First paragraph (Teaser):

 
An update from the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) mailing list:

1. National Day for Prisoners by Mandela institute
2. No way to raise terrorists by Henry
3. Living and working with people under occupation By Hanna from IWPS
4. Settlers from Eli attack farmers from AsSawiya by IWPS
5. Israeli Army Attacks 14 Year old child in Bil'in

Rest of the text:

 
An update from the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) mailing list:

1. National Day for Prisoners by Mandela institute
2. No way to raise terrorists by Henry
3. Living and working with people under occupation By Hanna from IWPS
4. Settlers from Eli attack farmers from AsSawiya by IWPS
5. Israeli Army Attacks 14 Year old child in Bil'in

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1. National Day for Prisoners

17 April 2005,
For Immediate Release

On April 17th every year, Palestinians stand unified in solidarity with Arab and Palestinian political prisoners held in Israeli custody. Thousands of Palestinians have been imprisoned as a result of their struggle for their inalienable and legitimate right to self determination and the right to an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Israeli occupation authorities hold approximately 8043 Palestinians, including 115 females with 7 of them under administrative detention orders and 11 juvenile females in Tal Mund Prison. About 772 Palestinians are held under automatically-renewable administrative detention orders in various detention compounds. After thorough follow up of their incarceration conditions, the Mandela Institute for Human Rights can easily conclude they are held under cruel and inhuman conditions such as:

- Prisoners are subjected to prolonged solitary confinement in prisons like Ayalon-Ramla, Beer Shiva' and Kfar Youna prisons. Israeli military authorities use solitary confinement as a weapon to break prisoners' resolve and not as a disciplinary measure for the slightest offence in addition to imposing heavy fines;

- Ill treatment and torture of inmates are wide spread especially during interrogation in centers like Ashqelon and Jalama prisons, Petah Tikva and the Russian Compound in occupied Jerusalem and in "Collaborators' quarters in Beer Shiva' and Jalama prisons and in Megiddo detention compound;

- Israeli military authorities use the provocative and degrading strip search on a daily basis;

- Prisoners are deprived of family visits. Israeli Prison Authority restricts 2500 Palestinian families from visiting their loved ones under feeble security pretences;

- Families that are allowed to visit jailed members can only see them from behind thick glass partitions;

- Israeli occupation authorities continue to use administrative detention i.e. imprisonment of individuals without charge or trial, against thousands of Palestinians. Occupation authorities often renew these orders automatically for years. Some individuals have been incarcerated for the past three years under such orders. Detainees at the Negev military detention compound have decided to boycott Israeli military tribunals believing they are concocted to keep them in custody with fabricated evidence. Three days ago, they ended their boycott in an attempt to test the intentions of the compound's administration;

- Prison clinics intentionally delay provision of medical treatment. About 22 inmates are held at the Ramla Prison Hospital with severe illnesses such as cardiac disorders, cancer, diabetes and kidney disorders. The database at Mandela Institute shows there are approximately 482 infirm inmates including 150 suffering from chronic illnesses. Delay of medical treatment augments their already poor health conditions;

- Israeli occupation authorities hold 115 Palestinian females at Tal Mund Prison including 20 married and 8 infirm inmates. Manal Abdul- Razeq Ghanem, a Palestinian female from Tulqarem and was arrested on 17 April 2003 is serving a 4-year sentence. She suffers Thalathemia and her son, Nour, are deprived of necessary medical treatment. Amena Mona has a disk hernia; Faten Daraghmeh suffers a kidney stone and internal bleeding; Suna Ra'ie suffers psychological disorders; Su'ad Abu- Hamad complains of back problems; Hala Husny Jaber has torn muscles in her right leg; Latifa Abu-Dra'a has diabetes, brain infection and uterus dysfunctions while 'Abir 'Odeh suffers psychological disorders also.

- Palestinian male juveniles are subjected to ill treatment and torture including sexual harassment by Israeli common criminals, threat of rape and are often threatened by dogs to force out confessions. The Israeli government continues undeterred to violate the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention related to the protection of civilians at time of war. It also violates the United Nations Minimum Standards for the Treatment of Prisoners as well as other international instruments and norms provided in the international law and the humanitarian international law.

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2. No way to raise terrorists by Henry

Qawawis, Occupied West Bank
Sunday, April 17, 2005

Qawawia is the tiny village in the southern most part of the Occupied West Bank, and is surrounded by the illegal colony of Susiya (sp?), and two illegal (even by Israeli standards) outposts; Amara Eis and Am Shukan.

JH and I from the Michigan Peace Team joined Kaspar from Denmark, to relieve the ISM'ers stationed in the village last Thursday, and today is our first experience with electricity and warm water since. But what we left behind in this lovely village is not worth modern day conveniences: we left behind wonderful, loving people, and a lifestyle that is difficult to match.

There is one house in the village, two large tents, and many inhabitable caves, in which we received most of our meals: three squares a day, and we constantly disappointed our hosts with our scant appetites. "Eat, eat!" was their response to our broken Arabic: "Lah, shukron! – Halas!".

We slept in the house of Hadj Khalil and his wife Amni, and their children and grandkids. Yasir is their son, Atof, their daughter; Delal is Yasir's wife and the mother of their 4 children, age descending: Deanna, Jumanna, Sefanna, and 2-month old Shehad. JH and I came close to kidnapping Jumanna on the way out, and you would have been tempted as well.

The love these parents, grandparents and relative showed the children was wonderful to behold, and puts an easy lie to the claim that Palestinians hate Jews more than they love their children. Our pictures – if we can get them out – will support the claims that these kids are loved every minute of the day. After dinner, the three children wrapped themselves in their daddy's arms as he held forth in an Arabic-only discussion. The three gringos nodded at what we felt were the appropriate times. As each child succumbed to sleep, Mom came in and peeled them away from Dad to take them to the sleeping room. Last was 6-yr-old Deanna, who was wrapped with her father in a large blanket until her time came to be moved. Someone should tell the families of Qawawis this is no way to raise terrorists.

Four or Five herds of sheep and goats went out twice a day to graze -- about 3 hours each time, and the duty of us three internationals was to either keep the herds in sight, or stay close to the home and village. The village has been subjected to wanton violence from local settlers, and internationals have been beaten recently, and suffered insult to injury when the "police" showed up -– only to arrest the internationals! In spite of having charges dropped by an understanding judge, Kasper thinks he will never again be allowed to pass Israeli security, due to his "arrest" last week.

Most of our time in Qawawis was spent in beautiful boredom. Rolling hills of grass and rocks were set off by neatly groomed orchards and wheat fields. A few times our services were needed, however, and under the amazing tutelage from 22-yr-old Kaspar, we performed them well, imo. The army dropped by on Thursday to inform the shepherds they were grazing too close to the road, which is not an accurate determination of the court's verdict, but like Tony Soprano, they have the guns.

Settlers also have the guns, and two young women in summer dresses accompanied their Uzi-toting male friend to waltz around "their" land despite the recent rulings. Kaspar initially confronted his Zionist peers (in age only) and explained that the villagers are very nervous about their gun, and would they please leave the property directly. The women explained that they were out for a Shabbat afternoon walk, and followed a path of their own choosing, as Kasper phone the local DCO – Israeli district police. He waited by the roadway, leaving JH and I to track the trespassers. Keeping a safe (??) distance of about 150 yards – anybody know the range of an Uzi? – we followed them for what seemed forever as they walk the vast expanse of the village, up rocky hillside, then down into the wheat valley. JH and I tried to stay in sight contact, since my phone's batteries had long given up the ghost, as he stayed in phone contact with K. After losing contact with the three violators, we looped around back and met yet another shepherd, whose wife was eager to bring out more tea, while we waited even longer for the police. It had already been over a half hour, and they never did arrive. "They don't care" explained peace activist Simon, who showed up in a small pickup driven by local peace hero Ezra.

Well into my second glass of tea, the three walkers showed up again, and headed back towards the section they arrived, clearly showing their arms to the locals. Hadj Mohammed (shepherd) wanted us to call the police again, and we obliged. JH and I again trailed the armed youngsters, and they apparently made their way back to Susiya.

Taunting villagers must be common sport. A lurking army jeep planted itself on the property Friday evening, and when K and I went to investigate, the soldiers claimed they were "having coffee". Six of them. And their leader wanted a political joust with K, who intelligently demurred, leaving the role of bantam barrister up to yours truly. Claiming that despite their rifles, they come in peace (would he have given me the rifle to hold, since it was "not an issue"?), he proceeded to lose every single argument he held forth, then decided to save face by saying that if we (after I had claimed Jewish identity) got into "trouble" with the villagers, he would not longer come to "rescue" us. We felt his pain.

We also felt the pain of a beautiful young Palestinian woman who was traveling with us on our last leg – from Hebron to Al Quds – and was denied permission to enter "Israel" at the checkpoint south of Jerusalem. The reason? Her identity papers had her located in Hebron, and despite her marriage license to her Jerusalemite husband, these "only following orders" soldiers denied the union of family and father. JH recognized the red herring of "security", and labeled the incident "pure racism". Our anger still burns.

Time is running out at this Old City Internet café, so will bid adieu until next time.

Work for peace
Abolish Zionist Apartheid

Henry

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3. Living and working with people under occupation By Hanna from IWPS

I'm still here, still in Palestine, still living and working with people under occupation. I think I've done more of the living this week than the working, though, and it's been nice. I don't know if it's a result of last week's tragedies, but this week I have found myself sitting and drinking tea with friends more than usual. I decided at some point that when I don't have work outside the house, it's better to hang out with people than to sit behind a computer (like I am now) looking for another task to do in the list of endless tasks.

And so I've been spending time with people. Issa, a friend who was shot by an Israeli soldier almost four years ago, was in the hospital for a few days this week, and came home today. It was wonderful to see him, although he says his infection is not completely gone and he's not sure he'll ever fully recover from this last sickness. He and his wife Faisa asked about our friend Karin's wedding, which happened a couple weeks ago in Bethlehem. I told them it was beautiful, and that Karin and her husband made a nice speech afterwards thanking everyone for coming and saying, "The people who came from furthest are not necessarily the people from Austria and Germany, but those from Salfit and Gaza and even Jerusalem." "That's right," said Faisa sadly, "because of the checkpoints and the soldiers. It's all because of Israel. If it weren't for Israel there would be no problem." She paused, and then added, "But if it weren't for Israel, we wouldn't know you." I cringe to hear this, knowing it's true. What a strange relationship we have with people. What a strange situation, where people get to know us and want to see us, but know they're likeliest to see us if there is a problem in their village.

Like the village of Yasouf. I haven't visited Yasouf yet since I've been back, and when my friend Abu Srur found out I had been here for a month without calling and visiting, he was hurt. Tomorrow I'll go, and I'll see him, but I'm only going because doctors from Bir Zeit University will be there to talk with the villagers about safety precautions on their land. I wrote in my last report about poison that ideological Jewish settlers had placed on Palestinian land in the south Hebron hills, killing many of their sheep. Well, this same poison has shown up in Yasouf now. Small orange pellets of death. Announcements have been made on mosques throughout the region, but that cannot remove the poison or the system that refuses to prosecute those responsible for planting the poison.

Tomorrow's visit may not help me change our image from people who show up in problem situations to people who show up because it's nice to see people, but I've been working on it at least in this small part of Hares. Last night my friend Amal dyed my hair with henna. I slept with the dried mud on my head, covered in a head scarf and looking like any other woman in the village. Today I went to return the head scarf and she told me to keep it, that it looked nice on me. I told her she'd get more use out of it than I would, but that next time we dye my hair I'll wear it again.

Yesterday I took my friend Fatima's two oldest daughters to the Ibdaa Cultural Center in Bethlehem to record them singing for a project I'm working on. They were amazing, and had a blast. At the ages of 17 and 15, it was their first time traveling without their mother (except for school trips). I picked them up at the roadblock outside the village, where they were waiting hidden away in a car so nobody else in the village would see them leave without their mother. We snuck into another service taxi on the other side of the roadblock, only to find that the two men sitting in front of us were from the same village. We arrived at Zatara checkpoint and Shams noticed the posters plastered all over the bus stops by the settlers in the area. "Sharon," she said, pointing at his picture. "Yes, it's against Sharon," I replied. She was surprised. I told her that many settlers now agree with many Palestinians, but for much different reasons, when they say Sharon is like Hitler. This sign was against the settler evacuation from Gaza. "They will put all the settlers here in the West Bank," I said. Shams asked, "And the settlers don't want to be in the West Bank?" "They want to be in the West Bank," I replied, "but they also want to be in Gaza." Shams sighed, "They want everything."

The girls started to relax as we got further south, and we arrived at Dheisheh refugee camp three cars later with no problems. The people at Ibdaa's radio station / studio thought they were simply doing me a favor by letting me record the girls there, but after the first song, one of them came into the room and asked the girls, "Where are you from?" He was clearly impressed. They opened up completely in the studio – they were in their element, for sure. We recorded five songs, and then one of the men asked if they wanted to read a couple excerpts in English from personal testimonies for the radio program. Shams played a young girl, and Mayisa an old woman. As they were reading, the producer said, "Damn, I wish they lived closer to here." Apparently it takes some kids an hour to get a good version of just a few lines in English. Shams and Mayisa did everything almost perfectly on their first try.

After finishing and copying CDs, we went to visit the host family that I lived with for a month last summer. The girls had a great conversation with my host mother, Najah. They asked her about life in Dheisheh, how often the army invades, whether all the girls and women in the camp have to wear head scarves or not, and more. She asked them about their parents' work, life in the village, what kinds of songs they sing, and more. They talked about resistance against the Wall (the girls argued it was necessary, Najah argued it was futile, they didn't necessarily disagree with each other).

We returned the same roundabout way we came – through Wadi Nar. It would be much quicker, more direct, and less expensive to go through Jerusalem, but Jerusalem is forbidden for West Bank Palestinians, save for a lucky few with special permits. So we went through Wadi Nar, and I remembered the one spot in the turn where it is possible to see the Dome of the Rock – a tiny gold dot in the distance. I pointed it out to the girls, who looked at it in awe and with sadness. "We can't go there," said Shams. The whole way there and back we saw pieces of the Wall snaking through the land. In Abu Dis we watched the Dome of the Rock, slightly closer now, disappear like a sunset behind the Wall as we descended a hill.

We went through Ramallah, though it wasn't the most direct way home, because the girls were in no rush to get back to their village and I thought it would be nice to extend our trip and return home as close to dark as possible. We arrived in Ramallah and Shams wanted to try to find the dabke (Palestinian folk dance) instructor she had taken a couple lessons from last summer. We stopped to ask someone for directions and Shams said, "I love asking people where things are." "Why?" I asked. "Because it makes me think people are good," she replied. "My mother always says people in this century are not good, not honest, and don't help each other. But when I ask someone where something is, and he gets out of his car and walks me to the next street corner to show me, it makes me feel good about people."

The cultural center that we were looking for was closed, so we headed back to the center of Ramallah to catch a bus north. Shams and Mayisa stopped at a flower and plant shop to find a gift for their mother. "We cleaned the house on Mother's Day and cooked," they said, "but we didn't really get her a gift." (Mother's Day in Palestine was a few weeks ago.) So they went into the shop, and asked about a few things. Fifty shekels,thirty shekels, all too much. "I have 10 shekels," Shams finally said, "and I want a bouquet." So the man made her a nice bouquet, and off we went to catch a service taxi home. I crossed the Qarawa roadblock with the girls and we took a taxi towards their house, picking up Fatima on the way. She was so happy to see the girls (I forgot to mention that she called 3 times during the day to see where we were and how we were). So the day ended beautifully.

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4. Settlers from Eli attack farmers from AsSawiya by IWPS

On Sunday morning, April 17, 2005, four Israelis from Rabbis for Human Rights and Hannah from IWPS went to AsSawiya to accompany the farmers to their land. More than 30 villagers had come to plow for the first time in 4 years. The Israeli army had designated Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday as days that the villagers would receive army protection while working on their land near an outpost of Eli settlement.

The army was not there when we arrived on the land and walked up the hill. We reached the land, and the farmers began plowing. They worked for no more than a half hour before two armed settlers (apparently a settlement security force) arrived on the land and started yelling at the farmers to go down. The farmers began to pack their things and get their donkeys ready, and two more settlers arrived, followed later by others. These settlers were carrying only binoculars but were more violent and impatient than the first two, and they began to push people. One of them kicked a donkey, and another reportedly hit a man on the shoulder, ripping his shirt.

As the farmers were moving down, followed by the settlers, an army jeep arrived. The armed settlers began speaking with the soldiers, as did the other Israelis, and after a few minutes the soldiers informed the Palestinians that they must go down the hill and wait for the army to arrive. "Aren't you the army?" asked someone. "We must wait for other people," they responded.
Settlers continued to yell and chase people, and soldiers responded by telling Palestinians to leave their land. Everyone gathered in one spot as more jeeps and police arrived. After much negotiation, the army decided to let Palestinians plow in a different area (not where they had been earlier) after checking their IDs. A soldier began checking IDs of all the young men, but a settler quickly took over the job, writing down everyone's ID number on a small notepad. Settlers also photographed the Palestinian farmers and those with them.

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5. Bil'in 17 April 2005: Israeli Army Attacks 14 Year old child

At approximately 5 pm two soldiers approached three children from the village of Bil'in close the construction site of the Annexation Wall. The children were observing the uprooting of olive trees.

Without provocation, the soldiers suddenly and forcefully took 14 year old Majed, one of the children, to their jeep and forced him to the ground. Accusing him of throwing stones they then commenced to hit, slap and kick the boy in the head, back and legs. After 15 minutes the soldiers said that they were not after him, but someone else, and released him.

3 internationals arrived at the scene just as the Army jeep was driving away. They proceeded to take eye witness accounts and photos of Majed's bruises on his back.

[this update was originally circulated on the International Solidarity Movement's (ISM) mailing list]