The New York Daily News last week carried an editorial calling the international peaceactivists arrested and being deported by Israel for peacefully protesting violations ofhuman rights and international law, ” Accessories to terrorism ” .
We operate according to the quote below.
“Individuals have International duties which transcend the nationalobligations of obedience. Therefore individual citizens have the duty toviolate domestic laws to prevent crimes against peace & humanity. “Nuremberg War Crime Tribunal, 1950
August 10, 2002
Hello to you all from the heart of Palestine.
I’m writing to you from Deheishe refugee camp in the West Bank where I have been since Tuesday.It has been an extremely powerful experience so far; so hard to communicate in an email, so Iwill do more of this when I return. I am keeping a journal for this purpose–to help sort throughmy thoughts and record what is happening here, so my energy is focused where it needs to be–inthe present situation. The pain is so great.
We are staying with a family to protect their home from being destroyed–we more than likelywon’t be able to prevent this, but our presence is showing solidarity with them and creating abit of hope, at some level anyway. The family calls me daughter and have welcomed me into their’beit’ (home). I so wish to come back here, but it looks as though I will be deported if thesoldiers come–it is their policy for Internationals–they don’t want anyone who mightcreate a better situation for the Palestinians here, even if it’s only providing a piece ofhope. The news, and details I must save for when I return and have more time, because curfew iscoming, and we must be off the streets before the soldiers come. They shoot indiscriminatelyat people, children, women, and from a distance, I could appear Palestinian. Last night theyfired on a group of little boys in the street for walking after curfew started. Littleboys–and they fired from an armed tank.
As for the people, culture and such, I am sooooo welcomed and love it back. The food isdelicious, and the people’s hearts so big, so generous even with nothing to share. They ask mewhen I am coming back… Indeed I have considered another trip back together if I don’t getdeported. The presence of Internationals is desperately needed–they help to preventheinous crimes against the Palestinians–the degree of which I have not been aware ofpreviously with the exception of the SS Nazis, S. Africa, Tibet & Istanbul. It is hard tocommunicate the degree of these, and I will be writing up the stories I have gathered upon myreturn. There is just too, too, much. Every person has so many stories…
Regarding restriction of movement for Palestinians, this goes for Americans orInternationals as well–soldiers don’t double check in the dark–they shoot first.’Curfew’ is imposed daily, and they shoot anything in the streets. Palestinians movementsare always restricted and watched. That is just another part of life here; there is so much… Idon’t know where to start… I can only do what I can there; sometimes the Israelis even shootAmericans (a ‘mistake’ of course) intending to hit a Palestinian, and although the hatred forthe American Gov’t is strong here, the people are very peaceful (I cannot emphasize thisenough!!!!) and wish us well–are glad of our presence here. It gives them hope that somedaythere may be peace. There are a small number of Palestinians who have been pushed over theedge–I hesitate to communicate this, because there is TOOOO much misinformation in theAmerican media already about all of them being terrorists–but to put it into perspective,!
they just snapped from seeing to much violence–living through too much. I wonder ifAmericans experienced this degree, this EXTREME human rights abuse, how far we could hold outpeacefully?
My family and the people I stay with will ensure my safety–indeed I have walked through thecamp with one or a couple of people and felt completely safe, and I am not concerned about it. Thefamily I am staying with is being punished for something they had no idea about–last Marchtheir daughter went into Jerusalem with a bomb in a market place, they said she snapped afterwatching her neighbor get shot on the street outside her home by Israelis in an Apache, this isnot the first thing I’m sure–coming after her family’s home–20 people, 6 families.Collective punishment is what that is called, and it is illegal according to the GenevaConvention. Their son has been in prison since May for the crime of being her brother with norelease date in sight.
I have been a little sick this morning; not sure how much is nerves, how much is related to thesugar (they give us a lot of ‘shai’ — tea with a lot of sugar) and how much is due to drinking thelocal water which is broken–the Israelis regularly destroy the water pipes and the supply iscontaminated. The GSE I have helps, but this is still so stressful… Hard to say. The soldiersthreaten to come each day–we return home and have a night with the family each day and then eat,visit, discuss the situation here, and life as a Palestinian, and such…and then wait untilaround 2am, which is their favorite time to start bombings. If we can make it until daylight, weare safe. The family’s furniture is all gone, in preparation for the home demolition. If theydo succeed in blowing it up, they will destroy at least 10 other homes that are in closeproximity or share walls–this is a modest estimate. It is hard to be strong sometimes, but asan American, I have a certain!
degree of protection against them, especially if the US Consulate and Embassy are receivingword about our staying there, and a few of the other human rights observers here (there are 7 inour group–4 at the other home) have a network that has been hounding the Consulate and Embassyabout our safety and asking details, and such. The US Consulate & Embassy don’t want to help theInternationals here who are interested in human rights; they are very lax about respondingand only do what is expected by law–the bare minimum with respect to their obligations.
I will give you the numbers once again just in case. They are: US Consulate– 011 972 2 622 7230(last part 250 if emergency) & the US Embassy– 011 972 3 519 7575. Bug ’em. It’s their job andthey pretty much suck at it, although I’m sure the affection the United States Gov’t has forIsrael has something to do with that. God forbid we should want to stop such blatant humanrights abuse.
In the event that the soldiers come, we are probably going to be physically removed from thehouse, even though we will try to stay together by locking arms. Then when the military holdsus, or detains us (as they can’t arrest us–that’s the police’s job) they will turn us over tothe police and from there we can face up to 24 hrs in jail before we get a chance to speak to anyonefrom ISM (International Solidarity Movement, the peace org. I’m here with) or anyone else forthat matter. We will try to resist deportation, but that’s up in the air. If so, the ISM officewill contact my partner Nate, and set the legal protection wheels in motion. They will workhard for us, and I will do everything in my power to be released freely–we have done nothingwrong, unless you consider protecting a family’s home something wrong–and sent back with myplane tickets on the 18th from Tel Aviv. I will do my best not to be deported so I can come backsometime. (smiles)
I feel vulnerable at times, but only when the soldiers come. Otherwise, it has been a lifechanging experience, and my heart is so full, it comes out through tears sometimes. The pain isso great…. I don’t know where to start….
Gosh, I have to go because my group is waiting to meet before beating the tanks that come withcurfew. I wish you all the best, and ask that you consider what is happening here, and theinformation you receive through the media is heavily biased. I will provide you all with thestories of this trip if you’d like when I return; the time for the computer lab is limited and theconnection slow.
Until I see you all again I remain your friend in peace & love.
Salaam.
Jennie