy absolutely NO form of protection. As Israeli authorities continue to make a mockery of the Quartet and all previous agreements, human rights, international law, UN resolutions etc., it is increasingly clear that the only hope for change is the complete diplomatic isolation; and all forms of political sanctions, cultural and academic boycott and economic divestment (BDS) until Israel complies with international law. Please let me know if you would like more information on BDS.

Happy holidays,
from the holy Occupied city of Bethlehem.

May next year be better.

Noura

The following is (another) statement that UNRWA put out.
Unfortunately, they have no mechanism in place to provide
accountability, or protection for those in their care.

United Nations Relief and Works Agency
West Bank Field Office, Jerusalem
Phone (02) 5890408. Facsimile: (02)5322842
UNRWA

Press Release

10/2006 PRESS STATEMENT
8 December 2006

Palestinian child shot while playing at home

Jerusalem - This Friday morning a 13 -year old Palestinian child was shot and seriously wounded as he was playing near his parents' house in Aida refugee camp, near the town of Bethlehem.

At around 12:00hrs, Miras Nidal Azzeh was struck by a bullet in the upper abdomen area, seriously injuring him. At least three bullets were fired in his direction from an Israeli army observation tower overlooking the refugee camp.
Miras was taken to al-Yamama Hospital in the nearby village of al-Khader for the removal of the bullet. He was operated upon and is listed is serious but stable condition.
Condemning the shooting, UNRWA's West Bank Field Director, Anders Fange described it as a "reckless and irresponsible act that shows flagrant disregard for human lives. Children are not safe even at home."

As UNRWA gears up for its annual Host and Donors meeting next week in the Jordanian capital, Amman, at which Palestinian youth issues will be addressed, Anders Fange stressed that this latest tragedy underscores the need for an international protection mechanism to protect the civilian population, including children.

-end-

For information only

Note: For more information please contact Sami Mshasha at 0542168295

from Beit Hanoun

2006-11-15T01:55:00.000-08:00

My husband Khaleel is a psychologist with UNRWA. Of his work with the family that lost 20, plus so many injured and had their entire lives destroyed, here is what he had to say.

Khaleel wrote:

Yesterday, I was with the families of the martyrs who
died in Beit Hanoun and worked with the family who
lost 17 people, while they were sleeping. It was a
very sad day. But thank God, I was able to really
connect with them.

I was able to sit with and through the anger of these
young woman & men, who lost their children, brothers,
sisters, wives, fathers, and mothers. I was able to
hear and see the sadness and depth of hopelessness
that rang so true to me. I am so thankful to be here
and to be a part of some type of a 'healing process'.
However, how is one to heal when the contiuation of
violence never ceases. I write to you all, because as
Americans, we have a duty to not forget the dead
memories of these massacred people and a
responsibility to protect the living.

This should never have happened. We can argue about
perception of the problem, or solutions, and how
mistakes could happen. But this is not one mistake,
and how do you tell this to the mother who lost two
children (one blown to bits) in her arms, or a child
who sees nothing but the continuation of suffering and
violation of international laws, while being demonized
for wanting freedom. Where is the justice in this?
For the sake of the 400 Palestinians who died (0
Israelis), not just last week, or since last summer
but for an entire people in a land, whose rights,
dignity and life are being stripped away each day.
Please write to your Congress about what has been
going on here. The U.S. Veto against UN sanctions on
ending Israeli violence is a disgrace to the
democratic values that we hold so dear. This veto is
also decreasing the locus of empathy control between
the West and East.

Do not deprive more Palestinian children from their
childhood, and their rights as human beings. Look
online and get information on the issue from people
who are living it. Reach out by giving credence to
their reality. These brave souls do not need peoples
money, they do not need sympathy, they need justice
and a chance to grow old with their loved ones.

In Gaza Strip

Occupied Palestine

Khaleel

Recognizing Israel

2006-11-09T01:52:00.000-08:00

'Recognize Israel'. This term is repeated to Palestinians so often that it is taken for granted by virtually everyone who hears it - without pause, or question. Even those who agree with Hamas not recognizing their Occupiers of 58 years may not think twice about the absurdity of the phrase itself.

If recognizing Israel had a glimpse of hope in ending the ongoing land theft, killing and starvation of the entire Palestinian people, Hamas would have undoubtedly done so. Let us forget, for a moment, what Palestinians vividly recall happened after the PLO recognized the Jewish state.

Today what most Palestinians recognize about Israel, is the appointment of Lieberman - a known fascist, whose openly racist and Nazi-like ideologies can only be seen as representing Israeli public opinion. Palestinians also recognize that this trend shows the future direction of Israeli politics, which will impact Palestinians even more harshly than now.

Perhaps Palestinians recognize that the current operation in Gaza, is a result of the bruise on the commander's pride, which was destroyed in Lebanon, and according to Ha’aretz are “looking for a diversion, to silence the critics by mobilizing a national consensus for a new operation?” Dr. Muawiya Abu Hassanin, director of ambulances and emergencies in the Palestinian Ministry of Health, recognizes that this “diversion” has killed over 350 Palestinians, including “137 Palestinian children and teenagers under the age of 16 since June, in addition to 29 women and 12 men above the age of 60. The army has been targeting innocent civilians deliberately and forty-two victims died while inside their homes, destroyed by aerial bombing or artillery bombardment”. All the while Israeli spokesmen and politicians “continue to mislead the world by claiming that militants are being killed.”

When in the history of the world’s nations have such demands been made on the victims of such widespread, ongoing repression and violence? In fact, John Dugard the UN's Special Rapporteur of Human Rights has recently recognized that “the Palestinian people have been subjected to economic sanctions - the first time an occupied people have been so treated. This is difficult to understand. Israel is in violation of major Security Council and General Assembly resolutions dealing with unlawful territorial change and the violation of human rights and has failed to implement the 2004 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, yet it escapes the imposition of sanctions. Instead the Palestinian people, rather than the Palestinian Authority, have been subjected to possibly the most rigorous form of international sanctions imposed in modern times."

So why does the one of the worlds largest and most well equipped army in the world need Palestinians, stateless, with virtually no representation or military power, to recognize it!? After all Israelis are doing a fine job in getting on with their lives and forgetting that we exist. The majority seem happy enough with us shriveling away in the confines of the oPt, behind the ever expanding wall and settlements, ongoing incursions, daily kidnapping, administrative detention and killing of whomever they like. In fact, a two year old child was just released from prison (Al-Quds newspaper on Nov 1, 2006), whose mother is still sitting like so many other women, men and children in "Administrative Detention," without charge or trial. Recognized by most Palestinians as well, is a family member who has been imprisoned and tortured; at least 8,000 Palestinian political prisoners remain in Israeli jails today.

Could it be perhaps that Hamas has learned a valuable lesson from history? Perhaps Hamas also recognizes, that after 20 years of attempting to kill the PLO, in the 1990’s when they finally did 'recognize' Israel, it was not enough to prevent their marginalization. Only at the pinnacle of their political weakness, were they ripe for Israel’s masterful trickery. Only then did the PLO sell its soul and its people’s future, to the Occupiers. In good faith they (we all) actually believed that Palestinians would walk away with at least something resembling statehood. Has Israel honored ONE of its promises or obligations? The examples are astounding with how it continues to avoid implementing any of its obligations under Oslo, or other internationally backed agreements, and gets away with murder.

NONETHELESS, I wish that Hamas would just recognize that Israel came, and took what it wanted, occupied what wasn’t theirs and claimed their divine right to do so. Recognize that by having an endless stream of money and power, it pulled off one the most brilliant and cunning PR and branding campaigns in history -- and as if magic, turned the victim into the aggressor. We must especially not forget to recognize Israel’s ongoing demographic goals that, since its inception have displaced over 6.8 million people. That is 70% of the Palestinian population has been made into refugees worldwide, and within their own country, and that two out of five refugees are Palestinian - the largest refugee population in the world. I too recognize that the inherent racism and fear that Israelis have built their system on requires it to be upheld with guns, F-16’s and military might – with the recognition that it is given by pillaging American tax dollars, an economy on the verge of collapse.

Most importantly and least recognized, is also that Hamas has constantly declared their intention for a ten year hudna (see below) thus “denouncing terror” and recognizing the “right of Israel to exist peacefully”. Most recognize and are waiting to see who is going to intervene and demand that Israel do the same. Therein lies the inherent point of absurdity that makes up the Palestinian question, and can only be upheld in the surreal realm of political double talk. Israeli’s prefer Palestinians with no effective government, no citizenship and no military to protect their rights, whether recognized or not, the imbalance to remain this way. If the entire state of Israel (and the people in it) want any credibility in its political abyss and ever-sinking world public opinion, I suggest that Israel recognizes the following: 1) denounces all of their governmental violence 2) accepts Palestine’s right to exist 3) and begins honoring past agreements and international law.

New York Times November 1, 2006
Pause for Peace

By AHMED YOUSEF in Gaza

HERE in Gaza, few dream of peace. For now, most dare only to dream of a lack of war. It is for this reason that Hamas proposes a long-term truce during which the Israeli and Palestinian peoples can try to negotiate a lasting peace.

A truce is referred to in Arabic as a “hudna.” Typically covering 10 years, a hudna is recognized in Islamic jurisprudence as a legitimate and binding contract. A hudna extends beyond the Western concept of a cease-fire and obliges the parties to use the period to seek a permanent, nonviolent resolution to their differences. The Koran finds great merit in such efforts at promoting understanding among different people. Whereas war dehumanizes the enemy and makes it easier to kill, a hudna affords the opportunity to humanize one’s opponents and understand their position with the goal of resolving the intertribal or international dispute.

Such a concept — a period of non-war but only partial resolution of a conflict — is foreign to the West and has been greeted with much suspicion. Many Westerners I speak to wonder how one can stop the violence without ending the conflict.

I would argue, however, that this concept is not as foreign as it might seem. After all, the Irish Republican Army agreed to halt its military struggle to free Northern Ireland from British rule without recognizing British sovereignty. Irish Republicans continue to aspire to a united Ireland free of British rule, but rely upon peaceful methods. Had the I.R.A. been forced to renounce its vision of reuniting Ireland before negotiations could occur, peace would never have prevailed. Why should more be demanded of the Palestinians, particularly when the spirit of our people will never permit it?

When Hamas gives its word to an international agreement, it does so in the name of God and will therefore keep its word. Hamas has honored its previous cease-fires, as Israelis grudgingly note with the oft-heard words, “At least with Hamas they mean what they say.”

This offer of hudna is no ruse, as some assert, to strengthen our military machine, to buy time to organize better or to consolidate our hold on the Palestinian Authority. Indeed, faith-based political movements in Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Turkey and Yemen have used hudna-like strategies to avoid expanding conflict. Hamas will conduct itself just as wisely and honorably.

We Palestinians are prepared to enter into a hudna to bring about an immediate end to the occupation and to initiate a period of peaceful coexistence during which both sides would refrain from any form of military aggression or provocation. During this period of calm and negotiation we can address the important issues like the right of return and the release of prisoners. If the negotiations fail to achieve a durable settlement, the next generation of Palestinians and Israelis will have to decide whether or not to renew the hudna and the search for a negotiated peace.

There can be no comprehensive solution of the conflict today, this week, this month, or even this year. A conflict that has festered for so long may, however, be resolved through a decade of peaceful coexistence and negotiations. This is the only sensible alternative to the current situation. A hudna will lead to an end to the occupation and create the space and the calm necessary to resolve all outstanding issues.

Few in Gaza dream. For most of the past six months it’s been difficult to even sleep. Yet hope is not dead. And when we dare to hope, this is what we see: a 10-year hudna during which, inshallah (God willing), we will learn again to dream of peace.

Ahmed Yousef is a senior adviser to the Palestinian prime minister, Ismail Haniya.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/01/opinion/01yousef.html?_r=1&oref=slogin .

A website by and about, Palestinian teenagers, recognizing stories about their lives behind the wall: www.lifebehindthewall.com.

Lebanon: Humanitarian Crisis, Open for Civil Resistance

2006-08-12T10:08:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to write, but more than ever before have felt truly at a loss for words by the scale and magnitude of the death and destruction in the war against Lebanon. We sit here enraged, and watch the Arab media as it shows the bloodied images of children dying in their parent’s arms, and the opposite scenario in Lebanon and in Gaza. Then this morning I was truly inspired by the letter I received (below) from our friends who brought us the International Solidarity Movement in Palestine. They recently sent out a call to Internationals to join the civil resistance in Lebanon. Although the Lebanese people are being killed indiscriminately, displaced by the million as food and water rations are running out, creating a humanitarian disaster; the people are fighting back! The problem of food getting to the desperate is well documented over the past month. Only yesterday addressing the emergency session in Geneva the UN's human rights chief, Louise Arbour, stated "Israeli attacks affecting civilians continue unabated," she told a special session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Everyone knows that in war the rich are the first to flee, while typically only the poor, helpless and unable to go anywhere if they wanted to, are left behind to die. This is true in Southern Lebanon, as in Beirut and Haifa, especially for the Arab residents. As BBC recently reported, many of the Palestinians in Israel do not even know where the bomb shelters are, and when located they find that access is quite limited to them. Incidentally, the relief efforts in the respective countries newspapers online, speak volumes. In the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz they are encouraging people to donate to the city’s ‘vulnerable in Haifa’ for the following: “1) Thousands of Haifa children which usually spend the summer in municipal day camps are now stuck indoors. The city has made arrangement to send these children to the south to special summer camps setup for this purpose in southern Israel. This will allow parents who need to remain in Haifa the peace of mind that their children are safe while at the same time allowing the children to resume normal summer activities.” Excuse me? The fact that they even have safe summer camps under ground for the JEWISH-Israeli children, much less are trying to receive humanitarian aid for them, strikes me as bizarre and twisted! As, the Daily Star relief effort (Lebanon’s major news media) reminds us, nearly *1 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISPLACED*, as a result of this brutal war. Remember that many of these are refugees who have already been ‘transferred’, repeatedly and suffered gravely from Israeli massacres and war crimes.

Ha’aretz relief effort number two states “Many of Haifa's most vulnerable citizens have been severely impacted by the situation. Many elderly and sick have been left without food or medical care. In addition, people who have relied on homecare for medical or food assistance are now unable to receive such help.” This for the Lebanese is perhaps the most daunting issue - besides the cruelty of the aerial Israeli bombardment. The Lebanese government has NO SAY whatsoever in allowing any medicine, water or food to be delivered to people, much less the ability to allow donations to be funneled to those in need. As is well documented, the Israelis are purposely targeting aid workers, even when the relief efforts are given permission by Israel, there are many examples of them having been killed! In fact, the efforts of ISM in Lebanon are being set up primarily for the cause of simply bringing food and aid to these displaced, isolated and vulnerable communities…at great risk to their lives. Tomorrow is their first planned action.

The Daily Star relief efforts go on to note that at least: 1,056 Lebanese, mostly civilians, are known to have been killed, (while 123 Israeli casualties, mostly soldiers, are reported) and at least 3,600 injured by this cruel war! Suffice it to say that the entire country has experienced death and destruction intimately, not to mention displaced and injured among in whose mind will be forever engraved with the memories in the entire future generation of Lebanese for many years to come. Is it any wonder that the entire country of Lebanon and Arab world, who regularly see these graphic images playing on their TV’s all day long largely support and are extremely proud of Hizbollah’s ability to stand up to the bully of an army and resist like no other Arab country has done before.

The last point I believe is very important to make is that most major news media almost unanimously blames Hizbollah for the destruction and mass killing of the war. Despite, and never mentioning the fact that over the past six years the IDF has crossed into South Lebanon on almost a daily basis. And, can anyone really believe that all of this is because Hizbollah kidnapped a few Israeli soldiers? Recent meetings with top US and Israeli officials turns this lame excuse upside down. On July 12 at least 3 weeks before the kidnapping of the Israeli soldiers Wayne Madsen, former U.S. Naval officer reports that “The Israeli invasion of Lebanon was planned between top Israeli officials and members of the Bush administration. On June 17 and 18, former Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Likud Knesset member Natan Sharansky met with Vice President Dick Cheney at the American Enterprise Institute conference in Beaver Creek, Colorado. There, the impending Israeli invasions of both Gaza and Lebanon were planned.”

Anyway, who is speaking of the Israelis who regularly cross into Gaza, not to mention the dozens of the Palestinian Authority officials who have been KIDNAPPED all over Palestine, by Israel! As I write, the ongoing massacre of hundreds of civilians in Gaza has been completely ignored while attacking Hizbullah and destroying Lebanon.

The media goes on to say that the international community has agreed on a cease-fire, Israel continues to ‘Widen Air Strikes’ and ‘Expand Offensives’. There are those who are no longer relying on the intervention of the international community to stop the insanity, and are taking charge of their lives, and are boldly and bravely taking matters into their own hands!

============

IT IS TIME FOR ORDINARY CITIZENS TO ACT:
A Testament to the Power of Civil Resistance

Tomorrow’s action will have more than 100 participants, mostly Lebanese, but also from all over the world, including a delegation from Egypt, as well as individuals from other Arab countries. Look for the news coverage, as there will be at least 15 journalists coming with the group. At least 15-20 countries will be represented, with perhaps 13 or more Americans.

Please support the brave Lebanese and internationals to resist the conquest and destruction of their land and murder of the Lebanese people. To the Power of the Lebanese People’s Strength, Resolve and Steadfastness against the Israeli War Machine! When the power of the worlds “greatest” armies and “smart”est bombs are used to wreak havoc and wanton destruction, on civilian masses, the people shall rise with all the force they have as their only weapon, their humanity.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We, the people of Lebanon, call upon the local and international community to join a campaign of civil resistance to Israel’s war against our country and our people.

We declare Lebanon an open country for civil resistance.

From Huwaida:

Friends,
I haven’t written much since arriving in Lebanon, and we’re afraid this will be short. It is now hours before our convoy to the south of Lebanon takes off. Our eight days here have been sad, frustrating, infuriating, and inspiring all at the same time. As many of you know, I came here as part of a small group, which included my husband, Adam, to explore the utility of establishing an international civilian presence in Lebanon to support the people of Lebanon in confronting Israeli aggression against their country. After a week of lots of debate, organizing, politicking and arguing, we held our final preparation meeting at a café called Taa Marbouta. This is a café that was due to open on July 20th, but because of the attack on Lebanon, the owners changed their plans and instead converted the café into a relief center. In the same building, which still has a brothel on the 4th floor, there are 5 other floors of Lebanese citizens from the south forced to flee by Israeli bombardment and destruction of their homes. Tonight, well over 100 people came to participate in the final reparations, receive instructions, and pick up the rations of food and medicine that we will carry to villagers in the south. While not much in terms of sustainable relief, this effort is meant as a political act to reject Israel’s efforts to impose its will and challenge the international community’s complicity in the suffering of the Lebanese people.

Every night we hear the bombing by F-16 fighter jets, unmanned aircraft and missiles fired from unseen Israeli ships off the coast as the bombs smash into Beirut and its suburbs. Last night Israeli rockets brought down 3 apartment buildings in the Shayyah suburb of Beirut. While these buildings were empty, because Israel had warned the residents to leave the day before, is this not terrorization? Israel seeks to absolve itself of responsibility for the death of innocent civilians by dropping leaflets on entire villages, towns and cities telling people to leave or die.

Should we consider this humane? Many of the 900,000 Lebanese civilians forced to flee their homes in the south and southern Beirut don’t have homes to go back to now. Over 1,000 Lebanese civilians who did not or could not flee have been killed. Monday night the Shayyah neighborhood was hit without warning – one building took a direct hit causing an adjacent building to collapse. Over 20 dead bodies were pulled from the rubble. I think that I have become somewhat immune to devastation. Last week we were in Al-Dahiya suburb of Beirut – normally home to tens of thousands of mostly poor Lebanese. Many of these residents first moved to Beirut as a result of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982. As I walked through the rubble and looked down streets of destroyed buildings, I was reminded of the remnants of the Jenin refugee camp in Palestine, also reduced to rubble by Israel back in 2002. For pictures of Al-Dahiya, see:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/aishabain/album?.dir=/8a5cre2&.src=ph&.tok=phYB7TFBkGAFSzjJ

While the situation here in Lebanon differs from our experience in Palestine – aerial bombardment of the country versus occupation soldiers brutalizing people on the ground – the aggression I’ve witnessed is the same, the destruction of lives and livelihood is the same, the war crimes committed are the same, and the impunity with which Israel carries this all out is the same.

A few hours ago we learned that the Israeli military hit a convoy leaving Marjayoun (in the south) under UN ‘protection’, killing three. It had received Israeli permission to move. The people here do not have any reason to believe that Israel will not hit a purely civilian convoy carrying relief. Indeed, UN workers have been killed by Israeli strikes, ambulances have been hit, and civilian homes have been targeted. But this initiative tomorrow represents the resolve of Lebanese civilians to reject

Israel’s dictates and stand up for their country and their people. We are all going knowing full well that Israel might hit us. And yet, one thing that we agreed upon is even if we are hit and suffer casualties, this campaign continues. If the convoy can continue on the same day, it will, if it cannot, we will reorganize and advance again another day.

We reject, on principle, any kind of coordination with the Israeli military, but we’ve done as much as we can to make it known to Israel that this is a civilian convoy. On CNN this morning I reiterated our plans and asked, in the face of this civilian act of resistance, “what will Israel do?”

Tonight a journalist asked me, “aren’t you scared?” I answered honestly, “no.” I really don’t think about it. While this is a dangerous initiative,

I believe that doing nothing is more dangerous. The United States, instead of backing an immediate ceasefire that could have saved hundreds of innocent lives, expedited a weapons transfer to Israel. For the past 4 weeks, the United Nations has been paralyzed; every day innocent civilians are being killed. When governments and international bodies fail to act, average civilians must. And so I am honored to be part of this convoy.

I am heartened by the love and dedication of the dozens of civilians from all over the world who traveled to Lebanon answering our call to join the civilian resistance; I am strengthened by the tens of thousands that will be demonstrating all over the world tomorrow; and I am proud to have worked with amazing people that are the spirit of Lebanon that will not be defeated.

If you’d like to reach Adam or me on the convoy:

Adam: +961-70-974-462
Huwaida: +961-70-974-452
If you cannot reach us, check our website for updates at:
www.lebanonsolidarity.org
For media, our Beirut media contact will be Rania Masri at:
+961-3-135279

In solidarity & struggle for justice,
Huwaida & Adam

NO000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000!

RESIST ISRAELIS!
At least two Israeli fighter pilots have reportedly deliberately missed bombing targets in Lebanon because they were concerned they were being ordered to bomb civilians, and several have refused to serve in Lebanon earlier this week, and were sent to jail. Also, increasing in numbers are Israelis refusing to join in this war. For the full story see: http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/08/09/1422204

Caged in, Locked Out

2006-06-22T09:58:00.000-07:00

Typically, entry to the Occupied Palestinian Territories (oPt) through the only possible route available, via Israel, is a nerve-racking, tiresome and extremely invasive affair. Unbearable delays, grueling interrogations, strip searches and other forms of humiliation are amongst the best case scenarios, with the ever increasing threat of deportation always looming overhead. Because this policy has gone on unquestioned for so long, Israel has recently stepped up its campaign to get and keep internationals out of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. If the foreigner in question answers honestly to the barrage of questions hurled by the Israelis, he or she could be in for a very stressful and unpleasant entry process. As a result, one must be prepared to lie with the coolness of a professional criminal, and prepared to back up their story, corroborated by witnesses, contact names and phone numbers in order to enter the oPt.

Entry Denied!
Israel ultimately decides, at whim, who will be "allowed" to enter the oPt. Typically the way for determined internationals to stay for an extended period of time is to renew the 3-month Israeli visitor visa. They have been stopped from entering Israel, en route to Palestine, or re-entering, after leaving the country for their required 3-month visa renewal. Even those wanting to visit Palestine for the first time are arbitrarily denied the right to do so.

Those who are typically denied entry are those who have a Palestinian background, are married to someone with Palestinian ID, human rights defenders, and those working in Palestinian civil society. In other words, those who are not a security risk of any kind, but disagree with Israeli occupation policies, have the highest risk of deportation.

It has been estimated that at least “13,000 people (non-Jews) have been arbitrarily denied entry to Israel/Palestine" over the past few years. Because insufficient information is accessible as to how many people are actually denied entry, it is difficult to know the true numbers. To date there is still no official written Israeli legislation that back up these discriminatory practices. A campaign is currently under way to address the issue from a legal perspective – (see below for more information).

Because the entire Israeli legal system is built on an illegal occupation, policies that are implemented are inherently racist in nature. Still the over-arching restrictions and complete control of movement go unchallenged by governments around the world. Seen within the pretext of a “normal” sovereign country, Israeli jurisdiction and control of Palestinian borders are normalized, as if acting within the bounds of a regular state.

U.S. Discriminatory Policies and UN Acquiescence
The United States deems that Israel has a right to control ‘its own borders’ and a State Department publication actually warns Arab-Americans that there is discrimination in the process by Israel. The booklet is made available at the passport office in Washington DC on travel by US citizens to Israel. There seems to be an understanding that this is fine, and direct evidence that discriminatory behavior is condoned by the US.

Similarly, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), is forced to comply with Israeli dictates. The UN’s TOKTEN (Transfer of Knowledge Through Expatriate Nationals) program aims to reverse patterns of “brain drain” by encouraging expatriate nationals, who have an expertise in a certain field to live and work in their home country. Formerly, TOKTEN employees were provided work visas allowing them to get funding through the UN to work for a Palestinian organization. However, those currently holding a TOKTEN visa were told in a recent UNDP meeting that they are enjoying an interim grace period and are unlikely to be granted future visas, because Israel is no longer granting permission for them to do so.

This UNDP announcement also denies foreign nationals who are currently living and working in the West Bank from being allowed to live there any longer. They are now being required to move to Jerusalem, even though the daily grind of the checkpoints make it incredibly tiresome and unrealistic to sustain the journey day in and day out, on a long term basis. In addition, they will be required to get weekly permission by Israel, to be allowed to the West Bank. Those who are "caught" living in the West Bank will be forcibly removed from not only the OPT but their visa will be revoked and they will be deported within a days notice, which has already
happened in at least one case.

A Growing Trend?
In fact, not only are the US and UN complying with the States control over the Palestinian territories, even Sweden has recently issued a statement to the effect that "entry into the territories under the control of the Palestinian Authority (P.A.), in the Gaza Strip, Judea and Samaria (Area A) is forbidden without prior written authorization. Entry into the aforementioned territories, without prior authorization, may result in legal measures being taken against you, including deportation and refusal of future re-entry into the State of Israel." "…the submission of a request to authorize entry into the above mentioned areas does not
constitute permission to do so, until written authorization has been received." From this statement one would be mislead to believe that the P.A. has some authority to grant`written authorization'. But of course, Israel, and only Israel has complete say in who gets permission to enter.

Yet Jews and those who visit Israel, from all over the world, have more of a right to visit and live unconditionally over indigenous Palestinian people. For example, according to Tel Aviv’s University website, "Israel has visa agreements with 65 countries. Nationals of these countries do not need to obtain an entry permit or visa prior to their arrival in Israel; they automatically receive a B2 Tourist Visa, valid for three months, upon entering the country. A4 Student Family Visa – Faculty and students can apply for this visa for their family members. It is valid for up to a year and must be renewed annually." However, last semester a visiting Professor
of Psychology at Birzeit University through the UN's TOKTEN program, had his salary cut before the semester ended and barely received his promised visa renewal to finish out the term.

Official Israeli rhetoric claims that their racist policies are, for our own security, blaming "the situation on the ground in the West Bank between Fateh and Hamas provides a reason for much stiffer entry regulations.” Is it not the right of those who for years have been committed to living and working under the, not exactly safe conditions of occupation, to make that decision for themselves? As 3.5 million
Palestinian people suffer, isolated, starved, while the snaking wall and settlements encroach, imprison Palestinians while stealing more land and water; and Israel kills with impunity. It is critical that visitors witness the reality of the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories first hand, because only then can this disparity be seen as clear as day. Could this perhaps be, what they don’t want the outside world to see?

•A legal campaign is underway to fight these discriminatory denial of
entry practices. Please email: palsolidarity@palnet.com if you, or anyone
you know, has been denied entry into Occupied Palestinian Territories, or
for more information.

Evil Incarnate: Settlers of Hebron

2006-05-29T23:35:00.000-07:00

We visited Hebron this weekend where the situation is far more savage and dire than could possibly be imagined. The only way to describe what we witnessed in Hebron's Old City is like the constant replaying of an old horror film. You know the kind that show little girls jumping rope with half smiles frozen on their faces in a surreal dream state, while simultaneously a parallel plot of horror plays out. Their was no jumping rope, but the frozen smiles were precisely the look the little settler
kids had on their face as they shouted down to us from their settlements, and threw rocks, stones and debris at us. Terrified, we tried to hide as they giggled and chanted "yulla", "yulla" ("come", "come"); their tone eerily indicating that this was their game of choice.

The scene was way too much to take in and process at the time. Speechless, we looked at the few remaining store owners that are left in the Old City, as if begging for an explanation. They just watched our bewildered reactions and simply shrugged their shoulders, offering no words for our brain to make sense of what our eyes were witnessing. Then again, who can possibly explain, understand or justify the 3,000 soldiers who are there to protect 500 settlers so that they can continue with immunity to: taunt, beat, harass, injure and attempt to push 300,000 Palestinians into leaving their homes?

We sat and had coffee with a family who was the last of the remaining to stay put at the precise point where the settlement is bursting to expand. Isolated, yet steadfast and determined I had recently seen this family in a film titled "A Spiders Web" (you can get it for a small donation from Al-Haq the human rights organization). The family and children have dealt with severe daily harassment by the settlers who even occupied the stairs leading up to their home for several weeks. The cute little one-year old boy has a disorder of violently banging his head against the floor and wall. None of the doctors have been able to explain or stop his behavior. Does it take a medical genius to explain such a phenomenon? What surprised me most is how Palestinians are able to uphold not only their humanity and resistance in the face of such daily, brutal aggression, but how they are able to hold it together rather than turning into the blind hate monsters that they are surrounded by.

We also saw a home video of mobs of these settlers who, apparently whenever feel roused, get into a large group and gangs of them savagely brake into as many homes as they can, only to destroy all of the family's belongings, valuables and life's savings. The soldiers stand there for their protection. The soldiers are placed there by the government to protect the settlers as they carry out their banal acts of evil. This regular display of harassment is the closest I've ever seen to evil incarnated. Through the role modeling of their parents and community explains the only possible way that these children could manifest such righteous acts of hatred. Remember the major propaganda of the late 90's that said Palestinians were teaching their children hate, or violence in school? I wish there could be an equal and thorough analysis of the systematic process in which children are caused to engage in what can easily be seen as blind evil. The situation in Hebron can not be ignored,
nor should it be seen as isolated. It is yet another step towards the slow, systematic ethnic cleansing of Palestine.

Noura - OPT

Manara Massacre

2006-05-25T05:32:00.000-07:00

I am perturbed and highly disturbed by yesterday's display of provocation in Ramallah's manara, which left three Palestinians dead and 35 injured. One of the injured is a good friend of ours, who sustained stitches from the shrapnel of an IDF bullet to the head, and he was "lucky". The manara is the center of town we all go during the day to take care of daily business such as shopping in the souk, to take public transportation and where school children are regularly seen walking to and from school.

Two things strike me at this outright demonstration of aggression. One thing is that Israel's hope for civil war is not happening soon enough in the West Bank. Their dreams of being able to "rescue Palestinians from each other", would be Palestinians ultimate disgrace, and an ideal PR opportunity for Israel. However, this clear attempt at provocation is destined to have the opposite effect, bringing the warring factions together. Done hiding behind the smokescreen of Olmert's visit to the US - while pleading his case for unilateral action, where he exploits the mourning of an Israeli family of suicide bombers - bullets were flying in a densely populated Palestinian civilian center. Now that even the US is urging against unilateralism, it seems that the hope for negotiations is back on the table. What the media should be seriously asking is, where is the Israeli partner for Palestinians?

Meanwhile Israeli Defense Minister, Amir Peretz, on Sunday approved the expansion of four new West Bank settlements, or over one hundred additional acres of Palestinian land! If you are a Jew from Australia, or a Russian Christian that pretends to be a Jew, you can come live here for free in a big beautiful house, with large swimming pools in lovely, over-watered, living quarters with all the weapons and ammunition your heart desires, surrounded by the world's ugliest wall to ensure your protection from the indigenous people whom you occupy, as a colonialist settler.

Simultaneously, it is widely known that policy is being put in place to deny people from entering Palestine, several people we know have already been denied. By refusing to allow people to stay longer than their 3 month visitor visa, (which is now how so many people are able to live & work here) since getting a working visa is near impossible. If Israel has it their way, we will no longer be afforded this opportunity to live in this country. One can only assume by doing this their will be the purposeful effect of minimal witnesses from outside to report the reality on the ground. It is well enough perhaps, as we prepare to leave here. No longer do I feel as I did before, that Ramallah is our safe haven in the West Bank. But I guess that's all part of the plan.

Noura Khouri
Occupied Palestine

Refuse!

2006-04-16T23:23:00.000-07:00

Yesh Gvul
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Palestine and Dysfunction

2006-04-15T00:53:00.000-07:00

Locals and foreigners alike love to criticize Palestinians who they often see as less than perfect in many ways. They go on to say that if Palestinian society expects to flourish in this ever changing and complex global arena (religiously, socially and critically speaking) it has many issues to iron out. I am not a social scientist and certainly no expert on behavior and the reasons for dysfunction, and so I can not and will not begin to outline the complex issues, or their reasons for being. However, dysfunction is a good word to begin to describe the over-reaching, invasive political agendas that trickle down into the daily lives Palestinians.

Excuse the analogy but: everyday Israel feels to me more like the predator Uncle who molests the vulnerable children in the family. Yet, no matter how great are his problems, no one questions his wrong doing - perhaps because of his troubled past. The immediate family may see that he has problems but not know how to deal with
them. The extended family-removed from any real pain or suffering, is content enough to look the other way. Both not wanting to know the ugly reality; his behavior continues unhindered. The children are unable to speak about the abuse and begin to "act out" and everyone wonders what's wrong with them. Instead of giving the child the love and support needed to deal with their suffering, the powers that be, deal with their troubled behavior by inflicting more punishment. With no accountability, Israeli citizens and the West allow Israel to abuse their power while they rape the land, control, starve and humiliate the population. The extended family is like the `left' in Israel and the U.S. who may criticize from time to time especially bad behavior. Yet typically they are comfortable, removed and content enough - so they silently go about their day, which acts to uphold the system while creating an illusion of normalcy.

Meanwhile the children are locked down, chained up and starved in the basement
where no one can hear their screams. The ongoing molestation of Palestine is removing all innocence (from Palestinians and Israelis) as it pillages the land, while locking in the local inhabitants and lying to the rest of the world.

I am overwhelmed by great sadness as I read article after article written by those trying to explain as much as understand, what they can about the situation as it changes so quickly. Just this week's stories of desperate humanitarian disaster and shelling of Gaza has taken 19 Palestinian lives, including 3 children, and terrorized the entire community, the ongoing settlement expansionism and land theft and the border crossing terminal that was silently erected April 4 between Ramallah and Jerusalem - which has about two more concrete slabs to go before effectively locking out the West Bank from the rest of the world! The effect and repercussions of ongoing measures are often too much for our small brains to process.

Every day I watch as this great land becomes more and more like a ghettoized community of bulldozed wreckage. A holy land of whose people are surrounded, marginalized and, if Israel has its way, will eventually be rid of. The building and facilitation of this reality is happening at every level, and the facts on the ground are overwhelming. In this holy land, the native population is not allowed to see the beauty and harmony that could be, if they were only able to live in freedom. If next time one has any criticism for Palestinians, remember the child who has been caged in, starved and held down while the world stands by and watches. We must protect the children in our care and give them love - not more punishment and ultimatums. By breaking the silence, calling out the repression and intervening we can end the abuse.

---
Amnesty International Calls for Halt to Gaza Attacks - 11 April 2006
http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/document.do?id=ENGMDE150312006
Israel/Occupied Territories: Israel must halt attacks on Gaza
residential areas - children killed

Human Rights Watch: "UNRWA Director: 'Counting down to a crisis in
Gaza'" PDF Version of Press Release:
http://www.un.org/unrwa/news/releases/pr-2006/hqg06-06.pdf

Qalandia Checkpoint becomes the "Atarot International Crossing"
Position Paper, 11 April 2006 Online document at:
http://www.miftah.org/Display.cfm?DocId=9972&CategoryId=3

The last conquest of Jerusalem
Apr 12th 2006 | JERUSALEM
From The Economist print edition

CITIES with walls in their hearts are never happy places. Jerusalem
is again becoming one of these. From the war of 1948 till the war of
1967, the armistice line between Israel and Jordan ran through
Jerusalem, dividing the Jewish west from the Arab east. Israel's
plans for Jerusalem will create a large Jewish city but will have
harsh consequences for he Palestinians, on both sides of the
barrier...

If the barrier really is just for security, Israel could take
measures to reduce its economic impact. It could improve the
conditions for Palestinian Jerusalemites and it could stop the
incessant encroachment of Jewish neighbourhoods into Palestinian
areas. But so far its main concern seems to be to ensure that this
conquest of Jerusalem be the last one.

http://www.economist.com/printedition/

Institutionalized Israeli Impunity

2006-03-27T04:31:00.000-08:00

Throwing the Dog a Bone
by Noura

I hate to be so consistently pessamistic in my writing. But, here I
go again…it's a little hard to be hopeful when running for the bone
you trip on the electronic razor wire fence! I mean, does anyone
believe Israel would unilaterally (do anything!) withdraw from the
West Bank if it was not in their interest to do so? Virtually
everyone in their right mind knows that they can not sustain the
brutal level of ongoing military occupation of the West Bank,
economically, morally and especially if they want to be seen by the
world community as anything but a piranha state, they have to get
out sooner than later. You have to give the Israeli's credit though,
they have succeeded in convincing the world that today Israeli's
will vote a "referendum" with the difficult option of continuing a
legacy of military occupation, or not.

Israeli voters are torn between the generous decision of voting for
Kadima, started by Sharon, a known war criminal. Kadima is
pledging to "unilaterally withdraw from most of the West Bank".
Headed by Ehud Olmert', his plan is a way to create "'facts on the
ground' without any negotiation with a Palestinian counterpart. It
will withdraw from isolated settlements but annex the largest ones,
seizing Palestine's most resource-filled areas and isolating
Jerusalem to prevent the establishment of viable Palestinian
statehood in the future."*

Forget peace talks, Israel knows that everything according to
international law and human rights will work against what they want,
a pure Arian, I mean Jewish state. For Palestinians inside Israel,
the "rightist" Yisrael Beiteinu led by Avigdor Lieberman party "has
been aiming at the lowest instincts of some Jewish citizens by
advocating for an Arab-free Israel - by placing Arab towns and
villages outside the national borders and stripping the residents of
their citizenship" According to Ha'aretz, his party's popularity has
been increasing weekly in the polls."

Since we're talking about "unilateral withdrawal", does anyone
really still believe Gaza is not Occupied? If so, see this recent UN
report http://electronicintifada.net/bytopic/427.shtml describing
the Humanitarian Crisis happening in Gaza at this moment, because
Israel refuses to allow food, aid and medical relief to be delivered
to the people. Unilateral anything by Israeli is SURE to have dire
consequences, and can be sure that whoever is voted in, will
not "unilaterally" give up one bit of land or air space that they
want, and this wall that has already stolen territory deep into the
West Bank and caused so much additional hardship, land theft,
destroyed thousands of homes and livelihoods, and of course
imprisoned the entire population.

Make no mistake about it, this election is not about peace, nor is
it about ending the ongoing war crimes. It is about how Israel can
most effectively disengage [rid] itself from the "Palestinian problem", which is really the Palestinians right to self determination, equality and
overall human rights.

*http://www.palestinemonitor.org/nueva_web/infos_materials/in_focus/i
n_focus_38.htm

________________________________________________________________

The Power of No

2006-03-13T08:36:00.000-08:00

The Power of NO by Noura
The Power of Saying No By Jeff Halper
30 Israeli [Soldiers] Killed 8-Year-Old Palestinian Girl
AP Erases Video of Israeli Soldier Shooting Palestinian Boy
Israel's attack on Jericho: Palestinians remain without protection

The Power of NO
For Palestinians the ground beneath is trembling in that familiar way, bracing we all wait to see what is going happen next. In this surreal world that is Palestinian life, once again fate seems not about the needs of the people and nation building, as external forces disrupt any ability to effectively determine their own future. Just when I think Israeli politics could not get more blatantly barbaric and outrageous we see the Jericho fiasco, followed by the invasion of Jenin, the killing of more children and the media’s purposeful cover up of actual footage (see below), the announcement of building of more illegal settlements which will effectively surround Jerusalem and separate it from the West Bank. To top it off, the recent news was met with the increase in support of Israeli voters. Recent events point to the same dynamics at play and have given no reason to hope for a positive change.

Sick and tired of hoping, the other night some friends and I were talking about various possible Palestinian strategies that may be effective for nation building. The discussion being thrown around these days is that the acting Palestinian government should refuse to continue with the charade of being an international player in the game of politics. I said if that happens then it becomes easy for the West to pontificate from their throne that Pals don’t want peace, and there is in fact “no partner for peace” so they deserve whatever happens to them. One was saying that Palestinians should avoid any civilian casualties, and take the high moral ground and continue to operate within the bounds of international law. Another said “this is a war” why when civilians are routinely targeted here why should it be any different for us to target Israeli citizens. Of course, international law says that the occupied have the right to resist by any means necessary. This IS war, and in war apparently civilians are fair game when fighting for survival and freedom. However everyone agreed, when those with unlimited military, economic and political power use force to determine right, no one is able to stand in their way, not even international law. One thing is clear to all and that is the illusion of equality does not exist. With the ongoing scenarios unlikely to change route, it is due time that we support Palestinians in making the only real choice that is likely to empower rather than co-opt them. It then becomes apparent that the best tool available for Palestinians to control their destiny is one, the power to say NO. It now becomes the job of “we the people” to support a just solution that offers equality rather than occupation.

THE POWER OF SAYING NO
Jeff Halper
Tuesday, March 21, 2006

As the new Hamas government is sworn into power in the Palestinian Authority, we might ask: What would bring a people, the most secular of Arab populations with little history of religious fundamentalism, to vote Hamas? Mere protest at Fatah ineffectualness in negotiations and internal corruption doesn't go far enough. While warning Hamas that their vote did not constitute a mandate for imposing an Iran-like theocracy on Palestine, the Palestinians took the only option left to a powerless people when all other avenues of redress have been closed to them: non-cooperation.

Gandhi put it best: "How can one be compelled to accept slavery? I simply refuse to do the master's bidding. He may torture me, break my bones to atoms and even kill me. He will then have my dead body, not my obedience. Ultimately, therefore, it is I who am the victor and not he, for he has failed in getting me to do what he wanted done. Non-cooperation is directed not against…the Governors, but against the system they administer. The roots of non-cooperation lie not in hatred but in justice."

Non-cooperation, perhaps the most powerful means of non-violent resistance, arises in situations when the oppressed have no other avenues to achieve their freedom and their rights. Since it is the international community, the US, Israel and, yes, Fatah, who have closed all avenues of redress to the Palestinians, they carry the “blame" for the rise of Hamas. It is to them that the message of the Palestinian electorate is aimed: "To hell with all of you!"

For full article: http://www.icahd.org/eng/news.asp?menu=5&submenu=1&item=87

Jeff Halper is the Coordinator of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD). He can be reached at jeff@icahd.org

30 Israeli [Soldiers] Killed 8-Year-Old Palestinian Girl
Associated Press

YAMOUN, West Bank, 19 March 2006 — Eight-year-old Akbar Zayed was on her way to have stitches removed from her chin when a barrage of Israeli Army bullets killed her on the spot, her family said yesterday. The army opened an investigation into Akbar’s killing, but the failed arrest raid left behind demolished homes, damaged cars and a family devastated by the death of a little girl.

The arrest raid in the West Bank village of Yamoun began like many others. Soldiers stormed the village of Yamoun late Friday, hunting down fugitives the army believed were holed up in a house. Troops cordoned off an area around the house, calling on the fugitives to surrender, the army said.
full article: http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=79408&d=19&m=3&y=2006

AP Erases Video of Israeli Soldier Shooting Palestinian Boy
By Alison Weir

In the midst of journalism's "Sunshine Week"--during which the Associated Press and other news organizations are valiantly proclaiming the public's "right to know"--AP insists on conducting its own activities in the dark, and refuses to answer even the simplest questions about its system of international news reporting. Most of all, it refuses to explain why it erased footage of an Israeli soldier intentionally shooting a Palestinian boy. AP, according to its website, is the world's oldest and largest news organization. It is the behemoth of news reporting, providing what its editors determine is the news to a billion people each day. Through its feeds to thousands of newspapers, radio and television stations, AP is a major determinant in what Americans read, hear and see--and what they don't.

If we don't take action, no one else will.
AP can be reached at 212-621-1500.
full article: http://www.counterpunch.org/weir03182006.html

Israel's attack on Jericho: Palestinians remain without protection
Ali Abunimah and Arjan El Fassed of the Electronic Intifada

The Israeli attack on Jericho and kidnap of a number of Palestinian prisoners, including the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) demonstrates once again the fiction that there is a functioning Palestinian "government" in the occupied territories. The ease and impunity with which the occupation forces attack Palestinians everywhere serves to remind us that these territories remain today, as they have been since 1967, under full Israeli military dictatorship. It is a mistake to keep referring to a "Palestinian government," because this gives the false impression that Palestinians under occupation are in control of their destiny. Palestinian factions may, in the wake of the January elections, be negotiating to form a "government," but this does not mean that this "government" can exercise any control or protect Palestinians from the ravages of the occupying power.

The media coverage we have seen of the events in Jericho, especially the BBC, has been appallingly shallow and misleading. Let us remember why Ahmad Sa'adat and other prisoners in the Jericho jail were wanted by the occupation authorities. Sa'adat is accused of killing Rehavam Ze'evi, the founder of the Moledet Party and an Israeli cabinet minister. The missing contextual facts are that the PFLP killed Ze'evi in retaliation for Israel's murder of its leader Abu Ali Mustafa (Mustafa al-Zibri) in August 2001. Al-Zibri was not carrying arms or fighting, but sitting at his desk when an Israeli Apache helicopter fired a missile at him blowing him to pieces. Ze'evi was the leading advocate in Israel for the destruction of the Palestinian people, calling for their wholesale expulsion.

full article: http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article4550.shtml

If you made it this far and have any feedback, go to the blog I started to respond! http://palestinehumanrights.blogspot.com/

With Love from OPT

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

2006-03-05T08:29:00.000-08:00

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.

***

Reflections on Palestinian Elections

2006-02-15T08:24:00.000-08:00

This is a very exciting time for Palestine. For once Palestinians
have spoken and the world is taking notice. It seems every political
commentator has an opinion, usually negative, about the new
democratically elected Palestinian government swept by Hamas. What
is routinely omitted from the dialogue is Palestinian history, with
a proud legacy of democracy and secularism. Yet over the years as
Palestinians have watched, suffered and protested the ongoing
illegal theft of their land as the noose continues to grow tighter;
and their calls fall on deaf ears. If one were to ask any
Palestinian on the street their feelings about the Hamas victory,
perhaps the only thing people agree on is the pride felt by the
refreshing candor of the new participants to the electoral process.
The way in which Hamas leaders speak to the media about the issues
that matter to everyday Palestinians, is like a breath of fresh air
to us all.

Hardly anyone should be surprised by the official reaction of the US
and Israel, for Hamas to recognize Israel's right to exist, abandon
violence and accept previous Palestinian-Israeli agreements, or risk
financial isolation and eventual collapse. Another remaining
constant is the double standards that continue to drive US and
Israeli policy. Of course, the powers continue to ignore Hamas
leaders who for years have stated "if Israel recognizes our rights
and pledges to withdraw from all occupied lands, Hamas, and the
Palestinian people together with it, will decide to halt armed
resistance,"... "Since no one is abiding by the dispositions of the
roadmap, the Palestinians also feel it is not expedient to adhere to
it," recently said Hamas spokesperson Mushi al-Masri Meshaal. After
years of stale negotiations, over a year long cease-fire - that went
virtually unacknowledged, Hamas has seen that such stalls in
violence, is not the key to unlock the door to their future state.
The resistance group has now decided to challenge the global
political arena, by using their strategic resources to play the
game.

My favorite analysis, was the one found in the Japan Times
online titled 'Is the onus only on Palestinians?' by Terry
Greenberg. She eloquently states, "To be effective, Hamas must
change," repeated the refrain from the West that Hamas must abandon
war and accept Israel's right to exist. How do you accept the
existence of a state that cannot define its own "existence"? How do
you ask people who are under attack to give up self-defense? The
newly elected Palestinian government is being told to do exactly
these things…How can some claim to promote and support democracy in
the Middle East, and then punish Palestinian voters for their choice?

If such absurd demands and claims are the order of the day, perhaps
they should be applied to Israel as well. Let us demand that Israel
clearly and unequivocally define its own "existence" by declaring
what its borders are, rather than continue the current ambiguity and
settlement-building in occupied lands. Also, let us demand that
Israel "abandon war" and give up its right to self-defense. And
should Israeli voters, in their upcoming elections, select a
government that does not agree to the above demands, let us punish
these voters for their choice." Would the Jewish state, or any
people for that matter, ever consider the possibility of giving up
the right to their own self-defense? To show a drop of good will why
doesn't Israel start by declaring their borders, which they have
never officially recognized.

Now the common question being asked by everyone is, what is going to
happen next. There are two main options: the powers can continue to
apply `absurd demands' and patronizing Palestinians who over the
years have lost, sacrificed and learned so much. Or the US and
Israel can start anew by delivering a universal standard of
equality, human rights and International Law. Alternatively we must
be prepared, and held responsible, for whatever violence will
inevitably follow. If the US and Israel decide to pull the economic
aid from the PA the money will come from alternative sources which
will only act to polarize and further isolate Palestinians. It is
being said the Third Intifada is upon us. Let us all learn from the
past and understand that Palestinians will never stop resisting, by
all means, until their basic human rights are realized, nor should
they. Let us accept Hamas as an equal player in the game of
International politics - far from equal - the stage is set a step
closer to a more even, playing field.

………………………………………

"Hamas is not willing to pursue a humiliating peace and is more
interested in being accepted by the Palestinians than by the US or
anyone else. Well, let the Palestinians dream of the end of Israel
and let the Israelis dream of Eretz Yisrael from the Nile to the
Euphrates, but let's negotiate an end to the violence."
Islamic scholar and expert Azzam Tamimi

Nonviolence, Colonialism & 'Democracy'?

2006-01-12T02:10:00.000-08:00

The conference ‘Celebrating Nonviolence’ held in Bethlehem from December 27-30, has come to an end. With it, hundreds of solidarity activists from all over the world have traveled back home with a greater understanding of Palestinian nonviolence, past and present than they came with. For four days speakers and participants were reminded that this was not a conference of peace, but one of methods, techniques and theories of nonviolence that have been effective for independence movements worldwide. In addition to Palestine, we analyzed in detail various struggles of independence throughout the world including Tibet, Burma and Bosnia.

Acknowledged by many participants, was the willingness of Palestinians to host a conference of this nature during the current political climate. For Palestinians to organize a conference on nonviolence, under the heavy fist of occupation, was in itself a testament to the level of humanity Palestinians have sustained in the face of ongoing dispossession, misrepresentation and violence. A proposal was made by several participants, to do the next conference in Tel Aviv. Such an initiative taken by the state with actual power, would serve as a demonstration of good will. In fact, would the conference not be better placed in Israel, in a society where all citizens are required to serve in an occupation military. If all citizens were engaged in a popular movement it would act as a voice for true change and democracy, and an end the Zionist legacy that has brought about so much violence to both people. As speaker and Israeli human rights activist, Jeff Halper stated “This is the time when an international Intifada is called for, when members of the international community must stand up and demand that their governments end the Occupation now.”

The conference moved from theory to practice on the final day when some of the organizers and attendees led a vigil to the wall in Bethlehem, while others went to the village of Bil’in to support the local initiatives. For the past ten months Bil’in has regularly demonstrated against the theft of their land. Approximately half of Bil'in's land is being isolated from the village by the wall. The village will lose at least 1,950 dunams if the wall is not removed. Within 200 meters before us laid dozens of uprooted olive trees to make way for continuous building of the illegal Modin Illit settlements and the annexation wall. A few weeks ago the people of Bil’in built a Palestinian “outpost” on their native land, which is being appropriated by the building of the illegal wall and settlements. On this beautiful sunny day, equipped with all of our excitement, hope and energy people of all ages and backgrounds joined Palestinian women, men and children gathered under the horizon to enjoy a day of picnics, singing and dancing. Present were the parents of Rachel Corrie, standing side by side with Palestinian parents who too have sacrificed so much for the Palestinian struggle. The energy which permeated the air was a feeling of resistance and unity in struggle, and hope that together we can overcome the grandiosity that is occupation.

‘Democracy’ and Colonialism?
The ongoing campaign by Bil’in has made strides in recent weeks when the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz called into question the hypocrisy that is inevitably embedded in an apartheid system. In Bil’in the Israeli authorities responded by forcefully removing two caravans and immediately issuing a stop work order for the latest structure that the Palestinians erected. A hearing on the subject is to be held on February 1st, 2006, and is now being tried in the Israeli ‘High Court of Justice’. The Palestinian outpost has since been under 24 hour surveillance by the Israeli Military in order to insure that no further building takes place. As Haaretz reported, “the contrast between the quick concrete action taken to stop Bil’in villagers from building on their own land, with the lack of action taken against the quickly expanding settlement has put the Israeli civil administration in an embarrassing position.” As a result of the ongoing campaign, a rare act was taken January 6 by the Israeli civil administration who issued a stop work order, thus sending away the construction workers at Matityahu Mizrah settlement outpost, which is being built on Bil’in land. Even the Israeli court system predicated on Zionism, displacement and religious purity, can not even justify the contradictions inherent in their own “democracy”. For this is the racist reality of Zionism, two separate laws, one for indigenous people and the other for settlers.

Native American Money Used to Dispossess More Indigenous People
In light of the objectives that are apparent in the master plan, there is grave concern that the hidden objective of the wall is to cause the Palestinian citizens to cease working the land that is intended for expansion of the colonies, and thereby enable Israel to declare them state land. One of the latest settlement constructions revealed in Israeli newspaper advertisements on Monday December 26 announced the building of 228 housing units in the settlements of Beitar Illit and Efrat, just outside Jerusalem. These are the same illegal Israeli settlements of Beitar Illit that Newsweek's Mike Issikoff reported about last May. He details how indicted Washington lobbyist, Jack Abramoff secretly diverted $140,000 from a charity to benefit inner-city youths, to militant Israeli colonists who had appropriated land. Isikoff wrote: "Among the expenditures: purchases of camouflage suits, sniper scopes, night-vision binoculars, a thermal imager and other material described in foundation records as "security" equipment.” When did society decide to accept funding illegal settler thugs, to violently dispossess more indigenous people, over educating inner-city youth?

The policy of settlement expansion, surrounding and isolating East Jerusalem with Jewish settlers does not end with Beitar Illit. According to the secret EU report by the heads of missions to Ramallah and Jerusalem, “Israel has plans to build 3,500 new settlement homes in the West Bank. The plan to expand the settlement of Ma’aleh Adumim, east of Jerusalem, threatens to complete the encircling of the city by Jewish settlements, dividing the West Bank into two separate geographical areas.” Under the ‘Roadmap’ Israel has committed itself to freezing settlement activity; under international law, all settlements are illegal. If and when completed, Israel will control access to and from East Jerusalem, cutting off Bethlehem and Ramallah, and the rest of the West Bank - all of which are historically dependent on one another. The EU report went on to describe how, “This will have serious economic, social and humanitarian consequences for the Palestinians. By vigorously applying policies on residency and ID status, Israel will be able finally to complete the isolation of East Jerusalem – the political, social, commercial and infrastructural centre of Palestinian life.”

Support Local Resistance in Palestine!
It is time to demand true change, beginning with an end to occupation and a free and democratic Palestinian electoral process. It is due time that the people of the world stand together with one voice, united against occupation, colonization and state violence. Palestinians will not sit back and allow their lives, land and homes to be destroyed in order to build illegal settlements and the most obscene wall that humanity has ever seen. Support the nonviolent efforts of the Palestinian communities of Bil’in on February 1st, and the others struggling against all odds.

Details of Dispossession

2006-01-03T01:56:00.000-08:00

I recently passed through the administrative detention border
crossing that was erected in Qalandiya last week. The checkpoint is
critical because it effectively severs [isolates] Jerusalem from
Ramallah with the wall and as a border crossing, miles within the
green line.

The sign welcoming us to the checkpoint, creepily reads "The Hope of us All".
Equipped with 24 automated turnstiles which are controlled by
soldiers behind bullet proof glass barking orders, from speakers above -
it is difficult to put into words. It has all happened with almost
no other media coverage, and yet another step in the 'details of
dispossession' as Amira Hass has elequently reported below.

It's not all in the details
By Amira Hass

Each detail described here, every shred of reality, is liable to be
considered as a whole, which would dim its severity. Detail:
hundreds of people gather each morning at three narrow steel
revolving doors, and the gates do not turn because some unseen
person has blocked them by pushing a button. The number of people
crammed behind them grows and grows, and they wait for an hour, and
the anger at another day being late for work or for school is piled
on top of previous residual tensions brought on by anger, bitterness
and helplessness.

However, it is not the crowdedness and waiting and anger that define
the checkpoints and roadblocks, or in this specific instance, the
new Qalandiyah checkpoint. Nor is it the crowdedness and compressed
atmosphere of the rest of the inspection route, before the
magnometers and the closed rooms in which the soldiers sit and
inspect documents, or the other revolving doors. Or even the
other "details": the cameras that make the soldiers and commanders
seeing and unseen, the snarling voice in the speaker that issues
commands in Hebrew, the terrifying concrete wall above and around,
and the devastation left by Israeli bulldozers and planners outside
the cage that Israel calls a "border terminal," in what was once,
and no longer is, a continuous stretch of residential neighborhoods,
soft hillsides and the Jerusalem-Ramallah road.

Nor are the 11 "detainees" at the inspection route's exit an
adequate detail: nine teenage boys aged 18 and under, one adult, and
a 23-year-old university student, all of whom committed a serious
crime on Monday: After waiting in vain for the steel gates to turn,
which would lead them to the inspection route, on their way to
classes and work, they decided to jump over the fence - one hoping
to get to an English test on time, the other fearful of being fired
if he again arrived late to the printing press where he works. But
they were caught. The student was handcuffed from behind, and was
sat down next to a guard booth in the closed military compound. The
other ten were placed outside the compound, in the mud that became
thicker with every drop of rain. And the soldiers demanded that they
sit down. They could not sit, because of the mud, and only went into
a kneeling position. After half an hour, the bent knees begin to
hurt more and more, and the pants are soaked with water and grow
tight over the knee. The hands turn cold, but the soldiers don't
change their tune: "Sit, I told you. Sit."

But the cold and the rain are not the story, nor is the soldier
eating his combat rations and watching the detainees apathetically,
nor the telephone calls by this writer until after two hours they
are permitted, how compassionately, to stand up, nor their release -
including that of one individual whose frozen hands are imprinted by
deep red cracks from the handcuffs, nor the fact that the 14-year-
old in the group had to wait another 20 minutes after his release
until the soldier who took his birth certificate (after all, he does
not yet have an identity card) could be found. The question of
whether the detention would have continued longer had the writer not
been present is also marginal.

Also of secondary importance is the decision to open
the "humanitarian gate" (which is intended for the passage of those
in wheelchairs, parents with baby strollers, and Palestinian
cleaning workers employed by a contracting firm), in the morning to
women and men above the age of 60. Another detail that in itself
diverts one's attention from what is important.

What is important is that the army and the Israeli citizens who
design all of the details of dispossession - and the roadblocks are
an inseparable part of this dispossession - have transformed the
term "humanitarian" into a despicable lie.

Through the checkpoints, road closures, movement ban, and traffic
restrictions, through the concrete walls and barbed wire fences,
through the land expropriations (solely for the purpose of security,
as the High Court of Justice, which is part and parcel of the
Israeli people, likes to believe), through the disconnecting of
villages from their lands and from a connecting road, through the
construction of a wall in a residential neighborhood and in the
backyards of homes, and through the transformation of the West Bank
into a cluster of "territorial cells," in the military jargon,
between the expanding settlements - we Israelis have created and
continue to create an economic, social, emotional, employment and
environmental crisis on the scale of a never-ending tsunami.

And then we offer a little turnstile in a cage, an officer who is
briefed to see an old man, a bathroom and a water cooler - and this
is described as "humanitarian." In other words, we push an entire
people into impossible situations, blatantly inhumane situations, in
order to steal its land and time and future and freedom of choice,
and then the plantation owner appears and relaxes the iron fist a
bit, and is proud of his sense of compassion.

However, even the important matter - that is, the humanitarian
deception - is only one detail in a full set of details in which no
single detail is representative in itself. Isolated fragments of the
reality are read as being tolerable, or understandable (security,
security), or may make one angry for a moment and then subside. And
among all the details, the reality of colonialism intensifies,
without letup or remission, inventing yet more methods of torture of
the individual and community; creating more ways to violate
international law, robbing land behind the legal camouflage, and
encouraging collaboration out of agreement, neglect or torpor.

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/663138.html

Breaking Down the Wall

2005-12-12T22:59:00.000-08:00

This is an article I wrote for the nonviolence conference coming up
in Bethlehem, December 27-30 (www.celebratingnv.org). I wanted to share it with
you..

Breaking Down the Wall
It is estimated that Israel's Annexation Wall will be completed in
the early part of 2006. When it is finished it will annex 47% of the
West Bank, and hand it over to the settler population. At least 15%
of Palestinians will be left outside the wall[1], completely
isolated from the rest of society, and over 222,098 refugees for the
second or third times will experience, "land confiscation,
destruction of property, and denial of access to their lands thus
directly affecting their means of livelihood"[2]. In the end, it is
not an over exaggeration to say that the entire Palestinian society
will directly suffer by its completion, in addition to the seemingly
unstoppable illegal Israeli practices that continue unhindered.

Still the question is often asked by critics and supporters alike,
why don't Palestinians resist non-violently, and continue to do so
even if in the face of overwhelming military force. During this time
of intensive Israeli expansionism, and growing Palestinian
isolationism, internationals and Israelis alike want to know where
the next Gandhi or MLK is. Many may not even know that Palestinians
have in fact engaged in ongoing organized, nonviolent resistance
since the beginning of the century (please email me for a
Palestinian history/timeline of nonviolence). As well, there is too
often confusion and questions about the issues of history, religion
and who is right, or more deserving of a homeland. The issue
however, is simply one of equality, human rights and international
law, for all.

On October 28th, 2005, eleven year old Ahmad was celebrating the
Muslim holiday, Eid, while playing with his friends in a Jenin
refugee camp. He was shot dead in the head by an Israeli sniper. The
soldier admitted he shot the boy while "mistaking" his toy gun for
the real thing. Did it ever cross the mind of this soldier with the
best military technology in the world available to him, to take a
closer look? In response, the parents of the boy who was
accidentally murdered - donated his organs to an Israeli family. At
least three young Israeli girls were saved as a result. Ahmad's
father said that the action he took in donating his son's organs was
meant as "a message of peace to the world, stating that Palestinians
want real peace, and the only way of achieving that is by ending the
illegal Israeli occupation." Sadly, the difference between Gandhi &
MLK, versus Ahmad's family's brave acts is that they were
Palestinian; and for them was nether a whisper from within the
oppressive system, nor the rest of the world community. In fact, the
soldier that killed him like so many others guilty of the same
crime, was found `not guilty' of any charges. Equally disturbing, is
the Israeli man who was present at the newly united Palestinian and
Israeli family's home, and had the nerve to tell Palestinians that
they need to learn to stop their violence!

The Israeli system is one with no regard for Palestinian life.
Tragic as it was, Ahmad's death is in no way the exception.
Likewise, on November 8, three teen age boys hiking in a park, armed
with a `family-sized bottle of water' were shot - one in the head,
in short range - died on the spot. The IDF soldier claimed the four
boys were a terrorist band that were about to plant a roadside bomb.
Under the umbrella of security, these ongoing war crimes continue
unquestioned. When recently speaking to a friend from Nablus I asked
him his thoughts about the International Solidarity Movement and
nonviolent resistance. He made a point of telling me how he recently
counted 97 friends of his that have been killed since 2002.
Occupation surely did not enter their lives peacefully, and fifty
seven years of struggle to simply live their lives in peace, can not
be easily forgotten or ignored. Stateless, and without
representation, where is the justice in continuously placing the
responsibility and burden, on the victims of so much violence?

Relative to What?
Although the situation is relatively quiet in Palestine, it is a
tense calm that surrounds us. While there are no major incursions,
and rarely do we see the Israeli military presence during the day -
other than while crossing checkpoints - everyone knows that the
building of the wall, settlements and occupation infrastructure
continues at a frighteningly rapid pace. Palestinians are dying for
relative calm. Since the ceasefire was declared in February 8, 2005
to December 1, 2005, upon the writing of this article - 78
Palestinian civilians have been killed by Israelis, including 20
children[3]. We should compare it on a humanitarian level, but
sadly Palestinian lives are relative, their lives are not considered
of equal value to their oppressors. While the prospects for
Palestinian statehood are tauntingly dangled overhead: the
strangulation of the economy, the Annexation Wall, 8,000 political
prisoners in Israeli jails, the growth of the settlements, the
vicious attacks by settlers, denial of movement, especially roads -
the jailing of an entire people has become the political reality.

Here in Bethlehem, the first administrative detention checkpoint
center has been erected, reminiscent of a border crossing but more
likened to a federal penitentiary, with an armed guard perched up
high, pacing back and forth. The administrative detention center
serves to effectively separate Bethlehem from Jerusalem
Palestinians, and will ensure that travel from the West Bank is
securely severed. It is rumored that it actually serves as a model
for future checkpoints which will be littered throughout the West
Bank. Sadly, to an unknowing eye the spotless passage ways and
sanitized surroundings make it appear as if it is actually progress,
instead of an attempt to cement and beautify the ugliness that is
occupation.

International Law
I recently attended an international humanitarian law conference and
was struck by the depth of institutionalized racism that has
developed, and is accepted throughout society as a whole. As
Palestinian attorney and co-founder of the pioneering human rights
organization Al-Haq, Raja Shehedeh, noted in his opening
remarks, "the power of a colonizer is in his technical, legal and
organizational abilities. Slowly and overtime a system developed by
which they re-interpreted the land laws of Palestine…a dual system
of administration one for the settlements and another for the
Palestinians. Their old idea of functional separation between
Palestinians and Israeli Jews living in the occupied territories has
been a driving force for over 25 years now." According to a 2004
Foundation for Middle East Peace report there are over 601,000
settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the number has
grown steadily since. The annexation wall has butchered the West
Bank into a number of disconnected area units to protect these very
settlers, effectively isolating Palestinian villages and homes from
other Palestinians; and the rest of the world (go to http://www.nad-
plo.org/listing.php?view=maps_wall to see maps of settlements/wall).
Forget the state for a moment - this wall erases any hope of a
viable, contiguous Palestinian life!

This December 3, 2005 a UN General Assembly resolution indicative of
world opinion, overwhelmingly voted for Israel to end its illegal
settlement activities and construction of the wall around East
Jerusalem, demand Israel's withdrawal from the Golan Heights and
return to the Road Map, all of which US Ambassador John Bolton
dismissed as "meaningless".

Under international law, the legal consequences of grave breaches of
human rights are three fold:
1. State responsibility: the occupying power is legally responsible
for the acts of its agents, and is under corresponding obligations
to ensure that its agents adhere to the Convention and to prosecute
those who commit grave breaches;
2. Individual responsibility: an individual who commits a grave
breach is criminal liable for his or her acts and should be
prosecuted accordingly;
3. Interstate responsibility: of other State signatories of the
Convention: all state signatories are under an obligation to seek
out and prosecute individuals responsible for committing or
commissioning grave breaches (art. 146).

There is no way to have a peaceful, beautiful or just occupation. In
fact, Israeli policy and practice in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories (OPT) has not been guided by respect for international
law, but rather by how to most effectively violate. Ignoring scores
of international law rulings, regular Israeli violations continue
with impunity. States with power have absolved themselves of any
form of responsibility, turned a blind eye and are directly or
indirectly funding the abuses. According to a March 2005
Congressional Research Brief entitled "Israel: U.S. Foreign
Assistance," since 1985 the U.S. has given Israel three billion
dollars a year in grants; and since 1976 Israel has been the largest
annual recipient of U.S. aid and is the largest recipient of
cumulative U.S. assistance since World War II. This year, three
additional billion dollars were guaranteed to aid the relocation for
the mere 7,500 Gaza settlers who evacuated – and will fund the
relocation of Israeli Occupation Forces after the withdrawal. This
aid is in addition to the more than 2.5 billion dollars already
provided by the U.S. to Israel in the 2005 fiscal year for economic,
military and migration resettlement assistance.

The European Union and Palestine
Under International Law the EU also has a responsibility. A recently
leaked document written by the EU heads of missions from to
Jerusalem and Ramallah clearly states the direness and urgency of
the situation. The report found that settlement activity is
happening rapidly ongoing construction and is contrary to Israel's
obligations under international law and the Roadmap. They are well
aware that "when the barrier has been completed, Israel will control
access to and from East Jerusalem, cutting off its Palestinian
satellite cities of Bethlehem and Ramallah, and the rest of the West
Bank beyond. This will have serious economic, social and
humanitarian consequences for the Palestinians." They have no
illusions about the wall being for security, "Isael's main
motivation is almost certainly demographic - to reduce the
Palestinian population of Jerusalem. But the policy has severe
humanitarian consequences."[4] Although the EU could act
unilaterally and has harshly condemned countless Israeli policies,
they are yet to put any meaningful pressure on the state - neither
diplomatic nor economic.

…and the building continues.

Helplessly the world sits idly by and watches as states with power,
with the aid of individual Israeli soldiers, commit regular war
crimes against a largely civilian population. Clearly seeing the
injustices and fundamental flaws inherent in this system, and the
mistakes of history being repeated, we continue to hope it
miraculously changes. When states and individuals responsible for
upholding human rights are the ones guilty of violating it, what
options are the oppressed left with? These governments should be
held accountable - yet as seen international law can not be enforced
without the support of citizens worldwide. As Palestine solidarity
activists, it is vital for us to take a moral stand in favor of
international law by putting pressure on our respective governments
to do so.

Calling on People of Good Will & Moral Conscious
The Palestinian people are calling on the international community to
hold the Israeli government responsible for their actions, where
states have failed to. Together, we who believe in human rights, can
help stop the regular breaches of international law through economic
pressure. Over 170 Palestinian NGO's have signed onto the Boycott,
Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, until Israel complies with
International Law and Universal Principles of Human Rights: "We,
representatives of Palestinian civil society, call upon
international civil society, organizations and people of conscience
all over the world to impose broad boycotts and implement divestment
initiatives against Israel similar to those applied to South Africa
during the apartheid era. We appeal to you to pressure your
respective states to impose embargoes and sanctions against Israel.

We also invite conscientious Israelis to support this Call, for the
sake of justice and genuine peace. These non-violent measures should
be maintained until Israel meets its obligation to recognize the
Palestinian people's inalienable right to self-determination and
fully complies with the precepts of international law by:

Ending its occupation and colonization of All Arab lands and
dismantle the Wall;
Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab Palestinian citizens
of Israel to full equality; and
Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian
refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN
resolution 194."

Divestment, boycott and sanctions are a strategy designed to put
economic pressure on the unjust Israeli system, and are so far are
the greatest hope to realize human rights for the Palestinian
people. A growing divestment movement world wide is enjoying early
successes. Divestment campaigns, academic boycotts and economic
sanctions continue to grow across the US and Europe and new ones are
being regularly launched.

In 1948 we saw direct transfer; they called it a voluntary exodus.
Today we see imprisonment of an entire people, confiscation of land,
isolation and the growing prospect of Palestinian Bantu-state(s)
hood; they call it security. We don't have much time. This is more
than apartheid. Only by ending the occupation, and recognizing the
right of self-determination of the Palestinian people and their
sovereignty over their land and resources, will positive change be
achieved. Such a solution can not occur without strict adherence to
human rights and international law, enforced through a wide range of
economic sanctions, divestment and academic boycotts.

Noura Khouri
Occupied Palestine

"Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have
recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and
oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of
law" (From Preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to
which Israel is a signatory).

[1] Statistics taken from the Stop the Wall Campaign
(www.stopthewall.org).
[2] The effects of the wall compiled by BADIL - A resource center
for Palestinian residency and refugee rights-by gathering census
information by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS),
and the most recent map of the wall prepared by the UN Office of the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
[3] Statistics gathered by Palestinian international human rights
organization, Al-Haq.
[4] The EU report/document is available online at Electronic
Intifada, under `historical documents'.

For a current list of divestment campaigns & resources, email me.

The Walls are Closing in

2005-10-10T04:45:00.000-07:00

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