Aggiornamenti ISM - 11 agosto

1-Update from John Reese: " an eyewittness reflections, experience, and stories. a special peice on the need for joining the Olive picking campaign in Palestine"
2-Update from Jennie" a peice rich with dialogues with Palestinian teenagers, moving stories, and an attempts to answer the question of (why I am here?)"
3- one more update from Jennie" How would it look like living in a refugee camp with a family in a home that stands for demolition?"
4-Update on deportees"official ISM statment combined with a call for action"
5-Do not miss Rae Levine presentation"EYEWITNESS REPORT FROM PALESTINE"
6- Update from Paul"how does it look like when soliders storms into a family home"
7-An Update from Salah Afifi "from Ramle prison, presenting his story on Howara March"
8-Statement from Activists in Ramle Prison"faced with more brutality"

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1-Update from John Reese

Just a short note. I am still in Al Ram doing the office thing. I went to Bethlehem for Friday night and stayed in the Deheisha camp in the home of one of the martyrs. It is a home slated for destruction by the Israeli government. Several hundred Arab and Israeli peace activists tried to make it to rally in Manger Square on Saturday but were met with sound grenades, tear gas and beatings outside the Bethlehem checkpoint. There were approximately 30 people injured. I’m sure it made all the network news programs entitled how Israeli “democracy works.” Ha ha.

The summer campaign is winding down and so some of us are beginning to think about the next campaign. Ghassan with the ISM put out a call for people to come and help with the olive harvest. So below is something that I am putting out. The concert/celebration part may or may not happen. Depends on the interest and commitment from individuals. Please get back to me if you or anyone you know has any interest in this.
Unfortunately what is really needed is a 24 hour a day 365 day a year campaign. The abuses won’t stop because the Freedom Summer Campaign ends. Working here with Palestinians at the PHG I hear of stories of abuse and humiliation that happen every day. The other day one of the hydrologists was trying to get home to Ramallah (about 7 Km north of here). He went to a small check point usually untravelled by media because Qalandia the main check point was closed.

The soldier had stopped about 30 Palestinians – men, women and children. They were beating the men and the women. Settlers would also drive by, stop, get out of the car, and go over to the Palestinians and kick them and beat them. Then they would get back in their cars and drive off. Fortunately the PHG employee has an Israeli passport so they did not harm him but they would not let him pass. Eventually another PHG
employee came along with his family and he got in the car with them. The soldiers said everyone in the car could go but the driver’s elderly mother. She would have to walk. They decided to turn around and try another way. This and more happens everyday at 100s of check points across Palestine. So if you are interested in coming there is still much to be done. There may not be a formal campaign but you are still needed every minute, every second of the day.
John in Palestine

Fall Harvest Peace Celebration As I have traveled in Palestine and spoken with local farmers all have said that they are very concerned about the upcoming harvest of olives. This year will be the largest in the two-year harvest sequence and there are many trees that are close to settlements and in other areas where they can not go. Without the help of internationals these olives will go unharvested. They dearly need the help of internationals for the harvest from the early part of October through the end of November. Palestinians trying to harvest their olives are often fired upon by both settlers and the Israel army. Last harvest a 55-year-old man and 2 children, one 4 years old was brutally murdered by settlers near Beit Furik, a small village outside of Nablus.

Palestinian towns, Israeli soldiers and settlers have destroyed the olive trees that have been the economic and ecological basis for centuries past and must be for decades to come. Israeli security forces say trees need to be destroyed because they can be used as a cover for stone-throwers or snipers. In the Salfit area alone 3,000 olive trees have been destroyed. Palestinians see the policy as a form of collective punishment. Even the Torah declares, "If you are at war with a city . . . you must not destroy its trees." In the village of Hares, Israeli rabbis found 1500 olive trees destroyed — many in places far from where they could have been used as cover. The olive tree is an evergreen that can survive up to 2000 years. The olive tree has been highly admired since ancient times and is considered a blessed tree. The oil from the olives was used to anoint priests, prophets and kings to empower them as well as to pray for their healing.

Olive trees are the life-support of many villages. Some of the trees are hundreds of years old, having produced oil and olives for all that time. Each one of them paid the cost of year after year of schooling for a child, or the cost of a room built for a growing child, or a dowry for a woman about to be married. In short, these trees and the fruit they produce are the family bank accounts. They are also beloved members of the families of the village. And because many are now gone it is very important that the olives from the few that remain are harvested. The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) has put out a call for internationals to come during this time to help with the olive harvest. (Exact dates have not been set. For more information please e-mail Ghassan Andoni at pcr@p-ol.com.) And after the harvest we want to put together a “Fall
Harvest Peace Celebration.” After completing the olive harvest let’s try to harvest a little peace. In hopes that the image of Palestinians as “terrorists” can be changed and to show the world that people here want peace let’s put on a concert patterned after “Farm Aid” and other such events.

This will be a gathering to show that Palestinians want peace and to celebrate a successful olive harvest. We want to get as many musicians, movie stars and etc here for an end of the harvest celebration. This would probably take place in Manger Square, near the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. If there were some big name artists, politicians and etc coming it would get a lot of publicity. When I was recently in Nablus I saw a girl that was about 5 years old wearing a T-shirt that said “Plant Kindness Harvest Love.” This is what so many Palestinians want and strive for and do every day. As I have met Palestinians throughout Gaza and the West Bank I am convinced that a large majority want peace. And so my hope is that this Fall season, not only can we harvest olives, but also harvest peace.

So if you know anyone who knows anyone or anyone who knows anyone who knows anyone or anyone who knows anyone who knows anyone who knows anyone that knows musicians or has ideas or wants to work on this, or if you are interested please contact me.
John Reese
jreese@scn.org
For pictures from Palestine go to:
http://www.seattlecan.org/
To reach me in Palestine from the US 011 972 67 479
167 or 011 972 59 307 081
>From within Palestine 067 479 167 or 059 307 081
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2-Update from Jennie

Sallam (peace) to you all from Palestine.
"Individuals have International duties which transend the national obligations of obedience. Therefore individual citizens have the duty
to violate domestic laws to prevent crimes against peace & humanity."
Nuremberg War Crime Tribunal, 1950

I wish to clarify my reasons for being here, to avoid some confusion I feel from a few friends. I do not hold an opinion about the politics here,
although I strongly disagree with the methods for enforcing them. I am here protesting in peace the blatant human rights crimes being committed. I am not pro-Palestinian, I am pro-human rights. I do not support the methods of violence used by either side. I am documenting the stories of the people here and using my status as an International, and American to protect the family I am staying with.

Today is a warm day and we have survived another night in Deheishe in the familiy's home. Last night--all night--the soldiers searched the
entire camp walking on foot and in their jeeps gathering intelligence information and spreading the fear. Around 4am there was a huge
explosion--a few of the locals were trying to defend themselves against one of the tanks, but their homemade weapons aren't any match for a fully armed military force. All night the dogs barked and barked and the soldiers continued their walks. I am getting used to seeing the tanks everyday, though it was a shock at first. They patrol mostly at night, but have been seen during the day too.

They come everyday driving through the street to announce curfew--the Palestinians are forced to stay indoors for an undertermined amount of
time each day--and this is subject to change last minute. 2 days ago, they enforced curfew by firing above a group of boys and throwing sound
bombs--these sound exactly like bombs, but do not have shrapnel and cannot hurt you unless you are in the immidiate vicinity.

I was speaking with the oldest son of the house I am staying in--Samir--and his father Abu Samir. I have been asked many questions about the
American perspective--Palestinians are curious to know what the rest of the world is thinking and why they don't want to help, or seem to care about the situation here. It is difficult to explain for an entire culture, but the simple answer is that the American media doesn't report what is
happening here, and the only things that come through on the news are the stories of the martyrs, the suicide bombers. This paints a picture of Palestine as a blood thirsty people and feeds the prejudice that already exists for Arab peoples--especially since last fall. In reality, these are people who have been pushed too far, and seen to much; they feel forgotten by the rest of the world and feel the only thing left is to fight. I ask that when you consider this, you try to put aside your American perspective and consider the desperation here--the amount of blood shed, the
degree of oppression.

Even the Israeli population throughout Israel does not see this side, only what they are told by the military and goverment to justify the reaction to Palestinians. I do not think I am coming anywhere close to explaining this, but this is my humble attempt to do so. EVERY Palestinian I have
spoken with is against this approach, and feels peace is the only way, but they understand the reasons for these individuals' decision. They have all seen the same horrible things... Samir said that the soldiers shoot children and say that they are martyrs. 7-9 year olds. Just
children...

Last night I spoke with 2 of the girls in the house until the wee hours of the morning, listening to the tanks and soldiers as they came through the
camp. Every strange sound brought a halt to our conversation and we would look at each other wondering if that was the moment... Samah, who is 16, is in love with Ali--18. Zeinat, 17 (I think) is in love with his brother Mahamoud. Mahamoud stood up to the tanks that were driving through the camp last May, and the soldiers shot him without hesitation. Zeinat says she will look for a new love, but her eyes were full of tears as she said this. Samah's love, Ali, was imprisoned for his brother's 'crime' since May, and sentenced for 24 years. Her dream of a family must wait until she is 40, but she says she will be an old woman then, and cannot have children.

While in prison, Ali was tortured by the prisoners (nothing new for Palestinians) by a gun used to beat him on the head, and all of the nails in his
hands pulled out. The girls cried as they told me this... I want to give them hope--tell them that things will change, and the more the world knows, cares, and does something about it, the closer to peace Palestine becomes. They said they want Israel out, but I told them I doubt that will
happen--most people I've spoken with beleive a compromised division of land is the easiest solution now--one Palestinian & one Israeli state side by side in peace. I don't know what to say, how to instill hope. What would you say to this?

Like Ali, their brother Ismael has been imprisoned since May for his sister's crime in a Jerusalem marketplace. This is so common. His bride,
Helene, lost her baby after he was taken. They were married just over a year ago. We learn more and more of Ayat's story each day, as the
family warms up to us. She was engaged, and apparently very popular here--all of the children run through the streets singing songs about Ayat smiling. She is famous here for smiling--her father says 'She is every time smiling...every time..' The people speak of her looking out the window to the folks below and inviting them in for coffee. She wanted to become a journalist to travel the world and tell about what is really happening here.

Her father showed me yesterday where she stood at a bedroom window and watched a neighbor shot from an appache helicopter, and how after that she wasn't the same. Imagine seeing this, on top of children's bodies, and neighbors family members and community members dying
and being shot right and left by soldiers. (sighs) After this, she went to bomb herself and the Israelis. Some Palestinians don't have any hope left and see this as the only way to make a statement of not giving up the fight for freedom. For a loving girl who loved so much and was loved by so many to do such a thing, perhaps you can imagine at some level how far one would have to be pushed emotionally.

I want to mention the streets here. It is another method of oppression and occupation--designed to break the spirit of the people. The soldiers
regularly destroy the water lines and sewage lines, leaving free flowing sewage in the streets which is very raunchy on a hot day. It blends in
with the smell of burning and rotting garbage which sits here because the Israelis have imposed an outrageous tax on the removal of garbage, let alone getting through one of the checkpoints in a Palestinian garbage truck. [Checkpoint: armed military posts between towns on roads designed to monitor and prevent Palestinians from entering and leaving areas. Palestinians are randomly shot and turned back at these places; it has been said more than once here that they seem to be playing a game--letting so many come through, and then turning away or shooting the next one in line.] So the garbage sits in the streets, and the children play soccer around it. There are a few places it is so bad I have choked back vomit from the stench.

The soldiers also bombed the school here. The school. What this had to do with the resistance, I don't know. A school. The peole say that is
nothing compared to other things...

I am exhausted from a week of staying in a house where every night we prepare for a confrontation with the soldiers and have a restful sleep.
(breathing quickly & heart beating fast) The soldiers have been driving with tanks through the city all day, even though curfew is supposedly
lifted. I have just gone outside to witness this and saw a child--maybe 6--throw a stone at the tank that was spraying smoke on the buildings as they drive by. There are random shots being fired every so often. The soldiers turned the tank and with a gun fired shots at this child in the direction of Ibdaa--the community center where we use the computers. There were many Internationals around as well as children. (jumping
from another round of shots) The child and another are being taken to the hospital now from injuries sustained from the shrapnel in the bullets,
and such. Luckily the soldiers missed.

I am shaking and need to sign off. (tears in eyes) This is too much. Toooo too much. Thank goodness I wasn't raised with the sounds of war,
and so I still find these shocking.

Peace to you all. Consider these things. Understand what is happening here, and imagine what I can't possibly say. My love and hope for
peace here I send to you and ask that you return the energy as you can.
Forward this as you like.
Salaam.
Jennie
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3- one more update from Jennie
(Actually, this letter from Jennie in Deheishah preceded the one I forwarded a few moments ago... Linda)

Hello to you all from the heart of Palestine.

I'm writing to you from Deheishe refugee camp in the West Bank where I have been since Tuesday. It has been an extremely powerful experience so far; so hard to communicate in an email, so I will do more of this when I return. I am keeping a journal for this purpose--to
help sort through my thoughts and record what is happening here, so my energy is focused where it needs to be--in the present situation. The pain is so great.

We are staying with a family to protect their home from being destroyed--we more than likely won't be able to prevent this, but our presence is showing solidarity with them and creating a bit of hope, at some level anyway. The family calls me daughter and have welcomed me into their
'beit' (home). I so wish to come back here, but it looks as though I will be deported if the soldiers come--it is their policy for Internationals--they don't want anyone who might create a better situation for the Palestinians here, even if it's only providing a piece of hope. The news, and details I must save for when I return and have more time, because curfew is coming, and we must be off the streets before the soldiers come.
They shoot indiscriminately at people, children, women, and from a distance, I could appear Palestinian. Last night they fired on a group of little boys in the street for walking after curfew started. Little boys--and they fired from an armed tank.

As for the people, culture and such, I am sooooo welcomed and love it back. The food is delicious, and the people's hearts so big, so
generous even with nothing to share. They ask me when I am coming back... Indeed I have considered another trip back together if I don't
get deported. The presence of Internationals is desparately needed--they help to prevent haneous crimes against the Palestininans--the degree of which I have not been aware of previously with the exception of the SS Nazis, S. Africa, Tibet & Istanbul. It is hard to communicate the degree of these, and I will be writing up the stories I have gathered upon my return. There is just too, too, much. Every person has so many stories...

Regarding restricion of movement for Palestinians, this goes for Americans or Internationals as well--soldiers don't double check in the dark--they shoot first. 'Curfew' is imposed daily, and they shoot anything in the streets. Palestinians movements are always restricted and watched.
That is just another part of life here; there is so much... I don't know where to start... I can only do what I can there; sometimes the Israelis even
shoot Americans (a 'mistake' of course) intending to hit a Palestinian, and although the hatred for the American Gov't is strong here, the people
are very peaceful (I cannot emphasize this enough!!!!) and wish us well--are glad of our presence here. It give them hope that someday there may be peace. There are a small number of Palestinians who have been pushed over the edge--I hesitate to communicate this, because
there is TOOOO much misinformation in the American media already about all of them being terrorists--but to put it into perspective, they just
snapped from seeing to much violence--living through too much. I wonder if Americans experienced this degree, this EXTREME human rights abuse, how far we could hold out peacefully?

My family and the people I stay with will ensure my safety--indeed I have walked through the camp with one or a couple of people and felt
completely safe, and I am not concerned about it. The family I am staying with is being punished for something they had no idea about--last March their daughter went into Jerusalem with a bomb in a market place, they said she snapped after watching her neighbor get shot on the
street outside her home by Israelis in an Apache, this is not the first thing I'm sure--coming after her family's home--20 people, 6 families. Collective punishment is what that is called, and it is illegal according to the Geneva Convention. Their son has been in prison since May for the crime of being her brother with no release date in sight. I have been a little sick this morning; not sure how much is nerves, how much is related to the sugar (they give us a lot of 'shai' -- tea with a lot of sugar) and how much is due to drinking the local water which is broken--the Israelis regulularly destroy the water pipes and the supply is contaminated. The GSE I have helps, but this is still so stressful... Hard to say. The soldiers threaten to come each day--we return home and have a night with the family each day and then eat, visit, discuss the situation
here, and life as a Palestinian, and such...and then wait until around 2am, which is their favorite time to start bombings. If we can make it
until daylight, we are safe. The familiy's furniture is all gone, in preparation for the home demolition. If they do succeed in blowing it up, they
will destoy at least 10 other homes that are in close proximity or share walls--this is a modest estimate. It is hard to be strong sometimes,
but as an American, I have a certain degree of protection against them, especially if the US Consolate and Embassy are receiving word
about our staying there, and a few of the other human rights observers here (there are 7 in our group--4 at the other home) have a network that has been hounding the Consolate and Embassy about our safety and asking details, and such.

The US Consolate & Embassy don't want to help the Internationals here who are interested in human rights; they are very lax about responding and only do what is expected by law--the bare minimum with respect to their obligations. I will give you the numbers once again just in case.
They are: US Consolate-- 011 026 227 230 (last part 250 if emergency) & the US Embassy-- 011 035 197 575. Bug 'em. It's their job and they pretty much suck at it, although I'm sure the affection the United States Gov't has for Israel has something to do with that. God forbid we should want to stop such blatant human rights abuse. In the event that the soldiers come, we are probably going to be physically removed from the house, even though we will try to stay together by locking arms. Then when the military holds us, or detains us (as they can't arrest us--that's the police's job) they will turn us over to the police and from there we can face up to 24 hrs in jail before we get a chance to speak to anyone from ISM (International Solidarity Movement, the peace org. I'm here with) or anyone else fot that matter. We will try to resist deportation, but that's up in the air. If so, the ISM office will contact my partner Nate, and set the legal protection wheels in motion. They will work hard for us, and I will do everything in my power to be released freely--we have done nothing wrong, unless you consider protecting a family's home something wrong--and sent back with my plane tickets on the 18th from Tel Aviv. I will do my best not to be deported so I can come back
sometime. (smiles)

I feel vulnerable at times, but only when the soldiers come. Otherwise, it has been a life changing experience, and my heart is so full, it comes
out through tears sometimes. The pain is so great.... I don't know where to start....

I was planning to use Yahoo while here, but haven't been able to get through. Please forward this message to anyone who would like news
from me, or who you would like to forward this to. Please contact Nate for any specific information regarding my safety--he is my contact while here, and can be reached by email at ' natetwitchell@hotmail.com '.

Gosh, I have to go because my group is waiting to meet before beating the tanks that come with curfew. I wish you all the best, and ask that you consider what is happening here, and the information you receive through the media is heavily biased. I will provide you all with the stories of
this trip if you'd like when I return; the time for the computer lab is limited and the connection slow.
Until I see you all again I remain your friend in
peace & love.
Salaam.
Jennie
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4-Update on deportees

INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
http://www.palsolidarity.org
August 11, 2002

The nine international activists that were snatched by the Israeli military and police last Wednesday in the Palestinian village of Huwarra and have been sitting in prison, had a closed hearing this morning at the Ramle prison. They all contested their deportation and offered to leave “of their own free will.” Israeli officials and the French, Irish and American embassies seem to be eager to get the activists out of here and the process of shipping them out began this afternoon. They will all be gone by Wednesday, August 13.

The deportation orders for the international activists have already been issued. Our lawyer on this case, Ms. Gaby Laski, will appeal this order in court, even after the activists have departed. The Israeli government charged the internationals with 1) “blocking roads” and 2) “ignoring military orders”. These activists were part of a Palestinian-organized non-violent direct-action protest against the siege and curfew imposed on their village and across the Occupied Palestinian Territories by Israeli forces. This is reason enough for the Israeli government to want the activists out of here. This is not the first time they have imprisoned and deported foreigners for speaking out against grave violations of human rights and international law being committed by the Israeli government. The Israeli government has been systematically denying entry into Israel, to human rights workers, pro-peace activists and fact-finding commissions. Most recently Israel denied entry into the country to a US congressional staff delegation accompanied by Jews for Peace in Palestine and Israel and the American Muslims for Jerusalem. Those that have been calling and pressing government officials with regards to the specific case of these internationals, please demand that your government takes a stand on Israel’s policy of abusing, detaining, deporting and denying entry to human rights workers and observers into the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Since Israel controls all borders in and out of the Palestinian Territories and thus outside access to the Palestinian people, such policies are dangerous and worthy of condemnation in the strongest terms. Our money and our silence goes into
supporting the crimes being committed by the Israeli government against the Palestinian people and into maintaining a violent occupation that has and continues to take many, many lives. Those that have not yet written a letter or made one phone call, please do.

Below I include a sample letter and contact information. Meanwhile, the international activists that are still here are desperately trying to get information out about what’s happening here and trying to provide some sort of protection to the people by virtue of their presence. We will send a sample personal account in a separate email. Please keep up your support! In solidarity & struggle
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
=============
Sample letter written by US citizen:
TO THE US CONSULATE IN JERUSALEM:
Dear Ms. Dilworth and/or others in American Citizen
Services:
URGENT ATTENTION REQUESTED

I would like to know what the Consulate is doing on behalf of the three Americans who were rough-handled and arrested by the IDF while they were PEACEFULLY DEMONSTRATING in Huwwara on Aug. 7 and are now being readied for deportation from Israel?
The three Americans are: Adam Shapiro, Brooklyn, NY; Charles Williams, Central Vermont; Javier Cortez, Los Angeles, CA.
As an American, I expect my country to stand for "liberty and justice for all." Instead, I see it supporting to a brutal regime that's fixed on the oppression (35 years of it) and now destruction of the entire Palestinian people. Israel and the US keep urging non-violence, and yet when
Palestinians and international volunteers resist non-violently, Israel attacks. The Occupied Palestinian Territories are not Israel's land, and yet they have full control over them. Like Dwight D. Eisenhower said in 1957: To let an occupier determine the terms of occupation and how to end it is to turn back the clock on international law (it's also ludicrous).

Enough is enough. Israel is clearly not fighting a war against terrorism. They are waging one. (Did you know that Huwwara has been under 24-hour curfew for about TWO YEARS?) These courageous American citizens -- and all internationals who've joined the non-violent Palestinian resistance -- should be given every possible support by the Consulate, the Embassy, the State Dept., Congress, and every other steward of
my taxpayer dollars. I look forward to hearing from you how you are handling this matter.

Thank you, and sincerely, Name (contact info)

For US citizens:
United States Embassy in Israel Tel: +972-3-519-7575 Fax: +972-3-517-3227

United States Consulate in Jerusalem
Tel: +972-2-622-7230/50 Fax: +972-2-624-9462
Ask for American Citizen Services -- Alison Dilworth
jerusalemacs@state.gov

US Department of State
Bureau of Near East Affairs
Office of Public Affairs
Tel: 202-647-5150 Tel: 202-736-4995 Kim Richter
secretary@state.gov
askpublicaffairs@state.gov
Your congressional representatives – http://www.congress.gov
for contact information.
For French citizens:
Embassy of France in Israel
Tel: +972-3-520-8300 Fax: +972-3-520-8340
French Consulate in Jerusalem
Tel: +972-2-625-9481 Fax: +972-2-625-9178
Israeli Ministry of Interior
Tel: +972-2-629-4701 Fax: +972-2-629-4750
Call/fax/write your Members of Parliament!
For Irish citizens:
Embassy of the United Kingdom
Tel: +972-3-725-1222 Fax: +972-3-527-8574
END

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5-come and listen to Rae Levine:

EYEWITNESS REPORT FROM PALESTINE

Rae Levine (ISM Volunteer from SF/Seattle areas) traveled to the Occupied Territories in Palestine in late June for two weeks with her son, Eric. She will describe the worsening situation in the Occupied Territories and her time in Nablus and Ramallah, where she joined the International Solidarity Movement to support Palestinian nonviolent resistance to the Occupation. With the ISM, she helped families held hostage by Israeli soldiers, rode as a human shield with ambulances, and helped organize a nonviolent international and Palestinian
demonstration against the ongoing curfew imposed by the Israeli military. She also got a small taste of what Palestinian mothers experience when her her son was detained twice by the Israeli army and held incommunicado for two days. Rae will bring photos and (in Pt. Reyes) show video clips of what she witnessed.

Monday, August 12, 7:00 - 9:00 pm
[For address of location, please call 510/601-8486.]

Tuesday, August 13, 7:00 - 8:00 pm at meeting of
Petaluma Progressives Copperfield's Bookstore basement
Kentucky Street betweeen Washington and Western,
downtown Petaluma

Thursday, August 15, 7:00 - 9:00 pm at the Dance
Palace in Pt. Reyes Station Corner of 5th & B Streets,
Point Reyes Station Phone: 415-663-1075
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6- Update from Paul (via his Support Team) - August 10

Saturday afternoon (West Bank time), Nablus is still under curfew.

Paul is in an apartment building from which eight Palestinian men were taken away last night by the IDF. The men are from six families living in about five or six apartments, each apartment housing up to 15 people, including children. The only man left was elderly.

The families said the eight men were apparently not accused of any crime themselves, but were being held because the IDF wants to capture another man whom they believe to be guilty of some crime - not suicide bombing, though. The families say they have no idea where the man is; Paul believes them because it would be natural for the man to protect his family by keeping his location secret from them. The families told Paul this:

The IDF came last night around 11pm. They threw all the families out, then went through the building searching and smashing things. Afterward they fired rounds at the outside of the building.

This is the third time this year that the building has been targeted in this way - once during each of the major invasions. The building is not believed to be slated for demolition, because demolition is only done to families of suicide bombers - not for lesser crimes.

Afterward the soldiers left and the families came in to clean up.

Then the soldiers came back, this time about 50 or so. Again they threw the families out, broke more things, threw things out of the window, and also went to neighboring homes and searched, doing less damage there. They left again; the families again went in to clean up; and then the soldiers came back once more. This went on all night. At 8:00 am they left.

(I hear a baby crying in the background.)

At some point the IDF positioned a large tank with its turret aimed at the building, with an Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) carrying four men next to it.

The neighbors contacted the internationals and they came, and went around and met some of the neighbors. There is a way to get into the building other than through the front, so the neighbors said they would take some people out of there and bring the internationals in. The internationals waited for some press to arrive, but eventually, when the press were slow in arriving, they went in with just one member of the press, who later left after running out of film. The press arrived shortly afterward. A little later the tank and APC left.

Some or all of the internationals plan to stay around in case they come back.

As for the house where Paul was staying before, soldiers have pulled out of that area for the time being. However, internationals are still staying there when needed, in case the IDF returns.
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7-An Update from Salah Afifi:

The March on Huwara, Nablus Palestine

Tuesday 6th of August

A meeting at the Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees center informed us of an invitation from the mayor of Huwara village to participate in a peaceful march. Huwara is a farming village that lies on the road from Nablus to Ramallah, a route well travelled by Palestinians even during these difficult times. Our presence was required to act as protection for Palestinian farmers and villagers and to document Israeli reaction to the peaceful protest that would be undertaken against the civilian Palestinian populace. Despite the exclusive media coverage of aggressive Palestinian actions, the majority of people I have met in the West Bank are crying out for a peaceful solution to the occupation.

Recently at an Israeli checkpoint a middle aged Palestinian woman approached our group. She explained her situation, typical for those living under Israeli occupation. For the fifth consecutive day she had been refused access to the village of Huwara, her home and family. Israel maintains she is a risk to its national security. This is not the first such case I have encountered and certainly not the worst. Six days earlier while at Calandia checkpoint, near Ramallah, I confronted an Israeli soldier who was refusing a pregnant woman and a mother with a severely handicapped infant passage from Jerusalem to Ramallah.

Many soldiers I have encountered have the shame of their actions etched on their faces. They go as far as to motion me to one side, away from superiors and admit they realise they are committing senseless acts of harassment and worse. There are many undocumented cases of women giving birth at checkpoints after having been refused access to medical facilities. Some cases have resulted in fatalities. Soldiers claim they have no choice. One whispered, “I just want to go home.” It is not the short prison sentence they seem to fear for refusing to serve in the Occupied Territories but being ostracized from family and friends. At times I felt they demanded forgiveness from me to help them absolve themselves from the crimes they commit. I found it impossible to respond as they carry out their orders with deadly accuracy.

The morning of the seventh I made my way to the outskirts of Nablus where I met with 30 or so international volunteers. Peoples spirits were high at the first direct action undertaken by collective groups in that area since the beginning of the recent Israeli incursion. The fact that the people of Huwara had been subjected to curfews lasting as long as 48 days made us more determined to join them in their march on the checkpoint. The military installation that serves Huwara and Nablus was an hours trek. As we travelled I noted the complete destruction of the Ministry for Agriculture, decimated during the previous Israeli assault in April. The rubble is indicative of Israel’s attempt to completely dismantle all forms of Palestinian authority. Farming has been the main source of income for the Palestinian people for centuries, a fact exploited by Israel in its method of collective punishment. 50% of Palestinians now live under the UN poverty line, 2$ the average daily budget per person.

At the Huwara checkpoint four soldiers manned the fortification. As we approached they were completely surprised by our sudden presence and immediately denied us passage. Our numbers allowed us to dismiss their threats and we calmly passed through. The ten minute walk between our party and the village was met with imprisoned voices from the people of Huwara cheering us and welcoming us from roadside houses. My gut feeling was that very few Palestinians would risk coming out of their homes in defiance of Israeli curfew orders. For them that would be risking their lives. As Israeli shots rang out one hundred and fifty Palestinian villagers came into view and our parties began to merge. A group of internationals had made the journey north, coming from Ramallah, which brought the internationals number to forty.

There was only seconds in which to exchange greetings. A quick strangers warm handshake and a thousand thanks in peoples eyes. The Palestinians and ourselves realised that this was the point of make or break for the march on Huwara. Israeli forces were approaching from two directions firing live rounds and no doubt calling for reinforcements. I joined a group of six that was given the unenviable task of forming a human shield 30 meters ahead with the remaining internationals flanking and dispersing amoung the marchers. Israeli forces were regrouping ahead and experienced members of ISM urged us forward, the theory being that the closer we kept to the soldiers the harder for them to use their arsenal. The tactic was working. We got close and pushed on at all times composed, calm and peaceful. The frustration resulting from years of oppressive control was overwhelmingly evident from the emotional Palestinian voices behind us and the extreme violence and intimidation on behalf of the soldiers thrusting rifle butts into our chests and pointing barrels in our faces. At one particular instant a soldiers magazine released from his weapon and landed at my feet. There was an unexpected moment of humour as our eyes met. He bent down to retrieve it and I stepped calmly forward leaving him and a group of Palestinians behind. He quickly scurried back behind his lines, not one arm raised in violence towards him.

The final standoff occurred after soldiers retreated in jeeps, regrouped, and escalated the violence. Rubber bullets were fired into the crowd, numerous sound grenades, and tear gas managed to overwhelm us. The soldiers opposing number swelled with reinforcements. They successfully managed to pull a number of Palestinians and internationals away. The mayor stepped forward and just as we had accepted his invitation to join his people we retreated at his request. During the retreat, occupation forces vehicles thrust forward breaking up the crowd and dragging people away. Many internationals felt a responsibility to maintain our protection for Palestinians and nine of us now face deportation.

None of us express regret but see the people of Huwara’s courageous march a complete success worthy of the consequences.

Salah Afifi
Ramle Prison, Israel

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8-Statement from Activists in Ramle Prison

International Solidarity Movement

August 5, 2002



We can all vividly remember the five day long siege of the city of Nablus and the atrocities committed by the Israeli occupation forces as we sit in jail and wait to return to loved ones.

We condemn the excessive use of force in what was at all times a peaceful demonstration defying the unjust imprisonment of the farmers of Huwara. The attempt to expel humanitarian workers, activists and denying media coverage only reinforces our belief that Israelis so called ‘war on terror’ is a smokescreen for the continual oppression of the Palestinian population.

We are now even more determined to expose the brutality of occupation.



Signed,

Benoit Granet - France
Pierre Coulon - France
Phillipe Armaug - France
Adam Shapiro - Brooklyn, NY
Charles Williams - Vermont
Javier Cortez - Los Angeles, CA
Salah Afifi - Dublin, Ireland
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The Palestinian Centre for Rapprochement between People
64 Star Street, P.O.Box 24
Beit Sahour - Palestine
http://www.rapprochement.org
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The center is a non-profit making NGO, started in 1988 during the first Intifada.
PCR runs community service programs, youth empowerment and training programs.
PCR is also very much involved in the non-violent resistance against the Israeli Occupation to Palestine.