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 husbandand her 12 year old daughter in Ramallah. Lutfiya’s face is dark withsorrow, even as she brings us tea and snacks, even as her daughter showersher with affection, even as the conversation leans away from topic of theintifada. But when the topic of discussion is her son Majed Mahmoud Zyadeh,her face is visibly controlled, as it making the subject a matter of factis the only way for her to speak of him. Majed has been imprisoned for 8months at Ashqeloon Prison. He was originally detained for shooting intothe air with an ancient rifle after a tank following the murder of his bestfriend by Israeli soldiers.
The only charge is the nondescript ” Administrative Detention ” which meansthere are no charges, no opportunity for a lawyer to defend him and noterm. All of this is fairly common and certainly not noteworthy here, butwhat is of grave concern is Majed’s medical condition. Though he hassuffered with chronic mastoiditis bilateral (very bad ear infections) sincehe was 4, regular treatment has kept the condition in check. While inprison he has been allowed no medical treatment other then aspirin, thecondition has worsened and now is quite grave. Majed is completely deaf inone ear and is faced with possible labrinthytis causing total deafness,facial nerve paralysis, menengitis, and brain abscess as a result of thislack of treatment. (see http://www.mandela-palestine.org/ for more details)
Majed’s case is well documented medically and his needs are clear. Throughthe efforts of his mother several members of the French parliament haveagreed to assist in his receiving the care he needs. Lutfeya has noexpectation of her son’s release; only of his receiving the care he needsand has the right to by international law. Regardless, the Israeligovernment will not allow him out of prison for treatment, they have noteven replied to her. Having exhausted the resources available to her withno success Lutfiya knows that the fate of her son rests in the hands ofdistant Americans; she has asked that we encourage Americans who areconcerned about human rights issues in Palestine to write to the Israelisto convince them to allow treatment for her son. There is more informationabout this case at http://www.mandela-palestine.org/ where Majed is theprisoner of the month.
Please consider sending a short letter to any or all of the followingaddresses:
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
Office of Prime Minister
3 Kaplen Street, PO Box 187
Kiryat Ben-Gurion
Jerusalem 91919, Israel
Fax:- + (972) 2 651 26 31
Salutation: – Dear Prime Minister
Shoul Mufaz
Ministry of Defense
Kaplan Street
Hakirya
Fax:- + (972) 3 691 69 40
Salutation: – Dear Minister
Chief of General Staff C/o Ministry of Defense
Seven ” A ” Street
Hakirya
Tel Aviv
Fax: – + (972) 3 691 69 40