« Operation Cast Lead »: Dozens of Tonnes of Depleted Uranium and other radioactive substances were spread across the Gaza Strip
Friday 22 May 2009
ACDN Media Release, 22 May 2009
In the Gaza Strip between 27 December 2008 and 18 January 2009, the Israeli army conducted a ground and air offensive nicknamed « Operation Cast Lead ».
During the first few days a Norwegian doctor doing humanitarian service in the hospital at Shifa, Dr Mads Gilbert, denounced the presence of radioactive matter, possibly Depleted Uranium, in the bodies of victims. On 4 January 2009, after investigation, ACDN (Action of Citizens for the total Dismantling of Nukes) alerted the press and public opinion with a media release: « In Gaza, the genocide with Depleted Uranium has begun, using GBU-39 bombs provided by the USA ».
This accusation has now emerged with greater strength after several months of investigation carried out in close liaison with the people concerned and with the help of Jean-François Fechino, a consultant on diffuse pollution and an expert accredited to the UN Environment (UNEP). ACDN has just produced a 33-page report concluding that the presence of dozens of tonnes of Depleted Uranium (perhaps as much as 75 tonnes) in the soil and subsoil of Gaza is highly probable.
In April 2009, a four-person mission including Jean-François Fechino went to Gaza under the auspices of the Arab Commission for Human Rights. The samples of earth and dust that they brought back from Gaza were then analysed by a specialist laboratory, which found in them elements of Depleted Uranium (which is radioactive, carcinogenic, teratogenic), particles of Cesium (which is radioactive and carcinogenic), asbestos dust (which is carcinogenic), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs, which are fine particles which endanger health, especially the health of children, asthmatics and old people), phosphates (from oxidation of white phosphorus), tungsten (which is carcinogenic), copper, aluminium oxide (which is carcinogenic), and Thorium Oxide (ThO2, which is radioactive)...
The detailed results will soon be made public. Journalists or other persons wishing to learn more are invited to contact ACDN or visit its Website www.acdn.net
Pictures taken by the bloggers in Gaza
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Interview with... an Ex-Political Prisoner
Interview with.... an Ex-Political Prisoner
Hi. My name is Mansour Hammad. I live in Gaza. All my life I have lived in Gaza. But, I am originally from Na'alaya, in Majdal. I am a refugee in Gaza, and my grandparents came to Gaza when the Nakba, the Catastropher, occurred.
In 1986 when I was 16 years old, I was arrested by the Shen Bet at midnight, in my home in Gaza.
They came into my house, very quietly, I was asleep, but my mother answered the door. She was terrified with all those guns she saw.
They woke me up and placed a gun in front of my head.
I was wearing my pajamas, and was bare foot.
I was handcuffed, and made to walk around 500 metres away from the house, until I came to the outskirt of the Jabalya Refugee Camp. There they had arrested other boys and men from the camp. They began to beat us up.
I was numbed by the pain, the next thing I knew... my shirt was saturated with blood.
They took us, then, to the Saraya, in Gaza city. They detained us, and began the interrogation procedures.
The demanded I remove every piece of clothing onmy body... "zay ma jabtak ammak", stark naked like the moment of birth.
They made me wear an navy blue overall, which was bloody, sweaty, stinky, and torn. Someone must have been wearing it for a while... I put it on. Then they shaved all my hair off. This is the place that political prisoners call the Maslakh... the slaughtering house. It still drives terror into the soul of many ex-political prisoners.
They beat me up again, and remained for a weak with minimal dirty food and water, and no sleep allowed.
One week later, they took me to Majdal Prison.I cannot ever forget the Israeli soldier who had iron plated his teeth. He was the worse... he did things to me that I have difficulty recounting. Let me just say... that many young men leave their prisons... infertile...
They constantly pressured me into collaborating with them against my people. They would bring in all sorts of pressures. They told me I would be spending around 8~9 years in the prison.
I was transfered from Majdal to Saraya, then to 'Askalan and to Naf'ha prisons. Then, I was placed in the Naqab prison. I was accused of belonging to the PFLP, and being a "threat to the state of Israel".
In the Naf'ha prison, I organized an 18 day food strike with the other political prisoners. The living conditions in prison were inhumane... at some point they would let Israeli convicts in other prisons cook for us... do you know what that means? It means they spit in the food, they would stir the soup with a broom... the pans that they cooked for us with, were extremely dirty... it was more than disgusting
We demanded that they bring to us better food.
During the strike, they would bring us chicken, rice and fruit to break us. They brought in the best of food, to break us. Alhough we were tempted, we did not break in, and we maintained an 18-day food strike.
Imprisonment in the 60s, was different that the 70s, was different from the 80s, and 90s, and now...
In the 60s, for instance, they used to pluck your nails out... no one knew about it, since concerned human rights organizations were non-existent to help and spread the word about our conditions.
Other forms of torture were present, that still are still ongoing till this date.
There were periods whereby they played Radio Israel for us, the Arabic section, where they played Fairuz daily... and we listened with nostalgia...
Prisons makes you... different. Especially for me, I was sixteen and came out of their prisons at 26. I learned Hebrew, and some English of which I forgot most of it now. The political prisoners make better living conditions for themselves there, they strive, strike... to pressure. It is a continuous war between the prisoner and the guards.
We would play games on them... not for fun... but, out of desparation... sometimes, a man would hang himself in the his cell... just as an act of desparation.. He'd pick the time to be that of the guard shift and the checking of rooms... Once the next guard came in to check, he'd go wild thinking a case of suicide happened... they would open the cell and get our comrade out to be medically checked upon... it was desparation... sometimes a demand would be to get in a comb... it is silly... but, immensely symbolic.
Was it daring or crazy? I say a little bit of both... does a soldier think of what he is getting at war? No, if he did, he wouldn't get in... he'd be too afraid just thinking of what would happen... that is the crazy part of it... that you don't think about the coming events. The daring part of it, is that you would be in, and not get out. You stay in, and fight till your last breath.
Narrated by Mansour Hammad
Written, translated and organized by Natalie
Jabalya, Palestine
Friday, May 29, 2009
IOF drops Leaflets, Threatening Palestinians' Livelihood
IOF drops Leaflets, threatening Palestinians' livelihood, injured child in a coma as a result
In the early hours of the morning on Monday 25th of May, the IOF dropped leaflets all over the Gaza Strip... the Leaflets stated that (translating from Arabic, but retaining the lame language used):
(on both sides the same writing but different maps)
To the people of the strip:
The israeli defence forces repeat their alert forbidding the coming close to the border fence at a distance less than 300 metres
Who gets close will subject himself to danger whererby the IDF will take necessary procedures to drive him away which will include shooting when necessary
He who has alerted shall be excused!
The IDF
When the airforce dropped the leaflets in Gaza city they hit a 12-year old boy called Nawras Dughmush with a plated hard plastic container which has leaflets inside hit
Nawras was on his last day of school, Tal el Zuhour school, and he is now in a coma in the Shifa hospital in Gaza city
The IOF has been targeting civilians, of farmers, activists, and ordinary citizens at a distance of 1 km away from the fence creating a buffer zone at around this distance during the latest massacre against the Palestinian people in Gaza, the IOF swept away all human resources presrent within 1km from the borders. This included plantations, agricutural lands, water wells, houses, bedouin tents, hay houses, ... all destroyed
60% of agricultural land is present within the 1 km line away from the border, along the fence with the 1948 territories
Natalie
In the early hours of the morning on Monday 25th of May, the IOF dropped leaflets all over the Gaza Strip... the Leaflets stated that (translating from Arabic, but retaining the lame language used):
(on both sides the same writing but different maps)
To the people of the strip:
The israeli defence forces repeat their alert forbidding the coming close to the border fence at a distance less than 300 metres
Who gets close will subject himself to danger whererby the IDF will take necessary procedures to drive him away which will include shooting when necessary
He who has alerted shall be excused!
The IDF
When the airforce dropped the leaflets in Gaza city they hit a 12-year old boy called Nawras Dughmush with a plated hard plastic container which has leaflets inside hit
Nawras was on his last day of school, Tal el Zuhour school, and he is now in a coma in the Shifa hospital in Gaza city
The IOF has been targeting civilians, of farmers, activists, and ordinary citizens at a distance of 1 km away from the fence creating a buffer zone at around this distance during the latest massacre against the Palestinian people in Gaza, the IOF swept away all human resources presrent within 1km from the borders. This included plantations, agricutural lands, water wells, houses, bedouin tents, hay houses, ... all destroyed
60% of agricultural land is present within the 1 km line away from the border, along the fence with the 1948 territories
Natalie
Thursday, May 28, 2009
In Arabic: ماذا بعد غزّة ٢٠٠٩؟
ماذا بعد غزّة ٢٠٠٩؟
ناتالي أبو شقرا وحيدر عيد
ناتالي أبو شقرا وحيدر عيد
«بعد الطوفان نلقى الصديق الزين... نتسندوا على بعض بالكتفين...». (صلاح جاهين). لكن فلسطينيي قطاع غزة لم يجدوا الصديق الزين، تُركوا لمدة 27 يوماً لمواجهة أعتى آلات الحرب الشرسة وحدهم والتضامن العربي لم يتعدَّ الكلام المزخرف والشعارات التقليدية السخيفة والخطابات الرومنسية المضجرة وبعض التظاهرات المصحوبة بالبكاء والعويل والشكوى من قلة الحيلة! طفلة تُقتل أحلامها وفلاحة تُستهدف وهي تحصد ثمار زرعها، وصياد يصاب على قاربه الذي لا يتجاوز المترين وهو يواجه بوارج الاحتلال الحربية في مسافة لا منطقية مفروضة عليه لا تتجاوز ثلاثة أميال. وماذا عن التلميذ الذي تحطمت أمنياته والذي يطغى كابوس الواقع على قدراته وطموحه؟ وماذا عن واحد وستين عاماً من الإبادة الجماعية والقتل الهمجي والاحتلال وهدم المنازل وتوسيع المستعمرات وسرقة الأراضي والعنصرية
الواضحة؟
المحرقة لم تنته في غزة. ما حصل ليس فقط تسونامي بل هو أيضاً طوفان وزلزال خرج منه فلسطينيو القطاع ليعودوا إلى حرب الإبادة الجماعية البطيئة.
من بعد صيف لبنان 2006، الآن غزة ٢٠٠٩... من شارك في محرقة غزة ٢٠٠٩؟ بعد دولة إسرائيل العنصرية يأتي النظام الرسمي العربي، بما يقوم به من استمرار في صمته المتعمد واستمراره في إغلاق معبر رفح. والاتحاد الأوروبي بعدم إدانته جرائم الحرب الصهيونية، بل بترسيخه علاقاته الاقتصادية مع إسرئيل مكافأة لها. أما الولايات المتحدة فهي كانت وما زالت الحليف الأحب للدولة الصهيونية الأكثر وفاءً.
يعيش سكان القطاع والضفة تحت الاحتلال المباشر ويعانون كبقية الشعوب المستعمرة سابقاً من الإمبريالية الغربية وترخيص الدم العربي
الفلسطيني أمام الرجل الأبيض الذي يعتقد أنه ينتمي إلى قوم أعلى شأناً وإنسانية منا جميعاً، من شعوب ما يُسمى بالعالم الثالث حسب معايير الرأسمالية والإمبريالية الغربية والاستعمار الحديث.
غزة السجن الجماعي، أهلها تحت عقاب جماعي لخيارهم السياسي الديموقراطي وحصار مفروض لكسر المقاومة والشعب على الخيار المعادي لاتفاقية أوسلو وحق المقاومة بجميع أشكالها. غزة معسكر الاعتقال حيث قتل الفلسطيني هو العنوان الأكبر الذي يذكرنا بمعسكرات الاعتقال النازية كوارسو وأوشفيتز.
غزة السجن الجماعي، أهلها تحت عقاب جماعي لخيارهم السياسي الديموقراطي وحصار مفروض لكسر المقاومة والشعب على الخيار المعادي لاتفاقية أوسلو وحق المقاومة بجميع أشكالها. غزة معسكر الاعتقال حيث قتل الفلسطيني هو العنوان الأكبر الذي يذكرنا بمعسكرات الاعتقال النازية كوارسو وأوشفيتز.
غزة المعزل العرقي أو البانتوستان الذي يذكرنا (ولو بوحشية أكبر وأكثر) بمعازل جنوب أفريقيا تحت احتلال الرجل الأبيض ونظام التفرقة العنصرية الممارس سابقاً.
كلا! لم ينتهِ نظام التفرقة العنصرية أو الأبارتهايد، فهو يأخذ شكلاً مختلفاً في فلسطين المحتلة. في أراضي الـ٤٨ حيث يعيش الفلسطيني
العربي في ظل نظام عنصري يحرمه من الكثير من حقوقه المدنية والثقافية والقومية، وفي الضفة التي تتكون من معازل عرقية تفصل ما بينها نقاط التفتيش.
في عام 1960 أطلقت سلطة الرجل الأبيض في جنوب أفريقيا النار وقتلت نحو ٦٩ مشاركاً في تظاهرة لا عنفية، فكانت مجزرة شاربفيل بداية لحملة عالمية لمقاطعة دولة جنوب أفريقيا العنصرية دبلوماسياً واقتصادياً وثقافياً وأكاديمياً ورياضياً.
قاطعت الشعوب المنتجات المستوردة من دولة جنوب أفريقيا وبعض الدول منعت الاستيراد كلياً.
وها نحن الآن أمام مشهد تاريخي: غزة ٢٠٠٩. كلا، لم تذهب دماء الأطفال والآباء والأمهات هدراً. غزة ٢٠٠٩ هي بمثابة شرارة في العالم
العربي أولاً: فلم تعد الشعوب العربية تعوّل على حكوماتها بل يجب على مؤسسات المجتمع المدني العمل للضغط على الحكومات: ماذا تفعل
الأعلام الإسرائيلية مرفرفة في القاهرة وفي عمان؟ لم لا يزال معبر رفح مغلقاً في وجه فلسطينيي القطاع؟ لماذا تقتحم منتجات «نستلة» و«كوكا كولا» و«ماركس وسبنسر» وغيرها وغيرها الأسواق العربية؟
لقد ساهمت حملة المقاطعة العالمية للدولة العنصرية في جنوب أفريقيا في إسقاط نظام التفرقة العنصرية وقيام دولة ديموقراطية لجميع سكانها بغض النظر عن الدين والجنس والعرق واللون.
لقد ساهمت حملة المقاطعة العالمية للدولة العنصرية في جنوب أفريقيا في إسقاط نظام التفرقة العنصرية وقيام دولة ديموقراطية لجميع سكانها بغض النظر عن الدين والجنس والعرق واللون.
غزة ٢٠٠٩ يجب أن تكون بمثابة شرارة في العالم العربي. إن شعوب ما يُسمى بالعالم الثالث ليسوا غلابة كما يصورون وكما يوهمون. إن غزة ٢٠٠٩ يجب أن تكون بداية تحرر العقل العربي في تحديه للعنصرية الإمبريالية والاستعمار الحديث والدكتاتورية المحلية. في هذا السياق تأتي أهمية وضرورة كسر الحصار بأي شكل من الأشكال. وكانت هناك محاولات خلّاقة من الشعب ذاته بعدما كسر مليون ونصف مسجون داخل أكبر معسكر اعتقال جدران هذا السجن مرتين، ولكن للأسف من دون تفاعل عملي بعيداً عن الشعارات الطنانة، لذلك كان لا بد من اتخاذ خطوات عملية من نشطاء فلسطينيين ومتضامنين في خطوة رمزية كبيرة جداً تحدت هذا الحصار، ويجب أن يُبنى عليها أكثر لتحدّ واضح لكل من يشارك في هذا الحصار الذي خذل أهل القطاع.
لن تؤدّي المحرقة الأخيرة إلى إقامة بانتوستان أو معزل عرقي على أقل من ٢٢% من أرض فلسطين التاريخية في إطار ما يُسمى حل الدولتين العنصري بامتياز. بل يجب أن تؤدي إلى إنهاء الحديث عن تفاهات العنصرية هذه والبدء بالحديث جدياً عن البديل الديموقراطي، ليس فقط في فلسطين بل في العالم العربي بأكمله.
غزة ٢٠٠٩ أعطت زخماً هائلاً لحملة المقاطعة ضدّ إسرائيل، حيث رفض عمال دوربان في جنوب أفريقيا، بلفتة تاريخية غير مسبوقة، تفريغ السفن الإسرائيلية، وكذلك فعل بعض عمال الموانئ الأوسترالية، وتم احتلال العشرات من مباني الجامعات في أوروبا، البعض منها متبنّ نداء المقاطعة الثقافية والأكاديمية الصادر عن حملة المقاطعة الأكاديمية والثقافية في فلسطين.
كذلك أصدرت كلية هامبشير في الولايات المتحدة قراراً تاريخياً بعدم الاستثمار في بعض الشركات التي تتعامل مع إسرائيل. بالإضافة للنموذج الريادي الذي أعطته فنزويلا وبوليفيا بقطع العلاقات الدبلوماسية كاملة مع دولة إسرائيل العنصرية.
هذا جزء بسيط من الأمثلة العظيمة التي قامت بها الحركات المتضامنة ملهمة بالصمود الفلسطيني الأسطوري في قطاع غزة.
وهذا يحتم على كل القوى الوطنية العربية بأجنحتها المختلفة أن تفعّل قرار المقاطعة وفرض سحب الاستثمارات وعدم التطبيع.
القضية الفلسطينية قضية عادلة تتعدى القوميات وليست قضية عربية فقط بل هي قضية كل إنسان حر... هي قضية كل شعب محب للحرية والتحرر.
بعد أكثر من 4 أشهر على الطوفان والعودة للإبادة الجماعية البطيئة، لا يزال أهل غزة الأبطال في انتظار الصديق الزين!
عدد الاثنين ٢٥ أيار ٢٠٠٩
Monday, May 25, 2009
Current Situation in Gaza
Current Situation in Gaza
On Friday May 15th, Palestinians around the world commemorated 61 years of Nakba, the Catastrophe, 61 years of ongoing crimes against humanity, massacres, slow motion genocide in an unending process of ethnic cleansing, in a bundle of unjust "peace" treaties benefiting the colonizer and re-colonizing the oppressed. In addition, lack of civil rights and system of racial discrimination within the 1948 lands, what is now called ‘Israel', and the 1967 lands, Gaza and the West Bank, both under direct occupation, both "homelands" for a people based on an ethnic background, re-producing the White Man's categorization of what used to be called Bantustans (homeland for "Bantu" or "Black" man) during the Apartheid regime in South Africa; the West Bank composed of Bantustans with checkpoints separating each, occupation, repression, settler colonialism, settlement expansion, home demolition and land expropriation.
Gaza, the Bantustan, the largest concentration camp modern history has witnessed; the indiscriminate killing of civilians unhesitatingly by the occupation forces, the largest prison on earth; illegal collective punishment and siege imposed on a population of approximately one million and five hundred thousand citizen for around three years now.
The occupation forces claimed to have withdrawn their troops in 2005, but instead, have redeployed them around the borders. The Strip has been under slow motion genocide, with the intensification of bombardment during a 22-day attack from December 27th 2008 till January 17th 2009, by air, sea, and land on the residents culminating in a death toll of over 1400, around 400 of who are children. During and after the 22-day heavy bombardment, attack and resulting man-slaughtering in the Strip, the residents live, now, under ongoing slow motion genocide. This "gas chamber" still undergoes killings of its inhabitants such as farmers, where everything that is one kilometer or closer to the borders is a shooting target to the occupation forces, most often resulting in the killing of minors working with their mothers and fathers on their land, resulting in an inability of harvesting the land with the crops destroyed from lack of irrigation and care. The fishermen, not allowed to exceed 3 miles in their boats, who are often abducted by the occupation forces at sea (since Friday March 13 2009, 16 fishermen from the Gaza Strip have been abducted by the Israeli Navy), have their boats frequently targeted and shot at causing destruction to their livelihood.
Not to mention the severe malnutrition the citizens suffer from due to the perpetual siege imposed on agriculture, the importation and exportation of agricultural products and goods is rendered impossible. No exportation is allowed, but importation is controlled by the Israeli government. Poultry are usually smuggled in from the tunnels, still insufficient to sustain a healthy diet within the Strip.
Not to mention the siege on the health sector, where over a 100 drugs are not available: pediatric drugs, antibiotics, chronic disease medication, and kidney dialysis machines. Palestinian are dying from the lack of medical support within the Strip, and those who are to receive medical attention in hospitals within Jordan, Egypt, the West Bank and the 1948 territories are denied access to leave the Strip. The Rafeh Crossing remains shut in the face of the Palestinians in the Strip, many of whom are patients, students, social workers and rights activists wanting to speak abroad, and families who wish to visit their kin.
The siege on education disallows students wishing to pursue masters, doctorate and undergraduate degrees abroad from traveling. Due to the siege, and after the recent massacre, over 80% are below the poverty line and unemployment has risen to around 70% since the new year according to the ministry of social affairs. Students have minimal to no financial assistance to complete their education within the Strip. This drives thousands of young men, some of whom are minors, to work in the so-called tunnel industry, which is extremely life-threatening with the bombardment of these tunnels by the IOF, and the dumping of illegal gases such as the Mustard gas by the Egyptian authorities and other gases by the occupation forces, which is internationally prohibited, into these tunnels, causing many young men who are students to suffocate and die inside. These tunnels are observable to the naked eye on the borders, some of which, according to workers in the tunnels, are to the financial benefit of a few Egyptian businessmen and officers.
Books and education material and stationary are not available. Many professors resort to editing material they can access via internet and distribute to the students who must photocopy and buy. There are around 35 academic institutions distributed around the Strip, most of which are lacking in financial support, study materials, computers, paper, research resources, books, and other necessities. With fuel in scarcity and, thus, in stupefying prices, many students cannot commute to their schools and universities, resulting in a high drop-out range.
Scarcity of fuel caused the shutting down of many factories in the Strip and there are tens of thousands of workers who have lost their jobs as a result. Also, due to the continuous breaking off of the electric current, with the crisis of fuel, dialysis and cancer patients face yet another threat to their health.
The situation in Gaza is deteriorating more and more. No international criminal court has been set up yet for the trying of Israel for its crimes against humanity in the latest of a series of massacres of which it has committed and is still committing, of which the history of the oppressed has been noting down, and there is no need to remind ourselves that the violence of the oppressed originates and is a direct result of the violence of the oppressor, the colonizer, and is a reaction to it. Just as we have learnt to fight the Apartheid South African regime, in acts of non-violent civil resistance, it is crucial that the international community endorses the Palestinian civil society's call for acts of boycott, divestment and sanctions from the Apartheid state of Israel.
Natalie Abou Shakra
Volunteering in Beit Hanoun
Beit Hanoun, Gaza
During the early hours of the morning today, Monday May 25, 2009, the occupation forces dropped by their war planes a container with flyers which include statements that threaten to attack the Palestinians living in Beit Hanoun closest to the 1948 lands. The flyers stated that any civilian who gets 300 metres or less from the borders they will be shot. Previously, on the 27th of December 2008, the IOF had stated it will attack any civilian that is 1 km or less from the border.
The Beit Hanoun Local Initiative coordinator, Saber al Zaaneen, stated that this was an unjust unilateral decision by the occupation forces which directly affects the livelihoods of hundreds of Palestinians that work on their land, dependent on harvesting and plantation.
Zaaneen also stated that the occupation forces had directly shot at a group of volunteers near the borders on July 1, 2008, who had arranged for weekly demonstrations to occur. Despite the IOF targeting them, the volunteers persisted their way.
After the latest genocidal attacks against the Palestinian people, the IOF disallowed civilians, farmers and volunteers, from being 1 km of less from the borders, as well as destroying all homes, plantations and farmlands present within that distance.
Today's IOF decision of attacking anyone within 300 meters from the borders is a farce, as they had already been doing so from the start, as well as disallowing farmers from getting to their lands. This is just another way that the occupation forces exercise their neo-colonialist tactics and operations.
The Beit Hanoun Local Initiative urges all people of good conscience to stand by the Palestinian people in those harsh cicumstances, in acts of solidairty and thereby enabling the volunteers to continue their work and support them as such.
Note by Natalie: Today's container with flyers was dropped on a 10 year old boy from the Dughmush family in the early hours of the morning, and he is injured as a result.
During the early hours of the morning today, Monday May 25, 2009, the occupation forces dropped by their war planes a container with flyers which include statements that threaten to attack the Palestinians living in Beit Hanoun closest to the 1948 lands. The flyers stated that any civilian who gets 300 metres or less from the borders they will be shot. Previously, on the 27th of December 2008, the IOF had stated it will attack any civilian that is 1 km or less from the border.
The Beit Hanoun Local Initiative coordinator, Saber al Zaaneen, stated that this was an unjust unilateral decision by the occupation forces which directly affects the livelihoods of hundreds of Palestinians that work on their land, dependent on harvesting and plantation.
Zaaneen also stated that the occupation forces had directly shot at a group of volunteers near the borders on July 1, 2008, who had arranged for weekly demonstrations to occur. Despite the IOF targeting them, the volunteers persisted their way.
After the latest genocidal attacks against the Palestinian people, the IOF disallowed civilians, farmers and volunteers, from being 1 km of less from the borders, as well as destroying all homes, plantations and farmlands present within that distance.
Today's IOF decision of attacking anyone within 300 meters from the borders is a farce, as they had already been doing so from the start, as well as disallowing farmers from getting to their lands. This is just another way that the occupation forces exercise their neo-colonialist tactics and operations.
The Beit Hanoun Local Initiative urges all people of good conscience to stand by the Palestinian people in those harsh cicumstances, in acts of solidairty and thereby enabling the volunteers to continue their work and support them as such.
Note by Natalie: Today's container with flyers was dropped on a 10 year old boy from the Dughmush family in the early hours of the morning, and he is injured as a result.
IAF planes drop warning pamphlets over Gaza
IAF planes drop warning pamphlets over Gaza
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1088044.htm
IAF planes drop warning pamphlets over Gaza
By The Associated Press
Israel Air Force aircraft have scattered pamphlets over the Gaza Strip warning residents to stay away from the border, The Associated Press reported Monday.
The heavily guarded border is the scene of sporadic fighting between militants and Israel Defense Forces troops. Israeli forces killed two Palestinian gunmen in a clash on Friday.
The Arabic pamphlets warned Gazans to stay out of areas 300 meters to 500 meters from the border fence, saying they risk being shot.
The IDF had no comment. The military has scattered similar warning pamphlets in the past.
Gaza's Health Ministry said a 10-year-old boy was struck by a box of leaflets and moderately hurt during Monday's airdrop.
Violence has largely subsided in Gaza following Israel's 3-week offensive against the coastal territory's Hamas rulers in January
Note: The flyers were all over the strip, not only in Beit Hanoun or Tal El Hawa areas.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The dismantling of Israel Document: Israel is an outlawed entity
http://justicenownetwork.blogspot.com/2009/02/dismantling-of-israel-document-israel.html
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1088044.htm
IAF planes drop warning pamphlets over Gaza
By The Associated Press
Israel Air Force aircraft have scattered pamphlets over the Gaza Strip warning residents to stay away from the border, The Associated Press reported Monday.
The heavily guarded border is the scene of sporadic fighting between militants and Israel Defense Forces troops. Israeli forces killed two Palestinian gunmen in a clash on Friday.
The Arabic pamphlets warned Gazans to stay out of areas 300 meters to 500 meters from the border fence, saying they risk being shot.
The IDF had no comment. The military has scattered similar warning pamphlets in the past.
Gaza's Health Ministry said a 10-year-old boy was struck by a box of leaflets and moderately hurt during Monday's airdrop.
Violence has largely subsided in Gaza following Israel's 3-week offensive against the coastal territory's Hamas rulers in January
Note: The flyers were all over the strip, not only in Beit Hanoun or Tal El Hawa areas.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The dismantling of Israel Document: Israel is an outlawed entity
http://justicenownetwork.blogspot.com/2009/02/dismantling-of-israel-document-israel.html
Tel Aviv Beach on the Danube river in Vienna - Need for action
Summer actions against the Tel Aviv Beach on the Danube river in Vienna - Asking for Help
The Israeli chamber of commerce in Vienna (Austria) have got the permission, for the opening of the « Tel Aviv Beach » from the Mayor of Vienna (Häupl, socialist) on the Viennese Donaukanal (right bank) to honor the 100 years of Tel Aviv this year. On the 10th of May the beach has been opened to the public.
In strong protest against this obscene « Tel Aviv Beach » all pro Palestinian organisations (Women in black, the anti-imperialist movement, the Austrian -Arab associations, moslem organisations,) together opened the « Gaza Beach » on the left bank of the Donaukanal.
The actions planned for the whole summer will disturb the « Israeli beach ambience » There will be a strong moment on the weekend of
27/28 june with the street theater from France playing « Checkpoint » in featuring the brutal daily oppression in the OT and Gaza by the Israeli occupying army. There is also a military vehicle transformed into an Israeli prison with photos and films from the last barbaric Israeli offensive in Gaza.
We would like people of other countries to participate in the «checkpoint » play, which is mostly with gestures. It would be great if some people from other European countries could come on that weekend or on others: the 20 June, 4 July and 8 August. The lodging of the activists will be assured by the organisation.
Photos of the last actions can be viewed on:
www.antiimperialista.org
or press articles:
http://fm4.orf.at/stories/1603503/
Viva Palestina!
In Solidarity
The Israeli chamber of commerce in Vienna (Austria) have got the permission, for the opening of the « Tel Aviv Beach » from the Mayor of Vienna (Häupl, socialist) on the Viennese Donaukanal (right bank) to honor the 100 years of Tel Aviv this year. On the 10th of May the beach has been opened to the public.
In strong protest against this obscene « Tel Aviv Beach » all pro Palestinian organisations (Women in black, the anti-imperialist movement, the Austrian -Arab associations, moslem organisations,) together opened the « Gaza Beach » on the left bank of the Donaukanal.
The actions planned for the whole summer will disturb the « Israeli beach ambience » There will be a strong moment on the weekend of
27/28 june with the street theater from France playing « Checkpoint » in featuring the brutal daily oppression in the OT and Gaza by the Israeli occupying army. There is also a military vehicle transformed into an Israeli prison with photos and films from the last barbaric Israeli offensive in Gaza.
We would like people of other countries to participate in the «checkpoint » play, which is mostly with gestures. It would be great if some people from other European countries could come on that weekend or on others: the 20 June, 4 July and 8 August. The lodging of the activists will be assured by the organisation.
Photos of the last actions can be viewed on:
www.antiimperialista.org
or press articles:
http://fm4.orf.at/stories/1603503/
Viva Palestina!
In Solidarity
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Palestinian Farmer Injured in IOF shooting
ISM Gaza Strip video. Interview in Abou Yousef An Najar Hospital in Rafah with Randa Shalouf, a palestinian woman from the village of Shawka, east of Rafah, who was shot while she was doing her farming work.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Student killed working in tunnel
Deprived of basic human needs, student killed working in tunnel
I went into her house, the children were in front of the door... what door?! there was no door!
Rami, my friend also an ex-political prisoner released after the massacre, guided me into the modest space
Umm Mohammad was standing ahead
she looked into my eyes
"ahlan wa sahlan" (welcome), she said
...comrade George & I went in...
I sat close to Umm Mohammad, as i listened to her speak about her son... mohammad
mohammad abu m'aammar is the eldest of 9 children. He is 20 years old, & is a student at a college in khan younes. "He was obliged to go work in the tunnels, we are deprived of basic human needs..."
Umm mohammad insisted she was against this work from the start...
"i told him not to go there! not to join the tunnels, it is a dangerous thing to go into... but, he couldn't see it that his sisters & brothers not be able to wear decent clothes, & eat healthy food"
she pointed to a man, shorter than her, who looked as if he was in his late 30s. "this is abu mohammad. he suffered from schizophrenia ever since he was released from the Israeli prisons." abu mohammad comes close, his face grim, years of torture inscribed on his expressionless face...
umm mohammad, & mohammad's grandmother, began talking to me about mohammad & this young man's insistence to work despite all danger threatening his life
"he was not supposed to go in the tunnels. he was supposed to receive things from the opening & take them to respective clients."
it was mohammad's first week, last week... & the day the IOF bombed a nearby tunnel was the day he had decided to go through to bring in some goods... on the 30th of May, 2009
Umm Mohammad spoke to me about an incident she encountered with the UNRWA
"after the massacre, i went to get a coupon for food. the person managing the information about my household insisted that i had only 9 children & that one was killed during the attacks. but, i insisted otherwise. so, we have been receiving goods for only 9 children with two adults since the attacks... when, there were actually 10 children. mohammad tried his best with them. but, they insisted otherwise, & said they were too busy to check for themselves the accuracy of our sayings. the day mohammad was killed, the UNRWA guy changed our coupon from 9 to 10... how ironic... the day he was killed, when i had to get used to the number 9, he added mohammad in."
Umm Mohammad's house is but an average room sized block. as you enter, there is no actual threshold, as it coincides with the ground level outside it. she told me how much she suffered from the flooding of the house each time it rained...
her ceiling is not a cement ceiling, it is iron plated block tied into the concrete walls perpendicular to it...
"i pleaded with international organizations in the strip to give me a blanket... i was out of blankets during the attacks... i received no blankets! i didn't want money, i wanted to cover my children with a blanket! i found no blanket!"
this family is but a case of many in the extremely poverty stricken strip where around 80% of its inhabitants live under the poverty line according to the ministry of social affairs as a direct result of the siege...
"lift up the siege, & the level will go down to below half that number!" an official at the ministry stressed.
the farmers in the strip are shot at as they harvest their crop & the fishermen are subject to IOF gunboats targeting them whilst at sea, fishing (please follow ISM gaza website for regular reportage http://fishingunderfire.blogspot.com/). no export is allowed for surplus to be sold in export operation as export is not allowed due to the siege & the only export operation allowed druing the siege was in february on valentine's day where over twenty five thousand flower incarnations were allowed out as farmers alongside the dutch government applied pressure on the israeli side (I wrote about this here)
After twenty two days of intensive attacks on the inhabitants of the strip, over 1400have been killed & over 5000 wounded accroding to the Palestinian Centre of Human Rights. However, if you keep noting down the numbers of those who are killed after the attacks in human rights reports, local NGOs & local news agencies, you will notice that the slow motion genocide continues... with minimal mainstream media attention...
We need to build on the solidarity that occured during the attacks into long-term action plans, staring with having civil society organizations, movements & groups begin to endorse the Palestinian call for the boycotting of the state of Israel
Also, calls for solidarity & NOT charity with the Palestinians.
Please sign the petition below, have your voice heard if you believe in the right of return & a one secular democratic state for ALL of its citizens disregarding race, colour, religion, gender & ethnicity on the historic land of palestine:
http://www.odsg.org/co/index.php/petition-for-right-to-return.html
For NGOs & movements to endorse the Boycott Divestments and Sanctions global movement please email endorsements[at]bdsmovement.net
I went into her house, the children were in front of the door... what door?! there was no door!
Rami, my friend also an ex-political prisoner released after the massacre, guided me into the modest space
Umm Mohammad was standing ahead
she looked into my eyes
"ahlan wa sahlan" (welcome), she said
...comrade George & I went in...
I sat close to Umm Mohammad, as i listened to her speak about her son... mohammad
mohammad abu m'aammar is the eldest of 9 children. He is 20 years old, & is a student at a college in khan younes. "He was obliged to go work in the tunnels, we are deprived of basic human needs..."
Umm mohammad insisted she was against this work from the start...
"i told him not to go there! not to join the tunnels, it is a dangerous thing to go into... but, he couldn't see it that his sisters & brothers not be able to wear decent clothes, & eat healthy food"
she pointed to a man, shorter than her, who looked as if he was in his late 30s. "this is abu mohammad. he suffered from schizophrenia ever since he was released from the Israeli prisons." abu mohammad comes close, his face grim, years of torture inscribed on his expressionless face...
umm mohammad, & mohammad's grandmother, began talking to me about mohammad & this young man's insistence to work despite all danger threatening his life
"he was not supposed to go in the tunnels. he was supposed to receive things from the opening & take them to respective clients."
it was mohammad's first week, last week... & the day the IOF bombed a nearby tunnel was the day he had decided to go through to bring in some goods... on the 30th of May, 2009
Umm Mohammad spoke to me about an incident she encountered with the UNRWA
"after the massacre, i went to get a coupon for food. the person managing the information about my household insisted that i had only 9 children & that one was killed during the attacks. but, i insisted otherwise. so, we have been receiving goods for only 9 children with two adults since the attacks... when, there were actually 10 children. mohammad tried his best with them. but, they insisted otherwise, & said they were too busy to check for themselves the accuracy of our sayings. the day mohammad was killed, the UNRWA guy changed our coupon from 9 to 10... how ironic... the day he was killed, when i had to get used to the number 9, he added mohammad in."
Umm Mohammad's house is but an average room sized block. as you enter, there is no actual threshold, as it coincides with the ground level outside it. she told me how much she suffered from the flooding of the house each time it rained...
her ceiling is not a cement ceiling, it is iron plated block tied into the concrete walls perpendicular to it...
"i pleaded with international organizations in the strip to give me a blanket... i was out of blankets during the attacks... i received no blankets! i didn't want money, i wanted to cover my children with a blanket! i found no blanket!"
this family is but a case of many in the extremely poverty stricken strip where around 80% of its inhabitants live under the poverty line according to the ministry of social affairs as a direct result of the siege...
"lift up the siege, & the level will go down to below half that number!" an official at the ministry stressed.
the farmers in the strip are shot at as they harvest their crop & the fishermen are subject to IOF gunboats targeting them whilst at sea, fishing (please follow ISM gaza website for regular reportage http://fishingunderfire.blogspot.com/). no export is allowed for surplus to be sold in export operation as export is not allowed due to the siege & the only export operation allowed druing the siege was in february on valentine's day where over twenty five thousand flower incarnations were allowed out as farmers alongside the dutch government applied pressure on the israeli side (I wrote about this here)
After twenty two days of intensive attacks on the inhabitants of the strip, over 1400have been killed & over 5000 wounded accroding to the Palestinian Centre of Human Rights. However, if you keep noting down the numbers of those who are killed after the attacks in human rights reports, local NGOs & local news agencies, you will notice that the slow motion genocide continues... with minimal mainstream media attention...
We need to build on the solidarity that occured during the attacks into long-term action plans, staring with having civil society organizations, movements & groups begin to endorse the Palestinian call for the boycotting of the state of Israel
Also, calls for solidarity & NOT charity with the Palestinians.
Please sign the petition below, have your voice heard if you believe in the right of return & a one secular democratic state for ALL of its citizens disregarding race, colour, religion, gender & ethnicity on the historic land of palestine:
http://www.odsg.org/co/index.php/petition-for-right-to-return.html
For NGOs & movements to endorse the Boycott Divestments and Sanctions global movement please email endorsements[at]bdsmovement.net
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
VIDEO Workers Day demonstration Gaza
From: ISM Gaza
To: ISM media office
Sent: Saturday, May 02, 2009 11:42 AM
VIDEO Workers Day demonstration Gaza
Thousands of Palestinians, mainly supporters of the 3 main Palestinian leftist parties (PFLP, DFLP, PPP) gathered in Gaza City for the Workers Day demonstration, which was celebrated this year on Thursday the 30th of April because of the holiday of Friday. Many children and youngmen participated, but unfortunately almost no women. The supporters of the 3 different parties were marching all together, without forming separate blocks, giving a clear sign of unity of the left and of the Palestinians in general.
In the same day, two Palestinian civilians, workers in the tunnels in Rafah area, were killed in an accident when one of the tunnels collapsed. Because of the siege imposed by Israel and Egypt, Palestinians are forced to dig tunnels in order to cross the borders to Egypt and bring the necessary food, fuel and other goods in Gaza Strip. Tens of workers have been killed in the tunnels by accidents, or Egyptian and Israeli attacks.
Work in the tunnels is one of the few job opportunities in Gaza Strip. According to the Palestinian Chamber of Commerce in Gaza the unemployment rates in the Gaza Strip have reached 65%, and that poverty rates are now 80%, due to the ongoing Israeli-led siege and repeated assaults. The number of unemployed Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is about 200,000. (source: IMEMC, PIC)
Also, according to Ma'an news agency: "Israeli authorities announced tighter restrictions for Palestinians working in Israel on Labour Day Friday, including the possible revocation of permits if the holder returns to the West Bank after curfew.
The restrictions come as Israel installs new computer systems at 13 military checkpoints between the West Bank, Israel and Jerusalem. Palestinians will no longer be able to enter Israeli controlled areas by points other than those outfitted with computers.
According to the Palestinian Bureau of Statistics 74,000 Palestinians work in Israel, about three-quarters of who are from the West Bank. The working permits of many West Bankers stipulate that its holder must leave Israel before six or eight oclock.
Under the new system limits and parameters of permits for many Palestinians will change, and for some who arrive at the checkpoints later than the time stamped on their permits, papers may revoked for a week or even permanently. Many permit holders expect the new system will limit further Palestinian access to the western side of the separation wall.
Israeli authorities have been vague on details of the new systems, but have instructed all Palestinians with permits to enter Israeli-controlled areas to register in the new system. The controls are being overseen by Israeli General of the Central Command Ghadi Chamani and the head of the Civil Administration in the West Bank, Yoav Mordechai."
http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=37479
To: ISM media office
Sent: Saturday, May 02, 2009 11:42 AM
VIDEO Workers Day demonstration Gaza
Thousands of Palestinians, mainly supporters of the 3 main Palestinian leftist parties (PFLP, DFLP, PPP) gathered in Gaza City for the Workers Day demonstration, which was celebrated this year on Thursday the 30th of April because of the holiday of Friday. Many children and youngmen participated, but unfortunately almost no women. The supporters of the 3 different parties were marching all together, without forming separate blocks, giving a clear sign of unity of the left and of the Palestinians in general.
In the same day, two Palestinian civilians, workers in the tunnels in Rafah area, were killed in an accident when one of the tunnels collapsed. Because of the siege imposed by Israel and Egypt, Palestinians are forced to dig tunnels in order to cross the borders to Egypt and bring the necessary food, fuel and other goods in Gaza Strip. Tens of workers have been killed in the tunnels by accidents, or Egyptian and Israeli attacks.
Work in the tunnels is one of the few job opportunities in Gaza Strip. According to the Palestinian Chamber of Commerce in Gaza the unemployment rates in the Gaza Strip have reached 65%, and that poverty rates are now 80%, due to the ongoing Israeli-led siege and repeated assaults. The number of unemployed Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is about 200,000. (source: IMEMC, PIC)
Also, according to Ma'an news agency: "Israeli authorities announced tighter restrictions for Palestinians working in Israel on Labour Day Friday, including the possible revocation of permits if the holder returns to the West Bank after curfew.
The restrictions come as Israel installs new computer systems at 13 military checkpoints between the West Bank, Israel and Jerusalem. Palestinians will no longer be able to enter Israeli controlled areas by points other than those outfitted with computers.
According to the Palestinian Bureau of Statistics 74,000 Palestinians work in Israel, about three-quarters of who are from the West Bank. The working permits of many West Bankers stipulate that its holder must leave Israel before six or eight oclock.
Under the new system limits and parameters of permits for many Palestinians will change, and for some who arrive at the checkpoints later than the time stamped on their permits, papers may revoked for a week or even permanently. Many permit holders expect the new system will limit further Palestinian access to the western side of the separation wall.
Israeli authorities have been vague on details of the new systems, but have instructed all Palestinians with permits to enter Israeli-controlled areas to register in the new system. The controls are being overseen by Israeli General of the Central Command Ghadi Chamani and the head of the Civil Administration in the West Bank, Yoav Mordechai."
http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=37479
Monday, May 4, 2009
Et en Palestine ?.. que se passe-t-il ? (French Version)
Et en Palestine ?.. que se passe-t-il ?
En Cisjordanie, les check-points empêchent les gens de circuler, d’aller au boulot, à l’école ou à l’hôpital, les frontières sont fermées et contrôlées par les soldats sionistes, le couvre feu interdit aux gens de sortir de chez eux.. sous peine de mort ! Tous les jours, des terres sont volées, des maisons confisquées ou détruites, des oliviers arrachés, des troupeaux empoisonnés, des citoyens emprisonnés, des militants assassinés, des prisonniers torturés. Toutes ces misères n’excluent pas les enfants, ni les femmes, ni les personnes âgées. A Gaza, pas de check-points, mais un blocus qui affame la plus grande prison du monde, et des bombardements, nuit et jour, qui peuvent durer trois semaines et causer 1500 morts et 5000 blessés, brûlés, estropiés, mutilés à vie !
israel a fait un carnage en début d’année. Tout a été détruit, les gens tués, l’économie anéantie.. mais le blocus israélien continue et les Gazaouis ne peuvent ni reconstruire ni même soigner convenablement les blessés et les malades. L’aide humanitaire entre au compte-goutte et de façon arbitraire, malgré les protestations de l’ONU. Des quantités astronomiques de denrées alimentaires, matériel médical ou de construction restent en Egypte, à pourrir ou griller au soleil pendant des mois, pour être ensuite détruites parce que « périmées ».
Dans la Palestine colonisée depuis 1948 et vivant sous occupation militaire, la population est crucifiée collectivement par la machine de guerre d'Israel. Le monde entier laisse faire ? comment est-ce possible ?
Israel n’est que le fer de lance de l’empire, colonial, libéral et sioniste, il est donc appuyé par les gouvernements de la plupart des pays, les USA en tête, mais aussi l’Egypte et la Jordanie, pour ne parler que des plus proches. Et puis l’Europe, bien entendu, qui soutient de tout son poids politique, économique et financier. Oui, les gouvernements, les mêmes qui votent ici des lois contre les immigrés ou pour la flexibilité. Les mêmes qui envoient des troupes en Afghanistan, pour écraser un autre peuple qui résiste. Les mêmes qui quittent la conférence de Durban parce que le président iranien dénonce l’état raciste israélien.
Mais les gouvernements ne sont pas seuls à soutenir le sionisme. Ce qui rend possible ce génocide progressif c’est aussi la télévision - et les media en général - qui nous forcent à croire que les terroristes ce sont les Palestiniens. Les media ne condamnent jamais israel, ni son gouvernement fasciste, ni les assassinats, ni les violations quotidiennes du droit international. Mais trois mois après le massacre sans nom (et sans couverture médiatique), les media se déchaînent aujourd’hui contre ceux qui accusent israel, en particulier l'Iran, assimilé pour l'occasion à l'Allemagne nazie.
Une chose importante qu’on nous a forcé à croire, c’est que le monde ne changera jamais, reconnaissant qu'il est cruel et injuste, mais que c’est comme ça et qu'il est idiot de ne pas l’accepter. Voilà le principal obstacle au changement. La certitude que rien n’est possible !
Mais qui peut arrêter tout ça ? Et bien nous, pardi ! Les citoyens de cette planète. C’est-à-dire la société civile, qui, malgré ses difficultés à s’organiser, lance plusieurs campagnes de grande envergure.
1) le boycott total d’israel, et la pétition pour que ses criminels de guerre soient jugés par la cour internationale http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOXwO8Gm6lk
2) les convois humanitaires et toutes sortes de tentatives pour faire entrer de l’aide à Gaza.
3) la campagne internationale pour briser le siège de Gaza et permettre la libre circulation des biens et des personnes, comme l’exige la déclaration universelle des droits humains (10 12 1948).
TOUTES CES CAMPAGNES SONT IMPORTANTES
MAIS L’URGENCE, POUR QUE GAZA VIVE, C’EST DE LEVER LE BLOCUS !
Pour participer à cette campagne, vous pouvez :
_ signer la pétition pour la fin du blocus http://www.petitiononline.com/etgs1/petition.html
_ exercer des pressions en envoyant des courriers (lettres, fax, mail, téléphone) aux ambassades et consulats égyptiens, de même qu’à votre gouvernement et à vos élus.
_ participer à la présence de citoyens du monde solidaires qui vont occuper le poste frontière de Rafah, entre l’Egypte et Gaza, pour exiger son ouverture définitive. Vous pouvez venir avec nous et représenter la population de votre pays, mais vous pouvez aussi participer d’une autre manière (aider financièrement, propager l’information, etc). Info : intmorb[at]googlemail.com
En Cisjordanie, les check-points empêchent les gens de circuler, d’aller au boulot, à l’école ou à l’hôpital, les frontières sont fermées et contrôlées par les soldats sionistes, le couvre feu interdit aux gens de sortir de chez eux.. sous peine de mort ! Tous les jours, des terres sont volées, des maisons confisquées ou détruites, des oliviers arrachés, des troupeaux empoisonnés, des citoyens emprisonnés, des militants assassinés, des prisonniers torturés. Toutes ces misères n’excluent pas les enfants, ni les femmes, ni les personnes âgées. A Gaza, pas de check-points, mais un blocus qui affame la plus grande prison du monde, et des bombardements, nuit et jour, qui peuvent durer trois semaines et causer 1500 morts et 5000 blessés, brûlés, estropiés, mutilés à vie !
israel a fait un carnage en début d’année. Tout a été détruit, les gens tués, l’économie anéantie.. mais le blocus israélien continue et les Gazaouis ne peuvent ni reconstruire ni même soigner convenablement les blessés et les malades. L’aide humanitaire entre au compte-goutte et de façon arbitraire, malgré les protestations de l’ONU. Des quantités astronomiques de denrées alimentaires, matériel médical ou de construction restent en Egypte, à pourrir ou griller au soleil pendant des mois, pour être ensuite détruites parce que « périmées ».
Dans la Palestine colonisée depuis 1948 et vivant sous occupation militaire, la population est crucifiée collectivement par la machine de guerre d'Israel. Le monde entier laisse faire ? comment est-ce possible ?
Israel n’est que le fer de lance de l’empire, colonial, libéral et sioniste, il est donc appuyé par les gouvernements de la plupart des pays, les USA en tête, mais aussi l’Egypte et la Jordanie, pour ne parler que des plus proches. Et puis l’Europe, bien entendu, qui soutient de tout son poids politique, économique et financier. Oui, les gouvernements, les mêmes qui votent ici des lois contre les immigrés ou pour la flexibilité. Les mêmes qui envoient des troupes en Afghanistan, pour écraser un autre peuple qui résiste. Les mêmes qui quittent la conférence de Durban parce que le président iranien dénonce l’état raciste israélien.
Mais les gouvernements ne sont pas seuls à soutenir le sionisme. Ce qui rend possible ce génocide progressif c’est aussi la télévision - et les media en général - qui nous forcent à croire que les terroristes ce sont les Palestiniens. Les media ne condamnent jamais israel, ni son gouvernement fasciste, ni les assassinats, ni les violations quotidiennes du droit international. Mais trois mois après le massacre sans nom (et sans couverture médiatique), les media se déchaînent aujourd’hui contre ceux qui accusent israel, en particulier l'Iran, assimilé pour l'occasion à l'Allemagne nazie.
Une chose importante qu’on nous a forcé à croire, c’est que le monde ne changera jamais, reconnaissant qu'il est cruel et injuste, mais que c’est comme ça et qu'il est idiot de ne pas l’accepter. Voilà le principal obstacle au changement. La certitude que rien n’est possible !
Mais qui peut arrêter tout ça ? Et bien nous, pardi ! Les citoyens de cette planète. C’est-à-dire la société civile, qui, malgré ses difficultés à s’organiser, lance plusieurs campagnes de grande envergure.
1) le boycott total d’israel, et la pétition pour que ses criminels de guerre soient jugés par la cour internationale http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOXwO8Gm6lk
2) les convois humanitaires et toutes sortes de tentatives pour faire entrer de l’aide à Gaza.
3) la campagne internationale pour briser le siège de Gaza et permettre la libre circulation des biens et des personnes, comme l’exige la déclaration universelle des droits humains (10 12 1948).
TOUTES CES CAMPAGNES SONT IMPORTANTES
MAIS L’URGENCE, POUR QUE GAZA VIVE, C’EST DE LEVER LE BLOCUS !
Pour participer à cette campagne, vous pouvez :
_ signer la pétition pour la fin du blocus http://www.petitiononline.com/etgs1/petition.html
_ exercer des pressions en envoyant des courriers (lettres, fax, mail, téléphone) aux ambassades et consulats égyptiens, de même qu’à votre gouvernement et à vos élus.
_ participer à la présence de citoyens du monde solidaires qui vont occuper le poste frontière de Rafah, entre l’Egypte et Gaza, pour exiger son ouverture définitive. Vous pouvez venir avec nous et représenter la population de votre pays, mais vous pouvez aussi participer d’une autre manière (aider financièrement, propager l’information, etc). Info : intmorb[at]googlemail.com
So what is happening in Palestine? (English)
From: International Movement to Open Rafah Border
So what is happening in Palestine ?
On the west bank the check points are stopping the free movements of the population. It stops them going to schools, to hospitals. The borders are closed and controlled by Zionist soldiers. The curfew forbids people from going out of their houses.. or face being killed ! Every day more land is being stolen, houses are being confiscated or destroyed. Olive trees are being uprooted, herds poisoned, citizens imprisoned, militants assassinated, prisoners tortured. Elderly people, women and children are not excluded from all these terrible events.
In Gaza there are no check points; the blockade there, is starving the people in what has now become the largest concentration camp in the world.
The latest bombing attack kept going relentlessly day and night and lasted for 3 weeks as we remember from December 27th to January 18th. This caused for 1500 people to die and 5000 to be wounded with burns, mutilations and crippling wounds that will stay with them for life.
Israel has been responsible for a carnage at the beginning of the year. So much has been destroyed: first with the savage killing of people, the destruction of buildings, schools, houses and hopitals and then with their economy being shattered to pieces.
The Israeli blockade however is still in place and carrying on. Because of it, the people of Gaza are still not able to rebuild anything... nor are they properly able to treat their sick and wounded. Very little humanitarian aid is being allowed in and the little that is let through has been decided upon arbitrarily despite the UN`s protest against these restrictions.
Vast quantities of humanitarian aid are being stored and kept in Egypt regardless of whether it is food, medical aid or building materials, to rot and be exposed to the elements under the sun and heat and then they are being destroyed because they have reached their "expiry date".
In Palestine, the population has been living under military occupation since its colonisation in 1948 and is being collectively crucified by the Israeli war machine. Is really the entire world allowing this happen ? How is that possible ?
Israel is only the very pick of the top of the sword of the colonial Zionist and liberal empire. It is therefore being supported by the governments of most countries. The United States being at the forefront but Egypt and Jordan are part of it too and that`s only to mention the closest neighbouring countries. Europe is also implicated of course as it is doing its best to give its political, economical and financial support. Yes those same governments that are creating laws against emigrants or are in favour of flexibility, and are sending troupes to Afghanistan in order to suppress the resisting population. It is those same countries that have left the room during the conference in Durban whilst the Iranian leader denounced the state of Israel as being a racist state.
Governments however do not bear alone the responsibility for supporting Zionism, television channels and the media generally are also making this increasing genocide possible, as they force us to believe that it is the Palestinians who are the terrorists. The media do not ever condemn Israel, nor its fascist government, nor its assassinations, nor its daily violations of international laws. But 3 months after the massacre, which is beyond description (and beyond media coverage !), the same media are today frantically attacking those who accuse Israel. Iran in particular has been under fire and been compared on the occasion to Nazi Germany.
There is something important that we have been forced to accept and to believe and that is that the world will never change, that it is a brutal and unjust place and that this is just how it is and that it would be being stupid not to accept it. This is the true obstacle to change. The certainty that nothing is possible !
So who can change this ? Us of course, us ! The citizens of this planet. The civil society, who despite its difficulties in getting organised are lauching a few highly significant campaigns:
1) The Total boycott of Israel and the petition requiring for its war criminals to be brought to justice under international law.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOXwO8Gm6lk
2) The humanitarian convoys and all the initiatives to bring in aid into Gaza.
3) The international campaign to break the siege of Gaza and allow the free circulation of people and goods as required by the universal declaration of human rights (12-10-1948).
All these campaigns are terribly important,
but the urgency at the moment for the people of Gaza is for the blockade to be lifted.
To participate in this campaign you can:
- Sign the petition for the end of the blockade.
- Put pressure by sending out letters (letters, fax, email, telephone calls) to Egyptian embassies and consulates as well as to your government and MP`s.
- Participate actively by coming to the Rafah border as a citizen of the world, showing your solidarity, occupying with others the frontier post between Egypt and Gaza to demand its permanent reopening. You can come with us and represent the people of your country with their outrage at what has happened and is happening and who want justice, peace, and freedom to prevail.
You can also help in other ways if you are not able to come, by distributing this information (to the people you know and as widely as possible), by giving financial support to help people go and stay at the border who may otherwise not be able stay as long or go at all.
For more information please send email to intmorb[at]googlemail.com (Europe)or gazadelegation[at]gmail.com (USA)
So what is happening in Palestine ?
On the west bank the check points are stopping the free movements of the population. It stops them going to schools, to hospitals. The borders are closed and controlled by Zionist soldiers. The curfew forbids people from going out of their houses.. or face being killed ! Every day more land is being stolen, houses are being confiscated or destroyed. Olive trees are being uprooted, herds poisoned, citizens imprisoned, militants assassinated, prisoners tortured. Elderly people, women and children are not excluded from all these terrible events.
In Gaza there are no check points; the blockade there, is starving the people in what has now become the largest concentration camp in the world.
The latest bombing attack kept going relentlessly day and night and lasted for 3 weeks as we remember from December 27th to January 18th. This caused for 1500 people to die and 5000 to be wounded with burns, mutilations and crippling wounds that will stay with them for life.
Israel has been responsible for a carnage at the beginning of the year. So much has been destroyed: first with the savage killing of people, the destruction of buildings, schools, houses and hopitals and then with their economy being shattered to pieces.
The Israeli blockade however is still in place and carrying on. Because of it, the people of Gaza are still not able to rebuild anything... nor are they properly able to treat their sick and wounded. Very little humanitarian aid is being allowed in and the little that is let through has been decided upon arbitrarily despite the UN`s protest against these restrictions.
Vast quantities of humanitarian aid are being stored and kept in Egypt regardless of whether it is food, medical aid or building materials, to rot and be exposed to the elements under the sun and heat and then they are being destroyed because they have reached their "expiry date".
In Palestine, the population has been living under military occupation since its colonisation in 1948 and is being collectively crucified by the Israeli war machine. Is really the entire world allowing this happen ? How is that possible ?
Israel is only the very pick of the top of the sword of the colonial Zionist and liberal empire. It is therefore being supported by the governments of most countries. The United States being at the forefront but Egypt and Jordan are part of it too and that`s only to mention the closest neighbouring countries. Europe is also implicated of course as it is doing its best to give its political, economical and financial support. Yes those same governments that are creating laws against emigrants or are in favour of flexibility, and are sending troupes to Afghanistan in order to suppress the resisting population. It is those same countries that have left the room during the conference in Durban whilst the Iranian leader denounced the state of Israel as being a racist state.
Governments however do not bear alone the responsibility for supporting Zionism, television channels and the media generally are also making this increasing genocide possible, as they force us to believe that it is the Palestinians who are the terrorists. The media do not ever condemn Israel, nor its fascist government, nor its assassinations, nor its daily violations of international laws. But 3 months after the massacre, which is beyond description (and beyond media coverage !), the same media are today frantically attacking those who accuse Israel. Iran in particular has been under fire and been compared on the occasion to Nazi Germany.
There is something important that we have been forced to accept and to believe and that is that the world will never change, that it is a brutal and unjust place and that this is just how it is and that it would be being stupid not to accept it. This is the true obstacle to change. The certainty that nothing is possible !
So who can change this ? Us of course, us ! The citizens of this planet. The civil society, who despite its difficulties in getting organised are lauching a few highly significant campaigns:
1) The Total boycott of Israel and the petition requiring for its war criminals to be brought to justice under international law.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOXwO8Gm6lk
2) The humanitarian convoys and all the initiatives to bring in aid into Gaza.
3) The international campaign to break the siege of Gaza and allow the free circulation of people and goods as required by the universal declaration of human rights (12-10-1948).
All these campaigns are terribly important,
but the urgency at the moment for the people of Gaza is for the blockade to be lifted.
To participate in this campaign you can:
- Sign the petition for the end of the blockade.
- Put pressure by sending out letters (letters, fax, email, telephone calls) to Egyptian embassies and consulates as well as to your government and MP`s.
- Participate actively by coming to the Rafah border as a citizen of the world, showing your solidarity, occupying with others the frontier post between Egypt and Gaza to demand its permanent reopening. You can come with us and represent the people of your country with their outrage at what has happened and is happening and who want justice, peace, and freedom to prevail.
You can also help in other ways if you are not able to come, by distributing this information (to the people you know and as widely as possible), by giving financial support to help people go and stay at the border who may otherwise not be able stay as long or go at all.
For more information please send email to intmorb[at]googlemail.com (Europe)or gazadelegation[at]gmail.com (USA)
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