Large crowds

Left: (hi-res double load image) Tens of thousands of people turned out on the morning 30th December 1995 for yet another parade. I used my press card to get onto the roof of a building under construction, situated in the Manara (central node of Ramallah). The sight was incredible, with everyone dancing. Scout bands, a big favourite here during all the festivals ('Eid Al-Fitta, Christmas, Palestine National Day, etc.), marched along the streets with bagpipes. Originating from Scotland, I appreciate the thought but the reality is rather blood-curdling. It seems the British stayed here long enough to pass on the use of bagpipes but not long enough to show the Arabs how to use them. Ouch.

Top of the Pops

Mustafa Al-Katib, coincidently a Birzeit graduate, made a mint during this period with this obsequeous cassette, entitled "Hala Beek Ya Abu Ammar" or "Welcome to you, Abu Ammar (a nickname for Yasser Arafat)". It was literally playing through every shop, taxi and house window for the two weeks around the time of the redeployment and Arafat's visit on the 30th of December. Track titles include, of course, "Hala Beek Ya Abu Ammar", as well as "Yasser min Allah Mansour" ("Yasser triumphant from God") and "Rafrif ya Alam min Ariha la Jenin" ("Flap you flag, from Jericho to Jenin!"). Some Palestinian friends offered knowing smiles.

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