Ramallah, Occupied Palestine

Ramallah, Occupied Palestine 6 June, 2002 11PM local.

A relatively quiet day after the early morning artillery fire. Just after daybreak, we went
outside to talk to some of the local resistance fighters patrolling the streets. They informed
us that, if Israeli tanks should roll into their neighborhood, they would engage them. While I
question the wisdom of taking on a tank with nothing but a rifle, I respect their motive when I
pressed them for a reason: “Because this is our home. We will resist the invaders with our
spirits & with our blood. We will drive them out of our land.”

Walked to Arrafat’s compound about 9 am. Bombed out buildings & wrecked autos. It was clear
form the evidence that the buildings were demolished from a tank within the compound. News
reports said that one shell fell 5 feet from Arrafat’s bed (he was a few rooms down at the
time). They also brought in a bulldozer to push the cars around like hockey pucks. The Mosque
was completely destroyed but the main building was left intact. In what appeared to be a random
act of violence, Israeli soldiers sprayed automatic weapon fire at an unrelated civilian office
building 200 yards away breaking windows & damaging the roof & walls. As this was a 5 story
bldg who’s roof was accessible only from inside, it is unlikely that there were resistance
fighters on the roof at 2 AM.

We entered a bunker at the back of the compound with about a dozen armed militia men. They
offered us coffee & we exchanged questions about politics, the occupation, the current world
cup soccer matches, gunshot wounds, the usual male-bonding stuff. Photos were taken before we
resumed our tour of the damage. It’s worth bearing in mind that these kalashnikov-toting
citizen-soldiers are the epitome of George W. Bush’s image of a terrorist & here I was, unarmed
in a bunker, out of sight of the crowd, a U.S. citizen who’s tax dollars paid for the tanks
that destroyed their Presidential compound. They could have killed me on the spot, yet at no
time was I concerned for my safety.

Arafat came out about 11 to meet with reporters & several hundred supporters. Though a hundred
or so riflemen were in the compound, security directly around him was light & informal. I got
within 5 feet of him & my colleague shook his hand. As most of you know, I look obviously
American or European. If I had a pistol & the intention to, I likely could have killed him. A
bomb, Definitely. yet nothing but friendly smiles from the Palestinian crowd. When was the last
time Bush or any other imperial leader would get so close to a crowd?
I read the MSN web page story & offer a few relevant facts:

1. This invasion was the 97th since the Israelis supposedly “pulled out” on 24 April.
2. (My opinion) This was clearly an act of collective punishment for the suicide bombings.
(Fact) Collective punishment is forbidden under the Geneva Conventions to which Israel is a
signatory.
3. Everything about the situation is illegal under International Law. The occupation now 35
years & counting, the settlements, the stealing of water, the checkpoints, the daily harassment
of Palestinians, to name a few. 3a. This is essential to the situation here yet is almost never
mentioned in the media.

Back in the HDIP office tonight but the chance of a reinvasion is unlikely.
Tommorrow, we head north to Jenin, conditions permitting.