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Pictures of Palestinians including activists defending olive growers from settlers
...
Palestinians have requested International Peacekeeping forces on their land as a buffer between them and Israel -- this was rejected by Israel.
An Israeli soldier checks the ID of a Palestinian child at a road block outside the West Bank town of Qalqiliya. (photo: AFP)
A Palestinian boy watches an Israeli soldier making an obscene gesture near a concrete wall at the Kupsa checkpoint at the outskirts of east Jerusalem December 7, 2002. The wall was built by Israelis to form a solid barrier against entry by Palestinians from the West Bank into Arab East Jerusalem.(Reuters / Reinhard Krause)
Palestinian children ride atop a horse-drawn wagon, during a youth festival in a park to celebrate the three-day Eid el-Fitr holiday, marking the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, near the Old City in east Jerusalem, Friday Dec. 6, 2002.
A Palestinian refugee boy stands next to his family's blown up house destroyed by Israeli troops at Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza Strip, early Friday morning on December 6, 2002, the second day of the Islamic holiday of Eid Al-Fitr.
Palestinian children walk barefoot in downtown Gaza city on the last day of the holy month of Ramadan, Wednesday, December 4, 2002.
An Israeli soldier takes pictures next to graffiti that reads 'Arabs out,' left by extremist Jewish settlers in an area where Palestinian houses are "scheduled for demolition" in the Palestinian town of Hebron Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2002. The Israeli army has issued warrants to confiscate 15 Palestinian homes in the area as part of a plan to demolish them and widen a road connecting a holy site to a nearby Jewish settlement.
Refugees To Be ! Palestinian children look out of their family home at Israeli soldiers distributing orders to leave the houses because they will be demolished soon in the old Palestinian city of Hebron December 3, 2002. The Israeli army has issued warrants to seize 15 Palestinian homes in the area as part of a plan to demolish them and widen a road connecting a holy site to a nearby Jewish settlement.
Palestinian children look from their family home at Israeli soldiers distributing orders to leave the houses because they will be demolished soon in the old Palestinian city of Hebron December 3, 2002. The Israeli army has issued warrants to seize 15 Palestinian homes in the area as part of a plan to demolish them and widen a road connecting a holy site to a nearby Jewish settlement. The Hebrew slogan at the door, written by the extremist Jewish settlers, reads 'Arabs out. Death to the Arabs.'
Palestinian Jamal al Dura, right, gives one-day-old baby Mohammed to his wife Amal, at their home in the Bureij refugee camp, in southern Gaza Strip, Sunday Dec. 1, 2002. Dura, the stepmother of 12-year-old Mohammed al Dura, the Palestinian boy that was killed on the second day of the Palestinian uprising, when he was shot by Israeli soldiers as he cowered with his father behind a barrel, gave birth to another son, whom his father has named Mohammed in memory of the boy who died in his lap two years ago.
An injured Palestinian boy stands in front of his family's destroyed house in the Khan Younis refugee camp in the southern part of the Gaza Strip on November 22, 2002. The Israeli army destroyed two houses in Khan Younis refugee camp on Thursday night.
Unidentified relatives of 11-year-old Palestinian boy Mohammed Bilalo stand next to his bed in a hospital in the West Bank town of Jenin Friday Nov. 22, 2002. Blalo was shot in the eye during clashes between Palestinians and Israeli occupation forces in Jenin.
Palestinians evacuate a child from a destroyed house after the Israeli army demolished it in the old city of Nablus, August 19, 2002.
Two Palestinian children sit in the window of their home by a wall covered with pro-Palestinian graffiti in the Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2002.
Two Palestinian children walk past the Israeli Kalandia checkpoint towards Ramallah on the outskirts of the West Bank town Friday, Aug. 2, 2002.
Young Palestinians throw rocks at Israeli tanks in Balata refugee camp near Nablus Thursday, Aug. 1, 2002. Clashes between the youths and Israeli forces are almost a daily occurrence.
Palestinian child Nancy Aish, right, is comforted by an unidentified girl during the funeral procession of her brother Mohammad in the Palestinian West Bank Balata refugee camp, Saturday, June 29, 2002. Aish was killed early Thursday after an Israeli tank opened fire near the camp.
GOOD FRIDAY IN BETHLEHEM! A Palestinian Christian family watch Israeli soldiers from the window of their home during a curfew in Bethlehem on Good Friday, May 3, 2002.
Two Palestinian girls peer out of a window as Israeli tanks and troops patrol a street in the West Bank city of Hebron, April 29, 2002.
VIGIL FOR... EASTER Young Christian girls take part in a candlelight vigil in show of solidarity with Palestinians under occupation in Amman April 28, 2002. The Eastern Easter celebrations were cancelled in respect for the Palestinian victims of Israel's latest military offensive.
A Palestinian Christian boy dressed as a priest waves a Palestinian flag during an Orthodox Palm Sunday procession in a church in the West Bank town of Beit Sahour, adjacent to Bethlehem Sunday April 28, 2002. Negotiations to end the 27-day standoff at Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, where hundreds of Palestinians are surrounded by Israeli forces, deadlocked.
A Palestinian Greek Orthodox child stand on tip-toes to lit a candle during Palm Sunday celebrations, April 28, 2002 at the church of Virgin Mary in Beit Jalah, near Bethlehem, where Israeli troops and tanks are surrounding the Church of the Nativity.
A Catholic nun cries during a prayer held for peace in Palestine during a religious service at St. Anne's church in Jerusalem's Old City, Friday, April 26, 2002.
PILGRIM AT THE GATE U.S. Christian pilgrim Keith Wheller, from Tulsa, Oklahoma carries a cross and stops in front of a barricade erected by Israeli troops in Bethlehem to block access to Manger Square, in front of the Church of Nativity, April 26, 2002.
PRIEST AND TANK A priest holds up his hand towards the barrel of a tank after exiting through the door of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem to help lead out nine Palestinian youths, Thursday April 25, 2002. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)
A Palestinian boy sits in the ruins of his house in the destroyed Jenin refugee camp April 25, 2002. (Reuters/Reinhard Krause)
An Israeli soldier aims his sniper rifle at the Church of Nativity in front of a group of Palestinian women and children during a temporary lifting of a curfew in Bethlehem, April 22, 2002. (Reuters/Magnus Johansson)
An elderly Palestinian man sits amongst debris under the rain as a storm cloud hovers over the destroyed area of the refugee camp of Jenin, Saturday, April 20, 2002.
Five year-old Nabil Abad, right, and his six year-old sister Fairoz sit in the rubble of their family's home in Nablus, Friday April 19, 2002. The house was destroyed in a helicopter attack during the Israeli incursion into the town. (AP Photo/Greg Baker)
SOCCER IN THE CAMP Two Palestinian boys play soccer in front of a wall, covered with graffiti, celebrating local shahids (martyrs) in Deheisheh refugee camp near Bethlehem, April 19, 2002. (Reuters/Magnus Johansson)
Mourners look into a mass grave for 12 Palestinians killed during the Israeli invasion of the northern West Bank town of Nablus, Thursday, April 18, 2002. Thirty-five bodies were buried in Nablus when Israel lifted a curfew for three hours. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
Hospital workers prepare the bodies of dead Palestinians outside a makeshift morgue in the West Bank town of Nablus, Thursday, April 18, 2002. Hospital officials said the bodies were to be buried because there was no space left in refrigerated trucks which had been storing them.
A Palestinian boy wanders through the rubble of his demolished house in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank, April 15, 2002.
House demolition:
----------------------------------------------------------
Several members of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) confronted armed Jewish settlers who attempted to attack Palestinian olive harvesters in the village of Tequa, south of Bethlehem.
Many Palestinian farmers were denied access to their farms in the Occupied Territories this year by Israeli forces and armed Jewish settlers.
Two human right activists were hurt on that day in Tequa after being attacked by settlers. Mary Hughes-Thompson was beaten, as well as a 74 year old-volunteer who had to be hospitalized with a collapsed lung.
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Olive Orchards and Armed Zealots
by MARY HUGHES-THOMPSON
Yanoun Village, Occupied Palestine. At 8 o'clock on a sunny morning, a small group of internationals from ISM and other peace organizations accompanied members of a few local Palestinian families as they went into the nearby fields to harvest their olives. Because this village has been under continuous attack from armed zealots of the illegal Itamar settlement, these farmers didn't dare to harvest from any trees except those close to their village. Recently the entire population of this simple village fled after repeated nighttime attacks from the armed settlers, and only because internationals promised to accompany them did a few of the families gain courage to return.
On this peaceful Sunday morning as I was enjoying the sun and the company of about two dozen villagers who frequently made certain we were well supplied with water and tea, our quiet labors were interrupted by gunfire close by. As the villagers continued picking olives, a few internationals investigated the shots and learned that IOF soldiers were shooting for reasons that were unclear, except that apparently they knew there were settlers prowling the area. The soldiers asked that all of us to move back close to the village, which we immediately did. Perhaps thirty minutes later, we learned there had been a bombing at the Ariel settlement, and it was decided we should stop harvesting and guide the villagers home.
Everything was packed up within a couple of minutes and the Palestinian harvesters quickly climbed out of the valley towards their village. The internationals stayed back to make sure they made it home safely, and all seemed calm. Suddenly I heard shouting beside me and saw that several young armed settlers were attacking the peace activists with rifle butts. I saw one smash his rifle down on the head of Robbie Kelly, an Irish ISM volunteer, and also witnessed them attacking Omer, who is an Israeli member of Tayuush. I continued to climb the path as quickly as I could, hoping to reach the village and perhaps call for help.
Then I noticed I was alone, except for James Delaplain, a 74 year old grandfather from Wisconsin, who was hurrying along a lower level toward the village. Suddenly he was surrounded by armed and angry settlers, they set upon him with fists and weapons, pushing him out of my sight behind an olive tree. Fearing for us both, I continued my climb hoping to reach safety and calling for help for James.
Seconds later I was surrounded by four or five of these angry young men who began screaming at me in Hebrew. Two more began to throw rocks at me from the top of the ridge above me. One grabbed the stick I had been using to help me climb along the rocky path and he struck me hard on my left arm with it. I was shocked because I never imagined they would attack someone clearly old enough to be their grandmother--I am 68. The others began to kick me and one knocked me down. I got up quickly because I had been told during ISM training that once you are on the ground you would be beaten more severely. By now, I realized they were planning to hurt or even kill me, and I was really scared. As I pleaded with them to stop, telling them I was there in peace and that I was frightened, they continued striking me on my arm and shoulder with the stick and rifle butts, all the time screaming at me that they would shoot me. I was struck on my back and chest with the stick and I really felt they wouldn't stop until they killed me.
My backpack which held all my money, my airplane ticket, my US and British Passports, my credit cards and my digital camera, was over my right shoulder and I tried to hide it from their view. Perhaps it was fortunate that one of them saw it because as soon as they had snatched it from my shoulder they stopped beating me. They screamed "Just Go!", "Go!", "Don't come back!", "Next time you get a bullet!", and I sobbed and said I wouldn't come back. I'm afraid I behaved like a total coward, but I just wanted them to stop hitting me.
As the settlers left and I started again up the path, two other young settlers appeared above me. I was afraid they would attack me, so I shouted that the others had told me to go and that I was going. After a few more seconds, I saw several people in front of me and was momentarily afraid, but was so relieved to find some wonderful internationals who were anxious about James and myself. I screamed that the settlers had beaten James, and just seconds later James also struggled to the edge of the village and safety.
It was evident the IOF, which knew there was trouble brewing and ought to have been there protecting civilians, had deliberately stayed away. The soldiers only intervene to protect the settlers--it is unheard of that they intervene to protect Palestinians.
Robbie needed seven stitches to repair the wound to his left ear. James had been hit in the left eye by a rifle butt and had been beaten in the ribs. My injuries were less severe and it turned out I have no broken bones. Poor James, who had pneumonia two weeks before leaving for Palestine, has fractures of one or more ribs and a collapsed lung; he is currently in Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem.
Mary Hughes-Thompson was born in Lancashire in 1933, lived in Canada from 1953 to 1961, when I moved to California, where she worked in the motion picture and television industry. She is a member of the Writers Guild of America and a private pilot.
by MARY HUGHES-THOMPSON
Yanoun Village, Occupied Palestine. At 8 o'clock on a sunny morning, a small group of internationals from ISM and other peace organizations accompanied members of a few local Palestinian families as they went into the nearby fields to harvest their olives. Because this village has been under continuous attack from armed zealots of the illegal Itamar settlement, these farmers didn't dare to harvest from any trees except those close to their village. Recently the entire population of this simple village fled after repeated nighttime attacks from the armed settlers, and only because internationals promised to accompany them did a few of the families gain courage to return.
On this peaceful Sunday morning as I was enjoying the sun and the company of about two dozen villagers who frequently made certain we were well supplied with water and tea, our quiet labors were interrupted by gunfire close by. As the villagers continued picking olives, a few internationals investigated the shots and learned that IOF soldiers were shooting for reasons that were unclear, except that apparently they knew there were settlers prowling the area. The soldiers asked that all of us to move back close to the village, which we immediately did. Perhaps thirty minutes later, we learned there had been a bombing at the Ariel settlement, and it was decided we should stop harvesting and guide the villagers home.
Everything was packed up within a couple of minutes and the Palestinian harvesters quickly climbed out of the valley towards their village. The internationals stayed back to make sure they made it home safely, and all seemed calm. Suddenly I heard shouting beside me and saw that several young armed settlers were attacking the peace activists with rifle butts. I saw one smash his rifle down on the head of Robbie Kelly, an Irish ISM volunteer, and also witnessed them attacking Omer, who is an Israeli member of Tayuush. I continued to climb the path as quickly as I could, hoping to reach the village and perhaps call for help.
Then I noticed I was alone, except for James Delaplain, a 74 year old grandfather from Wisconsin, who was hurrying along a lower level toward the village. Suddenly he was surrounded by armed and angry settlers, they set upon him with fists and weapons, pushing him out of my sight behind an olive tree. Fearing for us both, I continued my climb hoping to reach safety and calling for help for James.
Seconds later I was surrounded by four or five of these angry young men who began screaming at me in Hebrew. Two more began to throw rocks at me from the top of the ridge above me. One grabbed the stick I had been using to help me climb along the rocky path and he struck me hard on my left arm with it. I was shocked because I never imagined they would attack someone clearly old enough to be their grandmother--I am 68. The others began to kick me and one knocked me down. I got up quickly because I had been told during ISM training that once you are on the ground you would be beaten more severely. By now, I realized they were planning to hurt or even kill me, and I was really scared. As I pleaded with them to stop, telling them I was there in peace and that I was frightened, they continued striking me on my arm and shoulder with the stick and rifle butts, all the time screaming at me that they would shoot me. I was struck on my back and chest with the stick and I really felt they wouldn't stop until they killed me.
My backpack which held all my money, my airplane ticket, my US and British Passports, my credit cards and my digital camera, was over my right shoulder and I tried to hide it from their view. Perhaps it was fortunate that one of them saw it because as soon as they had snatched it from my shoulder they stopped beating me. They screamed "Just Go!", "Go!", "Don't come back!", "Next time you get a bullet!", and I sobbed and said I wouldn't come back. I'm afraid I behaved like a total coward, but I just wanted them to stop hitting me.
As the settlers left and I started again up the path, two other young settlers appeared above me. I was afraid they would attack me, so I shouted that the others had told me to go and that I was going. After a few more seconds, I saw several people in front of me and was momentarily afraid, but was so relieved to find some wonderful internationals who were anxious about James and myself. I screamed that the settlers had beaten James, and just seconds later James also struggled to the edge of the village and safety.
It was evident the IOF, which knew there was trouble brewing and ought to have been there protecting civilians, had deliberately stayed away. The soldiers only intervene to protect the settlers--it is unheard of that they intervene to protect Palestinians.
Robbie needed seven stitches to repair the wound to his left ear. James had been hit in the left eye by a rifle butt and had been beaten in the ribs. My injuries were less severe and it turned out I have no broken bones. Poor James, who had pneumonia two weeks before leaving for Palestine, has fractures of one or more ribs and a collapsed lung; he is currently in Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem.
Mary Hughes-Thompson was born in Lancashire in 1933, lived in Canada from 1953 to 1961, when I moved to California, where she worked in the motion picture and television industry. She is a member of the Writers Guild of America and a private pilot.
For more information:
http://www.counterpunch.org/thompson1102.html
OMG Pictures, where do you keep getting this stuff? Its so powerful and so well done. This is a very moving record. I wish you could tell us a little more about these pictures, where you got them and, if you took them, the story behind them. I'll distribute this one to Canadian IMC's tommorow. This is amazing. Keep up the good work Pictures.
Take a look at the last five or so pictures above and then read the account of the grandmother who was beaten up by settlers. She had to plead with them to stop beating her and they only stopped when they stole her backpack which contained her camera.
I can't take credit for any of these pictures. I found them on several different sites. Most of these are from two sites:
http://www.bintjbeil.com/images/slide/main.html
and
http://snapshots.palestinechronicle.com
The real credit goes to all the photo journalists acknowledged under those pictures on the original sites. These were taken by journalists from all over the world from a look at their names.
What is a shame is that these photos don't get included in any US newspapers or news magazines. Just like the video footage that is captured there does not get on CNN, FOX, etc.
All I did was to compile all those pictures that grabbed my attention in some way -- someone's eyes, a series of photos telling a story, people going about there normal daily lives. I think the story the pictures tell (not me) is that of a people caught in circumstances not in their control but still surviving and somehow making a life for themselves...
http://www.bintjbeil.com/images/slide/main.html
and
http://snapshots.palestinechronicle.com
The real credit goes to all the photo journalists acknowledged under those pictures on the original sites. These were taken by journalists from all over the world from a look at their names.
What is a shame is that these photos don't get included in any US newspapers or news magazines. Just like the video footage that is captured there does not get on CNN, FOX, etc.
All I did was to compile all those pictures that grabbed my attention in some way -- someone's eyes, a series of photos telling a story, people going about there normal daily lives. I think the story the pictures tell (not me) is that of a people caught in circumstances not in their control but still surviving and somehow making a life for themselves...
Damn it, I clicked on this because of the olive groves question!
Cute kids, though
Cute kids, though
Check out the last five or so pictures and the article right after them...
Great pictures. It makes me glad I don't live in the Middle East. They show the terrible suffering of the Palestinian people as they try to survive day by day.
A picture is worth a thousand words, and the people who suffer in Palestine are more than simply statistics or newspaper headlines.
However, I noticed that there were no pictures of dead or injured Israelis hurt by 'suicide bombers' who blow up busses or attack Kibbutzes. Peace is a two way street, I believe.
A picture is worth a thousand words, and the people who suffer in Palestine are more than simply statistics or newspaper headlines.
However, I noticed that there were no pictures of dead or injured Israelis hurt by 'suicide bombers' who blow up busses or attack Kibbutzes. Peace is a two way street, I believe.
Indymedia has many causes that are philatrophic and also / but environmental.
It's passion is admired but independant as the organization is, it is also drenched in biased motives. The organization is one-sided and not very tolerant and not very accepting. Indymedia doesn't lend itself to the media society as many, including the big three, have done and are failing.
It's passion is admired but independant as the organization is, it is also drenched in biased motives. The organization is one-sided and not very tolerant and not very accepting. Indymedia doesn't lend itself to the media society as many, including the big three, have done and are failing.
Congratulations on assembling the most one-sided and inaccurate presentation of the complex Middle East situation I have seen to date. Whatever happened to the photos of the Israeli soldier who was lynched while Palestinians danced in the streets? Where are the bombed out buses, the dead students at Hebrew University? You are the Nazis of the 21st century...
THE PICTURES ARE CHILLING. WITH THE US MEDIA ALL YOU EVER SEE IS THE SUFFERING OF THE ISRAELIS. WHEN PEOPLE DIE NO ONE WINS. ARE WE NOT ALL GOD'S CHILDREN.
--"Congratulations on assembling the most one-sided and inaccurate presentation of the complex Middle East situation I have seen to date."
To see Israeli suffering just turn to CNN, FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS, or any other US television station and you will see Israeli victims or Israelis going about their day to day lives.
This is an attempt to balance the one-sided nature of what Americans are allowed to see and it tries to HUMANIZE Palestinians in that it shows them not just as victims but in day to day activities as well...
To see Israeli suffering just turn to CNN, FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS, or any other US television station and you will see Israeli victims or Israelis going about their day to day lives.
This is an attempt to balance the one-sided nature of what Americans are allowed to see and it tries to HUMANIZE Palestinians in that it shows them not just as victims but in day to day activities as well...
"one-sided" = it shows the Palestinian victims of daily Israeli atrocities
"complex" = mind your own business; you don't know what's going on there
"accident" = Israelis never kill on purpose; even when the victims are shot in the eye or forehead
"caught in the crossfire" = caught between Israeli soldiers or settlers shooting from every direction
"relative calm" = only Palestinians being killed daily for a certain period of time without any Israeli deaths (typically a 4-6 week period in which 70-80 Palestinians are killed but no Israelis)
"relative quiet" = see above; can't use the same terms all the time, so you've got to switch them out
"peace" = no Palestinians left; can now enjoy Pizza Parlors in emptied Occupied Territories
---------------------------------------------
Let me know if I've left anything out.
"complex" = mind your own business; you don't know what's going on there
"accident" = Israelis never kill on purpose; even when the victims are shot in the eye or forehead
"caught in the crossfire" = caught between Israeli soldiers or settlers shooting from every direction
"relative calm" = only Palestinians being killed daily for a certain period of time without any Israeli deaths (typically a 4-6 week period in which 70-80 Palestinians are killed but no Israelis)
"relative quiet" = see above; can't use the same terms all the time, so you've got to switch them out
"peace" = no Palestinians left; can now enjoy Pizza Parlors in emptied Occupied Territories
---------------------------------------------
Let me know if I've left anything out.
Pro-Israeli fantasizes about committing genocide against the Palestinians:
"I daydream--if only! If in 1948, 1956, 1967 or 1973 Israel had acted like the Third Reich then today Israelis today would shop, marry, eat pizza and play unmolested. And of course Jews, not sheiks, would have that Gulf Oil."
-David D. Perlmutter
http://www.iact.ca/views.php?view_id=198
"I daydream--if only! If in 1948, 1956, 1967 or 1973 Israel had acted like the Third Reich then today Israelis today would shop, marry, eat pizza and play unmolested. And of course Jews, not sheiks, would have that Gulf Oil."
-David D. Perlmutter
http://www.iact.ca/views.php?view_id=198
Thank you for bringing these images to us. Unfortunately, these pictures do not show what happens to human flesh when Israel uses Flechette ammunition routinely on innocent civilians. Please check out the following website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2225706.stm
Unfortunately it does not show when Israeli soldiers execute civilians, please check out the following:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1867726.stm
Unfortunately, it does not show when war crimes are committed by the Israelis. Please check out the following:
http://web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/Index/MDE151552002?OpenDocument&of=COUNTRIES\PALESTINIAN+AUTHORITY
The Jewish community should be ashamed of themselves. There is nothing in the conduct of Israel that will be acceptable at any time in the years to come.
Unfortunately it does not show when Israeli soldiers execute civilians, please check out the following:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1867726.stm
Unfortunately, it does not show when war crimes are committed by the Israelis. Please check out the following:
http://web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/Index/MDE151552002?OpenDocument&of=COUNTRIES\PALESTINIAN+AUTHORITY
The Jewish community should be ashamed of themselves. There is nothing in the conduct of Israel that will be acceptable at any time in the years to come.
Thank you for bringing these images to us. Unfortunately, these pictures do not show what happens to human flesh when Israel uses Flechette ammunition routinely on innocent civilians. Please check out the following website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2225706.stm
Unfortunately it does not show when Israeli soldiers execute civilians, please check out the following:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1867726.stm
Unfortunately, it does not show when war crimes are committed by the Israelis. Please check out the following:
http://web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/Index/MDE151552002?OpenDocument&of=COUNTRIES\PALESTINIAN+AUTHORITY
The Jewish community should be ashamed of themselves. There is nothing in the conduct of Israel that will be acceptable at any time in the years to come.
Unfortunately it does not show when Israeli soldiers execute civilians, please check out the following:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1867726.stm
Unfortunately, it does not show when war crimes are committed by the Israelis. Please check out the following:
http://web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/Index/MDE151552002?OpenDocument&of=COUNTRIES\PALESTINIAN+AUTHORITY
The Jewish community should be ashamed of themselves. There is nothing in the conduct of Israel that will be acceptable at any time in the years to come.
Thank you for bringing these photographs to us.
Unfortunately, however, these images do not even scratch the surface of what is going on. The humiliation, the horror and the suffering of the Palestinian people will haunt the humanity for centuries to come. Those that support the behavior of the Jewish state, there are some websites to visit.
Israel routinely uses weapons against Palestinian poulation that mince human flesh. Read about the use of Flechette ammunition at the following URL:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2225706.stm
Israel routinely executes civilians by claiming that they were "going to be suicide bombers"..See the execution of innocents the Israeli style:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1867726.stm
Israel routinely commits war crimes. Read about the war crimes in the Amnesty report atthe following URL:
http://web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/Index/MDE151552002?OpenDocument&of=COUNTRIES\PALESTINIAN+AUTHORITY
Israel is destroying the very fabric of Palestinian life. Read about this at the Amnesty website...
http://web.amnesty.org/web/web.nsf/pages/IOT_home
The American Jewish Community should raise hell and tell Israel to stop but unfortunately, it cannot see the suffering of others.
Unfortunately, however, these images do not even scratch the surface of what is going on. The humiliation, the horror and the suffering of the Palestinian people will haunt the humanity for centuries to come. Those that support the behavior of the Jewish state, there are some websites to visit.
Israel routinely uses weapons against Palestinian poulation that mince human flesh. Read about the use of Flechette ammunition at the following URL:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2225706.stm
Israel routinely executes civilians by claiming that they were "going to be suicide bombers"..See the execution of innocents the Israeli style:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1867726.stm
Israel routinely commits war crimes. Read about the war crimes in the Amnesty report atthe following URL:
http://web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/Index/MDE151552002?OpenDocument&of=COUNTRIES\PALESTINIAN+AUTHORITY
Israel is destroying the very fabric of Palestinian life. Read about this at the Amnesty website...
http://web.amnesty.org/web/web.nsf/pages/IOT_home
The American Jewish Community should raise hell and tell Israel to stop but unfortunately, it cannot see the suffering of others.
I doubt that a was a pro-Israeli who removed it. It was probably censored in haste, an editor having seen someone making calls for genocide and figuring that was offensive. When editing many many posts consecutively, they are often 'scanning' and don't pick up all the nuances of a post.
Interesting link though. If a bit scary.
Interesting link though. If a bit scary.
I didn't mean to suggest that the link was censored by someone at Indymedia.
What I meant was the link up above (which is still there) had the article that was there removed. That is it was removed from the pro-Israeli site it was pointing too.
The article used to be here, but is now gone:
http://www.iact.ca/views.php?view_id=198
Sorry about that...
What I meant was the link up above (which is still there) had the article that was there removed. That is it was removed from the pro-Israeli site it was pointing too.
The article used to be here, but is now gone:
http://www.iact.ca/views.php?view_id=198
Sorry about that...
If I were chasing you around and commenting on everything you post, I'd post something here. But see. That's not the case.
This post doesn't count either. It contains absolutely no content. So it's not *really* a post.
So there.
This post doesn't count either. It contains absolutely no content. So it's not *really* a post.
So there.
These pictures are very emotional, EVIL ISRAELI PEOPLE!
Tom once again proving that he is posing as a pro-Palestinian but is really only out to smear. Just more evidence of his real agenda...
This comment was removed because the URLs were so long that they screwed up the wrap. Don't screw up the wrap. It's rude. Don't post long URLs. They screw up the wrap. Shorten them with:
http://makeashorterlink.com/index.php
Feel free to repost this comment with shortened links.
Thanks in advance.
http://makeashorterlink.com/index.php
Feel free to repost this comment with shortened links.
Thanks in advance.
All these pictures show us how it is important for the human race to help one another. Because selfish people rule the world in and attempt to hide there monstruosities.
I guess you could not find any pictures of victims of arab/palestinian terrorism to post on this one-sided, propaganda web page.
You have clearly exhibited your bias and lack of proper, independent journalism.
You have clearly exhibited your bias and lack of proper, independent journalism.
"one-sided" = it shows the Palestinian victims of daily Israeli atrocities
"complex" = mind your own business; you don't know what's going on there
"accident" = Israelis never kill on purpose; even when the victims are shot in the eye or forehead
"caught in the crossfire" = blatantly killed by Israeli soldiers or settlers shooting from every direction
"relative calm" = only Palestinians being killed daily for a certain period of time without any Israeli deaths (typically a 4-6 week period in which 70-80 Palestinians are killed but no Israelis)
"relative quiet" = see above; can't use the same terms all the time, so you've got to switch them out
"peace" = no Palestinians left; can now enjoy Pizza Parlors in emptied Occupied Territories
"complex" = mind your own business; you don't know what's going on there
"accident" = Israelis never kill on purpose; even when the victims are shot in the eye or forehead
"caught in the crossfire" = blatantly killed by Israeli soldiers or settlers shooting from every direction
"relative calm" = only Palestinians being killed daily for a certain period of time without any Israeli deaths (typically a 4-6 week period in which 70-80 Palestinians are killed but no Israelis)
"relative quiet" = see above; can't use the same terms all the time, so you've got to switch them out
"peace" = no Palestinians left; can now enjoy Pizza Parlors in emptied Occupied Territories
God is Watching and all the evil people will be punished. I dont know WHY USA is not doing anything about this. They say they are the Super Power well GET IN THE MODDLE AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM THEN. YOU WANT TO GET IN IRAQ.. THE MAIN REASON "IRAQ GOT OIL"
"I guess you could not find any pictures of victims of arab/palestinian terrorism..."
They're on the news everynight, but I bet you don't complain then that the Palestinian side isn't being shown.
They're on the news everynight, but I bet you don't complain then that the Palestinian side isn't being shown.
The pictures suggest that the Palestinian people are suffering. What happens if the Palestinian people will do anything and everything to advertise that they are suffering in order to get public attention? Even sacrificing their own children and bodies? For example the suicide bomber who knows that his loved ones might be arrested after the police find evidences...Or the town or group that claims responsibility after a Palestinian terror attack, knows that the police will have to curtail their activities by issuing a curfew and children and teens will suffer terribly.
don't believe this one sided pictures. they are taking the truth out of the pictures look at the real palestine children... if I could attach a pps file, you could see how the palestines arming there infants to shoot innocent israelies and to hide behind them. they are terrorists. they were happy when bin-laden striked at the twins buildings at N"Y. look for those pictures too.
you can't get one side.
unlike the palestines, we never started this war. if they weren't eager to kill us, now, at this time, they could have their own land already. with the splitted Jerusalem. even Bill clinton who saw the agreements we wanted to make, said that he will fight for justice against the palestines and with the Israelies. why does hussny mubarak doesn't getting involved as he allways do????? he said him self that the Palestines created this unwanted war... it's sad how they doom themselves. and for those who don't get the picture... don't be blind open your eyes!!!!!
you can't get one side.
unlike the palestines, we never started this war. if they weren't eager to kill us, now, at this time, they could have their own land already. with the splitted Jerusalem. even Bill clinton who saw the agreements we wanted to make, said that he will fight for justice against the palestines and with the Israelies. why does hussny mubarak doesn't getting involved as he allways do????? he said him self that the Palestines created this unwanted war... it's sad how they doom themselves. and for those who don't get the picture... don't be blind open your eyes!!!!!
To all whom may it concern,
I must agree with Mr George Briante as well as the others on their observations that this “article” is almost purely one-sided and falls clearly under “propaganda” rather than honorable journalism. I have lived in Israel; I know of the complexity of the problems there from first hand experience that perhaps many of the commenters, either pro-Israeli or pro-Palestinian, cannot enjoy. Many of the friends I made there were of both Palestinian and Israeli origin, and I feel I can understand, at least to some degree, the passions of both sides. I feel I am not strongly partial to one side or the other.
This being said, I am disturbed by the blatant propagandist attitude and perceptible hatred presented by this “article”. I have not seen any Pro-Israeli/Zionist sites offering the same propaganda as this site, but I have come across 5 or 6 such sites flagrantly presenting a one-sided portrait of the Mid-East situation without even searching for them. It seems to becoming “faddish” to support anti-Israeli sentiments, and sites like this fuel these unfounded and ignorant decisions. When people are stoked and have their passions stirred up over a controversial situation by such deliberate one-sided media, truth is lost in the drive to make a point. Indymedia should be ashamed of this “report”: it mocks professionalism, misrepresents a story, smacks of personal agenda, and misinforms the masses.
And on another note, about the internationals spoken of above. I met such people over there: many have good intentions and have hearts of gold in their desire for peace. But that was back when I was there before the situation developed into what it is now. Now, it is outright stupidity for non-indigenous amateurs to walk in there and think they know what they are doing. They do not. I do not applaud the settlers for their actions, but this is a society at war. This has been called the most volatile regions on the face of the earth. And hence such actions are to be expected. During my stay there, in which I never participated in any political pursuits, I was subject to IDF harassing for walking down the wrong street, was pelted and injured by stones hurled by Palestinian youths, and an acquaintance of mine was splattered with human remains at the scene of a bombing. A trip to Israel to become involved in their politics now is not the equivalent of marching against the IMF, or protesting any other agenda. This is serious no-holds-barred war. Use common-sense: Stay away.
Indymedia, please respect the situation, and don’t aggravate it by posting a one-sided propaganda-laced front. It merely exposes the shallow extremists you are, (or, in fairness and respect to your organization, what you APPEAR to be), devalues your credibility, and pushes away the centrists whom you might otherwise have attracted (such as myself).
I must agree with Mr George Briante as well as the others on their observations that this “article” is almost purely one-sided and falls clearly under “propaganda” rather than honorable journalism. I have lived in Israel; I know of the complexity of the problems there from first hand experience that perhaps many of the commenters, either pro-Israeli or pro-Palestinian, cannot enjoy. Many of the friends I made there were of both Palestinian and Israeli origin, and I feel I can understand, at least to some degree, the passions of both sides. I feel I am not strongly partial to one side or the other.
This being said, I am disturbed by the blatant propagandist attitude and perceptible hatred presented by this “article”. I have not seen any Pro-Israeli/Zionist sites offering the same propaganda as this site, but I have come across 5 or 6 such sites flagrantly presenting a one-sided portrait of the Mid-East situation without even searching for them. It seems to becoming “faddish” to support anti-Israeli sentiments, and sites like this fuel these unfounded and ignorant decisions. When people are stoked and have their passions stirred up over a controversial situation by such deliberate one-sided media, truth is lost in the drive to make a point. Indymedia should be ashamed of this “report”: it mocks professionalism, misrepresents a story, smacks of personal agenda, and misinforms the masses.
And on another note, about the internationals spoken of above. I met such people over there: many have good intentions and have hearts of gold in their desire for peace. But that was back when I was there before the situation developed into what it is now. Now, it is outright stupidity for non-indigenous amateurs to walk in there and think they know what they are doing. They do not. I do not applaud the settlers for their actions, but this is a society at war. This has been called the most volatile regions on the face of the earth. And hence such actions are to be expected. During my stay there, in which I never participated in any political pursuits, I was subject to IDF harassing for walking down the wrong street, was pelted and injured by stones hurled by Palestinian youths, and an acquaintance of mine was splattered with human remains at the scene of a bombing. A trip to Israel to become involved in their politics now is not the equivalent of marching against the IMF, or protesting any other agenda. This is serious no-holds-barred war. Use common-sense: Stay away.
Indymedia, please respect the situation, and don’t aggravate it by posting a one-sided propaganda-laced front. It merely exposes the shallow extremists you are, (or, in fairness and respect to your organization, what you APPEAR to be), devalues your credibility, and pushes away the centrists whom you might otherwise have attracted (such as myself).
--"What happens if the Palestinian people will do anything and everything to advertise that they are suffering in order to get public attention? Even sacrificing their own children and bodies?"
So here we go again with Arabs trying to get themselves killed just to embarrass Israel or make Israelis feel bad. If that is the case, why do the Israelis keep falling for it.
Those who write in complaining about this being one-sided don't write in to US newspapers, magazines, or TV news stations to complain about the US media's extreme pro-Israel bias. The US media often calls the Israeli military victims of the Palestinian resistance civilians or even worse "worshippers."
The media bends over backwards to depict Israelis as victims so much so that polls show that Americans believe that more Israelis have died in this conflict than Palestinians. If you watch the mainstream media, you could be forgiven for believing the Palestinians occupy the Israelis rather than the other way around.
I watched once in astonishment when a US female reporter interviewed Palestinian children (no older then 5 or 6) and asked them "why they wanted to kill Israelis." Is that a fair question to ask a child? The child replied "because they have killed Palestinian children." This was a child who has never seen any Israelis other than soldiers. This was on FOX News and came on the heals (within a couple days) of Israel's bombing in Gaza which killed 17 Palestinian civilians, 11 of which were children.
Fox of course, is owned by Rupert Murdoch who is a good friend of Ariel Sharon.
The above pictures are meant to humanize Palestinians and provide a counter weight to the overwhelming racist attitude the US media has towards Palestinians. And even this gets people writing in wringing their hands about "one-sided" coverage.
I say put all the suffering on the mainstream US media. All of it -- Israeli and Palestinian. And include in all the timelines and who retaliated against whom and in which order and then let the American people make up their minds about who is right and who is wrong. This will never happen because if it did, it would become way to obvious who is driving this conflict and forcing it to continue.
So here we go again with Arabs trying to get themselves killed just to embarrass Israel or make Israelis feel bad. If that is the case, why do the Israelis keep falling for it.
Those who write in complaining about this being one-sided don't write in to US newspapers, magazines, or TV news stations to complain about the US media's extreme pro-Israel bias. The US media often calls the Israeli military victims of the Palestinian resistance civilians or even worse "worshippers."
The media bends over backwards to depict Israelis as victims so much so that polls show that Americans believe that more Israelis have died in this conflict than Palestinians. If you watch the mainstream media, you could be forgiven for believing the Palestinians occupy the Israelis rather than the other way around.
I watched once in astonishment when a US female reporter interviewed Palestinian children (no older then 5 or 6) and asked them "why they wanted to kill Israelis." Is that a fair question to ask a child? The child replied "because they have killed Palestinian children." This was a child who has never seen any Israelis other than soldiers. This was on FOX News and came on the heals (within a couple days) of Israel's bombing in Gaza which killed 17 Palestinian civilians, 11 of which were children.
Fox of course, is owned by Rupert Murdoch who is a good friend of Ariel Sharon.
The above pictures are meant to humanize Palestinians and provide a counter weight to the overwhelming racist attitude the US media has towards Palestinians. And even this gets people writing in wringing their hands about "one-sided" coverage.
I say put all the suffering on the mainstream US media. All of it -- Israeli and Palestinian. And include in all the timelines and who retaliated against whom and in which order and then let the American people make up their minds about who is right and who is wrong. This will never happen because if it did, it would become way to obvious who is driving this conflict and forcing it to continue.
"I watched once in astonishment when a US female reporter interviewed Palestinian children (no older then 5 or 6) and asked them "why they wanted to kill Israelis." Is that a fair question to ask a child? The child replied "because they have killed Palestinian children." This was a child who has never seen any Israelis other than soldiers. This was on FOX News and came on the heals (within a couple days) of Israel's bombing in Gaza which killed 17 Palestinian civilians, 11 of which were children."
Not only that, but that same female reporter went on and on about how she'd always heard that Palestinians wanted to kill Israelis but now that she'd heard it first hand how she was so horrified. It was a disgusting display of pure propaganda and I cannot believe how people watching it could not have been disgusted. But such is the power of television and the mainstream media that even the most blatant of propaganda is accepted and internalized as fact.
BTW, in that report there was no mention of the 17 Palestinian civilians bombed the day before or the strafing of the hospital taking care of the wounded by Israeli machine gun fired which killed two more...
Not only that, but that same female reporter went on and on about how she'd always heard that Palestinians wanted to kill Israelis but now that she'd heard it first hand how she was so horrified. It was a disgusting display of pure propaganda and I cannot believe how people watching it could not have been disgusted. But such is the power of television and the mainstream media that even the most blatant of propaganda is accepted and internalized as fact.
BTW, in that report there was no mention of the 17 Palestinian civilians bombed the day before or the strafing of the hospital taking care of the wounded by Israeli machine gun fired which killed two more...
--"about the internationals spoken of above...it is outright stupidity for non-indigenous amateurs to walk in there and think they know what they are doing. They do not. I do not applaud the settlers for their actions, but this is a society at war."
So that justifies beating up a 68 year old grandmother and beating a 74 year old man so bad that he had to go to the hospital with a collapsed lung? And these were not even Palestinians but ISM members from the US and Britiain. And if you don't that, you can just read the above account Marie Hughes Thompson right after the pictures.
So that justifies beating up a 68 year old grandmother and beating a 74 year old man so bad that he had to go to the hospital with a collapsed lung? And these were not even Palestinians but ISM members from the US and Britiain. And if you don't that, you can just read the above account Marie Hughes Thompson right after the pictures.
And the Israeli bombing mentioned above was considered a success by Ariel Sharon not because of the Hamas leader killed but because it destroyed a UNILATERAL CEASEFIRE all the Palestinian groups had agreed to.
But this of course was NEVER mentioned on the US media. Can't allow the American people to know that the Palestinians had called a unilateral ceasefire and this was not the first time either. Before the suicide bombings began, Israel used Apache helicopters to kill Palestinian activists and civilians in apartment complexes, homes, and hospitals. At that time there was a unilateral ceasefire in place that was eventually destroyed by Israel's incessant Apache helicopter attacks. And no doubt this was deliberate. Israel tries to incite suicide bombings and other terrorist attacks because this is the only way they can justify their continued theft of Palestinian land.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
According to Israeli professor Neve Gordon:
http://www.counterpunch.org/gordon0730.html
JERUSALEM. A few hours after the F-16 jet dropped a 1-ton bomb on a crowded residential area in Gaza, killing 17 people -- 11 of them children -- and wounding over 140 more, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon exclaimed that the attack had been one of Israel's "biggest successes."
Despite harsh international criticism, Sharon remained unrepentant. The Israeli press has suggested that his triumphant cry has less to do with the operation's formal objective -- the extra-judicial execution of Hamas leader Salah Shahada -- than with the successful annihilation of a unilateral ceasefire agreement formally finalized by the different Palestinian military factions a day before the massacre.
But this of course was NEVER mentioned on the US media. Can't allow the American people to know that the Palestinians had called a unilateral ceasefire and this was not the first time either. Before the suicide bombings began, Israel used Apache helicopters to kill Palestinian activists and civilians in apartment complexes, homes, and hospitals. At that time there was a unilateral ceasefire in place that was eventually destroyed by Israel's incessant Apache helicopter attacks. And no doubt this was deliberate. Israel tries to incite suicide bombings and other terrorist attacks because this is the only way they can justify their continued theft of Palestinian land.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
According to Israeli professor Neve Gordon:
http://www.counterpunch.org/gordon0730.html
JERUSALEM. A few hours after the F-16 jet dropped a 1-ton bomb on a crowded residential area in Gaza, killing 17 people -- 11 of them children -- and wounding over 140 more, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon exclaimed that the attack had been one of Israel's "biggest successes."
Despite harsh international criticism, Sharon remained unrepentant. The Israeli press has suggested that his triumphant cry has less to do with the operation's formal objective -- the extra-judicial execution of Hamas leader Salah Shahada -- than with the successful annihilation of a unilateral ceasefire agreement formally finalized by the different Palestinian military factions a day before the massacre.
Mr. Williams, your remarks are indeed correct and should be carefully considered by anyone viewing this web page.
Forget for a moment that none of the photographs illustrate the horrors visited on Israelis, visitors and students.
So many photographs coming from Israel have absolutely none of the larger context in which these "photo opportunities" occur. The photographs on this page beg for larger understanding. For example, are we to believe that an Israeli tank aimed (with a threat to fire) its turret at a monk at the Church of the Nativity?
What about the poor little child crying at her brother's funeral? it is a touching picture and I feel some of her grief. However, that photograph conveniently neglected to tell us why and how her brother died. Perhaps we are to believe that he died at the hands of some blood-lusting Jewish setter? I'm sure that the person(s) responsible for this page would have few objections if I was left with that impression.
The lens shows us what the photographer(s) wants us to see -- but it's more important to remember ... they attempt to persuade the viewers to think as they think.
Having lived in Israel and been a target of two attacks by Palestinian murders, I can tell you that most photographs (of the results of such violence) are highly subjective to put it mildly.
Forget for a moment that none of the photographs illustrate the horrors visited on Israelis, visitors and students.
So many photographs coming from Israel have absolutely none of the larger context in which these "photo opportunities" occur. The photographs on this page beg for larger understanding. For example, are we to believe that an Israeli tank aimed (with a threat to fire) its turret at a monk at the Church of the Nativity?
What about the poor little child crying at her brother's funeral? it is a touching picture and I feel some of her grief. However, that photograph conveniently neglected to tell us why and how her brother died. Perhaps we are to believe that he died at the hands of some blood-lusting Jewish setter? I'm sure that the person(s) responsible for this page would have few objections if I was left with that impression.
The lens shows us what the photographer(s) wants us to see -- but it's more important to remember ... they attempt to persuade the viewers to think as they think.
Having lived in Israel and been a target of two attacks by Palestinian murders, I can tell you that most photographs (of the results of such violence) are highly subjective to put it mildly.
To “..”, (Next time please have the courage and courtesy to support your thoughts with your name)
It appears you missed the meaning of my comment, though you thoughtfully provided it in your quotation of my letter, that I do not applaud the actions of the settlers. In a case of a pitched civil war (which is basically what you have there) the situation is often volatile and highly unpredictable. For amateur philanthropists seeking to do some good over there by acting as a human shield for Palestinians can be equated with taking a wild wolf by the ears. You just don’t get involved, and leave the involvement for people and organizations more skilled to handle such matters. There is no “justification” or verdict here…I merely floated a point based on common sense.
Second, in regards to many people remarking on apparent US media bias, I cannot directly comment on that. I do not live in America, and hence am not exposed to this alleged bias. However, if the proponents of this web site feel undue bias is present on the part of the American media, then a complain and voicing should be lodged with them on that issue. Attempting to “balance” the picture by presenting grossly and intentionally biased reporting is unprofessional and illogical. It is not in the best interests of both Mid-Eastern parties, nor is it advantageous to the writers and readers alike.
Also, lots of the stories and photographs here do appear to be highly subjective. Do we know that the settlers who attacked the Internationals were not in some way provoked? By gesture or verbal remarks the internationals could have incited the attack, whereas a different approach could have met with a peaceful end. The photos are also subjective and suggestive in nature. We don’t know the full story. Good reporting seeks to avoid such dilemmas. Rumor and propaganda from extremists however care little for this and in fact feeds off it.
It appears you missed the meaning of my comment, though you thoughtfully provided it in your quotation of my letter, that I do not applaud the actions of the settlers. In a case of a pitched civil war (which is basically what you have there) the situation is often volatile and highly unpredictable. For amateur philanthropists seeking to do some good over there by acting as a human shield for Palestinians can be equated with taking a wild wolf by the ears. You just don’t get involved, and leave the involvement for people and organizations more skilled to handle such matters. There is no “justification” or verdict here…I merely floated a point based on common sense.
Second, in regards to many people remarking on apparent US media bias, I cannot directly comment on that. I do not live in America, and hence am not exposed to this alleged bias. However, if the proponents of this web site feel undue bias is present on the part of the American media, then a complain and voicing should be lodged with them on that issue. Attempting to “balance” the picture by presenting grossly and intentionally biased reporting is unprofessional and illogical. It is not in the best interests of both Mid-Eastern parties, nor is it advantageous to the writers and readers alike.
Also, lots of the stories and photographs here do appear to be highly subjective. Do we know that the settlers who attacked the Internationals were not in some way provoked? By gesture or verbal remarks the internationals could have incited the attack, whereas a different approach could have met with a peaceful end. The photos are also subjective and suggestive in nature. We don’t know the full story. Good reporting seeks to avoid such dilemmas. Rumor and propaganda from extremists however care little for this and in fact feeds off it.
I don't give my name because I don't wish to be smeared, harassed, or have my email spoofed by Israel's supporters.
--"Do we know that the settlers who attacked the Internationals were not in some way provoked? By gesture or verbal remarks the internationals could have incited the attack, whereas a different approach could have met with a peaceful end."
I guess a 74 year old man and a 68 year old woman could have incited the settlers who were carrying Uzis at their side. Apart from extremist Israeli apologists, no one else would suggest that as plausible.
How can you in any way defend the settlers' beating of these ISM activists or try to explain it away. The grandmother up above cried and begged them to stop beating her but they wouldn't -- not till they stole her backpack and camera. This was not a war. This was a clear case of settlers lording it over the indigenous Palestinians and then blatantly attacking the ISM peace activists who were attempting to protect them.
So how do we know that the activists didn't incite this on themselves? Well one way is by reading the activists accounts. Of course they could just all be lying because they are anti-Semitic but I kind of doubt it.
Mary Hughes-Thompson's account (from above):
Then I noticed I was alone, except for James Delaplain, a 74 year old grandfather from Wisconsin, who was hurrying along a lower level toward the village. Suddenly he was surrounded by armed and angry settlers, they set upon him with fists and weapons, pushing him out of my sight behind an olive tree. Fearing for us both, I continued my climb hoping to reach safety and calling for help for James.
Seconds later I was surrounded by four or five of these angry young men who began screaming at me in Hebrew. Two more began to throw rocks at me from the top of the ridge above me. One grabbed the stick I had been using to help me climb along the rocky path and he struck me hard on my left arm with it. I was shocked because I never imagined they would attack someone clearly old enough to be their grandmother--I am 68. The others began to kick me and one knocked me down. I got up quickly because I had been told during ISM training that once you are on the ground you would be beaten more severely. By now, I realized they were planning to hurt or even kill me, and I was really scared. As I pleaded with them to stop, telling them I was there in peace and that I was frightened, they continued striking me on my arm and shoulder with the stick and rifle butts, all the time screaming at me that they would shoot me. I was struck on my back and chest with the stick and I really felt they wouldn't stop until they killed me.
--"Do we know that the settlers who attacked the Internationals were not in some way provoked? By gesture or verbal remarks the internationals could have incited the attack, whereas a different approach could have met with a peaceful end."
I guess a 74 year old man and a 68 year old woman could have incited the settlers who were carrying Uzis at their side. Apart from extremist Israeli apologists, no one else would suggest that as plausible.
How can you in any way defend the settlers' beating of these ISM activists or try to explain it away. The grandmother up above cried and begged them to stop beating her but they wouldn't -- not till they stole her backpack and camera. This was not a war. This was a clear case of settlers lording it over the indigenous Palestinians and then blatantly attacking the ISM peace activists who were attempting to protect them.
So how do we know that the activists didn't incite this on themselves? Well one way is by reading the activists accounts. Of course they could just all be lying because they are anti-Semitic but I kind of doubt it.
Mary Hughes-Thompson's account (from above):
Then I noticed I was alone, except for James Delaplain, a 74 year old grandfather from Wisconsin, who was hurrying along a lower level toward the village. Suddenly he was surrounded by armed and angry settlers, they set upon him with fists and weapons, pushing him out of my sight behind an olive tree. Fearing for us both, I continued my climb hoping to reach safety and calling for help for James.
Seconds later I was surrounded by four or five of these angry young men who began screaming at me in Hebrew. Two more began to throw rocks at me from the top of the ridge above me. One grabbed the stick I had been using to help me climb along the rocky path and he struck me hard on my left arm with it. I was shocked because I never imagined they would attack someone clearly old enough to be their grandmother--I am 68. The others began to kick me and one knocked me down. I got up quickly because I had been told during ISM training that once you are on the ground you would be beaten more severely. By now, I realized they were planning to hurt or even kill me, and I was really scared. As I pleaded with them to stop, telling them I was there in peace and that I was frightened, they continued striking me on my arm and shoulder with the stick and rifle butts, all the time screaming at me that they would shoot me. I was struck on my back and chest with the stick and I really felt they wouldn't stop until they killed me.
Settlers target the olive pickers in the battle for land
By Justin Huggler in Yanun, West Bank
The Independent
02 November 2002
The village of Yanun is an unlikely front line. But the violence here almost daily is just as vital to the future of Israelis and Palestinians as the suicide bombings and battles between tanks and gunmen. It is violence that goes to the heart of the issues over which the Israeli government collapsed this week.
One of the most recent victims was a 68-year-old woman from Bolton, Greater Manchester, beaten by Jewish settlers until she fell to the ground and told: "Next time, you'll get a bullet." Up here, amid the crumbling limestone houses and rolling hills, Palestinian villagers are being attacked almost daily every time they try to harvest their olives.
For many, the olives are their only livelihood but the beatings and shootings are about much more than that. They are about the land and who owns it. For the hills that surround Yanun are covered with new outposts built by Jewish settlers living in the nearby settlement of Itamar built illegally on occupied land under international law, the same as all Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The settlers are the ones who attack the Palestinians farming olives.
Similar attacks have been going on in other villages. In Yanun, the Palestinians lost the battle. Unable to take any more, they packed up and left. That, says Daniel Milo, an Israeli peace activist, was what the aggressors wanted: the settlers want all the land here and Yanun is in the way. "The settlements are a cancer, and these are the metastasis [spread]," as Mr Milo put it.
Could Yanun be a taste of what is to come? Increasingly, the far right in Israel talks about "transfer" expelling all the Palestinians from the West Bank. After the collapse of his coalition government this week, Ariel Sharon is reportedly trying to persuade the far-right National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu group of parties, some of whom openly advocate "transfer", to join a new coalition. The Labour leader, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, may have pulled his party out of government in a desperate bid to fend off a party leadership challenge, but it was not for nothing he chose to leave over a row on funding for the settlements, deeply unpopular with his left-wing supporters.
Even America has called on the Israeli government to stop the settlements expanding something Mr Sharon made clear he does not want to do.
The villagers are back in Yanun now. They agreed to move back after peace activists such as Mr Milo, both Israeli and international, volunteered to come with them as shields.
The generator that used to supply the village with electricity is a burnt-out ruin. The settlers did that, the Palestinians say. Abdal Bani Jabr, a villager in his forties, said the settlers used to ride in to Yanun on horseback in the middle of the night and beat the villagers. Twice, he got a beating. The first time he needed seven stitches above his left eye.
Hani Bani Minyeh, a farmer from the nearby village of Aqrabeh, was shot dead when he went to pick his olives. The settlers who attacked Yanun claimed they were defending themselves from Palestinian militants. That was until this week, when four of the peace volunteers got to experience the violence at first hand.
They went olive-picking with the villagers and were attacked. James Delaplain, a 74-year-old from Wisconsin, was so badly beaten that he finds it painful to stand up. Mary Hughes-Thompson, 68, from Bolton, who now lives in Los Angeles, showed us her left arm covered in black bruises. Two other activists, an Israeli and an Irishman, were also beaten.
When the settlers began threatening them, the peace activists say, they agreed with the Palestinian farmers to go back to the village. The Palestinians left first, so the volunteers would be between them and the settlers. "I remember saying just a few days before,'What can they do to me, they won't attack me at my age'," Ms Hughes-Thompson said.
She saw the settlers attack Mr Delaplain. "I was very afraid for James, I thought I'd got away. Suddenly a young guy stepped in front of me. I was going to say something but, before I could, he hit me. Two others came up and hit me, in the ribs. The first guy kept saying 'You want to be dead? You want to be dead?' "
Eventually the settlers let Ms Hughes-Thompson and the other peace volunteers go. But there is no doubt any more over the violence being perpetrated in Yanun.
Mr Bani Jabr, the villager, said: "I decided to bring my family back when I got a better feeling, after I saw these people [the peace activists] coming here to help. But now, after the volunteers were attacked, I'm afraid to stay here at all."
By Justin Huggler in Yanun, West Bank
The Independent
02 November 2002
The village of Yanun is an unlikely front line. But the violence here almost daily is just as vital to the future of Israelis and Palestinians as the suicide bombings and battles between tanks and gunmen. It is violence that goes to the heart of the issues over which the Israeli government collapsed this week.
One of the most recent victims was a 68-year-old woman from Bolton, Greater Manchester, beaten by Jewish settlers until she fell to the ground and told: "Next time, you'll get a bullet." Up here, amid the crumbling limestone houses and rolling hills, Palestinian villagers are being attacked almost daily every time they try to harvest their olives.
For many, the olives are their only livelihood but the beatings and shootings are about much more than that. They are about the land and who owns it. For the hills that surround Yanun are covered with new outposts built by Jewish settlers living in the nearby settlement of Itamar built illegally on occupied land under international law, the same as all Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The settlers are the ones who attack the Palestinians farming olives.
Similar attacks have been going on in other villages. In Yanun, the Palestinians lost the battle. Unable to take any more, they packed up and left. That, says Daniel Milo, an Israeli peace activist, was what the aggressors wanted: the settlers want all the land here and Yanun is in the way. "The settlements are a cancer, and these are the metastasis [spread]," as Mr Milo put it.
Could Yanun be a taste of what is to come? Increasingly, the far right in Israel talks about "transfer" expelling all the Palestinians from the West Bank. After the collapse of his coalition government this week, Ariel Sharon is reportedly trying to persuade the far-right National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu group of parties, some of whom openly advocate "transfer", to join a new coalition. The Labour leader, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, may have pulled his party out of government in a desperate bid to fend off a party leadership challenge, but it was not for nothing he chose to leave over a row on funding for the settlements, deeply unpopular with his left-wing supporters.
Even America has called on the Israeli government to stop the settlements expanding something Mr Sharon made clear he does not want to do.
The villagers are back in Yanun now. They agreed to move back after peace activists such as Mr Milo, both Israeli and international, volunteered to come with them as shields.
The generator that used to supply the village with electricity is a burnt-out ruin. The settlers did that, the Palestinians say. Abdal Bani Jabr, a villager in his forties, said the settlers used to ride in to Yanun on horseback in the middle of the night and beat the villagers. Twice, he got a beating. The first time he needed seven stitches above his left eye.
Hani Bani Minyeh, a farmer from the nearby village of Aqrabeh, was shot dead when he went to pick his olives. The settlers who attacked Yanun claimed they were defending themselves from Palestinian militants. That was until this week, when four of the peace volunteers got to experience the violence at first hand.
They went olive-picking with the villagers and were attacked. James Delaplain, a 74-year-old from Wisconsin, was so badly beaten that he finds it painful to stand up. Mary Hughes-Thompson, 68, from Bolton, who now lives in Los Angeles, showed us her left arm covered in black bruises. Two other activists, an Israeli and an Irishman, were also beaten.
When the settlers began threatening them, the peace activists say, they agreed with the Palestinian farmers to go back to the village. The Palestinians left first, so the volunteers would be between them and the settlers. "I remember saying just a few days before,'What can they do to me, they won't attack me at my age'," Ms Hughes-Thompson said.
She saw the settlers attack Mr Delaplain. "I was very afraid for James, I thought I'd got away. Suddenly a young guy stepped in front of me. I was going to say something but, before I could, he hit me. Two others came up and hit me, in the ribs. The first guy kept saying 'You want to be dead? You want to be dead?' "
Eventually the settlers let Ms Hughes-Thompson and the other peace volunteers go. But there is no doubt any more over the violence being perpetrated in Yanun.
Mr Bani Jabr, the villager, said: "I decided to bring my family back when I got a better feeling, after I saw these people [the peace activists] coming here to help. But now, after the volunteers were attacked, I'm afraid to stay here at all."
For more information:
http://www.ccmep.org/2002_articles/Israel-...
Pro-Israel groups have routinely engaged in the following:
(1) Boycotting newspapers, flooding them with phone calls and letters, hurtling
epithets and accusations such as "Nazi" and "anti- Semitic" at them, with the express
intent to bend them to their will no matter what. Any paper that dares to show the
human face of Palestinian suffering, or dares to show Israel engaging in any dirty
act, is automatically branded anti-Semite and an intense intimidation campaign to
choke off information about Palestinian suffering is undertaken. The result is a timid,
self-censoring media that threads extremely carefully whenever it covers the Middle
East conflict.
For more, see:
* http://www.boycottthepost.org/
* http://www.denenbergsdump.org/
*
http://www.pmwatch.org/pmw/manager/features/display_message.asp?mid=576
(2) Intensely organizing against Congressmen who have stood for Palestinian rights;
pro-Israel groups have for decades mobilized to muzzle the faintest voice of dissent
in Congress, doing all that is possible to oust anyone who does not toe the usual line -
the latest such efforts were the campaigns against Earl Hilliard of Alabama and
Cynthia McKinney in Georgia. The result is an astonishingly cowed Congress where
true debate about US Mideast policy is virulally non- existent.
For more, see:
* http://www.blackelectorate.com/articles.asp?ID=590
* http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0701-03.htm
* http://www.sonomacountyfreepress.com/palestine/lobby.html
(3) Threatening and planning violence against Palestinians and Muslims, such as the
arrest on December, 2001, of JDL Chiarman Irv Rubin for plotting to bomb a mosque.
For more, see:
* http://www.lp.org/lpnews/0201/irvrubin.html
In reaction to the 1985 murder of Alex Odeh, director of the American Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee, Irv Rubin said "[he] got what he deserved." See:
http://www.jdl.org/information/faq.shtml
(4) Firing editors and teachers who dare to speak up for Palestinian rights.
For more see:
*
http://www.pmwatch.org/pmw/manager/alerts/display_message.asp?mid=101
* http://www.pmwatch.org/pmw/calderon/
Another similar example is denying writer and comedian Ray Hanania the stage
because Jackie Mason, an active supporter of Israel, objected to having the
Palestinian open for his act. To justify and explain Mason's decision, Jyll Rosenfeld,
Mason's manager, said: "It's not exactly like he's just an Arab-American. This guy's a
Palestinian."
* http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/showbiz/2222995.stm
(5) Establishing university watch dog groups to black list and intimidate professors
who dare to speak up for Palestinian rights or criticize Israeli policies, complete with
profiles, dossiers, and a forum for students to tell on their professors. Those who
qualify for a spot on the blacklist are "American scholars… [who] reject the views of
most Americans and the enduring policies of the U.S. government about the Middle
East" -- i.e., people who deviate in their opinions and views from the majority and
disagreeing with the US government.
For more, see: http://www.campus-watch.org/
(6) Engaging in intensive spamming and identity theft campaigns to obstruct cyber
communication between pro-Palestinians. Pro- Palestinian activists are seeing
hundreds and sometimes thousands of emails sent on their behalf to fellow activists,
thus creating jammed mailboxes, hundreds of bouncing emails, and a lot of
headaches. The desired effect is clear: to make communication between supporters
of Palestinian rights as painful as possible.
(1) Boycotting newspapers, flooding them with phone calls and letters, hurtling
epithets and accusations such as "Nazi" and "anti- Semitic" at them, with the express
intent to bend them to their will no matter what. Any paper that dares to show the
human face of Palestinian suffering, or dares to show Israel engaging in any dirty
act, is automatically branded anti-Semite and an intense intimidation campaign to
choke off information about Palestinian suffering is undertaken. The result is a timid,
self-censoring media that threads extremely carefully whenever it covers the Middle
East conflict.
For more, see:
* http://www.boycottthepost.org/
* http://www.denenbergsdump.org/
*
http://www.pmwatch.org/pmw/manager/features/display_message.asp?mid=576
(2) Intensely organizing against Congressmen who have stood for Palestinian rights;
pro-Israel groups have for decades mobilized to muzzle the faintest voice of dissent
in Congress, doing all that is possible to oust anyone who does not toe the usual line -
the latest such efforts were the campaigns against Earl Hilliard of Alabama and
Cynthia McKinney in Georgia. The result is an astonishingly cowed Congress where
true debate about US Mideast policy is virulally non- existent.
For more, see:
* http://www.blackelectorate.com/articles.asp?ID=590
* http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0701-03.htm
* http://www.sonomacountyfreepress.com/palestine/lobby.html
(3) Threatening and planning violence against Palestinians and Muslims, such as the
arrest on December, 2001, of JDL Chiarman Irv Rubin for plotting to bomb a mosque.
For more, see:
* http://www.lp.org/lpnews/0201/irvrubin.html
In reaction to the 1985 murder of Alex Odeh, director of the American Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee, Irv Rubin said "[he] got what he deserved." See:
http://www.jdl.org/information/faq.shtml
(4) Firing editors and teachers who dare to speak up for Palestinian rights.
For more see:
*
http://www.pmwatch.org/pmw/manager/alerts/display_message.asp?mid=101
* http://www.pmwatch.org/pmw/calderon/
Another similar example is denying writer and comedian Ray Hanania the stage
because Jackie Mason, an active supporter of Israel, objected to having the
Palestinian open for his act. To justify and explain Mason's decision, Jyll Rosenfeld,
Mason's manager, said: "It's not exactly like he's just an Arab-American. This guy's a
Palestinian."
* http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/showbiz/2222995.stm
(5) Establishing university watch dog groups to black list and intimidate professors
who dare to speak up for Palestinian rights or criticize Israeli policies, complete with
profiles, dossiers, and a forum for students to tell on their professors. Those who
qualify for a spot on the blacklist are "American scholars… [who] reject the views of
most Americans and the enduring policies of the U.S. government about the Middle
East" -- i.e., people who deviate in their opinions and views from the majority and
disagreeing with the US government.
For more, see: http://www.campus-watch.org/
(6) Engaging in intensive spamming and identity theft campaigns to obstruct cyber
communication between pro-Palestinians. Pro- Palestinian activists are seeing
hundreds and sometimes thousands of emails sent on their behalf to fellow activists,
thus creating jammed mailboxes, hundreds of bouncing emails, and a lot of
headaches. The desired effect is clear: to make communication between supporters
of Palestinian rights as painful as possible.
Dear Anonymous,
1. I’m annoyed that I have to repeat this, but I in NO WAY supported the actions of the settlers. To elaborate on this, the rough handling by the settlers is deplorable. No one here is debating that issue at all. Settlers, by nature, are known to be a tenacious rabble and things of this nature are not uncommon. I lived there: I know. This is one of the reasons I stated that it is not wise to mingle with the political affairs over there right now.
2. In my discussion of the possibilities of a provocation on the International’s part, I was NOT defending the settlers, but floating the option that we don’t know the full story. We have one side of the story, and this one side is predisposed because of the author’s involvement in the incident. I worked in law enforcement, and have heard/seen countless stories from one side, and find a radically different story on the other side. Good reporting finds origin in third parties, and unbiased sources. I was pointing out that since we have one side of the story, and a partial one at that, we cannot forge a verdict based solely upon that. We need to assess all positions of this incident before we condemn or advocate anyone. It is illogical, and even undemocratic to proceed in any other way. I sense that you might be American, and if this is the case, you should know about due legal process in court. In the court of public opinion, the same courtesy, if not the right, should also apply.
3. Please understand that I am not a radical Zionist but am an open-minded individual like most people seeking information here. If I come across appearing to lean towards the Israeli side, it stems from the decidedly heavy lean towards the Palestinian side presented on this site.
4. Israelis do not use Uzi’s. That is Hollywood. Uzi’s are no good in general military combat, and the IDF uses M-16A1 guns. Even look at the photos above of the “Olivegate”. You will see M-16s. A small point, but nevertheless an indicator of one’s overall understanding of the situation.
5. Obviously “Olivegate” was not war: but it is indelibly linked to the bloody civil war in the region. Why else would the activists be there?
6. Lastly, I’m sorry that you feel afraid of getting smeared by others who do not chare the same views as yourself. Their dishonorable actions will head coals upon their heads, not yours. I do agree with the anonymity of your e-mail, as per that is obviously a wise idea.
1. I’m annoyed that I have to repeat this, but I in NO WAY supported the actions of the settlers. To elaborate on this, the rough handling by the settlers is deplorable. No one here is debating that issue at all. Settlers, by nature, are known to be a tenacious rabble and things of this nature are not uncommon. I lived there: I know. This is one of the reasons I stated that it is not wise to mingle with the political affairs over there right now.
2. In my discussion of the possibilities of a provocation on the International’s part, I was NOT defending the settlers, but floating the option that we don’t know the full story. We have one side of the story, and this one side is predisposed because of the author’s involvement in the incident. I worked in law enforcement, and have heard/seen countless stories from one side, and find a radically different story on the other side. Good reporting finds origin in third parties, and unbiased sources. I was pointing out that since we have one side of the story, and a partial one at that, we cannot forge a verdict based solely upon that. We need to assess all positions of this incident before we condemn or advocate anyone. It is illogical, and even undemocratic to proceed in any other way. I sense that you might be American, and if this is the case, you should know about due legal process in court. In the court of public opinion, the same courtesy, if not the right, should also apply.
3. Please understand that I am not a radical Zionist but am an open-minded individual like most people seeking information here. If I come across appearing to lean towards the Israeli side, it stems from the decidedly heavy lean towards the Palestinian side presented on this site.
4. Israelis do not use Uzi’s. That is Hollywood. Uzi’s are no good in general military combat, and the IDF uses M-16A1 guns. Even look at the photos above of the “Olivegate”. You will see M-16s. A small point, but nevertheless an indicator of one’s overall understanding of the situation.
5. Obviously “Olivegate” was not war: but it is indelibly linked to the bloody civil war in the region. Why else would the activists be there?
6. Lastly, I’m sorry that you feel afraid of getting smeared by others who do not chare the same views as yourself. Their dishonorable actions will head coals upon their heads, not yours. I do agree with the anonymity of your e-mail, as per that is obviously a wise idea.
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you could do the same thing in favor of the palestinians.
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