Palestinian Psychedelia

The Only Democracy in the Middle East through Illustrations

2012-07-15T16:48:00.002+01:00

"Visualising Occupation" is a well-researched and brilliantly illustrated series of info-graphics by designer and activist Michal Vexler.

Thank you Desertpeace for finding and posting this for all to see.

Original source: +972 Magazine: Independent reporting and commentary from Israel & Palestine

Visualising Occupation: The Right (or Privilege) to Protest

Other info-graphics in the series;

(Click on photos for a larger view)

Updated:

Two more Info-Graphics in the Series;

Link to series: Visualising Occupation

Watch 'The Promise'

2012-06-19T23:26:00.001+01:00

Len with members of Abu-Hassan's Family (Source: 4OD)

A must see four-part drama serial about Palestine and Israel between past and present.
Bear in mind that this is a DRAMA while watching. The collective story is an exaggerated scale of events based on true stories and historic records.

Staring Claire Foy (as Erin), Christian Cooke (as Len Matthews), Haaz Sleiman (as Omar Habash), Katharina Schuttler (as Clara Rosenbaum), Perdita Weeks (as Eliza Meyer), Ali Suliman (as Abu-Hassan Mohammed), and Itay Tiran (as Paul Meyer)

Written and Directed by Peter Kosminsky
Produced by Channel 4 in 2011
Duration: about 1hr 20mins each

Watch the serial on 4OD here

Juice Media's Rap News

2012-06-11T21:09:00.001+01:00

This is a fantastic initiative by its founder Giordano Nanni and was established in 2008. Nanni was joined by lyricist Hugo Farrant and they both co-created the Rap News series, first broadcast in October 2009. The series is a well written critic of current political and social affairs. The episodes of Rap News are realised in a home studio, in Melbourne, Australia.

General analysis of the series;

Each episode is about 6 minutes long
The information in each episode is portrayed through the medium of hip hop/rap, rhyming verses, music, comedy, and satire.
In almost every episode, the viewer is introduced to two or more points of view, usually on the opposite sides of the spectrum, then a conclusion that attempts to bring the main aspects of those two opposing views together. It also tends to expose the similarities between the two views explored on the pannel
Episodes include animations and integrated/embedded screens

Main characters

Robert Foster: show host / presenter and analyst. Foster's character is written by Nanni and Farrant and is said to be the embodiment of both their geniuses. Foster is played by Hugo Farrant. He wears thick glasses, an old-fashioned suit, and wears his hair long and loosely tied back. Main props: A mug.
General Darth H. Baxter: generally represents the military and any institution linked to the government and/or has a right-wing appeal. Baxter wears a military uniform, a military helmet, and big shades (and a moustache in later episodes), and is played by Farrant. Main props: a Bible (and sometimes a weapon).
Terence Moonseed: a hippy, occultist, planet(s) lover, and believer of extra-terrestrial existence. Moonseed is played by Farrant and usually wears a dusty-white suit and a golden head-band. He's got a big red moustache, beard, and masses of hair. Main props: varies from one episode to the other.
Assange: played by both Farrant and Nanni (I also suspect that the actual Assange was a guest on a couple of episodes, though Nanni does a good impersonation of him)

The series is absolutely hilarious, but genius and some-what dark. It is a very good piece of journalism done in a viewer friendly and entertaining manner.

Here is the latest episode from the Rap News series;

Enjoy and may the Thoughts be with you!

"Not Only Do We Google You, We Read Your Emails, Too!"

2012-06-05T11:52:00.001+01:00

These are the accounts of Najwa Doughman and her friend Sasha Al-Sarabi, two American citizens with Arab descent, who were denied entry into Israel through Tel Aviv airport.

Sasha and Najwa (source: Mondoweiss)

"We had not committed any crime. Our only sin was being born to Arab parents. It was then that we realized what a sheltered life we had lived. We had always read about racial profiling and heard accounts from family members and friends in college. We always sympathized and were infuriated by it, but never had we felt it first hand. (Mondoweiss)"

Raining in Pesda, House of Grace

2012-06-03T17:41:00.001+01:00

Only if it were raining in Palestine. It's 30+°C daytime and 15+°C nighttime in Palestine this week according to local weather forecast. The land could certainly use some rain now. I wonder how long would the region survive on the current amount of rain-fall and water in aquifers. I hope Summer is wearing his "I'm a nice guy" spring shirt on this season!

It's funny that the town I currently live in is called Bethesda! Moving from Bethlehem, OPT to Bethesda, Wales... Hmmm...
When I looked closely at the name, I thought, "Hang-on, is this like 'Beit-Hadasa'?". Well, it could be. Then, this would indicate, to a certain extent, that this town I live in is "of Grace"! And you know what, it is! It rains all the bloody time, not that it's a bad thing. Bethesda wouldn't have been so green and amazingly stunning if it weren't for all this water falling from the sky. The lanscape is amazing; hills, mountains, valleys, waterfalls, water reservoirs, the lot. Also, the people here are so down to earth, it's unbelievable.
There are some other Biblical town names here, I mean in the UK. There is a Nazareth, a Jericho, and lots of Beth-s. I am sure that I will find more, if I keep looking.
Also, there are town names with references to saints and holy entities. Some even have 'Holy' in the name, such as Holyhead, Holywell and Holy Island.
I do remember someone telling me once that there were a group of people who genuinely believed that the Bible was referring to Wales rather than Historic (or Roman, if you are inclined to call it so) Palestine, hence all the Biblical/Holy references.

The other funny thing is, both Bethlehem and Bethesda where under the same administration some 2000 years ago. They were both part of the Roman Empire and probably would have had to use the same currency and follow the same rules, probably even intermarried. This might also explain the "dispute" concerning Jesus' story in terms of origin and location.
Jesus was a rebel. He could be classified as a revolutionary figure, in both political and spiritual terms. The Romans didn't like him, neither did the local authorities, religious and other. Jesus posed as a threat to all those who had the political and religious power at the time as they were at risk of losing the support of the people to this revolutionary, who advocated the disengagement of the status-quo and oppression, the abolishing of the class and hierarchy systems, and the living and sharing in a community based on equal rights for all.
Well, those revolutionary figures existed everywhere across the Roman Empire at the time. Jesus could have been anyone of them! Regardless, men are mortals, but "ideas are bullet proof*". You can never kill an idea...

* Alan Moore
Note: Pesda is the 'nickname' for Bethesda, used sometimes by the locals here :)

I'm back... Well, not quite!

2012-06-01T00:16:00.001+01:00

It has been over 5 years since I last posted here. Many things have happened since; I moved country and started a family and a small joint business. I also changed... I changed significantly... It is mad what the world does to us and, more destructively, what we do to ourselves. I always wondered if Earth really thinks of us as a parasite and if we were ever - or ever to be - genuinely incorporated into the fabric of this universe.
I also no longer go by my alias! Sykadilya I am no longer... Well, not in this reality anyway :)

St Ives - East Anglia - UK is Building a 9 Meters High Wall, Today

2006-12-15T18:21:00.000+00:00

"A traditional church Nativity scene featuring live animals is to be replaced by a wall in a Christmas protest against the Israeli security measures in Bethlehem.
"Members of the church will start building the wall on Friday. It will be dismantled on December 27."

Click here for more, here and here

Collateral Punishment

2006-11-30T18:23:00.000+00:00

Ma'an News Agency/Arabic Service reported today that the Israeli authorities changed the status of the Palestinian political prisoner Firas Ahmad Hassan, 33, into an administrative detainee.
Firas Hassan had already served four years in an Israeli prison. He is also the brother of Thaer Hassan, a sportsperson, who was killed by the Israeli Occupation Forces in Bethlehem following a house demolition, on the 3rd November, 2006. Thaer was accused of being a member of an armed wing of the Hamas party.

I am not going to say that the IA decision concerning Firas is any related with the fate of his brother, but surely anyone can see that it is blatant.

Learn more about Administrative Detention - a definition from B'Tselem (The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories)

Read previous posts related to the incident;
- Bethlehem Under Attack
- Martyr in Bethlehem
- Patient and Nurse Abduced & Militant Killed in House Demolition
- Elderly Woman Dies Following Serious Injury & Militant Killed Was Also a Footballer

Israeli Ministry of Interior Raises the Finger in the Face of Internationals Married to Palestinians

2006-11-22T22:25:00.000+00:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Basil Ayish Coordinator, Media Committee
+970-(0)59-817-3953
righttoenter.ps

November 20, 2006

Israel issues last permits to foreigners, splitting families

All foreign passports of spouses and children of Palestinian ID-holders who had applied for visa extensions were marked recently as “last permit” by the Israeli authorities. 105 passport holders are required to exit from Israeli controlled entry/exit points before the end of the year. The Israeli Ministry of Interior (MoI) office at Beit El began returning the passports on November 19 after a six-week strike by Israeli MoI employees. Those who overstay their allotted time will be considered “illegal” and are subject to immediate deportation from the Israeli occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). In an effort to avoid being considered “illegal” and threatened with arrest by the Israelis, some families are opting to relocate abroad. The pattern of refusing visa renewals for family members is part of an overall Israeli effort that denies entry to foreign nationals seeking access to the oPt.

The impact of Israel’s practice includes the forced separation of spouses from each other, parents from their children, educators and students from their schools, healthcare, NGO and humanitarian workers from access to needy communities, and business owners from their investments. According to the PA MoI, hundreds of applications for Israeli visa extensions following Israeli guidelines were submitted in October and are still pending. Also, Israel is refusing to process an estimated 120,000 family unification residency applications. Every denial of entry and visa renewal refusal impacts an estimated 10 people, many of whom subsequently resort to moving to another country. “This is a silent ethnic cleansing,” said Basil Ayish, a spokesperson from the Campaign for the Right of Entry/Re-Entry to the oPt.

Despite official complaints by foreign governments of discrimination against their citizens by Israel, Israel continues to disregard its obligations under international law and agreements and persists in its practice of changing the demographics within the oPt. The U.S. State Department, EU, and at least one Latin American country have all submitted demarches to Israeli officials since October. Foreigners wishing to reside in, visit or work in the oPt continue to be banned at Israeli-controlled ports of entry.

Because Israel refuses to permit non-Jewish foreigners from receiving residency status in the oPt, the only mechanism for foreign passport-holding spouses and children of Palestinian ID-holders to join their families has been to rely on a system of continuously renewable 1,2,or 3-month ‘visitor’ permits. This practice was widely expected to be a transitory measure until mechanisms were put in place to provide permanent residency status for non-ID holding family members. Some family members have been following this procedure for more than 30 years as the only option open to them.

---
Read a commentary by Ma'an News Agency

Palestinians are the Priority: an open statement of commitment to the Palestinian Solidarity Cause

2006-11-22T22:01:00.000+00:00

Created and written by Mary Rizzo

This petition is brought to my attention by DesertPeace

---
There are individuals within the Palestinian solidarity movement seeking to create divisions by:

* deliberately shifting focus away from Israel's war crimes and its supremacist Zionist ideology;

* imposing unilateral agendas by presenting both sides as victims;

* sabotaging service to the just cause of the Palestinian people;

* ignoring the issue of right of return for the Palestinians;

* utilising the platform of the Palestinian discourse to argue about anti-Semitism, which is not a Palestinian problem and not created by Arabs.

Our primary and single concern is solidarity with the Palestinian people.

As ethical human beings we consider it our obligation to:

* do all we can to allow the information to be diffused as widely and as quickly as possible;

* ensure the argument of the oppression and disenfranchisement of the Palestinian people stays in the forefront;

* present as clear and honest a picture as possible of the meaning of Zionism and the Jewish State;

* to cross the divide and to unite in our war against the Zionist crime.

We accept and believe in equality of all persons, regardless of their race, religion, political or other orientation. We believe that full and unconditional support of the Palestinian people is a condition sine qua non for activists to adopt, and we recognise that their attachment to their homeland is a fundamental and unalterable condition. To that end we advocate for one unified State with equal rights for all its citizens.

Any attempts at censoring reasoned critique of Israel and Zionism must be refused a priori, as it is in conflict with the goal of seeking to protect and support the Palestinian people - as their empowerment is the only way to peaceful coexistence for all the populations of the Middle East. Any attempts at dictating what the Palestinians should do will be looked upon with great circumspection and suspicion. Palestinians themselves wish to construct their own future and are not pawns to be shifted on the chessboard.

We demand free speech for sincere critics of Zionism and call for an end to campaigns created in order to ostracise its most vocal critics. Smear campaigns will not be tolerated, as we recognise that they are the instrument of choice of Zionists, and detract energy from our work. We will not hesitate to expose the instrumental usage of them, no matter the claimed principles of those who are engaged in creating such campaigns. On the other hand, open dialogue and reasoned argumentation is welcome and greatly encouraged as a tool to understanding and collaboration.

The indigenous people of Palestine are facing extermination by the hands of the Jewish State, and the world keeps silent. The sooner we draw public attention to Israel's needless wanton destruction, the sooner we can do away with this horrifying, insufferable situation.

If you agree with this statement, please sign the petition.

http://www.petitiononline.com/grosveno/petition.html

Gaza Strip Victims of Israeli Military Offensive Since June 25 = About 20% Children and 6% Women

2006-11-17T13:19:00.000+00:00

"The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) reported that Israeli troops killed 434 Palestinians, in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank since June 25; 271 of the casualties were civilians, among them 80 children and twenty-five women."

Two Sisters Witness Undercover Israeli Operation in Ramallah

2006-11-16T12:44:00.000+00:00

From The Electronic Intifada Diaries

"Four hours ago my sister Emily, her curator Carolyn and I were shot at by the Israeli army. My nerves are still shaky. We've been drinking every since. My legs are weak. I feel I can't stand on them...I was alone in the front seat. Emily and Carolyn were in the back. Suddenly, there was a van directly in front of our car. He veered a bit towards our car. I slowed down, wondering how I was going to pass him. And then he emerged from his window... pointing an M-16 across the street and spraying bullets. The three of us hit the floor of the car. All around us... shooting, shooting, shooting. So close. So close."

Anne-Marie Jacir, a Palestinian film-maker living in Ramallah

More from Anne-Marie's Diary, 15 Nov 2006

"Today is November 15th. Today is our supposed "Independence Day". A joke. Was almost killed today. This will be brief and inarticulate. I am still in shock...I peeked again, to see some Israelis beating the shit out of a Palestinian man and throwing him into their van. The mustarabeen next to us got back into their van. As we were in their way they smashed into our car and sped off. Meanwhile in front of us and to the right, the Israelis started to pull back. Kids started throwing stones. They shot at us again. They started pulling back again."

Emily Jacir, a Palestinian artist who lives between Ramallah and New York City

More from Emily's Diary, 15 Nov 2006

A Wave of Kidnappings Over Sleepy Bethlehem

2006-11-10T11:23:00.000+00:00

The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) seems to have obtained a large quantities of speed recently. While the IOF is still launching the "Autumn Clouds" missiles at populated areas in the Gaza Strip and killing more than 70, including women and children, and injuring hundreds, their West Bank mates are scanning every single city and village for the "wanted".

Here is a list of the recent kidnappings and detentions of citizens of Bethlehem by the IOF

Friday, 10 Nov; 3 men were kidnapped. They are;
Khaled Da'dour, 42, from Al Khader village,
Ahmad Habeeb, 35, from Al Saf neighbourhood of Bethlehem city, 5 minutes from the Church of Nativity, and
Yaser Skafi, 35, Director of the Reform Society, from Bethlehem.
They were directed to an unknown location.

Wednesday, 08 Nov; 5 men were kidnapped from Tqu' and Harmaleh villages in the morning.
They are; from Harmaleh; the twin brothers Mohammad and Yasser Mahmoud Sabbah, 23, and Mohammad Abdur-Rahman, 44, and
from Tqu'; Ahmad Al Emour, 28, and Kamel Al Badan, 35.

Tuesday, 07 Nov; 19 citizens were kidnapped.
They are;
from Beit Jala; Musa Al Barmeel, 38, Zakaria Yousef Musallum, 31, Imad Jawareesh, 40, Hamza Masa'eed, 27, Taleb Al Walaji, 38, Adel Badarna, 40, and Khader Saqer, 20,
from Aida refugee camp; Raja' Harzallah, 33, Imad Ayyad, 40, Jameel Jawareesh, 33, Baha' Ayyad, 24, Saleh Jawareesh, 35, Usama Abu Jado, Mazen Faraj, 36 - who was released from an Israeli political prison last year after completing a 12 years sentence, Mahmoud Hussein Abed Rabbo, 23, and Ala' Jundieh, 23.
from Harmaleh village; Muhammad Sabbah, 23.

Monday, 06 Nov; 4 men were kidnapped from 'beidiyyeh (Obaydiyeh) village, they are; the Bethlehem director of Islamic endowments Sheikh Younes Muhammed Issa, 50, his son Bilal, 20, Hisham Radayda, 22, and Adbullah Hussein, 28.

Friday, 03 NOV; 2 citizens were kidnapped from the Beit Jala public hospital - Salah Al Laham, 30, and Ahmad Nawawra, 22. The IOF also kidnapped Muhammed Musa, 26, from an ambulance. Musa and Nawawra were injured during the IOF offensive over the Saf neighbourhood of Bethlehem City - bordering the Dheisheh refugee camp, 5 minutes from the Nativity Church.
Also, 2 of Thaer Hassan's brothers were detained in Al Saf neighbourhood. Thaer Hassan was found dead under the rubble of his father's house, which was demolished by the IOF. more about Hassan

Friday, 03 Nov - separate incident; 1 Palestinian and 2 Israelis were detained during a peaceful demonstration in Al Khader village.

Thursday, 02 Nov; 2 men were kidnapped from Rakhma village at dawn - Ayman Khalil Hassan 'Ali, 31, and 'Isam 'Ata Khalaf Al-Sha'er, 32.

Wednesday, 25 Oct; 11 citizens were kidnapped;
6 men from Beit Fajjar village;
Jabr Deireh, 45, Musa Thawabteh, 30, Ashraf Taqatqa, 32, Jamal Thawabteh, 65, Muhammed Thawabteh, 66, and Ayman Shmarkha, 56,
and 5 from Obaydiyeh;
the brothers Khaldon, Adnan and Atta Muhammed Shanayta, 21, 20 and 16,
Nayef Rabai'a, 17, and Nimer Rabai'a, 18.

Tuesday, 24 Oct; 1 man from Abu Njeim village - No'man Salahat, 19 - was kidnapped

Saturday, 21 Oct; 7 men were kidnapped from 'beidiyyeh (Obaydiyeh) village, they are 3 sets of brothers and a member of the same family;
Ali and Khalaf Radwan Shanayta, 33 and 20,
Anwar and Naji Radi Shanayta, 18 and 20,
Salah and Saleh Ali Shanayta, 18 and 20, and
Maher Muhammed Shanayta, 20.
They were taken to an unknown location.

Tuesday, 17 Oct; 1 man was kidnapped from Za'tara village.

Monday, 16 Oct; 3 men were kidnapped,
Ahed Al Zaghari, 45 from Dheisheh Refugee Camp,
Muhammed Masalmeh, 17, from Bethlehem city, and Hamadeh Sha'lan from the Seeda neighbourhood of Bethlehem city, next to the Nativity Church.

Friday, 13 Oct; 5 men were kidnapped and later detained for interrogation, of them
Hani Al Arouj, 33, from Tqu' village,
Ahid Al Wahsh, 24, from Za'tara village,
and Member of Al Khader Village Council Ramzi Salah.

Wednesday, 11 Oct; 2 men were kidnapped from Al Khader village, they are; Mahmoud Gneim, 24, and Maher Shehadeh, 28. The IOF also detained Mahmoud's father and his brothers at their house until the forces retreated from the town.

Sunday, 08 Oct; 6 were detained during a peaceful demonstration in Al Khader village, of them
Mohammed Salah, who was badly beaten and dumped in the woods near the Illegal Israeli settlement of Betar Ilit,
his brother Ahamd Saleh, who was later released,
three Israelis, one of whom was later released
and one international.

- based on Ma'an News/English and Ma'an News/Arabic

Gaza Strip Death Toll Rises

2006-11-08T13:01:00.000+00:00

Why Can't They Leave Us in Peace? Does it Have to be in Pieces?

Maan News reported today that at least 20 Gazans were killed and 35 were injured, including women and children, this morning. Amongst the dead were 11 members from the same family, including one year old girl, Dima.

"The medical services are identifying the rest of the dead but it is proving difficult to identify them due to their fragmented bodies and the critical condition in which they arrived at the Kamal 'Udwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya. In Kamal 'Udwan Hospital, there are 12 dead and in Kamal Naser Hospital there are 4 dead. The number of people killed is raising by the minute."

Just In

2006-11-06T15:31:00.000+00:00

Palestinian girl from Jabalia refugee camp blows herself up amid Israeli soldiers; one injured

Maan News: Pope Benedict XVI condemns Israel's violent offensive on Gaza

2006-11-06T14:56:00.000+00:00

Pope Benedict the XVI condemned on Sunday the recent wave of Israeli aggression against Gaza. He said that he feels deep sympathy with the civilians suffering the consequences of the offensive. In his weekly address to Christian worshippers in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, he called for the resumption of direct negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians in order to end the bloodshed. He added, "I watch with great concern the news of the serious deterioration of the situation in Gaza and I want to express my sympathy with the civilians who suffer the consequences of these acts of violence". He urged the worshippers to pray that God guides the "Israeli and Palestinian authorities, and the countries that bear a special responsibility in the region."

Maan News

Elderly Woman Dies Following Serious Injury & Militant Killed Was Also a Footballer - Update for Bethlehem Under Attack

2006-11-06T14:09:00.000+00:00

"Palestinian medical sources in Bethlehem reported that an elderly woman [Fatima Abdel Fattah Zahran] died of wounds sustained during an Israeli military offensive in the West Bank city of Bethlehem."
More

This is a photo of the late Thaer Hassan. He was killed by the Israeli Occupation Forces on the 3 November, 2006, when they demolished his father's house with him inside. The IOF accused him of contributing to a shooting and an attempted bombing in the Gush Etzion block of illegal Israeli settlement - built on illegally annexed Palestinian properties. More
One would think that Thaer Hassan would be "arrested" and put on trial, but not killed by destroying a three-stories high building on top of his head, after invading the peaceful Little Town of Bethlehem and kill 2 more people - a teenager and an elderly woman - and cause injury and trauma to some more Palestinians.
Moreover, Hassan was also an active member of a local football team in Bethlehem, called Islamy Bethlehem. His father is a member of the Central Committee of Referees in Bethlehem. A congregation of more than 200 athletes and referees from Bethlehem pay a visit to Hassan's father to pay their condolences for the loss of their colleague and peer *.

[* Found on the Arabic site of Maan News. I will supply you with the link to this peice of news in English as soon as it is posted.]

Remember, Remember...

2006-11-04T18:36:00.000+00:00

… the 5th of November
The Gunpowder Treason and plot;
I know of no reason why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes (or Guido Fawkes), was born in York on 13 April, 1570, and was hung for treason on 31 January, 1606.

Portrait of Guy Fawkes by Anonymous

Fawkes is known for his involvement in a scheme to assassinate King James I by blowing up the Westminster Palace (Houses of Parliament) in London, on the 5 November. He was caught in the cellar with barrels of gunpowder before he managed to set them in place. Guy Fawkes was tortured until he signed a written confession.

Imagine how the world would have been if the plot took place. Alas,

This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.
T. S. Eliot

Alan Moore, a comic book writer, novelist, short story writer, screenwriter, musician, artist, magician, created a Fawkes-like character called ‘V’ in his comic ‘V For Vendetta’. V is an anarchist, anti-fascist-government, and pro-power-to-the-people who wears a Guy Fawkes mask. He plots to blow up the Houses of Parliament, just like Fawks, but sometime in a future 5 November.
The comic is adapted into a film directed by James McTeigue. The release of the film was supposed to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Fawkes’ gunpowder plot. It was released instead in March, 2006, for reasons traced back to the July London bombings.

Alan Moore

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Ideas Are Bullet-Proof!

Patient and Nurse Abduced & Militant Killed in House Demolition - Update for Bethlehem Under Attack

2006-11-04T17:24:00.000+00:00

"Israeli soldiers broke into the Bethlehem Governmental hospital, in the West Bank city of Beit Jala, Bethlehem District, abducted a wounded resident and a nurse, Palestinian medical sources reported."

"Palestinian medical sources in Bethlehem reported that the body of Tha'er Ahmad Hassan, 27, member of the Islamic Jihad was found under the rubble of his home that was demolished by the army earlier on Friday, the Palestinian News Agency, WAFA, reported."

More Updates from Bethlehem - Demo in Al Khader Met with Violence

2006-11-03T15:15:00.000+00:00

For more on this

Martyr in Bethlehem - Update for Bethlehem Under Attack

2006-11-03T14:24:00.000+00:00

"Two other Palestinian teenage boys were injured around 2pm when the Israeli soldiers started firing live ammunition in the area. One of the teenage boys was killed instantly by a gunshot to the head." Maan News

Link supplied in the previous post is constantly updated.

Bethlehem Under Attack

2006-11-03T08:58:00.000+00:00

I felt very sleepless last night. There was some tension in the air. Dogs were barking and an Israeli war-plane was flying over the city. I went and spent some time at a friend's. On the way back home, a bit before dawn, I heard the plane whooshing over my head.
I could not help but wonder if something bad would happen this morning. I even thought, 'The plane is flying quite close to the neighbourhood. What would I do if it starts launching missiles now. What if it happened to me and I became one of those "in the wrong place, at the wrong time".' I hushed those thoughts and quickly rushed back home.
I s**t you not. Half an hour after I got to bed, and was dossing off, a thud woke me up. The church bells started a minute later and I thought that it must have been the bells. I got a negative answer almost immediately when a second thud went. 'Was that an explosion? It sounds like an explosion'. Few minutes later, I heard a third.
I rushed to the television to check up the news. Nothing. Actually, it was quite weird. The Israeli Occupation Forces were having different operations at the same time in different parts of the Occupied Territories. You hear the explosions in Bethlehem and then you watch the news about four killed in Alshuja'iya in the Gaza Strip after their car was targeted by a missile, and more Palestinians killed in Beit Hanoun.
The mosques' call of prayers started by that stage. In the news, IOF demolishing a mosque in Beit Hanoun, with dozens of worshipers and militants, who sought refuge, in it.
Mad morning.
There were no details about what was happening in Bethlehem until an hour ago. You see, it is Friday - people's day off. Besides, all that started around 4 before dawn, and the city was surrounded.
I finally managed to realise what was going on.
The Israeli military operation in Bethlehem is still running.
An Islamic Jihad affiliated member is sought by the IOF, who were faced by some resistance from armed Palestinians. The IOF responded with arbitrary gunshots and tear gas grenades at the residents of the surrounded area. Did the IOF - or you - expect the Palestinians to stand still while the Israeli army is intruding over their peaceful day? If your house was stormed by thieves in the middle of the night, would you not try to resist the burglary?
Until this instant, an 80-year old women and a 10-year old child are in serious condition, a 30-year old man and a woman are moderately wounded, and another woman suffers slight injuries. In addition, a 22-year old man was arrested by the IOF. Apparently, he belongs to the same tribe to whom the sought man belongs.

Read more on this on the news

50 Years - 50 Martyrs

2006-10-31T14:53:00.000+00:00

They were 50 who died in the Kufur Qasem massacre as a product of the nine waves of killing. 48 of them were from the town of Kufur Qasem, including a 9 months fetus, one was from Kufur Barra and the other from Taibeh. They were all caught up in the sudden curfew announced by the Israeli police, while they were working outside their towns. They all got the massage to hurry up to their homes. Some where followed by their children and wifes to their working places to warn them about the curfew. However, and on their way, they were met with some border police who opened fire at the terrified Palestinians. There were men, woman and children amongst them. It was the Tuesday, 29th Oct 1956.
A number of witnesses emerged from the incident. Some of them were amongst the injured and others were closely related to those who were killed. According to some of the witnesses on one of the waves, the Israeli border police asked them to stand in a line opposite to a wall. Some of the workers stated very clearly and more that once that they had permits and that they were just going home. They were hushed and ordered to stand with the others. The commander shouted to his men...

"Harvest Them!"

Paintings by Abdel Tammam - About the artist

Remembering a Christian Militant and Martyr

2006-10-30T21:10:00.000+00:00

Talking recently to a close friend of Daniel, I realised it has been a bit over six months since he was killed. Later that week, I found an announcement to his memorial service in a two-weeks old newspaper.

Taken from AlQuds Newspaper, this was an announcement for Daniel's sixth month memorial that took place on the 15th of December 2006 at the Nativity Church (Christ's birth place), Bethlehem.

Abu Hamameh was killed by Israeli special forces on Easter, 23 April 2006. He was with his family celebrating Easter before he joined some of his mates for a wonder in one of his friends cars. A couple of hours later, the special forces attached the car and shot dead Daniel and Ahmed Musleh, then arrested the third, who apparently was "wanted" by the IOF. The killing of Daniel Abu Hamameh was broadcasted on the local channels in Bethlehem. The horrible images did for sure send some shivers down some people's spines and for sure past on the message from the IOF for the people of Bethlehem to some messing around. The last means, Stop Resisting the Occupation. However, the spokesperson of the IOF pronounced an apology and "sorrow" for the killing of "the Christian". Was that to create a further breach the unity of the Moslem and Christian brotherly hood of the 'Little Town of Bethlehem', or was it not? Abu Hamameh was a militant. He was a Christian Palestinian, too. He always believed in fighting the occupation. He is dead now, leaving behind a traumatised neighbourhood, family and friends, who also carry him in their hearts wherever they go. Actually, that friend I spoke to a couple of days ago is still dealing with the bits left of the shock he received following the killing of Daniel. Yet, he's doing a lot better, much better than most Palestinians that I know and who went through similar grievs.

Daniel Abu Hamama, Funeral at the Church of Nativity, Bethlehem, 24 April 2006

A Palestinian Injured Badly by Settlers in Bethlehem While In an Attempt to Pick Olives

2006-10-28T11:12:00.000+01:00

Shouting was heard in one corner of the field, prompting the whole group, including the soldiers, to hurry over to the area where a loud argument was in full swing between an aggressive settler and an indignant farmer. The situation was quickly mollified, thanks to a mixture of the sudden presence of several dozen cameras wielded by internationals, and the soldiers forming a barrier to prevent the settler from becoming too violent. It later emerged that during the shouting, a young Palestinian man who was part of the group, had been attacked by two female settlers. The young man had been hit by a large rock and was cut very badly over the eye.

To read more, visit this article by JAI