We are being suffocated
The outside world has to grasp that Palestinian infighting is the product of an intolerable blockade Sami Abdel-Shafi in Gaza CitySaturday February 10, 2007
It was a surreal but telling reflection of how lonely Palestinians have become as their leadership has seemingly been pushed into breakdown and failure, while Israel watched from the sidelines. Late one night, I was suddenly yelled at to stop my car, turn the lights off and roll down the windows. Two masked men, without any identifying insignias, closed in from the sides; one pointed his machine gun at me while the other, two steps behind, shouldered a loaded rocket-propelled grenade launcher. That was a week last Thursday, hours after fierce clashes erupted between Hamas and Fatah, ending the seventh ceasefire between the factions, and ushering in the deadliest power struggle yet.
To Palestinians it seemed sadly clear that the moral credit of their cause was being eroded: how must it look to the outside world that they had flip-flopped in one year between democratic elections and internecine violence?
A day before this incident, a House of Commons development committee report warned of drastically deteriorating conditions in the occupied territories as a result of the US-led economic embargo in the wake of last year's elections. The report questioned the proportionality of Israel's own blockade and its implications for the prospects of a lasting peace. The Palestinian infighting only underlined the sense of those warnings.
The militiamen I had run into had no clear lines of authority. One turned out to be a recent accountancy graduate who had never been able to find a job and had been given no weapons training. Many such armed men simply need an income. Without any means to provide for their families, they join one of the many security outfits to secure a salary. The international community needs to grasp the dire consequences of maintaining what is the largest regional prison in the world: Camp Gaza Strip....
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Friday, February 09, 2007
Monday, February 05, 2007
Update- on Internal Clashes
In Gaza battle, even home is not safe
Gaza City, Feb 05: Gaza's civilians have no place to hide. With war raging in the streets between Hamas and Fatah loyalists, bullets, grenades and ceiling-piercing mortar shells are flying from all directions, battering homes, shops and schools. "Anyone who says he is not scared is a liar," Zaher Abdel Rahman, a computer technician whose sixth-floor apartment in downtown Gaza City has been hit by bullets and a mortar shell, said Sunday. There's no way to run. The Gaza Strip's border is closed, locking 1.4 million Palestinians in a coastal territory just 27 miles long and 5 miles deep with food and other basics running short. A fresh cease-fire was declared Sunday evening, but there was no indication it would be any more successful than previous truces in recent weeks of factional fighting. Gazans have long been accustomed to violence. But until recently, combat was between Palestinian militants and Israeli troops, and the lines of battle were clear. The last few weeks of fighting between Hamas and Fatah gunmen have taken on a different feel. Gunfire can erupt at any time, poorly trained fighters shoot at random, and the target isn't always known. Fighting has left parts of Gaza a moonscape of burned cars and wrecked buildings. Some of its best known institutions, including mosques and universities, have been heavily damaged from fires set by combatants or rockets punching holes in the walls. Civilians are caught in the middle. Gunmen take up positions on the roofs of Gaza City's high-rise apartment buildings, put up makeshift roadblocks in residential areas and harass anyone venturing outdoors when there is no shooting. Residents are afraid to tell gunmen to leave their buildings, despite the danger they will attract fire. On Saturday, a Hamas radio station warned that the Islamic militant group's men would attack any building where they spotted rival fighters. But they have not carried out the threat. Even in areas without fighting, people are wary when they go outside. On Sunday, children walked down streets with their backs to walls to lessen the danger in case gunfire should break out. Some residents liken their situation to the fighting that devastated Beirut during Lebanon's civil war in the 1970s and '80s. "My wife was crying on Friday night all the time. I tried to comfort her. She looked at me and said, 'You are crying as well,'" said Abdel Rahman, the computer technician, recounting a gunbattle outside their apartment building. "We were crawling just to get to the bathroom." His home is near the headquarters of the pro-Fatah Preventive Security force, site of some of the heaviest fighting. The family said the apartment building's electricity had been cut off for three days, and a generator ran out of fuel. During lulls in fighting, Gazans run out to buy supplies to tide them over through the next round of battle. But many supermarkets are closed, and supplies of key items such as milk, bread and diapers have been running low. Near the Preventive Security headquarters, people had to pass three Fatah roadblocks, and nearby a Hamas gunman told a motorist who slowed to look at damage: "Go ahead and drive. Otherwise, your car will look like this." The sides have been locked in a power struggle since Hamas defeated the long-ruling Fatah party in legislative elections a year ago. The tensions have brought worsening violence. The bloodiest round erupted Thursday, with 28 people killed and more than 230 wounded in four days. The Hamas-allied Islamic University was badly hit. Nearly all its nine buildings had extensive damage from rocket fire and blazes set by Fatah forces. Computers were looted, classrooms reduced to rubble and science laboratories destroyed. Awni Abdel Kader, the university's head librarian, said 3,000 reference books were destroyed, including religious works and rare books. A few students and workers entered Sunday to inspect damage. "God punish them," one veiled student wailed as she left a building. On Sunday, Hamas gunmen attacked bases of Fatah-allied troops with mortar shells and rocket-propelled grenades before the announcement of yet another truce. Forces pulled back, Hamas and Fatah officials conducted joint patrols and police replaced gunmen on rooftops. The rivals also began releasing hostages, officials said. Previous truces have been short-lived, however, and Hamas accused Fatah of kidnapping one of its fighters after the cease-fire began. Sunday's truce began ahead of a planned meeting Tuesday between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah and Hamas' exiled leader, Khaled Mashaal, in Saudi Arabia. Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas was also expected to attend. Abbas is pushing Hamas to join his party in a moderate coalition to get international sanctions lifted against the Hamas-led government. Hamas has rejected international demands that it renounce violence and recognize Israel's right to exist, despite the economic sanctions that have caused widespread hardship and left it unable to pay tens of thousands of civil servants. Bureau Report
Gaza City, Feb 05: Gaza's civilians have no place to hide. With war raging in the streets between Hamas and Fatah loyalists, bullets, grenades and ceiling-piercing mortar shells are flying from all directions, battering homes, shops and schools. "Anyone who says he is not scared is a liar," Zaher Abdel Rahman, a computer technician whose sixth-floor apartment in downtown Gaza City has been hit by bullets and a mortar shell, said Sunday. There's no way to run. The Gaza Strip's border is closed, locking 1.4 million Palestinians in a coastal territory just 27 miles long and 5 miles deep with food and other basics running short. A fresh cease-fire was declared Sunday evening, but there was no indication it would be any more successful than previous truces in recent weeks of factional fighting. Gazans have long been accustomed to violence. But until recently, combat was between Palestinian militants and Israeli troops, and the lines of battle were clear. The last few weeks of fighting between Hamas and Fatah gunmen have taken on a different feel. Gunfire can erupt at any time, poorly trained fighters shoot at random, and the target isn't always known. Fighting has left parts of Gaza a moonscape of burned cars and wrecked buildings. Some of its best known institutions, including mosques and universities, have been heavily damaged from fires set by combatants or rockets punching holes in the walls. Civilians are caught in the middle. Gunmen take up positions on the roofs of Gaza City's high-rise apartment buildings, put up makeshift roadblocks in residential areas and harass anyone venturing outdoors when there is no shooting. Residents are afraid to tell gunmen to leave their buildings, despite the danger they will attract fire. On Saturday, a Hamas radio station warned that the Islamic militant group's men would attack any building where they spotted rival fighters. But they have not carried out the threat. Even in areas without fighting, people are wary when they go outside. On Sunday, children walked down streets with their backs to walls to lessen the danger in case gunfire should break out. Some residents liken their situation to the fighting that devastated Beirut during Lebanon's civil war in the 1970s and '80s. "My wife was crying on Friday night all the time. I tried to comfort her. She looked at me and said, 'You are crying as well,'" said Abdel Rahman, the computer technician, recounting a gunbattle outside their apartment building. "We were crawling just to get to the bathroom." His home is near the headquarters of the pro-Fatah Preventive Security force, site of some of the heaviest fighting. The family said the apartment building's electricity had been cut off for three days, and a generator ran out of fuel. During lulls in fighting, Gazans run out to buy supplies to tide them over through the next round of battle. But many supermarkets are closed, and supplies of key items such as milk, bread and diapers have been running low. Near the Preventive Security headquarters, people had to pass three Fatah roadblocks, and nearby a Hamas gunman told a motorist who slowed to look at damage: "Go ahead and drive. Otherwise, your car will look like this." The sides have been locked in a power struggle since Hamas defeated the long-ruling Fatah party in legislative elections a year ago. The tensions have brought worsening violence. The bloodiest round erupted Thursday, with 28 people killed and more than 230 wounded in four days. The Hamas-allied Islamic University was badly hit. Nearly all its nine buildings had extensive damage from rocket fire and blazes set by Fatah forces. Computers were looted, classrooms reduced to rubble and science laboratories destroyed. Awni Abdel Kader, the university's head librarian, said 3,000 reference books were destroyed, including religious works and rare books. A few students and workers entered Sunday to inspect damage. "God punish them," one veiled student wailed as she left a building. On Sunday, Hamas gunmen attacked bases of Fatah-allied troops with mortar shells and rocket-propelled grenades before the announcement of yet another truce. Forces pulled back, Hamas and Fatah officials conducted joint patrols and police replaced gunmen on rooftops. The rivals also began releasing hostages, officials said. Previous truces have been short-lived, however, and Hamas accused Fatah of kidnapping one of its fighters after the cease-fire began. Sunday's truce began ahead of a planned meeting Tuesday between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah and Hamas' exiled leader, Khaled Mashaal, in Saudi Arabia. Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas was also expected to attend. Abbas is pushing Hamas to join his party in a moderate coalition to get international sanctions lifted against the Hamas-led government. Hamas has rejected international demands that it renounce violence and recognize Israel's right to exist, despite the economic sanctions that have caused widespread hardship and left it unable to pay tens of thousands of civil servants. Bureau Report
Saturday, January 27, 2007
15 killed in Gaza. Internal Clash in the past 24 hours
Just as part of the expected situation in the Palestinian Territories, Internal battles continue.
Is it really organized ? No. As many here believe- at least Fatah doesn't seem to be as organized. Hamas is much more organized and disciplined.
Are they strong? which party is stronger?
Close to be equal. But, major disadvantages of Fateh Militants is that they are not loyal to a certain leader. Even smaller militias do not seem to have loyalty to their leaders or direct bosses as experiences are showing. Many attacks by Hamas to Fateh leaders that were received by Fateh with coldness and carelessness, some even think that they want to get rid of each other. As we are learning about the people who are being targeted or threatened that they don't receive any "party" protection not even from their "sponsors" or partners. Ghreib Story is one of the examples.
The strength is ideology- Hamas's members are blindly tough with any thing that faces them they are also positive dealing with some of their mistakes. They have extreme willingness to sacrifice for their leaders, party and their ideology.
This result, is it because Hamas is only evil or very excited to get in power period. Its a result of many really bad guys who either stood next to Arafat or now standing by Abu Mazin who have main roles in dealing with the cause with coordination with the regional and international governments. In other words, poweful outside, corrupt and untrusted inside have been governing us for a while. Its easier to stay in opposition, but it has been easier for Fateh to ignore the right of "others" to exist or share power.
Tens of stories you hear in Gaza, and you are not expected to be able to memorize the details, headlines are enough at the moment. Hamas car was bombed by explosives tied into the car and killed 2 militants. Hamas attacks a Fateh leader while kidnapping going on between both sides.
All night, Hamas and fateh were fighting in the street of Gaza, several attempts to attack and control main buildings and bombing them in other cases.
The preventive security force, one of the least popular forces that Mohamad Dahlan have invested his money and intelligence to have his own "gangs" He no longer controls it but ties are still to exist. This side of the pictures is the least popular and sometimes unpopular among the fateh members themselves. Anyway, why am i here now..?
Oh, OK. Last night we were invited for a dinner at our friends' house, things were escalating around evening especially around the area of our friends. We didn't want to cancel it especially that good food was already prepared for us. We arrived while shooting was taking place and a couple were killed in the area. We passed through points of the presidential guards, police, and others they made sure that we are not "militants from the other side! We arrived and it was fun.....
an hour later the news were coming in saying that one of the problems was about to be solved....but after killing of hamas militants today (new ones) Hamas threatened to attack the Preventive Force building...This building is located 200 meters away from the house that we were at! To make this story short....as i cant really describe the shooting and he bombing and the whole atmosphere that we experienced, battles continued till 6:00 am it started at 8:pm. We left this morning from that dinner...as the streets (mainly in this area of Gaza its the President's control- its close to his house and office) were full of soldiers of the presidential guards and police, heavy weapons and many points at the crossroads.
I apologize to those who are disappointed ...but this is going to get worse..
Is it really organized ? No. As many here believe- at least Fatah doesn't seem to be as organized. Hamas is much more organized and disciplined.
Are they strong? which party is stronger?
Close to be equal. But, major disadvantages of Fateh Militants is that they are not loyal to a certain leader. Even smaller militias do not seem to have loyalty to their leaders or direct bosses as experiences are showing. Many attacks by Hamas to Fateh leaders that were received by Fateh with coldness and carelessness, some even think that they want to get rid of each other. As we are learning about the people who are being targeted or threatened that they don't receive any "party" protection not even from their "sponsors" or partners. Ghreib Story is one of the examples.
The strength is ideology- Hamas's members are blindly tough with any thing that faces them they are also positive dealing with some of their mistakes. They have extreme willingness to sacrifice for their leaders, party and their ideology.
This result, is it because Hamas is only evil or very excited to get in power period. Its a result of many really bad guys who either stood next to Arafat or now standing by Abu Mazin who have main roles in dealing with the cause with coordination with the regional and international governments. In other words, poweful outside, corrupt and untrusted inside have been governing us for a while. Its easier to stay in opposition, but it has been easier for Fateh to ignore the right of "others" to exist or share power.
Tens of stories you hear in Gaza, and you are not expected to be able to memorize the details, headlines are enough at the moment. Hamas car was bombed by explosives tied into the car and killed 2 militants. Hamas attacks a Fateh leader while kidnapping going on between both sides.
All night, Hamas and fateh were fighting in the street of Gaza, several attempts to attack and control main buildings and bombing them in other cases.
The preventive security force, one of the least popular forces that Mohamad Dahlan have invested his money and intelligence to have his own "gangs" He no longer controls it but ties are still to exist. This side of the pictures is the least popular and sometimes unpopular among the fateh members themselves. Anyway, why am i here now..?
Oh, OK. Last night we were invited for a dinner at our friends' house, things were escalating around evening especially around the area of our friends. We didn't want to cancel it especially that good food was already prepared for us. We arrived while shooting was taking place and a couple were killed in the area. We passed through points of the presidential guards, police, and others they made sure that we are not "militants from the other side! We arrived and it was fun.....
an hour later the news were coming in saying that one of the problems was about to be solved....but after killing of hamas militants today (new ones) Hamas threatened to attack the Preventive Force building...This building is located 200 meters away from the house that we were at! To make this story short....as i cant really describe the shooting and he bombing and the whole atmosphere that we experienced, battles continued till 6:00 am it started at 8:pm. We left this morning from that dinner...as the streets (mainly in this area of Gaza its the President's control- its close to his house and office) were full of soldiers of the presidential guards and police, heavy weapons and many points at the crossroads.
I apologize to those who are disappointed ...but this is going to get worse..
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Sami Abdel-Shafi: A referendum could heal the Palestinian rift
Let Palestinians themselves speak on the recognition of Israel's right to exist
Published: 24 January 2007
Palestinians, who have had to endure Israel's siege on their freedom of movement and economic activity, have also been faced with sharp disagreements between Hamas and Fatah. Silence about the detailed status of talks between Fatah and Hamas to form a unity government increases the sense of neglect that many feel at a time when the need for a resolution of their disagreements is crucial. Palestinians and the watching world must be unambiguously informed of what both parties propose to end the multiplying crises in the Gaza Strip,
--More
Let Palestinians themselves speak on the recognition of Israel's right to exist
Published: 24 January 2007
Palestinians, who have had to endure Israel's siege on their freedom of movement and economic activity, have also been faced with sharp disagreements between Hamas and Fatah. Silence about the detailed status of talks between Fatah and Hamas to form a unity government increases the sense of neglect that many feel at a time when the need for a resolution of their disagreements is crucial. Palestinians and the watching world must be unambiguously informed of what both parties propose to end the multiplying crises in the Gaza Strip,
--More
Saturday, January 20, 2007
People and things are at best the same.. to Israel
Erez Crossing-
Living in the Gaza Strip is one story, but getting out of it is, for sure, a special miracle for further punishment.
Between the years 1998 and 2002 I studied in Birzeit Univeristy. Birziet is a village near Rammallah, In the West Bank. In 1998, students were lucky enough to get permits from the Israelis. The permits were 6 months period. If a student doesnt manage to renew his/her permit he/she remains illegal in the West Bank, because he/she is originally from Gaza.
In 2000, we, students of Gaza, got stuck in the West Bank, because a complete closure was made in the territories as the Second Intifada started. In 2000 - 2002 Gazan students couldnt move between vllages or towns in the West Bank, or the did, by sneaking in or creating good lies. Thats because, the checkpoints between the villages and towns used to check IDs. and if the israeli soldiers would find a Gazan in the car..or walking, Erez will be his deportation destination.
leaving this period aside, you can imagine how important and how signifiant is the period of undergraduate. Its the first real experience especially if you, kind of, moved away from your parents. My best friends, my best places, every little even or story remains in my heart as the deepest meaning of my life. Birzeit made me. Its a special case. Being a Gaza in West Bank...is also another experience.
After coming back o gaza, my home town, i was trying every possible way to get a permit to visit this town and see my friends. I managed to work with an International organization. International organizations have good chances to apply and get permits. ordinary palestiniains can't. I managed to go once in 2004 for 2 days.
Last week...was the second time i managed to get this permit, and i was the happiest person that I can finally do this!
So, i went with my boss and another collegue,, and here the journey starts...
You could see all the excitement on my face..but also, many many many other emotions...
We stopped at the first point were we get off the cab and start to walk towardsthe Palestinian guards. Those guards have one responsibility, and it is to take our ID cards and our permits if we have them with us, usually they are issued and recieved from the Israelis inside the crossing, and let the Israeli officers know that these names with these ID numbers are here. This step can take from 20 min in the best luckiest cases, to 3 hours, when I once experienced. After your name/ id number is called on the wireless device from the Israelis you jump to take your ID and take your luggage and start walking.
I m not good in measurements but its a big long terminal./corridor. It takes about 15 min to walk..till you reach the first Israeli Gate. Its closed. In front of you another zone of about 15 meters and then another similar gate and on the sides metal fences. You wait and wait. You cant notify someone that you are here. Except if you cross the line by talking to your collegue or laugh..then they hear you and they yell in hebrew sometimes in arabic; telling you to shut up..or lower your voice..or wait. This voice comes from some speakers. You cant even see speakers! So you basically deal with vacume and some yelling instructing you from.above?!
This time that you wait at this gate really varies..from 20min - hours. The gates suddenly recieve a signal and opens automatically and opens only to one meter so that it will be just enough for everyone to run in between the door and fences. Now, you are in a "buffer zone" thats at least what i and some people i met there called it. you wait again between 10min- one hour. the next gate opens and takes you to narrow terminals that are fenced and you walk quickly one by one, because the width doesnt take more than one person size anyway. The third door that is usually open, you pass a ery narrow revolving metal entrance that takes you to the security chek up. You start to recieve instruction in the language that is availabe. if you know hebrew thats great becasue sometimes you are just yelled at just because you are trying to guess what the hell does she/he (soldier) wants? So you manage to get your stuff on the luggage x-ray machine and most of the times they ask you to get most of the stuff out of it. Then .. you pass a metal detectro and then you find yourself in front of a rounded glass room that is surrounded from both sides with metal strips. You enter you see yellow marks for the feet and the door closes and its the X-ray machine this time for people. the doors closes, a louder voice from the "instructor" yelling at you, sometimes nice, by saying" please do this" . The soldier tels you what to do; you put your feet on the right place and raise your hands and stay still, and these two metal things go around you about 2 times really quickly thats sounds like a washing machine! and then the door opens. and you can go on now. You collect your stuff from the other side of the bags x-ray machins and you find your laptop thrown on the metal box under the machine, unless someone before you saved it from crashing. You walk about 20 meters passing few fences and terminals, and then reach a room that is glass and conrete. you communicate with someone finally! the soldiers. They check that you have a permit or check the permit that you have with you by putting your ID on the glass and wait for the Ok.They give you a colored piece of paper that proves that you can travle through Israel. After this , you walk about 10 meters, and here s the private security company personnel finds u and make you put the bags and open them. They are quiet, mostly polite. They search every little thing in the bag, they alsmost started to read my book! As soon as you get the Ok from those. you walk to the final gate! It is about 40 meters to that final gate. and you give the colored piece of paper and leave!!
I apologize if this confused you...but i needed to put down.
for any clarifications. please ask through comments.
There is still a lot more to tell about my shock approaching Ramallah..that has become an odd town drown in the Israeli "settlements, now i call cities"
Thanks for your patience.
Living in the Gaza Strip is one story, but getting out of it is, for sure, a special miracle for further punishment.
Between the years 1998 and 2002 I studied in Birzeit Univeristy. Birziet is a village near Rammallah, In the West Bank. In 1998, students were lucky enough to get permits from the Israelis. The permits were 6 months period. If a student doesnt manage to renew his/her permit he/she remains illegal in the West Bank, because he/she is originally from Gaza.
In 2000, we, students of Gaza, got stuck in the West Bank, because a complete closure was made in the territories as the Second Intifada started. In 2000 - 2002 Gazan students couldnt move between vllages or towns in the West Bank, or the did, by sneaking in or creating good lies. Thats because, the checkpoints between the villages and towns used to check IDs. and if the israeli soldiers would find a Gazan in the car..or walking, Erez will be his deportation destination.
leaving this period aside, you can imagine how important and how signifiant is the period of undergraduate. Its the first real experience especially if you, kind of, moved away from your parents. My best friends, my best places, every little even or story remains in my heart as the deepest meaning of my life. Birzeit made me. Its a special case. Being a Gaza in West Bank...is also another experience.
After coming back o gaza, my home town, i was trying every possible way to get a permit to visit this town and see my friends. I managed to work with an International organization. International organizations have good chances to apply and get permits. ordinary palestiniains can't. I managed to go once in 2004 for 2 days.
Last week...was the second time i managed to get this permit, and i was the happiest person that I can finally do this!
So, i went with my boss and another collegue,, and here the journey starts...
You could see all the excitement on my face..but also, many many many other emotions...
We stopped at the first point were we get off the cab and start to walk towardsthe Palestinian guards. Those guards have one responsibility, and it is to take our ID cards and our permits if we have them with us, usually they are issued and recieved from the Israelis inside the crossing, and let the Israeli officers know that these names with these ID numbers are here. This step can take from 20 min in the best luckiest cases, to 3 hours, when I once experienced. After your name/ id number is called on the wireless device from the Israelis you jump to take your ID and take your luggage and start walking.
I m not good in measurements but its a big long terminal./corridor. It takes about 15 min to walk..till you reach the first Israeli Gate. Its closed. In front of you another zone of about 15 meters and then another similar gate and on the sides metal fences. You wait and wait. You cant notify someone that you are here. Except if you cross the line by talking to your collegue or laugh..then they hear you and they yell in hebrew sometimes in arabic; telling you to shut up..or lower your voice..or wait. This voice comes from some speakers. You cant even see speakers! So you basically deal with vacume and some yelling instructing you from.above?!
This time that you wait at this gate really varies..from 20min - hours. The gates suddenly recieve a signal and opens automatically and opens only to one meter so that it will be just enough for everyone to run in between the door and fences. Now, you are in a "buffer zone" thats at least what i and some people i met there called it. you wait again between 10min- one hour. the next gate opens and takes you to narrow terminals that are fenced and you walk quickly one by one, because the width doesnt take more than one person size anyway. The third door that is usually open, you pass a ery narrow revolving metal entrance that takes you to the security chek up. You start to recieve instruction in the language that is availabe. if you know hebrew thats great becasue sometimes you are just yelled at just because you are trying to guess what the hell does she/he (soldier) wants? So you manage to get your stuff on the luggage x-ray machine and most of the times they ask you to get most of the stuff out of it. Then .. you pass a metal detectro and then you find yourself in front of a rounded glass room that is surrounded from both sides with metal strips. You enter you see yellow marks for the feet and the door closes and its the X-ray machine this time for people. the doors closes, a louder voice from the "instructor" yelling at you, sometimes nice, by saying" please do this" . The soldier tels you what to do; you put your feet on the right place and raise your hands and stay still, and these two metal things go around you about 2 times really quickly thats sounds like a washing machine! and then the door opens. and you can go on now. You collect your stuff from the other side of the bags x-ray machins and you find your laptop thrown on the metal box under the machine, unless someone before you saved it from crashing. You walk about 20 meters passing few fences and terminals, and then reach a room that is glass and conrete. you communicate with someone finally! the soldiers. They check that you have a permit or check the permit that you have with you by putting your ID on the glass and wait for the Ok.They give you a colored piece of paper that proves that you can travle through Israel. After this , you walk about 10 meters, and here s the private security company personnel finds u and make you put the bags and open them. They are quiet, mostly polite. They search every little thing in the bag, they alsmost started to read my book! As soon as you get the Ok from those. you walk to the final gate! It is about 40 meters to that final gate. and you give the colored piece of paper and leave!!
I apologize if this confused you...but i needed to put down.
for any clarifications. please ask through comments.
There is still a lot more to tell about my shock approaching Ramallah..that has become an odd town drown in the Israeli "settlements, now i call cities"
Thanks for your patience.
Silent About Gaza
Jan, 18, 2007
by John Pilger
A genocide is engulfing the people of Gaza while a silence engulfs its bystanders. "Some 1.4 million people, mostly children, are piled up in one of the most densely populated regions of the world, with no freedom of movement, no place to run, and no space to hide," wrote the senior UN relief official, Jan Egeland, and Jan Eliasson, then Swedish foreign minister, in Le Figaro. They described people "living in a cage," cut off by land, sea, and air, with no reliable power and little water, tortured by hunger, disease, and incessant attacks by Israeli troops and planes.
Egeland and Eliasson wrote this four months ago as an attempt to break the silence in Europe, whose obedient alliance with the United States and Israel has sought to reverse the democratic result that brought Hamas to power in last year's Palestinian elections. The horror in Gaza has since been compounded; a family of 18 has died beneath a 500-pound American/Israeli bomb; unarmed women have been mown down at point-blank range. Dr. David Halpin, one of the few Britons to break what he calls "this medieval siege," reported the killing of 57 children by artillery, rockets, and small arms and was shown evidence that civilians are Israel's true targets, as in Lebanon last summer. A friend in Gaza, Dr. Mona El-Farra, e-mailed: "I see the effects of the relentless sonic booms [a collective punishment by the Israeli air force] and artillery on my 13-year-old daughter. At night, she shivers with fear. Then both of us end up crouching on the floor. I try to make her feel safe, but when the bombs sound I flinch and scream…"
When I was last in Gaza, Dr. Khalid Dahlan, a psychiatrist, showed me the results of a remarkable survey. "The statistic I personally find unbearable," he said, "is that 99.4 percent of the children we studied suffer trauma. Once you look at the rates of exposure to trauma you see why: 99.2 percent of their homes were bombarded; 97.5 percent were exposed to tear gas; 96.6 percent witnessed shootings; 95.8 percent witnessed bombardment and funerals; almost a quarter saw family members injured or killed." Dr. Dahlan invited me to sit in on one of his clinics. There were 30 children, all of them traumatized. He gave each pencil and paper and asked them to draw. They drew pictures of grotesque acts of terror and of women streaming tears.....
Jan, 18, 2007
by John Pilger
A genocide is engulfing the people of Gaza while a silence engulfs its bystanders. "Some 1.4 million people, mostly children, are piled up in one of the most densely populated regions of the world, with no freedom of movement, no place to run, and no space to hide," wrote the senior UN relief official, Jan Egeland, and Jan Eliasson, then Swedish foreign minister, in Le Figaro. They described people "living in a cage," cut off by land, sea, and air, with no reliable power and little water, tortured by hunger, disease, and incessant attacks by Israeli troops and planes.
Egeland and Eliasson wrote this four months ago as an attempt to break the silence in Europe, whose obedient alliance with the United States and Israel has sought to reverse the democratic result that brought Hamas to power in last year's Palestinian elections. The horror in Gaza has since been compounded; a family of 18 has died beneath a 500-pound American/Israeli bomb; unarmed women have been mown down at point-blank range. Dr. David Halpin, one of the few Britons to break what he calls "this medieval siege," reported the killing of 57 children by artillery, rockets, and small arms and was shown evidence that civilians are Israel's true targets, as in Lebanon last summer. A friend in Gaza, Dr. Mona El-Farra, e-mailed: "I see the effects of the relentless sonic booms [a collective punishment by the Israeli air force] and artillery on my 13-year-old daughter. At night, she shivers with fear. Then both of us end up crouching on the floor. I try to make her feel safe, but when the bombs sound I flinch and scream…"
When I was last in Gaza, Dr. Khalid Dahlan, a psychiatrist, showed me the results of a remarkable survey. "The statistic I personally find unbearable," he said, "is that 99.4 percent of the children we studied suffer trauma. Once you look at the rates of exposure to trauma you see why: 99.2 percent of their homes were bombarded; 97.5 percent were exposed to tear gas; 96.6 percent witnessed shootings; 95.8 percent witnessed bombardment and funerals; almost a quarter saw family members injured or killed." Dr. Dahlan invited me to sit in on one of his clinics. There were 30 children, all of them traumatized. He gave each pencil and paper and asked them to draw. They drew pictures of grotesque acts of terror and of women streaming tears.....
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Cant get my voice out ...Or maybe Not interested to do so?
Hi everyone. It has been a long time since I typed some words on this voice page...
I m forcing myself to gove it a try this time.
My thoughts will be confused and mixed up, but i know you are patient.
Throughout the past couple of months, i had nothing interesting to share with you...at least it wasnt intersting to me..becasue i was alienated from the latest equations...or in other words, the lates battles.
As soon as the Gazans woke up from the shock recoverng from one of toughest incidents that resulted in the killing of 18 palestinians in their homes...Internal clashes started to rise as the main concern and the event taking place on the ground.
Fearless strong men....now facing teh ideaology...facing the corruption,..facing the agendas..facing eachother. Many, tens, of incidents took place in Gaza and later a bit in the West Bank. Such were, kidnappings, shooting, attacking buildings and so on. Maybe its worth a bit of analysis right before the argument reaches the concipracy theories.
Thankfully, I m fairly objective towards this battle, trying not to fall in this "trap". There is no black or white in analysing the emergence of Hamas movement or the development of Fatah. However, the peopel are being asked to categorize themselves to stay behind one against the other.
I suddenly woke up and paniced for few minuets...at the Gaza crossing. I remembered; We are occupied by Israel. Still.
West Bankers cant forget that they are occupied, therefore they have more venues to express their anger or frustration, or to convert negative energies into..something.
The combination of xperiencing Gaza with its ugly deadly clashes..and experiencing the humilation under the metal wires and gates through the Gaza Crossing..made me a bit more capable of throwing some words here.
Coming soon,
I m forcing myself to gove it a try this time.
My thoughts will be confused and mixed up, but i know you are patient.
Throughout the past couple of months, i had nothing interesting to share with you...at least it wasnt intersting to me..becasue i was alienated from the latest equations...or in other words, the lates battles.
As soon as the Gazans woke up from the shock recoverng from one of toughest incidents that resulted in the killing of 18 palestinians in their homes...Internal clashes started to rise as the main concern and the event taking place on the ground.
Fearless strong men....now facing teh ideaology...facing the corruption,..facing the agendas..facing eachother. Many, tens, of incidents took place in Gaza and later a bit in the West Bank. Such were, kidnappings, shooting, attacking buildings and so on. Maybe its worth a bit of analysis right before the argument reaches the concipracy theories.
Thankfully, I m fairly objective towards this battle, trying not to fall in this "trap". There is no black or white in analysing the emergence of Hamas movement or the development of Fatah. However, the peopel are being asked to categorize themselves to stay behind one against the other.
I suddenly woke up and paniced for few minuets...at the Gaza crossing. I remembered; We are occupied by Israel. Still.
West Bankers cant forget that they are occupied, therefore they have more venues to express their anger or frustration, or to convert negative energies into..something.
The combination of xperiencing Gaza with its ugly deadly clashes..and experiencing the humilation under the metal wires and gates through the Gaza Crossing..made me a bit more capable of throwing some words here.
Coming soon,
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Dear Gaza
Great Salutation from your daughter,
to the sea that used to embrace us together each friday
to the sun that used to burn our skins to make us of the same color,
to the oranges that killed our thirst,
to the shoulders and hands we used to exchange.
to the Gaza I know
to the sea that used to embrace us together each friday
to the sun that used to burn our skins to make us of the same color,
to the oranges that killed our thirst,
to the shoulders and hands we used to exchange.
to the Gaza I know
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Women and children 'killed in their sleep' in Gaza
Israeli tank shells landed in a residential neighbourhood north of Beit Hanoun early today, killing at least 18 people in their sleep.Palestinian hospital officials said there were several more injured.According to witnesses, all those killd were women and children.Hundreds gathered outside the Kamal Adwan hospital weeping as bodies arrived.Witnesses said that many of the dead arrived in their sleeping clothes.Four hospitals are treating the wounded across Gaza.Khaled Radi, a health ministry official, said of the 18 dead, seven were children, and 13 of the dead were from the same family.
Irish Examiner.com
Israeli tank shells landed in a residential neighbourhood north of Beit Hanoun early today, killing at least 18 people in their sleep.Palestinian hospital officials said there were several more injured.According to witnesses, all those killd were women and children.Hundreds gathered outside the Kamal Adwan hospital weeping as bodies arrived.Witnesses said that many of the dead arrived in their sleeping clothes.Four hospitals are treating the wounded across Gaza.Khaled Radi, a health ministry official, said of the 18 dead, seven were children, and 13 of the dead were from the same family.
Irish Examiner.com
Article: A brutal Taste of the Future
A brutal taste of the future
The assault on Beit Hanoun is a terrifying example of what lies in store for Palestinians
Sami Abdel-Shafi in Gaza City
Wednesday November 8, 2006
The initiation of Avigdor Lieberman - widely regarded as an outright racist - into Ehud Olmert's Israeli government seems to have already brought a taste of things to come. For the past week, the Gaza Strip city of Beit Hanoun has been made a ground zero by the Israeli army. By yesterday, more than 260 Palestinians lay dead and injured, with 53 fatalities - women, children and ambulance drivers among them. Read More
The assault on Beit Hanoun is a terrifying example of what lies in store for Palestinians
Sami Abdel-Shafi in Gaza City
Wednesday November 8, 2006
The initiation of Avigdor Lieberman - widely regarded as an outright racist - into Ehud Olmert's Israeli government seems to have already brought a taste of things to come. For the past week, the Gaza Strip city of Beit Hanoun has been made a ground zero by the Israeli army. By yesterday, more than 260 Palestinians lay dead and injured, with 53 fatalities - women, children and ambulance drivers among them. Read More
Left Beit Hanun...but never leave Gaza
After the massive attacks on Beit Hanoun...i m scared, but really want, to go see what remained from this miserable town.
Israeli troops left Beit Hanoun, but remember; that the tanks have only moved to the borders on Beit Hanoun in the north of Gaza and they went to invade more areas elsewhere. The Israeli incursions go on and on..even if you dont hear about some "Women" phenomenon, or 57 killed..there is more to come. Now, in most of Beit Lahia,...a little bit to south of Beit Hanounm and the eastern part of Jabalia another close by town, all in the northern part of Gaza Strip. In addition to the threat on the souther part, Rafah is waiting for its turn, expecting a similar misery of a big invasion. Such invasion to the south maybe kept to the last phase..it will be the desruction of the areas along the border. Rafah got used to house destruction on top of poeples' heads without sending any signals for evacuation. The talk was lately on bombing the border becasue it is the source of weopn smuggling ..this is true to some extent. But..what israel did after the withdrawal but wittnessed and encouraged this weaopn smuggling into the Gaza Strip through Egypt...Gaza is truely full of weopons..that are used mostly in internal confrontation. Dont say..well its your fault Gazans to let that happen..because Israel truely played it nicely and correctly..this is the goal..to reach this stage where Gaza should be kicked into the Sea...and trust me..i m not a conspiracy theory admiror..but if it seems that way..forgoive me but you have to understand the reality here.
The reality that isgoing beyond conventional occupation and colonial oppression...way beyond.
Would any american elections matter in the Palestinain- Israeli problem..i doubt it. Still, i m following closly the developments of the voting today ..but i will have to get some sleep and because of time difference results wont show till the morning of my time. But i think while watching CNN and reading the google news articles on elections about the significance of this elections..it may be significant a little bit for Iraqis who are really mad about their situation.... But for Palestinians...would it matter?? Simply ..No.
and then i remember..that when palestinians kidnapped Gilad Shalit..and the big Gaza operation was declared by Israel to get back the soldier...hundreds were killed..and it is still goin on ..and the borders were closed for the longest time..about a thousand poeple in Gaza and West Bank got arrested..and ..While al this ..Israel went to war in Lebanon..and IT IS OVER,.....Why would it be over in the palestinians territories..? I mean..a whole war took place and finished was really bad and intense but it ended! our situation , that was highly connected with the lebanese story (which i disagreed with, i mean drawing the connection with gaza situation) of the kidnaping of Israeli soldiers by Hiszbullah WAS JUST ANOTHER PHASE or Round of the endless GAME?!!
Israeli troops left Beit Hanoun, but remember; that the tanks have only moved to the borders on Beit Hanoun in the north of Gaza and they went to invade more areas elsewhere. The Israeli incursions go on and on..even if you dont hear about some "Women" phenomenon, or 57 killed..there is more to come. Now, in most of Beit Lahia,...a little bit to south of Beit Hanounm and the eastern part of Jabalia another close by town, all in the northern part of Gaza Strip. In addition to the threat on the souther part, Rafah is waiting for its turn, expecting a similar misery of a big invasion. Such invasion to the south maybe kept to the last phase..it will be the desruction of the areas along the border. Rafah got used to house destruction on top of poeples' heads without sending any signals for evacuation. The talk was lately on bombing the border becasue it is the source of weopn smuggling ..this is true to some extent. But..what israel did after the withdrawal but wittnessed and encouraged this weaopn smuggling into the Gaza Strip through Egypt...Gaza is truely full of weopons..that are used mostly in internal confrontation. Dont say..well its your fault Gazans to let that happen..because Israel truely played it nicely and correctly..this is the goal..to reach this stage where Gaza should be kicked into the Sea...and trust me..i m not a conspiracy theory admiror..but if it seems that way..forgoive me but you have to understand the reality here.
The reality that isgoing beyond conventional occupation and colonial oppression...way beyond.
Would any american elections matter in the Palestinain- Israeli problem..i doubt it. Still, i m following closly the developments of the voting today ..but i will have to get some sleep and because of time difference results wont show till the morning of my time. But i think while watching CNN and reading the google news articles on elections about the significance of this elections..it may be significant a little bit for Iraqis who are really mad about their situation.... But for Palestinians...would it matter?? Simply ..No.
and then i remember..that when palestinians kidnapped Gilad Shalit..and the big Gaza operation was declared by Israel to get back the soldier...hundreds were killed..and it is still goin on ..and the borders were closed for the longest time..about a thousand poeple in Gaza and West Bank got arrested..and ..While al this ..Israel went to war in Lebanon..and IT IS OVER,.....Why would it be over in the palestinians territories..? I mean..a whole war took place and finished was really bad and intense but it ended! our situation , that was highly connected with the lebanese story (which i disagreed with, i mean drawing the connection with gaza situation) of the kidnaping of Israeli soldiers by Hiszbullah WAS JUST ANOTHER PHASE or Round of the endless GAME?!!
Left Beit Hanun...but never leave Gaza
After the massive attacks on Beit Hanoun...i m scared, but really want, to go see what remained from this miserable town.
Israeli troops left Beit Hanoun, but remember; that the tanks have only moved to the borders on Beit Hanoun in the north of Gaza and they went to invade more areas elsewhere. The Israeli incursions go on and on..even if you dont hear about some "Women" phenomenon, or 57 killed..there is more to come. Now, in most of Beit Lahia,...a little bit to south of Beit Hanounm and the eastern part of Jabalia another close by town, all in the northern part of Gaza Strip. In addition to the threat on the souther part, Rafah is waiting for its turn, expecting a similar misery of a big invasion. Such invasion to the south maybe kept to the last phase..it will be the desruction of the areas along the border. Rafah got used to house destruction on top of poeples' heads without sending any signals for evacuation. The talk was lately on bombing the border becasue it is the source of weopn smuggling ..this is true to some extent. But..what israel did after the withdrawal but wittnessed and encouraged this weaopn smuggling into the Gaza Strip through Egypt...Gaza is truely full of weopons..that are used mostly in internal confrontation. Dont say..well its your fault Gazans to let that happen..because Israel truely played it nicely and correctly..this is the goal..to reach this stage where Gaza should be kicked into the Sea...and trust me..i m not a conspiracy theory admiror..but if it seems that way..forgoive me but you have to understand the reality here.
The reality that isgoing beyond conventional occupation and colonial oppression...way beyond.
Would any american elections matter in the Palestinain- Israeli problem..i doubt it. Still, i m following closly the developments of the voting today ..but i will have to get some sleep and because of time difference results wont show till the morning of my time. But i think while watching CNN and reading the google news articles on elections about the significance of this elections..it may be significant a little bit for Iraqis who are really mad about their situation.... But for Palestinians...would it matter?? Simply ..No.
and then i remember..that when palestinians kidnapped Gilad Shalit..and the big Gaza operation was declared by Israel to get back the soldier...hundreds were killed..and it is still goin on ..and the borders were closed for the longest time..about a thousand poeple in Gaza and West Bank got arrested..and ..While al this ..Israel went to war in Lebanon..and IT IS OVER,.....Why would it be over in the palestinians territories..? I mean..a whole war took place and finished was really bad and intense but it ended! our situation , that was highly connected with the lebanese story (which i disagreed with) of the kidnaping of Israeli soldiers by Hiszbullah WAS JUST ANOTHER PHASE or Round of the endless GAME?!!
Israeli troops left Beit Hanoun, but remember; that the tanks have only moved to the borders on Beit Hanoun in the north of Gaza and they went to invade more areas elsewhere. The Israeli incursions go on and on..even if you dont hear about some "Women" phenomenon, or 57 killed..there is more to come. Now, in most of Beit Lahia,...a little bit to south of Beit Hanounm and the eastern part of Jabalia another close by town, all in the northern part of Gaza Strip. In addition to the threat on the souther part, Rafah is waiting for its turn, expecting a similar misery of a big invasion. Such invasion to the south maybe kept to the last phase..it will be the desruction of the areas along the border. Rafah got used to house destruction on top of poeples' heads without sending any signals for evacuation. The talk was lately on bombing the border becasue it is the source of weopn smuggling ..this is true to some extent. But..what israel did after the withdrawal but wittnessed and encouraged this weaopn smuggling into the Gaza Strip through Egypt...Gaza is truely full of weopons..that are used mostly in internal confrontation. Dont say..well its your fault Gazans to let that happen..because Israel truely played it nicely and correctly..this is the goal..to reach this stage where Gaza should be kicked into the Sea...and trust me..i m not a conspiracy theory admiror..but if it seems that way..forgoive me but you have to understand the reality here.
The reality that isgoing beyond conventional occupation and colonial oppression...way beyond.
Would any american elections matter in the Palestinain- Israeli problem..i doubt it. Still, i m following closly the developments of the voting today ..but i will have to get some sleep and because of time difference results wont show till the morning of my time. But i think while watching CNN and reading the google news articles on elections about the significance of this elections..it may be significant a little bit for Iraqis who are really mad about their situation.... But for Palestinians...would it matter?? Simply ..No.
and then i remember..that when palestinians kidnapped Gilad Shalit..and the big Gaza operation was declared by Israel to get back the soldier...hundreds were killed..and it is still goin on ..and the borders were closed for the longest time..about a thousand poeple in Gaza and West Bank got arrested..and ..While al this ..Israel went to war in Lebanon..and IT IS OVER,.....Why would it be over in the palestinians territories..? I mean..a whole war took place and finished was really bad and intense but it ended! our situation , that was highly connected with the lebanese story (which i disagreed with) of the kidnaping of Israeli soldiers by Hiszbullah WAS JUST ANOTHER PHASE or Round of the endless GAME?!!
Monday, November 06, 2006
Israel kills 2 Medical Workers ...They were clearly marked..and their vehicles..in Beit Hanoun
BBC- News
BBC- News
On Wednesday morning, the Israeli army declared Beit Hanoun a closed military zone. All residents were ordered to stay indoors. The Israeli army issued a warning through two local radio stations (“Freedom Radio” and “Youth Radio”) after they occupied the airwaves for a few minutes.
The town of Beit Hanoun, which lies only a few kilometers from the Israeli settlement of Sderot on the other side of the Gaza-Israel border, has 28,000 inhabitants.
The Israeli army conducted a large-scale offensive in Beit Hanoun at dawn on Thursday. It combined air and ground forces, including infantry, armored corps, tanks and engineer corps forces.
According to Palestinian sources, this incursion is the tenth into the town of Beit Hanoun since the Israeli army “left” the Gaza Strip, last August 2005.
The death toll of the Israeli Operation Autumn Clouds has raised to 54 So far, in repeated incursions and aerial attacks, 260 have been injured, including 38 in a critical condition.. It continues to rise.
Security sources said that Mazin Shabat, 38, was killed when an Israeli sniper shot him near the Erez crossing point, north of Beit Hanoun. Shabat had been arrested by the Israeli forces in the area, but was released a short time afterwards, only to be shot by a sniper, just minutes after his release. His relative, Zahir Shabat, was also critically injured.
Isra'a Talal Nasser, 15, was shot in the head by Israeli forces, yesterday.....More
The town of Beit Hanoun, which lies only a few kilometers from the Israeli settlement of Sderot on the other side of the Gaza-Israel border, has 28,000 inhabitants.
The Israeli army conducted a large-scale offensive in Beit Hanoun at dawn on Thursday. It combined air and ground forces, including infantry, armored corps, tanks and engineer corps forces.
According to Palestinian sources, this incursion is the tenth into the town of Beit Hanoun since the Israeli army “left” the Gaza Strip, last August 2005.
The death toll of the Israeli Operation Autumn Clouds has raised to 54 So far, in repeated incursions and aerial attacks, 260 have been injured, including 38 in a critical condition.. It continues to rise.
Security sources said that Mazin Shabat, 38, was killed when an Israeli sniper shot him near the Erez crossing point, north of Beit Hanoun. Shabat had been arrested by the Israeli forces in the area, but was released a short time afterwards, only to be shot by a sniper, just minutes after his release. His relative, Zahir Shabat, was also critically injured.
Isra'a Talal Nasser, 15, was shot in the head by Israeli forces, yesterday.....More
Israeli fighter jets strike children on way to school; 15-year old killed, teacher critically injured more
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Quick update..
More than 42 killed in Beit Hanoun in the forth day of the operation. about 230 injured....at least 30 of them are in critical conditions.
* Thousands of men in Beit Hanoun are under arrest all in "school-prison" one of those was released and ...was shot while walking away from the "prison"...two were injured. (Last Hour news)
* ISraeli army invades tens of houses of Beit Hanoun, snipers are set to kill any walking creature...
* Thousands of men in Beit Hanoun are under arrest all in "school-prison" one of those was released and ...was shot while walking away from the "prison"...two were injured. (Last Hour news)
* ISraeli army invades tens of houses of Beit Hanoun, snipers are set to kill any walking creature...
Friday, November 03, 2006
Third day of the Incursion in Beit Hanoun
This is where Beit Hanoun is..... (Map)The current operation is called Autumn Clouds...and is considered the biggest and most aggressive in the last six months. . Beit Hanoun, like most areas of the Gaza Strip, has gone through tens of incursions...this one is one of the significant ones..
To read a report about this situation in Gaza and especially on Beit Hanoun and the women's resistance. Click here..BBC Report
Here are some pictures of Beit Hanoun today
As of this hour..the number of palestinians killed today is 12. in the three days of theoperation the total of number killed is 28 . (According to local stations)
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