The following account was written by Lora Gordon and Joe Smith, two ISM volunteers and Tom’scolleagues. Please note that there is naturally overwhelming emotion expressed both by Loraand Joe and also by Tom’s brother, Billy, who is quoted in the account below. Billy’s quote, ” he[Tom] is being treated by the same bastards that shot … Read more
Today is the fourth day of the Israeli Army’s campaign of terror against the Old City of Nablus,during which ISM activists based in the city worked with Palestinian UPMRC (first aid)volunteers in the delivery of food and medicine to stranded households, rescuing theinjured, evacuating families from occupied houses and monitoring the activities of Israelitroops. In … Read more
How do I describe what life is like here – of the sadness in the eyes of my colleagues, of theexhaustion that results when every daily action requires an extraordinary effort, whenperseverance is no longer enough and futility and despair fight for a place on the proud facescarrying bags and babies and the burden of … Read more
Just over an hour ago Israeli soldiers opened fire ona small group of children in Bethlehem’s Aida RefugeeCamp. The Israeli occupying army entered the camp, asthey do most days and nights, in jeeps, with theirtanks rumbling on the side roads. The Israeli soldierswere throwing tear gas into the camp, choking itsPalestinian residents who could not … Read more
What does it mean to ” watch? ” In Bethlehem, this first week of Advent,faces watch from doorways, at corners, as those under curfew risk thestreets to visit sick relatives or find the half-opened grocery door.Soldiers watch from tanks, at checkpoints for the unwary traveler, or invadehouses in the dark hours before dawn when no … Read more
To many Americans the Israeli/Palestinian issue is a complex and unsolvableone, plagued with propaganda from both sides and shrouded in the interestsof global politics. But the everyday reality of many Palestinians is onethat rarely has a contributory voice towards American opinion of the issue. Yesterday, my first day in Palestine, I met Lutfiya el-Sharif, her … Read more
Two families made homeless with further Israeli house demolition. A PNGO Information Clearinghouse Israeli forces shot dead a 24-year-old Palestinian, Jihad Muhammad MusallamAn-Natour in Askar refugee camp in Nablus early this morning. Jihad waswalking through the camp waking the inhabitants so they could eat before thedaily fast of the holy month of Ramadan began. According … Read more
1) Palestine: It’s HELL by John Reese2) Reinvaded Bethlehem by Kristen Ess3) This morning in Aida Refugee Camp by Kristen Ess Palestine: It’s HELL John Reese As I sit here in my office there are guns and explosions going off aroundme. Bethlehem is being re-re-re-re-invaded and more houses are, onceagain, threatened to be blown up … Read more
Just one short glimpse into another reality, a reality of the Israeli Occupation of Ramallah,the most central city of Palestine. October 2002. Why should an Israeli just ” visit ” Ramallahthese days? For sure it is not the most pleasant place in the world to ” visit ” and there is a bigquestion mark over … Read more
1) An Ordinary Operation – Askar Refugge Camp, Nablus2) Jenin, Day 6 of the invasion (reinvasion)3) Gaza Strip update from Kristen An Ordinary Operation Askar Refugee Camp, October 31st, 2002 Last night at approximately 3:15 a.m. IOF soldiers came into Askar refugee campin Nablus. A completely ordinary operation to arrest one man, so normal in … Read more