Early
Monday morning, at about 4 AM we were woken up by, what has come
to be know as "the sound". The sound is an explosion,
but a specific kind of explosion. It is different that the sharp
sound of a homemade "Bottle bomb" use to blow up Israeli
jeeps, it isn't like the same as the quick snappy explosion sound
grenade used by the Israeli military to shock Palestinians.
It is the sound of a multifloor cement
home being reduced to rubble.
When you wake up to this sound your heart
sinks and seems to merge with a the fear that is rolling around
in your stomach.
After the sound Chris called me. He was
at the home of Abu Samir. This home is also under threat
of demolision becasue the families eldest daughter carried out
a suicide attack against Israel.
Her name was Ayaat. She was 17. Chris told me that the house that
was destroyed was the house the
Bedaer family. The mother of the house had come to visit Chris
and the Abu Samir family 6 hours
previous. She asked if someone, anyone could come to here house
because she knew the Israeli
military was coming to destroy her home tonight. She knew this
because the military had come
earlier in the day to take the families "pass cards"
read here for more information on the pass
card system and its similarities to the pass card system under
Apartied in South Africa read here;
face="Courier New, Courier, mono">http://www.lawsociety.org/Intifada2000/articles/safrica.htm
Chris made some calls and came to the conclusion
that there was nothing we could do to protect the
home. We, the international activists staying in homes in Dheisheh,
numbered about 5 at that
moment and were streched between 2 homes. We couldn't possibly
take on another home. We tried to
get other international activists to come to Dheisheh but at 10PM
and with the Israeli army
enforcing the curfew with jeeps, sound grenades and armored personnal
carriers it was far to
risky.
Chris tolded her that it simply wasnt possible
to get anyone to her house. As I mentioned above
her home was blowen up about 6 hours by the Israeli military.
Home demolision is a process that
has recently been upheld by the Supreme Court of Israel, but somewhat
ironically is rejected by
international law, world opinion and the Geneva Conventions.
Home demolision is also rejected by the
opinions of the Bedaer family, 18 of whom are now homeless
and will likely live in a tent on top of the rubble that was their
home.
After the sound of the demolision, Samir,
one of the sons in the home, discussed some of the
rumors he has heard of new ways the Israeli military is using
to destroy the homes of reletives of
suspected Palestinian militants.
One is to use a vacuum bomb to sort of
make the house implode (kind of like sucking is in instead
of blowing it up). Another he had heard of was a huge wreaking
ball that is attached to an Apache
helicopter and dropped through the house from the roof. We are
not sure on the validity of these
stories but it speaks volumes to the attitudes and fears that
these refugees live in on a day to
day basis.
Sleep was sporadic at best from 4 AM until
about 7:30 AM when we need to wake up. We awoke and
packed to leave. Our team was leaving to go to Nablus, by way
of Beit Sahour. Nablus is under full
24 hour curfew with tanks in the streets. We are told that the
level of fear and oppression there
are higher there that in Dheisheh.
Today we will probably rejuvanite our affinity
group with a few new members and head off to Nablus
tonight of tomorrow morning.
Updates from Nablus are sure to be quite
'action packed' so be sure to stay tuned but they are
also sure to be fewer since it ain't easy to get to an internet
cafe under 24 hour curfew and
military occupation.
If you read this and you are as shocked
and outraged as much as we are please consider supporting
the work of the International Solidarity Movement.
The two best ways to help (aside from coming
to Palestine) are :
1.
Donate to help other activist come to Palestine:
Send Checks to: Carl Williams, 8 Sewall
St, Roxbury, MA 02120
Make payable to : Boston Committe for Palestinian Rights
2.
Call you Senator, and your 2 representatives offices and tell
them that the US stop its financial support for Israel until it
ends the occupation and stops destroying homes.
www.senate.gov (202) 224-3121 TTY (202)
225-1904
www.house.gov (202) 224-3121 TTY (202) 225-1904
There will be peace and justice in Palestine/Israel
as soon as enough people of good conscience
here and around the world care enough to make it happen.
Insha' Allah,
Carl
and Chris Williams
http://christian.home.igc.org (click on "ISM Travel Blog")
http://carlton.home.igc.org (Click on "My Freedom Summer")
