Sunday, October 14, 2007

1-Settler attack in Hebron

Hi again long time without enough time at the Internet. This is what happened one of my last days in Hebron during the Jewish Festival of Sukkot, when hundreds of Jewish visitors ame to the settlements and to their holy places in Hebron. One of the days we were not even allowed on the streets due to a military closed zone according to the army. I'm now in Nablus their the Olive harvest will begin in the nearby villages. I'm really looking forward to it.
Only one month left in Palestine now, time is passing so quickly!

The final day of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot descended into violence in Tel Rumeid, Hebrona on Thursday, as a group of settlers attacked local Palestinians and two international Human Rights Workers (HRWs).
At approximately 1:45pm a large group of settlers, many heavily intoxicated, marched their way up through the Tel Rumeida neighbourhood shouting abuse at the Palestinian residents. Two international HRWs were at the scene documenting the harassment when the settler leading the march shouted to the crowd that the internationals were, “worse than the Arabs”. A stone was then thrown at one of the HRW’s as the settler crowd became increasingly aggressive.

Violence then erupted as local Palestinians were attacked by the settler group, with punches thrown and a large glass bottle of vodka hurled, narrowly missing a young Palestinian’s head. The local Palestinians, including children, were then forced up onto a nearby road as the army intervened. A group of 8 settler men simultaneously cornered the 2 international HRWs who were filming the attack, attempting to steal and break their camera. The HRWs were repeatedly punched in the body and face as one of the settlers managed to grab the camera before police finally intervened. However, rather than destroy the tape, the settlers carelessly threw it in to a nearby skip where it was quickly rescued with the tape intact, though the camera was in fact broken.

The settlers continued their provocation as they were allowed by the army and police to carry on their march. When questioned later as to whether they saw their job to protect Palestinians as well as settlers, one of the soldiers at the scene replied that he was there “only to protect Jews”, simply shrugging when reminded of the army’s obligations, under international law, to protect all inhabitants of occupied territories.

As of now, there have been reports that two of the settler assailants have confessed to the police as to their involvement and that one of the marchers is willing to testify as to the events. Together with the film recorded by the international HRWs and further evidence recovered by police at the scene, charges are expected to be announced soon, though a vast majority of those involved in the violence will be held unaccountable for their roles in the unprovoked attack.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

6 - Qusin village, children arrested

They punish the village by stealing the children

Qusin, outside Nablus, September 24th 2007.

After reports of reprisals by IOF against the peaceful inhabitants of Qusin, two ISM activists visited the village today to receive first hand accounts of the harassment the villagers have received. After a non-violent and successful demonstration led by the people of Qusin and supported by international activists, the village has endured two nights of arrests.

Starting on the evening of the 21st, not one hour after internationals left the village, it was invaded by three vehicles of the IOF. They arrested two youths, claiming they had been throwing rocks during the terrifying occupation of Al-Ayn refugee camp several days before. Later that evening around 9pm they returned arresting another three on the same charge.

Two days later on Sunday 23rd, the IOF again saw fit to harass the villagers of Qusin taking youth from their beds at around midnight. One father who refused to let the soldiers take his son was beaten. Three were arrested that night bringing the total to eight.

This is collective punishment in action. This is blatant repression of the non-violent struggle. These children marched alongside international Human Rights Workers last Friday, they marched with their families and compatriots. They would’ve marched alongside Israelis if the Israelis had not been blocked by the army from coming. They marched also side by side the Israeli army provoking them. But they were not provoked, they did not respond. The demonstration was non-violent, and successful, and this is what has the IOF running scared.

Due to these outrageous actions from the village, of rising up for justice peacefully, the community must be punished. How does the army do it? How will they try to crush the movement? By kidnapping children from their beds in the middle of the night. At the moment the future of these young men (all 18 or under) is unsure. The recent Jewish festival coupled with IOF’s usual unwillingness to help means no-one is exactly sure where they are being held captive, or for how long.

Monday, September 24, 2007

5 -Arrested for nothing, Hebron

Hi again, as we don't have access to internet much here I just copy all the reports we write, which are posted to the ISM website.
This happened yesterday when me and Q from spain walked up to watch an by settlers ill;egally occupied house. These guys mentioned below were arrested for no reason, and they can face years in prison without even being charged. Acri is an Israeli Human Right group by the way.

More another time, M.


You will respect my authority


Tel Rumeida, Hebron
September 23rd, 2007

At approximately 17:00, an incident occurred at the proximity of the occupied house at Kiryat Arba road. Involved were 8 IOF soldiers who were off-duty and running between Tel Rumeida and the area of the incident, and 2 Palestinian men aged 18 and a third one aged 21. The three Palestinian men were walking on Kiryat Arba road when the 8 IOF soldiers who were running claimed they should always cede and step aside in the face of the IOF. The soldiers then proceeded to physically remove the three Palestinian men from the road.

The off-duty soldiers then called the IOF, where a military jeep appeared immediately. The IOF soldiers involved in the incident then claimed the three Palestinian men attempted to gain hold of one of the soldier’s gun. This happened despite the fact that the three Palestinian men were initially allowed to be within the crowd caused by the commotion. Additionally, some of the soldiers involved were even seen to be cheerful and in good humor. Moments after the three Palestinian men were detained and taken to the rear of the occupied house at Kiryat Arba road. There one was handcuffed and all three forced to sit down on the ground facing a wall, moments before Iftar; the daily breaking of the fast during Ramadan.

At 18:10, an ISM activist attempted to give water to the detained Palestinians but was prevented by an IOF soldier even though the men had been fasting all day. Moments later a second ISM activist then approached the detained men with bread and water and was able to give at least a very limited amount. Throughout the detention, Israeli settlers illegally occupying the house at Kiryat Arba road were seen photographing the detained as well as the ISM activists. The Palestinian men were then taken away at 18:45 to the police station.

The ISM activists informed throughout the detention, as well as after it had concluded, both ACRI and TIPH.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

4 -Demonstration against Roadblock

This is our report from the friday demo in qusin, just outside Nablus (me and another nott guy)

Five children targetted after non-violent demonstration


Today, the 21st September, on the outskirts of Nablus at Qusin village, a demonstration against their roadblock took place. The roadblock makes a simple five minute journey to Sarra a minimum one hour ordeal through Beit Eva checkpoint. Similarly the barrier blocks travel from Qusin to Nablus. This forces residents, workers, students through a unnecessarily more arduous journey.

Despite last week’s violent outcome by part of the IOF where the demonstration ended in mass arrests, approximately 75 local Palestinians joined by a dozen ISM activists marched peacefully through the roadblock. Additionally 5 members of the Bil’in committee joined the demonstration to show their support. Unfortunately a large number of Israeli activists were followed by the IOF, police, and Shabbat; thus preventing them from attending the peaceful demonstration. The march started at 1 pm with the participants waving flags and chanting in good humor. The demonstration crossed the roadblock in the absence of any incident due possibly to the imminent Jewish festivity of Yom Kippur and the gate already having been smashed at last week’s demonstration.

Once the march reached Sarra, symbolically joining the two villages, the participants headed back towards Qusin. Throughout the march’s return an IOF jeep followed the procession attempting to provoke rock-throwing from the large number of youth attending the demonstration. In the proximity of the village the jeep was reinforced by two military vehicles. Their aggressive stance reached the extent of driving at an ISM activist. The IOF then speeded through the village once again attempting to provoke rock-throwing from the children. Nevertheless the children restrained themselves; therefore making the demonstration as a whole truly nonviolent.

At the end of the march the mayor of Qusin invited the ISM activists to the municipal hall and truly thanked them for their strong presence throughout the demonstration. The positive outcome of the march has encouraged the villagers of Qusin to pursue a continuous nonviolent campaign to remove the infamous roadblock.

Later that day at around 5:30 pm, once the ISM activists had left the village, the IOF invaded the village of Qusin. The IOF went to the municipality and threatened to arrest every man of the village between 18 to 40 years old unless two under 18 youths were handed over. Even after apprehending the two youths, the IOF returned to the village using live ammunition. On this occasion the IOF directly arrested three more youths at around 9:30 pm. Still today 22nd September 2:30 pm they haven’t been released or been charged.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

2- Trying to keep your land, Hebron

The settlers with children (notice the pushchair) and their synagogue that they illegally put up on Palestinian land (the green tent).
Settler guy with his stick which he will use later
to beat Palestinians and internationals.

The same guy with the stick in his hand
Settler girls who manage to go on the land and throw rocks
on it which we have just taken away from the land.
The soldiers who are supposed to prevent the settlers are
doing nothing to stop the girls

One soldier attempting to stop the girls but they just run beside him
The girl on the left is holding an Israel flag, the orange colour signyfy
that you are a supporter of settlements in general.

Documenting the soldiernot doing his job.
Internationals and Israeli peace activist try to work on
land despite soldiers and settlers (notice the old man with kippa
in the back) interupting them constantly


On 31st of August 2 other internationals and I went to the Jabar family who live in the outskirts of Hebron. They have a piece of land just beside there houses but they have been prevented from using it by settlers claiming that is is their land. The settlers have put up a tent calling it a synagogue and therefor it is very hard for the Israeli police to remove it, since synagogues are protected by special laws. The family have faced verbal and physical attacks for a long time.


When we arrived the settlers for already their, it were whole families having picnic on the Palestinian land, playing loud music from the "synagogue". Altogether they were about 80 people. Around 30 Israeli peace activists from different groups were there and also people from CPT, Christian Peacemakers Team. When 5 Palestinians together with the Israeli activists started to work on the land a group of settlers started to harass people and tried to prevent them. They shouted "nazis" and "you are al-qaida" to us, kicked people, pushed people around, and tried to prevent people from filming. One guy run around and stole tools who people didn't keep in their hands. He hid them behind the synagoge but the police didn't do anything about it. There were both police and at least 30-40 soldiers present watching the settlers breaking International and Israeli Law.


One of our local Palestinian coordinators was alone with a group of young male settlers who told him to not film. The head commander for the whole Hebron area, Commander Niir was there, and our coord. asked him to protect him from the4 settlers, and reminded him that that is one of his duties but he refused to do so.

Suddenly one of the settler guys jumped on him in a rugby tackling and he fell to the ground. Unfortunately no one got the attack on film. He hurt his back and asked fro an ambulance since he couldn't move, but the soldiers shouted "stand up". The settlers gathered around him shouting and laughing. I asked the police and the soldiers several times to move them away but they told me to go away instead, which I refused to do. Of course on guy just a couple of minutes later throwed a bottle of water over our coordinator. (but since it was roasting hot it wasn't too bad). After about 30 minutes the ambulance arrived. He was carried away ona stretch but still asked to walk into the ambulance!


After this incident the police and the army managed to make the settlers step back so we could work on the land. They were still having their picnic though on the land where we didn't work. After a while a group of young settlers girls (10-15 years old) started to throw stones back on the land (which we had just taken away) and they also run around among us. The soldiers didn't show any interest in doing something about it first. After a while 2 of them went over and talked to teh girls who just laughed at them and waved with their orange Israeli settler flags. Eventually they stopped and we could work on the land in peace and quiet (more or less) for 4 hours. Some of the Isareli activists stayed at the family over the night in case the settlers would come for revenge which is often the case.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

1 - Stealing your time

Atarot Checkpoint outside Jerusalem, waiting for the gate to open
Watch tower and the apartheid wall destroyint the nice view
In the flying checkpoint, 5 min after Atarot Checkpoint

When I left Jenin on the 27th August I got a lift with 3 journalists to Ramallah. Because they had a sign saying Press in the front window we didn't have any problems at the 4 checkpoints we passed.


In Ramallah I got intom a service (public transport taxi) and we passed through Kalandiya checkpoint which is the main checkpoint to and from Al-Quds (Jerusalem). Before you had to go through the gates by foot but now you can drive through. Sometimes the soldiers stop the vehicle to check the Id:s, and sometimes people have to go out from the car/bus.

We had no problem this time though and continued our travel after 5 minID-check. But on our way into Jerusalem we suddenly came to a road block, 3 big concrete blocks. Some people decided to leave the bus and started to walk.
It was to far away from East Jerusalem, where I wanted to go and the driver took us to Atarot checkpoint instead.
Between 6.15 - 7.05pm I was in the queue, waiting to go throught the checkpoint which included to show your ID and to put all your luggage through a scanner like at the airport. This is every day life for all people who travel to and fro Al-quds beacuse of work, school, family etc.

The bus we got onto was stopped after 5 minutes along the road, 7.10pm.Everybody's ID:a were checked, in case someone unwanted had manage to slip through the checkpoint, or what. At 7.20 we were on road again.

7.40, 5 minutes from the bus station. Soldiers on the pavement stops the bus, all ID:s collected to be taken out of the bus and gone through.

7.50 arrives to Al-quds. If the occupation didn't exist this journey would take about 15-20 minutes.


Israeli Military Forces are stealing people's time and life every day
on a regular basis.


Statistics on checkpoints and roadblocks, www.b'tselem

Permanent internal checkpoints
As of 9 Aug. 2007 Israel maintains 47 permanent checkpoints within the West Bank . Staffing of the checkpoints varies: 35 are staffed around the clock, 11 are staffed only during the day or for part of the day, and there is one back-to-back checkpoint for merchandise. These checkpoints impose the harshest restrictions on movement. Palestinians wanting to cross undergo inspection and often long delays. At some checkpoints, soldiers allow only Palestinians with special permits to cross.


At the end of April 2007, the IDF announced that as of the beginning of May, the restriction on Palestinians entering the Jordan Valley would be removed. In actuality, however, entrance is still restricted at some checkpoints while at others only pedestrians are allowed to enter.

Green Line checkpoints
There are 33 checkpoints that are the last inspection point between the West Bank and Israel . Some of these checkpoints are situated inside the West Bank, up to several kilometers from the Green Line. These checkpoints are permanent and are staffed continuously. In addition, there are 73 gates in the separation barrier, only 38 of which are for Palestinians. These are open only part of the day, and all Palestinians wanting to cross must have a special permit.

Surprise [flying] checkpoints
According to OCHA's figures, in May 2007, there was a weekly average of 200 flying checkpoints throughout the West Bank . These are staffed checkpoints set up for a period of a few hours.

Internal checkpoints in Hebron
Seventeen
checkpoints are located in Hebron in areas where there is friction between settlers and Palestinians. They are permanently staffed, and people who cross are routinely inspected.


Physical obstructions
In addition to the staffed checkpoints, the military has set up hundreds of physical obstructions (concrete blocks, dirt piles, trenches, etc...) which close off roads and prevent access to and from Palestinian communities. OCHA has tabulated the number of such obstacles within the West Bank, as of May 2007, as follows:
217 dirt piles at entrances to villages or to block roads
86 fences along roadways
12 trenches that prevent vehicles from crossing
93 locked gates at entrances to villages, with the keys held by the army
Forbidden Roads
Forty-one sections of roads in the West Bank, covering a distance of some 700 km, are restricted to Palestinian traffic, while Israelis are allowed to travel on them freely.

These figures were updated in 31 May 2007.




Sunday, August 26, 2007

5 -Prevented from travel, prevented from life - Jenin August

Pictures made by the children at the Cultural Centre.
All pictures are available on a cd from the Centre , ready to be printed for art exhibitions.










Western life style, the hamburger consists of human bodies,
blood instead of coke.





Today Yousef was supposed to go to Poverty Requiem in Holland, a international conference he had been invited to where he and a Palestinian woman would have been the only ones to represent the arab countries. But the occupation prevented him. He was supposed to receive his visa on Friday but they called from Holland and said that he couldn't collect it before 9am Monday -today, in Tel Aviv! The person on the phone sounded really suprised then Yousef explained that he can't go to Tel Aviv. The majority of the people can't even go to Jerusalem, and not without special permissions.




We decided that I would go to Tel Aviv and meet up with Yousef in Ramallah, a city just outside



Jerusalem, and from where he could go to Amman, in Jordan. But the gates at the Jordanian border close at 2 pm, and in Palestine you can nver know how long time a trip will take, under normal circumstances it takes 1 and a half hour. As you can't book your ticket in advance as you're not sure you'll get the visa you can't plan your travel. Yousef would have taken a flight leaving at 3am, taking 10 hours since there were no direct connections left. Oxfam Nova in Amsterdam who organize the conference would have paid the expenses, but if he would have been stopped somewhere and prevented from going he would have had to pay all himself. So in the end he decided not to go.



It's sad beacuse the conference theme was music and it would have been a great oppurtunity to make connections for the Cultural Centre.

Recently Yousef received a letter from hte Israeli authorities that his children have to move to Israel, otherwise they'll lose their Israeli citizenships. Yousef's wife is from the village in Israel and that's why their children have Israeli citizenships. The authorities had come to her relatives house and asked for her to see where she lives. They'll do this beacuse they don't want arabs to have Israeli citizenships. If she and the children goes to live in the village it will be very hard for them to go and see Yousef, beacuse of the wall, and Yousef of course can't go and see them. The children will grow up without their father. All people in the village are Arab/Palestinian Israelis but The Israeli society in general is extremely racist and discriminating against non-Jewish citizens. But they would have things like access to modern hospitals, insurances, better schools and Universities, and not to forget, it would be easier for them to travel. All things that I (almost) take for granted in my life, so I really understand that it's a tough decision they'll have to make. How cruel of the authorities. You'll have to split the family in order to keep the citizenship you were born with!

I taught my last lessons today and I'm heading for Jerusalem tomorrow, and then for the ism training on Tuesday. I want to go to hebron there I spent quite alot of time my first time in Palestine. Some of the youth will have photography workshops this week and next Monday school starts. Today I had luck at my friend Zain's house, in Jenin. It feels sad to leave but it has been a bit lonely to stay at the centre on my own. I'll be back in a few weeks time though. Matt from Nottingham is still here, working at the Freedom Theatre, but I haven't been able to see him more than once.
Inshallah we'll visit Jenin hospital tomorrow to set up the connection with them.

The cultural Centre received some bad news today. They have to flats next to each other, and one they've rented for free until today as the flat was empty anyway. Now the landlord want to let the flat to someone if the centre doesn't pay rent for that as well. He didn't mention how much but it;s likelt to be about $200 per month which is a lot fro the centre, they're already paying $350 for the other flat. The flat is used for the woen's project to make jam, honey and other things so it would be very bad if they'll loose it.

I'll finish with Yousef's words before he left today: "Maybe we can go and live on March or somewhere else in the space."

C u another day, don't now if I'll have computer access in the next coming days.








Saturday, August 25, 2007

4- everyday life - Jenin August

Posters at the Centre


Picking cucumbers with
Sirah, Lama and Rosa


First the latest news from Jenin: Early this morning (Sat 25th) a military operation was launched in the city. Two men from the Al-quds brigade (Freedom Fighters, and just to remind you that according to UN resolutions an occupied country/area have their right to defend themselves (this does not include suicide bombers). were killed, 3 of there comrades were injured, and so was a citizen who was passing by on the street, by the so called Israeli death squad Forces.


During the last 12 hours here eight Palestinians have lost their life in the West Bank and Gaza.

Among them Humam Ahmad Nasir, 18, and Mustafa Adnan Nasir, 17, both from Jabalia in the north of the Gaza Strip, and 11 year old Mahmoud Qarnawi, killed during an Israeli attack in Seida, north of Tulkarem in the West Bank.


My last week here...

Last Sunday I started to teach English at the centre. I was told it would be for beginners but it's not! I teach one group of children who speaks a lot, and a group of students where some have studied English at college. I knew it since before but it's even more clear now that it's one thing to know a language and another to teach it. The lack of books and material makes it even harder so tomorrow will be last lesson. The students seems supriseingly pleased though. It feels strange that they appreciate a foreigner as a teacher so much. I think they would achieve more with a local teacher who can explain the grammar in Arabic. It feels a bit "colonialistic" that I as a white European should teach, especially since English is my second language. But it shows one of the big problems here. A lot of the teachers haven't been paid for months, sometimes more than a year due to the ecomomic crises here. The centre for example would never be able to pay a teacher, and people here doesn't have time to teach for free.


This week I have soent a lot of time in Al-faddah, which is a suburb to Jenin where my friends Sirah, Lama and Rosa live. I met them at the centre where Sirah and Lama are studing Hebrew. Rosa is Sirah's sister. They're really nice and clever gilrs who has taken me to a lot of places, and they teach me Arabic. Tonight we were at birthday party to a friend of them, but Lama didn't go beacuse her brother was killed by the Israeli army 2 months ago and it's still the grieving period. The family of Sirah and Rosa are originally from Haifa, their grandparents came as refugees in 1948. (according to the UN resolution 194 all Palestinian refugees from 1948 and 1967 has the right to return, a right which they're being denied by Israel). They used to live in Jenin refugge camp but after the invasion in 2002 when the majority of the camp were demolished, and many people were killed, they didn't feel safe anymore.


Right now we're trying to set up more twinning contacts between Nottingham and Jenin but it takes time to arrange meetings and to find a day when everyone involved can attend.

Among other things the groups here would like to come in contact with places who can sell their fairtrade goods and organize art exhibitions with pictures made by the children at the centre.

Also we'll visit the Jenin hospital who suffer a lot from the economical situation. They are the govermental hospital, and the biggest in Jenin.


Yesterday I spent the day in Birquin south of Jenin where Yousef lives. It's a really nice village which has the third oldest church. Life there is quite quiet now but Yousef showed the hills from where soldiers started to shoot one night, hitting the the wall of his house just where two of his children were sleeping. Many houses were hit and one boy died. The children had sleeping problems for months afterwards. Everyone here has their story, and sadly their stories has not been listened to enough.





Thursday, August 16, 2007

3 -Zahbaabdiy village & End of summer camp

Zahabaadi vaillage at night
At Refai's house
Al-badan park
Yousef in Al-badan Park
The children making masks at the summer camp
Two days ago the Spanish girls and I were invited buy a guy called Refai to his house in the village Zahbaadi there he lives with his family. Refai is active in many very interesting projects. You can see a summary in the end of the blog. He is working a lot with international volunteers in the different projects and he is always looking for new people.
Zahbaadi village, south of Jenin, has about 7000 citizens and the christian population is very big. There are two mosques and four churches. (one catholic, one greek ortodox, one russian ortodox and one protestant). Before there was a settlement nearby but the settlers left in the disengagement 2005 when the settlers in Gaza and in four settlements in the north West Bank had to leave. (according to a cecision made by the Israeli government).

The 18th of April this year the army entered the family's house and Refai's youngest brother, 16 year old, was arrested. They still don't know why and they don't know where he was taken. Not even the Red Cross has been able to found out which jail he is in (without a trial).
Since then it has been impossible for all in the family, including their relatives, to get permission to travel over the borders. This collective punishment is always used by the israeli government.
Yesterday Refais father was supposed to go and visit the hospital in Amman, Jordan but in the evening when we were there he got a phone call that he wasn't given the permission to go.
They siad he had "problems with the Israeli intelligence". He has internal bleedings and serius problems with the lever and the hospital in Jenin does not have the resources to treat him. The doctors there said that he will die if he doesn't get the right treatment soon. If he will be allowed to go he will have to go by ambulance all the way to Jordan.
Tomorrow Refai will go to the military court and try to change the decision. He is working with the Human Right Watch and has studied Law which will be an advantage. Normally it is very hard to change a decision. It was hard to be there and not be able to do anything, I get really angry when writing about it!
Refai himself has received a scholarship from the Geneva University to study Law there but know he doesn't know if it will be possible. One of his histers lives in Saudi Arabia and she hasn't been able to visit the family since the arrest. These are the situation that make you realize that there are no option then to continue the struggle for justice and human rights for the Palestinians.

The day before yesterday was the last day at the summer camp and we went on a trip to Al-badab which is a park with a cafe with the tables in a small canal so you can have your feet in the water, and something such unusual, in Palestine, as a swimming pool! (The water resouces are very limited here, and mot of the water are used by the illegal settlements). It was a very nice day and the children really enjoyed it as it's not very often they get the chance to swim. It was
the first day I felt really clean and wasn't sweating all the time!
One our way home there was one so called flying check point ( a mobile check point) but luckily they decided to leave before it was our turn to pass. So much for the Israeli "security". Now all the terrorist children could go to Jenin without any problem. The children at the summer camp in Zahbaadi (who Refai also is working with) went on a trip to Qalkilya a cuople of days ago and they were delayed for more than two hours in a check point on there they home. Imagine the parents who were waiting for them.

Yesterday the Palestinian National Tv came to the centre to film. The children did different performances singing, dancing, playing sketches and we were making hand craft with them. I'm not sure about my plans now when the summer camp is over. They want me to teach English (beginner level of course!)) at the centre as there are not enough teachers beacuse they can't pay them anhy money, so I'll probably do that. My plan was to join Ism but I'll see how things goes. They just set up a group here in Jenin but I'm not sure what they are doing here. I've heard different opinions about ISM and how they function at the moment. It's hard to know. I think it's important to always question what you are doing and if you can do it in another way. It seems like the groups in Nablus and Hebron are going well so maybe I'll go there.
Today we are going to the Freedom Theatre. I finally met Jonathan yesterday, who says hello to everyone in Ism Malmo, and he invited us to film show with films made by the children there. Hopefully I will also meet Matt from Nottingham who arrived this week and will stay for six weeks doing different circus projects.

C u another day, Love M.


The projects Refai is involved in:

First Summer Camp of the Palestinian-Israeli Student Coalition
In the end of August there will be summer camp at the Arab American University in Jenin there 40 Palestinian students, 40 Israeli students from the Tel Aviv University and 20 Internatinal students will meet. This is a very unique project, especially for Jenin. During one week the students will have lectures and discussions and workshops on Conflict Resolution, Internatinal Humanitarian Law and other subjects and they wil be doing volunteer work in Al-Fara'a refugee camp among other things.

Windows http://www.win-peace.org/
Windows is a non-profit organization established in 1991. Windows members are Israeli and Palestinian citizens of Israel and Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza. The members work together with media and art programs to promote mutual acceptance, undertsanding and recognition between each other. They are currently running three different projects. For many young people this is there only chance to meet and get to know people from "the other side".
The magazine Windows, a Hebrew-Arabic magazine written by and for young people age 12-14 from both peoples. I t deals with both both every day lives of youth but also more difficult topics like identity, natinality and the occupation.
Video Magazine for Youth - a video magazine filmed by Palestinian and Israeli youth age 15-17 showing their lifes and opinions.
Reaching Out to Schools - Many schools don't encourage discussion on the conflict and the occupation. Windows are offering a school program with discussions and workshops. The printed magazine and the video magazine are offered to all schools in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Terrtories. This project is supported by the European Union.

Voice without borders
A radio station set up by Refai and other Palestinians and internationals in Zahbaadi, there they send programs both in English and Arabic about life in the Jenin area and about the occupation. This project is looking for volunteers. I will edit the contact information soon.

Faculty for Israeli-Palestinian Peace Internship (from their website)
http://www.ffipp.org/

FFIPP, the Faculty For Israeli-Palestinian Peace, is a network of Palestinian, Israeli, and International faculty, with an affiliated international student network, working in solidarity for a complete end of the occupation and just peace.

To build an effective faculty network that educates the academic community about the situation in Israel/Palestine and the region and advocates policies conducive to reaching a just peace;To educate policy and opinion makers around the world to help stop the violations of human rights and international law and their cause, the occupation;To cooperate with those who work for a just peace and assist conscientious Palestinian and Israeli faculty and students.

Peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine is the resolution to the conflict supported by virtually all interested parties. We strongly believe that no justice and no peace can be achieved without Israeli withdrawal from all occupied territories, and that anybody truly and honestly favoring peaceful coexistence must support such withdrawal.

The FFIPP Summer Internship program supports not-for-profit organizations in Palestine/Israel, such as human rights, peace and justice organizations as well as centers for art, culture and research. This program will also provide invaluable skills and knowledge for the volunteers as they engage in learning, teaching, and research in local communities and organizations.

Human Right Watch www.hrw.org (from their website)

Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world.
We stand with victims and activists to prevent discrimination, to uphold political freedom, to protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime, and to bring offenders to justice.
We investigate and expose human rights violations and hold abusers accountable.
We challenge governments and those who hold power to end abusive practices and respect international human rights law.
We enlist the public and the international community to support the cause of human rights for all.
Human Rights Watch is an independent, nongovernmental organization, supported by contributions from private individuals and foundations worldwide. It accepts no government funds, directly or indirectly.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

2 -summer camp & Al-Amal Hospital, Jenin



Today 2 spanish volunteers and I were at the summer camp for the children. It goes on between 9am-1pam. The older children wrote a story together about their every day life and then draw picture to it. Many of the pictures show how deep they are affected by the occupation. The younger children were in another grouop and we painted their faces. After that some of learned some dubka dancing played different games.

The Cultural Centre are looking for places and people who would like to make an art exhibition with the pictures that the children have made. The pictures have been shown in Scotland before.
They are also looking for places, preferable Fair Trade shops, who would like to sell hand made things (wallets, bags, clothes, scarfs, pottery etc.) which the women are making.
So please contact me if you have any ideas of places who can be interested in anything of this.

In the afternoon Yousef took us to the Al-Amal Hospital, which is run by a NGO called Patient's Friend Society(PFS). They are a part of the twinning link with Tower Hamlet, London, but are also intersted in twinning with Nottingham.
PFS was estblished in 1972and it was the first NGO to start health activities in the Jenin area. It is the 2nd biggest hospital in Jenin with different specialized clinics and a mobile clinic which cover villages around the city.
PSF also run different programs connected to the hospital like Al-Amal School for mentally handicapped children, Al-Amal polyclinic, Integration of disbled children in the national eduscation system, Al-Amal Maternity Hospital, gynecology and obsterics, Health education and promotion program, and Community based rehabilitation.
Jenin is considered to be one of the most underserved areas in Palestine with a high poverty level. The disability rate is 2%, which is one of the highest in the West Bank. The hospital bed ratio is 0,5bed/1000n inhabitant. The average ratio in Palestine is 1,3bed/1000 habitant. The health related infrastructure is undeveloped, especially in the rural areas that have been badly affected by the apartheid isolation wall surrounding them from three sides.

The hospital's economic situation is (not suprisingly) in a very bad state, and they were really affected when the European countries and Us withdraw their financial support one and a half year ago. (after Hamas won the democratic election as you probably know).

For the twinning group in notts:
I discussed with some of the doctors about how a twinning link could be helpful for them. This is what they said:
They are looking for financial support to be able to get more equipment, repair the old equipment, to do renovations, repair the ambulances and to buy medecine. Also they would be interested in having volunteers with the required education and knowledge. Especially to the school for the handicapped children but also to the hospital. Maybe there can be an exchange of medical students in Jenin and Uk. I said that as far as I know there are no health sector involved in the twinning project yet, but that I would report it to the group so you can discuss it.

C u another day.

Saturday, August 11, 2007

1 -Arrival -Jenin




I arrived yesterday morning to tel Aviv (by flight to my big disappointment, if you also trying to avoid flying, there are people who has managed to enter Israel by ferry from Cyprus and through Syria this summer!). The customs searched me and my bags but hardly asked any questions so I didn't have any problems at all to enter.

After one night in Al-quads/Jerusalem I'm now in Jenin, the city which is twinning with Nottingham, Uk. I only passed one checkpoint, Kalandiya between Jerusalem and Ramallah. They checked people's id but we didn't have to get out of the bus.

I'm staying at the Jenin Creative Cultural Centre, founded in 2005, where Yousef (who works here) met me.
A summer camp for the children has been going on for one week and will continue at least one more. It is open for both the children in the refugee camp and the rest of Jenin. Between 10 to
120 children come every day depending on the programme.

During the summer a food production project for women has been set up. It has been going on for one month and if they get more money from the Olof Palme Centre in Sweden who sponsor it, it will continue after the summer camp is finsihed
About 25 women have been involved making jam from fruits and vegetables from the local farmers. Some women come from villages behind the wall (on the "Israeli side"), and many of them have difficult economic situation. Some of them have lost their houspants and they have to support their families on their own.
The aim of the project is that the women will become economic independent, which is the first step to make it impossible to improve life in other ways. At the same time it makes the Jenin City less independent from Israel as they produce food from their local farmers and sell in their locla shops.
The unemployment in Jenin is estimated to be 65-70% so projects like these are really important.

It seems to be fairly calm here even though the military enter the city regularly. Most times they just drive around and shoot in the air, to create a feeling of unsecurity.
Yousef send his greetings to all people in Malmo and Nottingham, and thanks for all support.
Hisham says hello to the people in Malmo, especially the ones who were here in July.
C u another day.