Christmas Update From Palestine

Christmas Update from Palestine

by Jaggi Singh <jaggisingh2003 [at] yahoo.ca>

Near Bethlehem, in occupied PALESTINE (December 26, 2002) --- Soldiers
have returned to the streets of Bethlehem, and outlying areas, and curfew
has been re-imposed, although it's hard to confirm the news through
"official" sources. The APCs and armored jeeps in Manger Square are
confirmation enough. Curfew wasn't imposed without some stone throwing by
local residents, part of the daily resistance here.

The curfew reprieve lasted just a short two days, basically timed by the
arrival and departure of the international media in town for Christmas.
Meanwhile, at least 9 Palestinians were killed today by Israeli Occupation
Forces (IOF), in Nablus, Tulkarem, Ramallah, and elsewhere; all part of
the effort to root out what the IOF calls "militants" and "terrorists."

There were also several arrests throughout the occupied territories, which
now number at about 400 for this month, and more than 1800 in the past
four months (according to Ha'aretz). One of the arrests was in Bethlehem
today, someone who happens to be the nephew of the town mayor.

In Nablus, residents of the Old City defied the curfew - a typical act of
civil disobedience -- and were shot at by IOF soldiers. In Bethlehem the
curfew -- meaning house arrest -- has been in effect for more than a
month; but the Nablus curfew, which includes the Balata refugee camp, has
lasted for more than half-a-year, ever since Israel's direct takeover of
Palestinian areas in the spring.

For the past week, I've been working in the offices of the International
Solidarity Movement (ISM). My job has been to take calls from various ISM
activists - both Palestinian and international - as they report from
incidents and actions on the ground. I take their calls on a 24-hour
basis, and produce reports and releases, based on need.

The people on the other end of the line are involved in all kinds of
front-line situations -- observing, accompanying and negotiating -- in
support of the self-defense and civil resistance actions of Palestinians.
For example, today, Roba phoned from Qalqiliah and described the scene as
she stood at the side of an IOF soldier as he fired several rubber bullets
at children throwing stones in the distance. Saif phoned at exactly the
same time, from Nablus, and passed on info about IOF operations in Nablus
involving gunfire. At one point, I had Roba on the office phone and Saif
on my mobile, trying to decide which one to tell to phone back later.

On Tuesday evening, Henrik phoned literally thirty seconds after he
escaped a collapsed house that had been shelled by IOF tanks in Rafah
(Gaza). He and other internationals were keeping a constant presence in
the house with its Palestinian owners, in order to prevent the home from
being destroyed. In this case, an entire block of houses was slated for
demolition in order to build Israel's so-called "security fence", more
popularly known by Palestinians as the "Apartheid Wall."

Beyond the reports I get from on-the-ground observers as the IOF goes
about its normal occupation activities, Palestinian activists and
organizers are also pro-actively organizing actions to challenge the
occupation. Up in Qalqiliah district, ISM organizers are supporting a
local Land Defense Committee that is opposing the building of the
Apartheid Wall (which will effectively annex 10% of the West Bank). In one
district village, Jayyous, the wall means that 72% of local farmland will
be lost. A march in the district will take place this Sunday, converging
on Jayyous.

In Gaza, a Palestinian refugee committee was organizing to deliver food
and medical supplies to a village that is beyond an IOF checkpoint, and
encircled by illegal settlements. To do so would mean to defy a notorious
checkpoint near Rafah - Mawasi - that is surrounded by several guard
towers, and where IOF soldiers shoot bullets as a first warning.

I've included in a second e-mail, to be sent after this, many of the
reports and releases that I've been writing in the past few days,
including a report I wrote from a demonstration in Bethlehem last evening.
I've also added a Christmas report by my friend Kristen from NYC, who's
been here off-an-on for almost a year, and currently works in Gaza. She
was in Bethlehem recently, and writes eloquently and simply about the
reality of what's happening in Palestine.

The reports together provide an overview of the ISM's day-to-day work. I
still do intend to write that longer article on the current ISM campaign
(I've got two notebooks full of material so far). But in the meantime, do
check out the website to get an overview of the "Prisoners in Our Land:
Oppose the Apartheid Wall" campaign (http://www.palsolidarity.org).

I will send a separate third e-mail with info about the case of Omar
Al-Titi. He was detained by the IOF on Tuesday, and he joins the more than
8000 detainees of Israel's occupation prisons.

For those of you who are getting an update from me for the first time,
just e-mail and I'll pass along some previous reports (including an
article about the case of Palestinian worker Jihad Abu Id, an interview
with Beit Sahour activist Ghassan Adoni, and a radio report from Manger
Square). Stay in touch everyone. Will try to write again soon. - Jaggi