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Second American Citizen to Join Hunger Strike-Gandhism
Posted on March 25, 2012 by Marivel Guzman
Palestinians Supporters Join in Hunger Strike in Solidarity with Hana Shalabi
How To Fight a Non Violent Resistance Movement such Hunger Strike? Do Israel strike the Fighters with Food?
We have invented the most powerful flying machine, the smallest medical devices, the most dangerous weapon we can imagine and being so technologically advanced we still can not comprehend in its entirely our humanity, but we are trying, little by little we understand more and more of us, our world become so important that we feel the necessity of help in the restoration and the unification of our human family.
What make us humans we ask ourselves? The Soul?, our Heart?, our feelings? what really do we have inside our bodies that make us compassionate or despicable beings? Does all the human beings are able to FEEL?. The Most Powerfull Weapon Our Humanity
Confronted by these questions we find people around the world that have reached that point where they need to become part of the solution, and they found the way to join the struggle in a pacific way, a way that can not be fought with weapons, or propaganda, the Non violent movement in Palestine is finding voices around the globe, making the Israel-Palestinians conflict a Matter of Global Affairs.
Sife Saleem a young journalist from Gaza brought to my attention Sandra Twang Letter to President Obama, a story that needs to be shared, it is very important for all of us in the US to raise our voices on the issues that matter to all of us. For one it is inhumane what it is happening in Palestine and second our money it’s being used without our consent.
Every year our congress allocate more than 3 billions of our tax money to send to Israel, it is not fair, not fair for us as a citizens of the US, being that the Government have cut so many social services and cut to education, and we do not give our permission for such transfer of money to a foreign country, that we know have spied on the US government, have killed Americans..and It is not fair for Palestinians, and it is illegal to be used against innocent civilians.
“When you see a foreign people supporting you and making stand with you, we feel happy specially when you look around, and you see your brother of the Arab world, who don’t look at you and pretend they ignore our struggles. The Solidarity is very helpful in the case of Palestine
to let the world to know the Palestine case, it is strike for Israel because it loses international support, and that help us as Palestinians to share our case and present the right picture to the world.” Sife Saleem writer in Aljazeera Talk.
The first American Citizen to Join the Hunger Strike was Sandra Rose Twang on March 21, and Nancy Williams will join on March 30, 2011 in solidarity with Hana Shalabi.
“On March 30, 2012, I will begin my hunger strike for Palestine. The reason why I choose this date is because I cannot participate in the Global March to Jerusalem. I am a natural born citizen of the United States of America and I oppose the actions of the Israeli government towards the Palestinians. I also oppose the support that my government gives to Israel, while ignoring the fact that the Israeli government violates international human rights laws, on a daily basis. My government does not teach us the truth about what has happened and is still happening there, so I learned for the first time about Palestine in 2010. How I first learned was when I became contacts with someone in Khan Younis, who then told me about Ken O’Keefe. Then I became contacts with him and began following his experience, until now. Also, since 2010, I have been blessed by meeting and speaking with new friends in Palestine, who have shown me nothing but love. I cannot sit here, as an American citizen and not take action”. Nancy Williams
A Plea from an American Peace Activist Sandra Rose Twang to President Obama, announced on March 21 that she will join Hana Shalabi and
70 other prisoners in Israel Jails under administrative detention in a Non Violent Protest against Israel inhumane practice, Sandra Twang has expressed also her commitment to maintain her hunger strike in protest for President Obama public support for Israel crimes, and financial backing for a state that have violated every single International Law, and ignore numerous UN resolutions.
In her Letter from Sandra to U.S. President
“I am ashamed to say that my country in particular has acted in a most egregious way in its veto of any UN response in holding Israel accountable for its crimes.
But now I want to tell you what drove me to this hunger strike.
There is a young woman, Hana Shalabi, now imprisoned in Hasharon Prison in Israel, arrested on February 16, 2012 and is being held under administrative detention, detention without charge or trial. She is not allowed to know what she is accused of, to examine any of the evidence against her, thereby rendering her capability for due process null and void.” Sandra Rose Twang
Gandhi Legacy, Non Violent Resistance
Gandhi was not a pacifist; he believed in the right of those being attacked to strike back and regarded inaction as a result of cowardice to be a greater sin than even the most ill-considered aggression. Gandhi’s calls for the sacrifice of lives in order to shame the oppressor into concessions can easily seem chilling and ruthless.
But Gandhi’s insistence that, in the end, peaceful resistance will always be less costly in human lives than armed opposition, and his understanding that the role of a protest movement is not primarily to persuade people of something new, but rather to get them to act on behalf of what they already accept as right – these principles have profound resonance in both the Israel-Palestine conflict and the wider movement for justice and democracy that began to sweep the world in 2011.
Over 10,000 Palestinian women have been arrested and detained since 1967 under Israeli military orders, which govern nearly every aspect of life in the occupied Palestinian territory. There were 36 Palestinian female prisoners in Israeli prisons prior to the exchange deal concluded by the Israeli government and Hamas in October 2011. Hamas reported that Israel agreed to include all female political prisoners in the exchange deal. However, two women, Lina Jarbuni and Wurud Qassem, who have been in prison since before the first phase of releases on 18 October 2011, and an additional two women, Salwa Hassan and Alaa Jubeh, who were arrested before the second phase of releases on 18 December 2011, are still in Israeli detention.
UNITED NATIONS – A UN human rights expert Wednesday called on Israel to release Hana Shalabi, a Palestinian woman prisoner who has been on a hunger strike for nearly a month. “The situation of Ms. Shalabi is morbid and life-threatening,” said Richard Falk, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories. “This is an appeal to the conscience and to humanity and a desperate call to all of us.” Falk urged the international community to intervene on her behalf. “Israel ought to end its inhumane treatment of Ms. Shalabi. Release her immediately.”
Shalabi supporters join hunger strike, boycott courts
Ma’an News Agency, Mar 20, 2012
PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Thursday expressed his support for Shalabi after meeting her parents at his office in Ramallah.
“She is fighting for her dignity,” the premier said.
Last month, Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, expressed “longstanding concern about the extensive use by Israel of administrative detention without formal charge.”
Ran Cohen, of Physicians for Human Rights in Israel, told Reuters TV on Friday that Shalabi could be risking her life if she remains on hunger strike.
I am ashamed to say that my country in particular has acted in a most egregious way in its veto of any any UN response in holding Israel accountable for its crimes.
But now I want to tell you what drove me to this hunger strike.
There is a young woman, Hana Shalabi, now imprisoned in Hasharon Prison in Israel, arrested on February 16, 2012 and is being held under administrative detention, detention without charge or trial. She is not allowed to know what she is accused of, to examine any of the evidence against her, thereby rendering her capability for due process null and void.
International Community of Activists-Heros? No! Just Humans Ken O’keefe
Outstanding Human Beings
Gaza Flotilla Survivor, witness and Peace Activist-Kenneth O’keefe-Palestinian Hero
by Marivel Guzman on Friday, June 25, 2010 at 11:54pm
Some times we rush to criticized some people’s actions, their motives, or goals, and we judge them wrong without even doing little research on their work.
We have in our disposal unimaginable wealth of information in the Net, but the same way with find good resources on a subject, issue or individual we encounter the mighty grasp of the big Paid Media, there is so much debunking information and distrust in the media outlets these days that we tend to disbelief even the most clear ” Truths” but the propaganda machine is so well structured and dress up that most of the time we take the Lie and throw the truth away.
For centuries the power of the word has been the most important assets that humanity has in his favor to give to the new generations the events that shook our world, but also we have a hidden hand that has been manipulating that printed word for centuries, we said that the winners get to right history, well that is absolutely true but also, they have been courageous individuals throughout our history that have risked their lives for us to know the truth.
Activism is an activity that is born from the heart, you can wake up one day and find yourself feeling sad for our world, that moment you find your truth self the compassionate being that we all are if we just wake up to our humanity.
We see our brother Kenneth O’keefe defending peace, human lives, marine life and lately defending Palestine rights and the right of the peace activists trapped in the Mavi Marmara trying to lend a hand to his brothers from the calculated and planned assault of a well trained commands with much passion that we immediately wonder if this person is an actor paid by the Propaganda machine, many have gone to the extremes to dedicate whole blogs to discredit Ken O’keefe, sad but truth.
Well facebook lovers, Peace lovers and Peace haters, this is not the case of our brother Kenneth O’keefe, he is one of those selflessly loving beings that sometimes born in our time, he is a truly a hero and compassionate being of light.
I usually do not use Wikipedia because is come to be a hasbara site, but some information is worth it to read, I know that lot of the wording is misleading, but I appeal to your wise mind to discern the truth, to strip the lies out and leave the facts intact.
I copied and pasted the entire article of Wikipedia of his latest activities as activist, justice seeker and peace lover, and I took the time to research the information found in Wikipedia and checked out if the article was recently created, Nope! pace haters and Israel blind lovers, he is being activist for more than 10 years,and a nature protector as well, the articles are being updated as he is accumulating points to his crusade for pace and protection of the environment. I think his volunteer work as a marine life protector is what he assigned himself to do as a marine soldier, fighter for marine life, but his soul evolved from animal protector to humanity soldier.
Kenneth O’Keefe born July 21, 1969, he is an USA/American born citizen who lawfully renounced to his US citizenship on March 1, 2001. He has since acquired Irish, Hawaiian and Palestinian citizenship.
He is a former U.S. Marine who served in the 1991 Gulf War who subsequently spoke out about the use of Depleted Uranium as a “Crime against Humanity” and the US Military using soldiers as “human guinea pigs” with experimental drugs that were directly linked to Gulf War syndrome.
He is also a social entrepreneur utilizing direct action marine conservation, but he is more widely known as a human rights activist who led the human shield action to Iraq and as a survivor of the Israeli attack on the MV Mavi Marmara who helped disarm two Israeli Commandos.
On January 7, 2004, Mr O’Keefe burned his U.S. passport in protest of “American Imperialism” and called for US troops to immediately withdrawal from Iraq.
He replaced his US passport with a World Passport in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which protects the right to travel and self-determination. Subsequently he proclaimed himself a “Citizen of the World” with “ultimate allegiance to my entire human family and to planet Earth.”
In 1995 O’Keefe earned a scuba diving instructor certification and in 1996 he created a social enterprise ‘to protect and defend the marine environment we operate within”. To date his scuba diving operation has conducted 13 Ghost net recoveries and over 55 endangered Green Sea Turtle rescues of turtles wrapped in monofilament fishing line. O’Keefe pioneered these rescues with over 40 such rescues personally, but he also taught others his methods and ultimately led a campaign to create a Marine Sanctuary (Pupukea MLCD) on the North Shore of Oahu.
In 1998 and 2000 he crewed with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) in anti-whaling and sealing campaigns in which he was mentored by Captain Paul Watson, another great marine life soldier.
In 2000 he became the Regional Director for SSCS in Hawaii, earned a US Coast Guard Captains license and was branded the ‘ecopreneur’ by Skin Diver Magazine, the worlds largest selling scuba diving magazine.
During this time O’Keefe found himself mixing marine conservation more and more with human rights, eventually his involvement in the Hawaiian Independence Movement led to his renunciation of US citizenship and full time investment in the cause of human rights.
Involvement in Hawaiian independence
In 1999 O’Keefe became an active supporter of the Hawaiian Independence Movement and began the process of formally renouncing his US citizenship.
In November 2000 he naturalized as a Hawaiian citizen, served as the Election Commissioner for the Hawaiian Kingdom elections and professed his allegiance to the Kingdom of Hawaii/Reinstated Hawaiian Government.
On November 30, 2000, then Kenneth Nichols was issued with a bench warrant for his arrest in the amount of $11,000, court transcripts proved that this was unlawfully issued and O’Keefe posted the warrant as proof of being targeted by the US Government.
In January 2001 he produced ‘The United States of Hypocrisy’, a scathing indictment of American imperialism that charges current administrations of the United States with continuing fraud in the ongoing theft of Hawaiian national lands.
He also charged the US Government with carrying out an unstated policy of genocide in Hawaii by the measuring of “blood quantum”. In his film former President of the American Indian Movement, Russell Means, claims that only two other nations have used blood quantum to measure blood, “Nazi Germany to measure Jews and Gypsies” and the “Apartheid regime to identify black’s in South Africa”. O’Keefe’s charge in the film is that the US measuring of blood is intended to eliminate Hawaiian nationals by making citizenship status contingent upon a 50% blood quantum. Predictably he says, over time, the Hawaiian people (kanaka maoli) will have diminished blood quantum below 50% and the policy of genocide will be complete, allowing the US to take adverse possession of Hawaiian national lands.
In 2000 O’Keefe authored a resolution that was approved by the Hawaiian Legislature which bound the Hawaiian Government to non-violence (except in absolute self-defense). In 2006 he returned to Hawaii and served as a democratically elected Representative of District 6 in Oahu, serving one year in the Hawaiian Legislature. During that time he authored resolutions calling for the ratification of international human rights treaties in Hawaii, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He also authored and lobbied for a resolution that would outlaw weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in Hawaii; that resolution was subsequently approved in June 2007.
[edit] Seeking Political Asylum in The Netherlands
In the aftermath of 9-11, in November of 2001, O’Keefe left his family and business in Hawaii to seek political asylum in the Netherlands, claiming increasing persecution from US agents over his political activities. While the asylum process in The Netherlands provides a process to expel fraudulent asylum seekers within 96 hours of filing their claim, O’Keefe’s claim was determined to require the longer procedure that typically takes several years for a final decision. While in the asylum procedure he lived in a refugee camp in the north of The Netherlands, in Stadskanaal. Initially he represented himself, but eventually he secured the pro bono services of one of the top Dutch asylum attorneys, Pieter Bogaers. Understanding that the process would take years and seeing the upcoming invasion of Iraq he removed himself from the asylum process and initiated the human shield action to Iraq in December 2002.
[edit] Human Shield Action to Iraq
The human shield action to Iraq intended to exploit the greater value put on western life and render the 2003 invasion of Iraq politically untenable by placing the western shields at locations that are legally protected by the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Critics of the human shields argued that their mission would only protect Saddam Hussein; O’Keefe however argued that the “people of Iraq” would suffer the most and publicly acknowledged Husein as a “violent dictator” and “mass-murderer”, unsurprisingly he was not greeted with open arms by the dictator when he later arrived in Iraq. At its height about 500 human shields were in Baghdad, but due to challenges internally, with the Iraqi government and O’Keefe’s deportation by order of Saddam, the numbers dwindled to approximately 100 at the beginning of ‘Operation Shock and Awe’.
Despite failing to achieve the primary objective of preventing the invasion, volunteers successfully protected all the sites to which they were deployed (Al Daura Electrical Plant, Baghdad South Electrical Plant, 7 April Water Treatment Plant, Al Daura Water Treatment Plant, Tejio Food Silo, Al Daura Oil Refinery and Al Mamun Telecommunications Facility).
[edit] P10K & International Observers in Palestine
In 2004 O’Keefe founded P10K and attempted to organise a group known as the “P10K Force”, a group of 10,000 Westerners intended to act as international observers in the Occupied Palestinian territories and help bring peace with Israel. In furtherance of that plan P10K secured endorsements from Noam Chomsky, the late President Yasser Arafat, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, the late Tanya Reinhart along with Israeli Refusniks and the overwhelming majority of the people of Palestine.
O’Keefe also sought meetings with leaders within the main resisting factions of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades in order to obtain an ‘Agreement in Principle’ that would effect a ceasefire in return for the arrival of the 10,000 international observers within the ‘P10K Force’. Having successfully met with leaders within Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, O’Keefe then managed to clandestinely pass through Eretz and Nisanit Settlement checkpoints on his way to meet with leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza. He was however halted by the Israel Defense Forces IDF at gunpoint in the security zone between Israeli settler and Palestinian Gaza.
Seemingly embarrassed by O’Keefe’s ability to breach Israeli security and enter Israeli settler Gaza, the IDF offered to release him if he signed an agreement stating that he would not attempt to re-enter Gaza; O’Keefe refused and spent 20 days in jail before being deported as a ‘security threat’ based on secret testimony by Israeli intelligence. While in Israeli custody he initiated a hunger strike due to being beaten and denied access to an attorney and use of a phone to call his family.
Free Gaza Movement
In 2007 O’Keefe joined the Free Gaza Movement and in July 2008 he arrived in Greece to serve as a captain and first mate in the transport of two boats to Gaza via Cyprus. The Free Gaza mission was an open challenge to the Israeli blockade of Gaza. Ultimately he was one of the 46 passengers who succeeded in reaching Gaza by sea despite Israeli threats all the way up to departure from Cyprus. The boats arrived in Gaza on August 23, 2008, this was the first time in 41 years that boats had sailed into Gaza, tens of thousands of Palestinians greeted them as they arrived. O’Keefe piloted one of the two boats, the ‘Free Gaza’, into the Port of Gaza.
Aloha Palestine
In the aftermath of the success of the Free Gaza Movement, O’Keefe and Lauren Booth co-founded Aloha Palestine, a social enterprise intending to conduct ‘SafeTrade’ with Palestinians in Gaza. Aloha and Palestine were joined according to O’Keefe’s history of work in both Hawaii and Palestine. The Aloha Palestine mission commits the enterprise to ‘SafeTrade’; defined as ‘The commercial exchange of non-hazardous items that pose no danger to society. Trade conducted transparently and fairly that develops prosperity while fostering stability and building security in the region where it is conducted. Among the supporters of Aloha Palestine are Noam Chomsky, Tony Benn, UK Member of Parliament Jeremy Corbyn, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet and John Pilger.
Gaza Freedom Flotilla involvement
In June 2010, O’Keefe was on board the MV Mavi Marmara as the Managing Director of Aloha Palestine CIC, a social enterprise intending to conduct SafeTrade with Palestinians in Gaza. In the ensuing Gaza flotilla raid, O’Keefe was among the defenders of the ship and the mission to deliver aid to Gaza. In the course of defending the ship O’Keefe was involved in providing initial first aid to a seriously wounded passenger and disarming two Israeli Commandos. He helped to disarm one commando of his assault rifle and himself took possession of a 9mm pistol from another commando. He removed the “real bullets” from the pistol, giving the bullets to others while hiding the weapon. It was his hope that the weapon could be used as evidence in any subsequent trial. O’Keefe said of the experience that it was like “combat but without combat weapons” and that “We had in our full possession, three completely disarmed and helpless commandos” who were “surrounded by at least 100 men”; “we could have done anything with them.” He said that “woman provided basic first aid, and ultimately they were released, battered and bruised for sure, but alive. Able to live another day.
According to fellow activist Fintan Lane, O’Keefe was severely beaten by security officials at Tel Aviv airport before boarding a plane on 3 June for deportation, and that his injuries were so bad that he had to be hospitalized in Tel Aviv. He later released a video apparently showing the extent of his injuries, which he claimed were sustained from beatings by Israeli officials.
On 6 June, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that O’Keefe was linked to terrorist organizations, that he was an “anti-Israel extremist” whose “goal was to reach Gaza in order to train and establish Hamas commando units. Mr O’Keefe publicly rejected the IDF’s allegations, pointing out “If they had a supposed terrorist in their possession, why the hell did they let me go?” He confirmed that he had held meetings with senior Hamas officials, but added that he had never carried arms for any group: “The only weapons I ever carried were while I was a US Marine serving in the Gulf War.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_O%27Keefe
Kenneth O’keefe Palestinian Hero
Outstanding Human Beings – Huwaida Arraf
Oustanding Human Being – Patrick Macmanus
Gaza Sea Peace
Article By Omar Karem Gaza
Posted and Edited by Marivel Guzman
Back in 2010 Victtorio Arrigoni the Italian Activist that all Gaza loved was witness and victim of Israel assault, he went with the Gaza Local Fishermen as a human shield to protect them and monitor Israel activities. According to who knows who’s law, Israel got himself name the patron of Gaza territorial waters and has imposed a maritime siege of less than 3 miles. Not enough waters to contain any big size fish to fill the fisherman nets.
Gaza is a port in the Mediterranean sea, warm waters known for their rich maritime life. Gaza waters should not be the exception was not for Israel blockade. A combination of damage to fishing resources caused by the Israeli offensive, and a restriction on the zone in which Gazans are allowed to fish is reducing catches and adversely affecting people’s diets in Gaza, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
http://www.cpsgaza.org/2011/07/cps-gaza-crew-attacked-by-israeli.html
http://www.cpsgaza.org/2011/07/cps-gaza-responds-to-israeli-naval.html
The Israeli navy attacked Civil Peace Service Gaza volunteers along with international press and Palestinian fishermen today. One of the Israeli ships targeted the boats with high pressure water cannons.
Meanwhile, a small naval boat approached the Oliva and hit it from behind, stopping the boat and causing serious damage to the engine. The crew aboard the Oliva was evacuated to other boats and all the boats at sea were forced to turn back.
Joe Catron, an American human rights worker aboard the Oliva, stated, “Israel has been regularly attacking Palestinian fishermen within the purported 3 nautical mile fishing limit. The livelihood of many Gazans relies on fishing and Israel has been using live ammunition and water cannons to prevent fishermen from doing their work. We will continue to go out with the Palestinians and document human rights violations, despite the powerful threats we and Gazan fishermen face.”
This is the fourth attack on Oliva in less than two week. To watch and read recent reports in the news media about CPS Gaza, visit Al Jazeera and The Guardian.
Journalists and TV Crews are invited to join the CPSGaza boat. The Oliva will be sailing again on Thursday at 8:30am and Friday at 7:30 am. Contact Nathan Stuckey, a US human rights worker with CPS Gaza, for more details 059-765-0864.
Civil Peace Service Gaza is an international, third party, non-violent initiative to monitor potential human rights violations in Gazan territorial waters.
Posted by Civil Peace Service Gaza at 22:53
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Labels: Reports
In tweets: an encounter between Gaza fishermen and Israeli patrol boats
Harriet Sherwood | The Guardian
Harriet Sherwood went out with Gaza fishing boats to check claims they were coming under attack from the Israeli military
She used Twitter to report what happened next:
“On boat heading out from Gaza port. Fishermen regularly fired on by Israeli military. Going to check” July 20, 2011 at 0:08
“Getting close to 3 mile limit for fishing. Israeli gunboat speeding towards us”
July 20, 2011 at 0:18
“There are 7 boats in our group. 4 fishing boats, 2 press boats, 1 human rights group boat” July 20, 2011 at 0:20
“Israeli gunboat circling around. Siren sounding. Machine gun mounted at rear” July 20, 2011 at 0:21
“IDF coming very close. Sirens. Banking hard causing a lot of backwash for our small motor” July 20, 2011 at 0:25
“6 or 7 troops on bridge, all armed. We have cut our engines” July 20, 2011 at 0:28
“We are 2 or 2 and a half miles from shore so within fishing zone. IDF preventing us going further” July 20, 2011 at 0:32
“Phone signal going in and out. A 2nd IDF boat heading towards us” July 20, 2011 at 0:33
“Fishing boats are throwing lines. But very few fish this close to shore.” July 20, 2011 at 0:35
“Now 2 gunboats stopping us going further” July 20, 2011 at 0:37
“This is our GPS location: N31.5727176 and E034.37703. Can someone work out exactly how far we are from Gaza City?” July 20, 2011 at 0:39
“Fishermen saying there are no fish. They want to go out another 50 metres. But that could provoke reaction. No boat willing to go first” July 20, 2011 at 0:43
“One fishing boat heading further out. But the guys are asking us (Guardian) to go in front for protection” July 20, 2011 at 0:47
“One IDF boat just circling our boats about 50m away. Other boat a bit further away” July 20, 2011 at 0:50
“A lot of resources devoted to a few tiny fishing boats” July 20, 2011 at 0:53
“Sea is calm today – except our little bit. Backwash creating lot of waves. They keep sounding siren. But we have all cut engines” July 20, 2011 at 0:59
“I’m told that the point of the IDF continually circling us is to create continuous waves and noise. Makes fishing harder” July 20, 2011 at 1:08
“One fishing boat just been swamped by backwash. They are giving up and going back to port” July 20, 2011 at 1:09
“One IDF boat appears to be heading away. The other coming closer” July 20, 2011 at 1:11
“Water canon military boat in distance. Maybe heading towards us. Hope not” July 20, 2011 at 1:14
“Both gunboats have moved off as water canon boat approaches” July 20, 2011 at 1:14
“Water canon boat maybe 200m away. Heading straight towards us. May have to put comms away forbit” July 20, 2011 at 1:19
“Was mini hi-speed boat chase as we cut and run and the IDF chase” July 20, 2011 at 1:23
“IDF still firing on Oliva the human rights boat. They are trying to drown it says my translator” July 20, 2011 at 1:24
CPSGAZA: CIVIL PEACE SERVICE GAZA
In the Mist of Deception The blind throw Punches to the Wind
Posted on July 13, 2011 by Marivel Guzman
Israel is finding enemies in every citizen of the world. The New Non-Violent Movement is causing a roar in Israel Intelligence and logistic centers, they do not know how to proceed with this “New Thread”. Peace Activists around the world are holding Israel by the horns.
Now finally the rest of the world is noticing the true colors of Israel, those hues of madness never seen before. For years Israel managed to escape the public opinion using all type of Propaganda money can buy.
Are they a thread for Israel? Millions of peace activists changing minds and hearts regarding Israel, for years even the activists were shy away from the Palestine-Israel conflict as the news coming from Israel were seldom and vague and the tourists from around the world only destination was Jerusalem and the Israel controlled side of Palestine. No one really could know what was really happening inside the military zone of Gaza.
For years Israel have controlled every bit of information and the minds were set for years against Palestinians. “Terrorists Militants” were the common terms used in the news, no one will wonder, now the perception have completely changed, now we know that close to 10 thousands Palestinians are inside Israel jails for opposing the occupation, more than 600 of those are children as young as 12. Now we know the nightly incursions inside the occupied territories, the IOF’s braking doors and arresting dissenters.
The panorama inside an occupied land is not easy to picture if you are not living in. But now with the internet, the cell phones, cameras and easy access to public forums and the social networks the obscurity of the oppression has been exposed. Now we see how ugly the mentality of the occupier really is, they can not deny their true colors.
The flotillas fiasco has giving the world the Truth.
The detention of more of 100 peace activists in the last couple days has shown the world the reach of the dirty hand of Israel.
The bending of the government of Greece to the wishes of Israel.
The theater can not be seen any other way.
Like the fronts used during the WWII for the Red Cross, where the occupier forces will presented a rosy picture for the cameras and they will leave behind the horror of the prisoners camps.
Well, Israel insists in showing the rosy pictures, but she can not control the flow of Real pictures coming out of Palestine. Now we all know and we are acting upon, and she can not stop us all.
IMF to Israel Rescue; Gaza Flotilla II too much for Israel Exsausted PR Propaganda Campaign
Posted by Marivel Guzmanand,Omar Karem PS
Israel used all her capital, this time it has the world to her knees but not as you are used to see it, now the world is surrounding Israel and is strangulating her normal campaigns of disinformation. Since last year fatal blow to her reputation, when with the help of mask commandos boarded the Mavi Marmara and killed in cold blood 9 peace activists at close range, Israel can not get back to her normal do’s and undo’s.
Since last year more than one million people around the world have signed to be participants of the world wide flotilla humanitarian mission. If Israel thought that killing activist was going to deter other activists from trying to brake her illegal siege, she was all wrong and since the announcement of the Flotilla II, she has been in a panic running around the world sending her emissaries to every country that have activists signed in the different flotillas “imploring” and begging to the presidents, or prime ministers to stop their citizens from participating.
Even in the US, Obama as in an act of desperation sent a public scare to American Citizens advising that could be illegal to participate in the flotillas. Give me a brake Obama. But seems that the citizens not only of the US but from all over the world are paying deft ears to the warnings. The time has come for Israel to lose her control of the puppets(leaders) and maybe the theater at large (world), Like I said. The theater only function when it has audience to clap, but when we do not care for the act we walk out, and seems that the world finally got tired of the same show that have played over and over without changing the script.
For now Greece is caught up in the mess of her government finances and Israel being all burn by her own lies and disappointments to the world and to their own citizens, now it has to resort to ask for help with the Flotilla II Affairs to the International Monetary Fund that like Shark is been surrounding Greece for few years now and making the Greek government to starve their citizens to “complied” with Austerity measures demanded by the Shark Bank.
The protests has been going on in Greece since few weeks ago that came to the public light the new “Aid” from the IMF to “Help” Greece with her devastated economy.
What took place in the center of Athens these past few days is a complete violation of democratic law,” said Alexis Tsipras, leader of the leftist Syriza party, emerging from the supreme court where he filed a suit against the Greek police.
Fierce fighting erupted outside the Greek parliament on Wednesday as MPs inside voted on the hard-hitting policies demanded by the EU and IMF in exchange for the debt-choked country receiving further aid.
Greek Police Face Investigation Helena Smith from Athens
But don’t think this is the first time that Greece has resorted to take money from the IMF. Back in May 2010:
European governments Sunday endorsed an unprecedented 110-billion-euro bailout to save Greece from bankruptcy and shore up the single currency after Athens agreed to draconian spending cuts.
The first installment of the eurozone-IMF rescue package will be paid within the next few weeks, with the rest spread over three years and conditional on a swathe of painful cuts and tax rises in Greece, they said.
We wonder why a small country such Greece with beautiful beaches and resorts, that generates billions a year just in tourism be doing broke, and asking money from the Shark Bank?….Really what a worker’s wages in a factory has to do with a loan of billions of dollars that will be given to the Bank Industry, and War Machine has to do with him. Why his salary has to be lower down, why the taxes has to increase? he won’t see a penny of that money. We wonder.
Now back to the Flotilla II which ships were docked in the beautiful shores of Greece has to do with the Shark Bank?
Well to answer that question we have to go back to last year “Aid Package Plan to Greece”, The 110 billions to “Rescue” Greece were going to be given in 3 years, but this rescue package was to help Greece to meet her obligations that she already have mounting 300 billions so this money is to cover the interest for her debt. So why will the people of Greece will take this money if is not going to help their economy but to weaken it more. They can always call for a moratory on the debt, which it means Greece can say, “Sorry I do not have money and can not Pay”. What the Shark bank is going to do?..To come to Greece and take all the tanks, military planes, War Ships, that were bought with that money?..or the Bank Moguls that were helped?..really what difference make for Greece if they pay or not?…I guess we little ordinary citizens do not understand the crooks deals that go under the table of a country…
Any way, now that Greece is to again late in her payments of her Debt that by the way have not help Greece on inch ahead in the inflation but have deflated the country, now the European Union has Greece by the neck, but who is the European Union? just another branch of the globalist elite that are rooted in the league of Nations, the same body that thought and founded the State of Israel back in the 40’s. So now after Israel fail in her campaign, and after the mass murder attempt of the sabotaged ships. Israel did not have other recourse but to call to her rescue the biggest bully in the block, The IMF. and they came and they pull George Papandreou ears and told him or you Stop the Flotilla or Else. and Guess ..Off course he Stopped the flotilla.
We wonder what legal …..he used? first how and why the Ship Audacity of Hope was not allowed to sail from Greece?..we saw the development on the facebook walls and in youtube, and other user channels off course where else, the big media does not have air time for this important mission. For the ones that did not followed the events.
Anonymous Call charging the Ship to be unsuited to sail, then Israel PR office release a statement saying that the Ship will be carrying Phosphorous to be use in the Israeli Soldiers, even thought Israel denied later the charge. Any way to be fair and square the organizers of the flotilla call to the media and to the Greece authorities to come to check the Ship in its entirely to dissipate any doubts in the public that they will be carrying any arms or any other kind of materials that it was not food supplies, the love letters and the Ship own supplies.
So after the Ship is Set to go, still the Greece authorities has not grant the permit to sail out, the Ship leave the port and 20 minutes later the Ship is boarded by marked commandos this times Greek Commandos..and the Audacity of Hope is forced to pull back to Greece. Why?
We do not know…8 activists stage a hunger strike in front of the American Embassy and they were arrested, Why? we do not know..By now
July 3, 2011 the Captain of the Ship still is being detain by Greek Authorities..Why? we do not know..
But maybe if we ask the IMF and Israel they can answer those 3 questions.
Now the international peace community is in outrage, we are sending letters to our ambassadors, president, prime minister and anybody that can help us, first to give protection to our citizens, second to stop Israel in her smear campaign and third to awaken the conscience of the deft, dumb leaders of the world and start thinking in their citizens and not in Israel.
Add your voices and send letter of protest to your President, Congressmen, Ambassador, Consul and yell because they seem to be deft.
The lies that were told by Israel Apparatus were official and un official as well, they did not spare time and money to mount the disinformation campaign against the Flotilla, only a distress Israel was taking so efforts in convincing the world of the “Thread of the Flotilla”.
Read with Caution the next article and always read between the lines.
Israeli Deputy Prime Minister: Flotilla Sabotage Thanks to IDF:
Well, Bogie Yaalon’s actual words quoted in Ynet (Hebrew) were: “Those problems the Flotilla’s having in realizing their plans didn’t just happen. They’re thanks to the work of the political echelon whose focus was on diplomatic political issues, and operational work of the IDF to prepare for every possible eventuality.” The last phrase is doublespeak which both reveals and conceals at the same time, a formulation any Israeli would recognize as not just alluding to an IDF role in sabotage, but practically bragging about it. What possible role could the IDF be playing currently in frustrating the plans of the Flotilla if it isn’t the round of sabotage that struck at least three boats? Hint, hint, nudge, nudge, wink wink.
Lest you doubt the guy’s bona fides, he’s a former IDF chief of staff and current minister for strategic affairs. His statement of course was meant to toot his ministry’s horn since he was claiming credit for the role he played in the sabotage.
Apparently the foreign ministry didn’t get the memo and took a totally contradictory tack in attacking the credibility of the Flotilla activists who claimed sabotage. Yigal Palmor, clearly in his uber-mendacious mode said this:
Paranoids, cry-babies. The Flotilla organizers haven’t even done the minimum to prove there was sabotage. They live in a James Bond movie.
You mean an admission by the deputy prime minister of his own government doesn’t suffice? As for James Bond, whenever an Israeli journalist wishes to praise the work of the Mossad in assassinating Iranian scientists or implanting computer worms in Iranian nuclear facilities, he uses the James Bond example meant as a compliment. What I think Palmor really means to say is “We’re James Bond and we’re proud of it.” That’s what Ronen Bergman said of Meir Dagan’s Mossad a few months ago before the chief spook retired.
We have had enough of lies, murder, criminal acts, genocide, wars, Israel, Zionism. No more..We are tired of impunity and silence. We are speaking, we are doing what we think is right. Don’t you?
Gaza Exclusive – Vox Pops On The Flotilla
Vox Pops From Gaza On The Flotilla
Wednesday, 29 June 2011, 11:24 am
Posted by:Omar Kream Gaza<
This evening on the Gaza beach (where everyone goes to cool down – rich and poor, men and women, singles and families) I asked several people what importance they attach to the upcoming flotilla. Here are their responses, some in English, some in Arabic with English translations. All are unanimous that the flotilla is both necessary, and very much appreciated, as much for its expression of solidarity with their struggle for justice and freedom, as for the goods they are bringing.
Unfortunately, the recordings of additional women were rendered inaudible by a horde of chidlren who swamped us, shouting and laughing and calling out comments, so although there were equal numbers of men and women interviewed, the men were better at keeping the kids at bay!
Men’s translation by:Omar Karem
********
julie-webb-pullman-gaza-exclusive-vox-pops-on-the-flotilla.htm
STAY HUMAN CONVOY ENTER GAZA VIK 2 GAZA -STAY HUMAN
POSTED BY : Omar Karem
May 12, 2011 by
Stay Human convoy: “Let’s go to Gaza!” enters Gaza Vik2Gaza
Sammack Restaurant Hosted The Italian Solidarity Convoy
– The convoy will last six/seven days in order to give the possibility to participate for as many people as possible.
– It will take place between the 11th and 19th May.The exact dates will be agreed in few days with the people in Gaza that will host us.
So, lets start to get ready!
After leaving Cairo this morning at dawn, the 80 activists of the VIK2GAZA convoy have entered Gaza at 4pm after crossing five Egyptian check-points.
The convoy will be Staying in the Gaza strip to meet the Palestinian people who day by day are trying to resist the Israeli military occupation. The convoy will also join Gaza in the mourning of the Nakba, the day of the Palestinian catastrophe, which will take place between the 14 and the 15 of May.
A Second convoy, with over 100 buses, will leave from Tahir square in Cairo, the square that has become the symbol of recent popular revolutions in the Middle East , and will try to cross the Rafah pass on the 15 of May. This is a collective movement that wants to show full support to the fight of the Palestinian people for self-determination, to their everyday resistance against military occupation and to the right of all Palestinian refugees to come back to their land.
On the 21st April, a meeting regarding the discussions and reflections on the murder of Vittorio Arrigoni was held in Rome amongst different activists. From the gathering, the need to organize a convoy to Gaza through Egypt was decided.
Let’s start this process by sharing those points:
80 Peace Activists from Italian Solidarity Convoy Entered Gaza Today
– We want to be in Gaza on the 15th May which is the 1 month anniversary of Vittorio’s death. It will be also Nakba day, when thousands of young Palestinians, as already announced, will go back to the street all over the world to ask for the end of the occupation and also, a new unity and the end of the internal division within the Palestinian authorities.
We want to go to Gaza for different reasons:
– Although Vittorio was killed, it has to be clear that they can not stop the international support for the Palestinian people. Also thanks to him now the international support is much stronger and united against the occupation both of Gaza and of the West Bank.
– We want to give voice and continuity to the work that Vittorio, together with Palestinian men and women was bringing forward. Particularly the independent information that he managed to pass to the world from the besieged Gaza strip. For this reason, we will bring materials, tools and all we need to give life to a Media Center dedicated to Vittorio.
– The Freedom Flotilla will soon sail towards Gaza. Even though the two initiatives are organized separately, the two journeys, both via land and via sea, could reinforce each other to break the siege of Gaza.
Welcome To Gaza
Press release: in the name of Vittorio Arrigoni, the ‘Stay Human’ convoy has entered GazaVik2Gaza
The sun had not yet risen in Cairo, as the Stay Human convoy began to prepare the departure for Gaza. The journey about to be embarked upon was one filled with expectations and hope. The importance of the crossing the border at Rafah following the protests that brought down the Mubarak regime was on the minds of everyone, as well as the desire to remember Vittorio Arrigoni in the same place where he dedicated his life. The convoy will carry a message to the people of Palestine addressed to the entire world: Palestine is not alone, Vik’s dreams are also ours, solidarity towards those who struggle against oppression and exploitation knows no borders.
Ten checkpoints slow the journey, one in particular, blocks it for 2.5 hours in the Sinai desert, with the usual issues, the same from the previous days, about not being able to cross Rafah. The Italian embassy “concerned and ernest” had announced that the convoy would never enter Gaza, but obviously the facts have proved him wrong: we are here!
The Stay Human Convoy now follows in the footsteps of Vittorio, imprinted in the land of Gaza and underscored by the spontaneous affection shown by the Palestinians who welcome our arrival. The Stay Human Convoy breathes in the determination, courage and extreme humility of Vittorio, characteristics that we recognize in the unrelenting resistance of the Palestinian people. For many of us this is the first time crossing the border of the Gaza Strip, a victory for those who never surrendered, whether by land or by sea, to the categorical “Denied Entry”: nothing to see here, no one to meet.
Omar Karem journalist from Gaza Joins the Stay Human Convoy in a day of Jubilee
Once there we retrace Vittorio’s footsteps, in the places he frequented during his long stay in Gaza, where he met the friends that we now meet. To the tunes of Bella Ciao, Unadikom and Gazawi rap, images of Vittorio greet our arrival.
Ciao Vik, Free Palestine.
The Activists take a major role in the future of Gaza, the convoys that have managed to brake the siege will leave their footprints in the live of Gazan, the unknown soldiers as Vittorio Arrigoni and Rachel Corrie can be known, as they without planing their future they marked a different type of soldier for the liberation of Palestine.
When is Nakba Day? Every day! My Palestinian friend answered to me….
Posted on May 8, 2011 by Marivel Guzman,US and Omar Karem, Gaza
What it is worse? Do live exiled in a foreign land, or to be prisoner in an exiled land
We can give excuses for history to have changed its curse, after all history was already written, the Holy Land was already there before Israel was created, La Terra Santa was a common name given by the Santa Church, the official Name, la Santa Sede, The Vatican that powerful state inside that Rome that ruled the life of Jews, Gentiles, believers and unbelievers since long before Jesus was even crucified. Then why the Santa Sede did not intervene in the protection of the holy shrine, the holy sepulcher, The Church of the Trinity those Holy places that were so important to preserve.
I asked my friend in Gaza, when is Nabka? and he replied Everyday is Nakba for us in Palestine. Those words are hunted words that live in every Palestinian inside the occupied land and in the exile, how can they forget that in May 15, 1948 somebody strange to Palestine land sat on a table and wrote a in a language foreign to Palestinians that their lands was theirs no more, that the graves of their grandparents now belongs to other people, those people that say they own the land by God will. Intelligent people, thinkers of this era, pagans, Atheist, Muslims, Buddhists, and every other human being that does not subscribe by mother lineage or convenience, or does not claim to be Jew, we all see the ugliness of that decision that with the power of a pen disposesed in an instance the life and identity of a whole Nation.
Nakba day is a day of mourning but not only on May 15 of every year, the mourning is a continuous feeling, every time one Palestinian is killed defending his life, his family, his land. Every time one Palestinian land get ravaged by the bulldozer, Every time a family is evicted from their home in East Jerusalem to make “home” for a “Jew family”. Nabka is an everyday struggle in the life of Palestinians even the ones in the exile, because for some reasons they are denied of the most of the basic rights specially in the Arabs countries. They claimed to served the rights of Palestinians in the exile, not allowing them claim citizenship or owing land. Israel and the Club of 5 seems not to worry for their continue struggles.
The ordinary citizens of the world just started taking note of the Palestinian Plight. Lets hope that Nakba will find soon a closed chapter and begin a new life for Palestinians. September is a day to mark in our calendar. By September more than 153 countries will have recognized Palestine as an independent State and the Palestinians Collision will draft a resolution to present to the UN to officially vote on the right of Palestinians to have their own State, globally and officially recognized. Lets Hope and lets keep the pressure word wide with Israel to stop dragging the inevitable, the situation is unsustainable for Israel. Very soon even the US have to stop its blatant and blind support for this pariah State that is Israel.
If England could not support its apartheid State in South Africa after the global boycotts and pressure of the people, so the US will have to recognize that can not and should not shove Israel in the throats of the people. Israel and their supporters are looking for a gloomy future, marching in suckles to the International Criminal Court of the Hague and very soon to respond in the Jerusalem Trials.
Cornerstone church “honor to israel” service disrupted!!!
san antonio community organizers stood in solidarity with palestine on may 15 2011 and disrupted Cornerstone Church’s “honor to israel” service performed by john hagee.
There is so much a sand castle can stand, the wind and the water of the ocean eventually will destroy it, Israel is seeing that they pushed to hard in the intelligent of the people, and they can not support the lie any longer. The pressure is mounting, the Arab Revolutions that have sweep the middle East should be a lesson for Israel and her supporters, and even to the puppets Arab leaders that the people have got enough. WE THE PEOPLE, are speaking a language of Unity, something that the leaders were not used to hear. The fold is down for great segments of society around the world, does not matter the culture we belong to. Peace, Justice are Universal Rights of all of us, the Citizens of Earth.
With Great Shock and Sorrow,Italian Activist ‘Vittorio Arrigoni’
POSTED BY :OmarKarem
You came to Gaza as no one did,
You helped the poor and the hungry you fed,
Women were killed and children were dead,
So, you swore to free the country you loved!
…And since you’ve gone,
We’ll complete what you’d begun,
We will go on,
We will put our hands together,
And free Palestine forever 🙂
A sketch by: Claudia Ferrara
~Restiamo Umani~ Stay Human
KAREM SAY: “I SAW YOU ONLY FEW TIMES, BUT YOU FIGHT AS PALESTINIAN AND LIVED OUR SUFFERING AND YOU LEAVE THE NICE WORLD AND CAME TO BE ONE OF GREAT PEOPLE, LIKE RACHEL CORRIE. WE WILL NOT FORGET YOU BROTHER VIK” OMAR KAREM
With great shock and sorrow,
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the murder of Italian activist, Vittorio Arrigoni. On Friday afternoon, 15 April 2011, Vittorio’s body was found in an building complex in the north of the Gaza Strip, following his murder at the hands of kidnappers. According to Hamas security forces, that are seen storming the building trying to free Vittorio from the hands of the “kidnappers”.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), and its entire staff, gravely condemns this crime, which targets our inherent human dignity, and the values and traditions of the lawful struggle for freedom and justice. It is this human struggle which connects Gazan’s – locked behind the closed door of the Gaza Strip – with the outside world, and inspires countless individuals to stand as human rights defenders.
PCHR calls upon the government in Gaza to prosecute the perpetrators. Furthermore, all necessary measures must be taken to secure the safety of international activists in the Gaza Strip, without limit their freedom to exercise their humanitarian duties.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, on Thursday evening, 14 April 2011, a group named “Group of the Companion Mohammed Bin Maslamah” announced the kidnapping of the Italian journalist, Vittorio Arrigoni, 36, a prominent member of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) and a human rights defender. In a video posted on the Youtube website, the group demanded the release of detained members of the group, affiliates of the so-called “Salafist Jihadist Group”. The kidnappers threatened to kill Arrigoni if the government in Gaza did not meet their demands within 30 hours.
In a grave development, contrary to fundamental values shared by all Palestinians, the group carried out their threat. On Friday afternoon, 15 April 2011, security forces of Hamas found the body of Arrigoni in a house located in the ‘Amer project area, west of al-Karamah building in the west of Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip. In his testimony, a PCHR staff-member reported signs of beating on the victim’s face, signs of handcuffs on his hands, and signs of strangulation around his neck.
The Ministry of Interior in Gaza issued a press release on Friday, condemning this heinous crime. It declared the arrest of two members of the group and the continued search for others.
Arrigoni had worked in Gaza since 2008, when he arrived on board the “Free Gaza” flotilla, organized to break the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip. He devoted himself to the defense of Palestinians’ rights, and participated in a number of activities against the closure, against violations committed by Israeli Forces against Palestinian civilians, particularly fishermen, and against the Israeli decision to impose a ‘buffer zone’ in the Gaza Strip. He was arrested by Israel forces on18 November 2008, while he was accompanying a number of fishermen off the shores of Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip. However, he returned to Gaza a few months later via Rafah International Crossing. Arrigoni was also in the West Bank for a few years before coming to Gaza. He has been known for his activity with the International Solidarity Movement.
PCHR reiterates its condemnation of this heinous crime, and:
1. Calls upon the government in Gaza to conduct an effective and prompt investigation to identify the circumstances of the crime, prosecute the perpetrators, and publish the investigations’ results;
2. Appreciates the role played by the International Solidarity Movement and other human rights defenders in the occupied Palestinian territory;
3. Calls upon the international community, political powers and Palestinian people to condemn this crime and organize peaceful activities against it.
The events have not been clear since the beginning, there is clouds on the way the situation was managed by the security forces of Gaza. The whole world was expecting the release of Vittorio Arrigoni alive, there were signs that he will be safe and sound. Some tweeters were circulating about some journalist in Gaza lending themselves as a shields to secure the safety of Vik. By 1:30 PM PST the tweets were suggesting that security forces declined the offer of help of the journalists and they (security forces) will be trying to free Vittorio from the hands of the “kidnappers”.
The video by aljazeera showing the storming of the building where Vik was found dead shows no time. Will be very important to shed light to Vik murders to put time on that video. And the security forces of Gaza need to be clear in the way the situation was handle since the knowledge of the kidnap.
We know that this horrendous crime is the exception and not the norm in Gaza Strip, and Palestinians and the activists community assure the world that we wont stop our activities in Palestine. The goal is liberate Palestine altogether. No fundamental groups, radical minds or threats from Israel will deter us from continue the activities inside and outside Palestine to stop this inhumane Occupation.
Palestine State! What does it take to become State? A Pen! and Role of the United Nations
Posted April 22, 2011 by Marivel Guzman
On May 14, 1948 the The Zionist Movement Group declared the establishment of the state of Israel. The next day, Britain renounced its mandate over Palestine AND the US recognized the state of Israel. The Soviet Union followed suit along with DOZENS of other countries. A year later in May 1949…Israel became a member of the UN.
In 1974, the UN General Assembly invited Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, to address the General Assembly during the annual debate on Palestine. Arafat appeared before the UN in fatigue uniform, with his pistol showing. This period, following the Yom Kippur war, marked the ascendancy of the Palestinian in the UN for many years, and culminated in the Zionism is Racism resolution in 1975. On November 22, the UN General Assembly passed two resolutions 3326 and 3327, that recognized the cause of Palestinian self-determination and the status of the PLO as representing the Palestinian people, and gave the PLO observer status at the UN.
Further recognizes the right of the Palestinian people to regain its rights by all means in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations
By United Nations Standards this Statement means that Palestine has the right to protect and defend her Land and her citizens by ALL MEANS, so Palestine has done exactly why the United Nations accorded in 1974, except that they did not allow Palestine to arm herself and with this protect the Land and her Citizens, on the other hand since Israel become state, UN by unanimous vote or by omission they had allowed Israel to arm herself even with Nuclear Weapons. So what is wrong with this picture.
Nothing did change for the regular Palestinians, after 1974 after the triumphantly entrance of Yassef Arafat to the United Nations, little did change for the Palestinians in the exile, for the Palestinians that lost their homes, lands and lives. So “Palestinian people to regain its rights by all means” was left to become just print in a paper. After that memorial day, that it is celebrated by ritualistic method as only human can do, has pass to history as another day to “Celebrate”, but what the United Nations has done to give the Palestinians their rights to defend what was theirs in the first place? Wait, let’s back up a few years and be clear on one thing very important because the idea that there was no Palestine is really engrave in the New Comers from Europe with “Ancestral Ties to their Home Land” they learn that there was no Palestine. Well if we follow official documents lets analyze one of the most important documents that exist in the annals of “Jew and Zionist” history; The Balfour Declaration, which is a letter send from Arthur James Lord Balfour to Lord Rothschild. The following letter is posted in the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Foreign Office
November 2nd, 1917Dear Lord Rothschild,
I have much pleasure in conveying to you, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet.
“His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in PALESTINE of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in PALESTINE, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.”
I should be grateful if you would bring this declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist Federation.
Yours sincerely,
Arthur James Balfour
So by 1917 the British Crown is officially stating that there is PALESTINE, well it was not independent but so were not 75 % of the world, England, France, Russia, US there were in a frenzy race colonizing somebody else lands around the world, and because the greed of these countries did not make the lands they occupied less of real, only in a paper. But a signed paper does not make a Nation, the people of the land make the Nation.
By the end of the WWI we have the monopoly of the world in few hands, and Palestine was not the exception. It happens that peaceful people dedicated to tender the land and their cattle do not hold colonizer ideas, they are happy with “Their Land” and their people. So their beautiful land was occupied by England and the apologetic idea that the Zionist gives to the new generations as a excuse to take the Land of Palestine if saying that before England Mandate of Palestine, the Turks were occupying Palestine, and before that the Ottoman Empire was occupying Palestine, and before that and all the way to 700 BC somebody else was occupying Palestine, but every time was Palestine only the New Foreigners that came with arms and greed were different, but the people was the same, the land was the same.
The world is a mess and Britain and France formed what it was called the League of Nations; The League of Nation’s task was simple – to ensure that war never broke out again, but did not work and we saw WWII and the birth of United Nations, and again who formed this International Body? The Bullies of the world, the greedy countries that by this time have amazed huge military and economic power, I like to called the Club of 5, because they move with the efficacy of an sport club, their member follow the rules of the membership, if they don’t they pay with Fines(Sanctions) or expulsion, well in reality no one is allowed to abandon the club but their member are punish if they do not follow the rules.
If we make an assessment of the role of United Nations since its inception in the world affairs, they have conducted countless operations in the world including WARS:
UN peacekeeping should not be confused with other forms of multinational military intervention, including “enforcement” actions. On several occasions, the Security Council has authorized Member States to use “all necessary means”—including force—to deal with armed conflict or threats to PEACE Acting with such authorization, Member States formed military coalitions in the Korean conflict in 1950 and, in the 1990s, in response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. Multinational operations were deployed in addition to United Nations operations in Somalia, Rwanda, Haiti and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1997, the Council authorized action by a “coalition of the willing” to deal with the situation in Albania. It also authorized deployment of a multinational peacekeeping force in the Central African Republic, which in March 1998 was replaced by the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA).The recent-most mandate UN peacekeeping operation was the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL), which was authorized by the Council in Juy 1998.
What is the scope of UN peacekeeping?
Since 1948, there have been 49 United Nations peacekeeping operations. 36 peacekeeping operations were created by the Security Council in the years between 1988 and 1998. There are currently 17 under way involving 14,453 peacekeepers at the end of August 1998. Over 750,000 military and civilian police personnel and thousands of other civilians have served in UN peacekeeping operations; 1,581 have died while serving in these missions up to the 31 August 1998.
All these “Peace Keeping Operations” without count the last 13 years that we can say have been the bloodiest of the wars and conflicts. How many people have died in Wars and Conflicts since the formation of the United Nations. Have they done any Peace Keeping Operations in Palestine since it was occupied by the Newly State of Israel? not in the last 63 years. There were calls from Yassef Arafat the former head of PLO to bring Blue Helmets to Palestine to oversee the situation, to protect Palestinians..but the United Nations never approved such Peace Keeping Operation in Palestine.
Palestine is being recognized as a state by 53 nations in the world, what does it means for Palestinians? Will Israel will stop the incursions in Gaza?
Will stop the house demolitions?
Will the Wall came down? ..Really! if the United Nations put for a vote the resolution to created Palestine State, well in a paper…Will the conditions will better up in Palestine?
What about the Gaza Siege?
What about the Settlers will they go back to Europe? or at least will they be absorbed by Israel?
Will be very hard for Israel, because The settlers are only disposable subjects for Israel’s interest, at least the ones inside West Bank, will Israel really care for them? or they are use as a log for the Fire?
Are the Black Jews that came from Ethiopia are really considered equals with the white blue eye Israelis in Tel Avid? There are so many questions that will be answer in due time.
For now let me ask Again: What will it take for Palestine to become State and be recognized by the supporters of Israel? Will the US will give Loans Guarantees to Palestine, what about weapons? after all United States is a consumer society that is always looking for ways to expand their economic reach to the world. Will Russia, Germany, Pakistan and other will line up to sell weapon legally to Palestine? It is only normal right, that after Palestine be recognized, she will have access to modern weaponry like Israel has, then will be even field. What a disaster for Israel that will be, fighting in an equal war with equal weapons. Maybe if Palestine is recognized as a state, and they are able to adquire arms legally in the War Market, then Palestinians will not be seen as terrorists with home made rockets and sling shots..then the News can rightly report War between two countries, soldiers against soldiers.
I think that will be the negative side of Palestinians becoming state, more deaths..Will be a consolation for Palestinians, for the world that at least now there is an even field, even thought Israel will have the upper hand because they are armed to the teeth from decades ago.
There is no such thing as an inevitable war. If war comes it will be from failure of human wisdom.
Andrew B. Law
Nations have recently been led to borrow billions for war;
no nation has ever borrowed largely for education. Probably,
no nation is rich enough to pay for both war and civilization.
We must make our choice; we cannot have both.
Abraham Flexner
Gaza shores is been found to have rich mantle of natural gas and oil, will British Petroleum will invest in Gaza, Palestine in behalf of the Palestinians, I mean after Palestine be accepted in the UN?
Being a recognized state will have some type of benefits, right? Well not really…..
Mexico is a signatory of the United Nations club and its populations have been terrorized by the government and the cartels, for years Mexico’s indigenous people have lived under the poverty level, since 1994 they have been slowly exterminated. Does it make any difference that Mexico was accepted by the UN in 1945, and nothing have changed in Mexico. It is hard to have United States as a Northern Neighbor. Mexican leaders had been puppets of the interest of United States. Sad ..but truth…Since Mexico is one of the top oil producers in the world it makes it a target of the bullies.
What about PANAMA?(Please Watch) It was a republic and well recognized by the UN..and in 1989, the greatest army in the world, under the cloud of the darkness AND for 3 days attacked Panama and killed more than 4,000 innocent people. What the United Nations did?
What are the benefits to be a recognized, independent State? You will think that some kind, and Palestinians are eager to know what is to be a State, rightly recognized by the world and “ITS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE”, …WELL NOT REALLY!….United Nations body is mostly seen as the stamper of wars, ..sure it has its international bodies that play the Samaritan role, but overall its role is worse than a Death Squat.
Do not go too far, start the trail of blood from the most recent “Peace Operations” LYBIA, it is a good example and follow the blood. And while there, put your nose on the ground and smell the Black Gold, as it plays a role in the “Peace Keeping Operations of the UN Club”
Kosovo, Yogoslavia, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Argentina, Haiti, Chile..I can go on and on and name the 192 countries that belong to the UN and everyone of them can tell you a story. Did the UN got together to protect their citizens? to avert a War?…No for the contrary the wars that we have seen in our modern history, they have been planned by the Club of the UN. So What difference will make for Palestine when all the 192 countries that formed the UN recognize her? will it make a difference in their life? What does it take anyway to be State? A PEN?.or it is better to be a great Nation, a united Nation recognized by the citizens of the World. Will We the People can make a difference? Can we keep raising our voices until is a Roar of great magnitude that the Leaders will take notice? Can we make a difference with the BDS Campaign? Can we bend the will of the leaders and make them do the right thing? We only can go as far as we push!
Vittorio Arrigoni Will To The World-For The Reader: a warning and instructions for use
Posted On April 17, 2011 Marivel Guzman
‘Stay human’ is the motto with which I sign off my pieces
for II Manifesto and for the entries on my blog. It’s an
Invitation, or, better still, a prompt, to desist for the
commission of criminal acts and to reaffirm and take
possession of the original purposes of humankind instead.
Once boundaries, flags, barriers, latitudes and ethono-
religious differences have been abolished, what breaks
onto the scenario stripped of the impulse
to preserve one’s own kin at the expense of others. Mine
is an invitation to remember our belong to a sole
community of living beings: the human family.
Gaza: Stay Human is now also a book. Please find
within the three-week story of a massacre, written to the
best of my ability, more often than not in very precarious
conditions, often scribbling about the inferno all around
me in a tattered notebook while crouched in an ambulance
screaming down the street. Or frantically tapping away
at the keyboard of any available computer I could find,
often inside a building shaking like a crazed pendulum
as explosions went off all around. I must warn you that
leafing through this book could prove dangerous. These
are harmful pages, blood-stained, imbued with white
phosphorous, and as sharp as bomb shrapnel. If read within
the quiet of a bedroom, your walls will shake from our
cries of terror. I feel concerned for the walls of your hearts,
which I recognize have not become soundproofed to
pain.
Please store this volume somewhere safe, within the
reach of the young, so that they may immediately learn of
a world not so far away from them, where indifference and
racism tears their peers to little bits as if they were mere
rag dolls. This way they may be inoculated against racism
from an early age, against any epidemic of violence towards
whoever is different, or against neutrality when faced with
injustice. Gaza; Stay human aims to float beyond other
books written about, in and around Palestine thanks to
the creative fire that has begotten it: the keen will of this
author to involve, enlighten and heighten the reader’s
awareness of what atrocious inhumanities unfolded during
those 22 days of a massacre. This is my small contribution
towards preventing similar massacres from ever taking
place in future. Giving the dead some justice and
safeguarding tomorrow’s mortally wounded.
Please help yourself to a ticket for a tour of hell that
even the poet Dante Alighieri could not have conceived
of when waking up from his pillow, full of nightmares. I
entertain the hope of having been a good guide throughout
to this hell, like Dante’s Charon, the ferryman of Hades,
of having been as faithful and as humane as possible in
my narration. Standing in the rubble of a freshly-bombed
building or in the ward of a Gaza hospital, I’m aware that
it was sometimes difficult to recognize human features
in what was once a face, now mutated, reduced to a
pulp by devastating weaponry that is mostly banned by
all international conventions. My account strives for the
greatest possible objectivity. As it happens, I was myself an
object, or target, of the Israel army and also received death
threats from a group of neo-Nazis connected with some
settler groups. For whomsoever is still in doubt, months
after the massacre, my account and the details recorded
underneath a storm of bombs have been backed up by
all the most reliable human rights organizations, whether
governmental or otherwise, as well as by Israeli soldier
themselves, who have recently started to confess the
crimes they have committed. In time, Gaza: Stay human
will become increasingly more like an historic document
rather than being a plain narrative from hell.
If truth is the first victim of war, it is then Israel’s absolute
priority to assassinate it, before, during and after the
conflict. Our duty as activists, and more generally as human
beings, is to document and tell the truth for the sake of
freedom and justice, and then bring it to the table of world
public opinion, and then serve it as a meal, the
difficult to digest the better.
For tomorrow, so as to stay human
The port (or its rubble), Vittorio Arrigoni
Gaza City
15th July 2009
Gaza gets a reminder of 2008-2009 war
Original Post by Omar Ghraieb
Friday 8, 2011, 2:04 AM (Gaza, Palestine)Israeli warplanes, warships and tanks continued their vicious and continuous assault on Gaza.
They targeted medics, 2 were injured while rushing to one of the targeted places by Israeli shelling using an ambulance. More residential areas and houses were also targeted.
Medics reported that 6 were dead in Gaza while 40 others got injured, from which many are women and children. Some of the injured were in a critical state while some others suffered from a life long disability due to heavy and direct shelling.
Israeli tanks approached from western and northern areas into Gaza, they shelled and targeted homes then opened sporadic fire before leaving.
Palestinian resistance declared cease-fire that starts at 11 pm Gaza time but it was one-sided, Israel didn’t oblige instead they responded by continuous shelling and air raids.
They re-raided the border line between Gaza and Egypt. Egyptian local news sources reported that a shell fell on a land inside Egyptian Rafah but with no reported injuries.
All dead and injured in Gaza were civilians.
Huge power outages took place in Khan Younis and Rafah after Israel’s heavy shelling on Gaza, many power lines and converters were damaged.
Explosions, sporadic fire and Israeli warplanes were heard till 3 am of April the 8th.
It looks like the upcoming days will bring more assaults and attacks.
So to be continued….
Posted by Omar Ghraieb at 2:04 AM
Reactions:
Israel carried out mass shelling on Gaza
Israel assaults Gaza again
Gaza, April 7, Israel carried out mass shelling on Gaza using full force and all war tools.
Israel used warplanes (F16s, Apaches and drones), warships and tanks to bomb Gaza non-stop for consecutive 3 hours targeting most of Gaza. Israel shells fell on residential areas targeting houses belonging to Qudaih, Al Manasra and Hellis families.
Israel also used full force to raid Rafah, Gaza intl, airport, Khan younis, Zaytoon neighborhood, Deir Al Balah, Jabalya, Shujae’ya, Qarara and several others places.
Adham Abu Salmeyah, Health Ministry official, One Gazan died, Mahmoud Al Manasra, 50, and over 25 got injured till now. A guy also reached the hospital aleady amputated after being directly hit by an Israeli shell, 2 farmers were also injured when a shell fell on their farm.
Israeli forces targeted most of Southern Northern and Eastern Gaza.
Palestinian resistance fired earlier a mortar that fell on a bus in Nahal Oz injuring a number of Israelis, they continued responding back to Israel’s vicious attack by firing some Grad rockets and mortars.
Israeli shells fell on residential homes, a hospital, farmed lands, a factory, an ambulance, power generator in Khan Younis causing power outages and Al Rayes Mountain.
Israel has been targeting Gaza for the past two days with over night air raids but with no reported injuries.
Israel’s shelling on Gaza continues while the Palestinian resistance also trying to continue responding.
Mohamed Al Madhoon, a journalist, also got injured during Israel’s mass shelling on Gaza and his situation is critical.
To be continued ……
Posted by Omar GhraiebApril 7, 2011 Gaza,Palestine at 6:07 PM
Resistance Is the Right to The People to Exist With Prospect For Peace
Posted on March 28, 2011 by Marivel Guzman
How to subsist without resistance, when the law of the jungle is enforced on the weak of the world?
We have the West with its mighty Army of paid soldiers and hungry mercenaries enforcing ‘Democracy’, planting death and destruction. Ravaging the land they chose to destroy. They bend the will of the people using the most horrifying methods men have invented in the last 100 years.
US and its Allies went to Iraq and have killed close to a million people, destroyed the infrastructure of one of the oldest and most advance societies of the World. Iraq with its glorious history, it wealth, pride and natural resources taken as a booty as ordinary theft. They invented all the preliminary excuses to corner the government of Sadam Hussein, they enforced a no fly Zone In the North and in the South of Iraq, destroyed all Military Power of Iraq, they got the UN to imposed terrible sanctions, the Oil was to be sold to the Agencies specified by the UN only, in a term of 10 years Iraq was economically destroyed, military destroyed so when US and Allies invaded it was easy pray.
Now we have the story repeating itself with another Oil Producer Country this time is Libya in the North of Africa and one of the 10 exporter of Oil, in this case as the African Oil Producer are in a specific situation they have this Light Oil Crude, cheap and easy to Refine. The US and Allies prepare the territory with a fake civil war, CIA style and once the situation is right, again they are using the UN to imposed a No Fly Zone, where the only missiles that kill will be that of US and Allies.
Who gives the right to the UN to sign death sentences of unarmed population,
Who say that they have the right to disposed of the Natural Resources of a Sovereign Country?
Israel The Other Bully in the Block, every year with made up excuses, force the US or the UN to brake up a government or two.
Israel has kept Palestine isolated from the world, has kept Palestine unable to defend herself, her society destroyed, her economy to receive crumbs from the International Community, her agricultural lands ravaged, her people terrorized, incarcerated and tortured, and as if all the horrors that Palestinians live every day are not enough Israel has made believe the world that they are the terrorist. So outrageous for the people that knows the truth, it is unbelievable that the West and its allies knowing the truth they have financed and armed Israel.
The UN Club of 5 knowing the truth, they have kept a blind eye on the massacres perpetrated by Israel, the murders of Palestinians citizens, the target assassinations of her leaders all being cover up and ignore by the international body that suppose to enforce human rights around the world, the International body that supposed to enforce peace.
Lies that Stick, Struggles that Sell. The Media Broke Out the Silence
Posted on March 29, 2011 by Marivel Guzman
Palestine Youth Broke the Silence! Not after the Tunisia Revolution and certainly not after the Egyptian Revolution.
“Palestinian youth have been inspired by uprisings in Arab countries, Pushing for a Palestinian Tahrir” Aljazeera Channel
I don’t think so, [Aljazeera] Palestinian youth have plenty of inspiration to uprise in their own merit. I think 63 years are few generations of struggles, pains, death, suppression and oppression being from their own leadership, but mostly from Israel IDF soldiers. The Palestinian Youth of today have suffered more than other youth around the world, and I don’t think that the inspiration born out of Tunisia or Egypt.
Palestinian youth have been resisting their own internal struggles they have been in the walls of facebook, youtube, myspace and other networks for years, in these days you taking notice of them is different because it seems that you the ‘Big Networks’, the ‘Big Media’ never have paid attention to their cries.
That you the Streamedia are writing about them it is a different story, and you did it because it sound juicy for your ratings.
The Struggles of Palestine
When the Youth Of Gaza Broke Out Manifesto first made the light to the streammedia, it was the first time that the manifesto was in the wires and it was not the first time the youth of Gaza broke the silence (GYBO). They have been braking the silence in their struggle with Israel with the world, they have been dying in front of your cameras and they have been called the perpetrators, they have been fighting with bare hands and rocks against tanks and you the media have been calling them the terrorists, they have been incarcerated and tortured and you have been silenced.
You the media is the one that broke the silence on January when the activists in the worldwide in a bold move sided with them and we all push for their voices to be heard. When you saw that they were making waves then you took advantage of their light and you decided that the story was good enough to be written about it.
They did not inspire out of Jasmin Revolution or the Tahrir Square, NO! Sandy Tolan, you picked up that title because it is catchy and sounds good and will be grab in the crawler of the web.
Now there are conflicts with the two main political parties in Palestine, from one side we have the Palestinian Authority closure of more than 300 NGOs in West Bank, charities that Hamas over the years has financed and sponsored, and they [Hamas] were doing the right thing in the Occupied Territories, but the egos got lose and the PA could not accept Hamas’victory without inflicting low punches, without seeing that the only losers are the Palestinians. Since 1982 Hamas is the organization that has been in charge of most of the health and social life of Palestine.
The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the occupied Palestinian Territory, Maxwell Gaylard, today voiced his concern about the forced closure on 30 November by the local authorities in Gaza of all Gaza-based offices of the non-governmental organization Sharek Youth Forum.
“I am very concerned about the recent forced closing of Sharek Youth Forum in Gaza. Sharek is an important NGO partner of the United Nations in its work on behalf of children and the youth in Gaza”, Mr. Gaylard said.
Mr. Gaylard noted that “Sharek’s work forms part of the many important activities carried out by civil society organizations in the occupied Palestinian Territory promoting development and the protection of human rights.“
He stated that freedom of association and freedom of expression are fundamental rights protected by international law as well as the Palestinian Basic Law and expressed his hope that Sharek would be permitted to continue its work in Gaza without further delay or undue hindrance.
Statement by Maxwell Gaylard,
United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the occupied Palestinian Territory
On the Closure of Sharek Youth Forum in the Gaza StripJerusalem, 7 December 2010
Since 2007 the Fatah-dominated government in the West Bank has also closed more than 300 Hamas and Islamic-linked charities and NGOs.
I don’t see the UN raising the flag for the 300 Charities closed down in West Bank by the PA, not that Sharek Youth Forum be less important, but my note is in the context of marking the double standards used to emphasize the wrongs of one political party vs the other one, Hamas over their favorite Fatah.
The PA that is being cracking down on the resistance in the West Bank pleasing and serving the interest of Israel. Maybe the goal is toward “The Peace Talks” but we all know that Israel does not recognized Abbas as a “Peace Partner.”
Seriously speaking Israel does not know the meaning of peace.
And let’s mention also the continuous arrests of peaceful protesters in West Bank and Jerusalem, but not from the PA but from IDF forces that without mercy use lethal force to stop the demonstrators from expressing their opposition to the illegal Wall, the closure of Shuhada Street in Hebron, the demolitions of homes in East Jerusalem, the dispossession of homes, the illegal arrests of Palestinians and other very serious issues that the UN keep ignoring, even the murder of internationals is not a serious topic for our “Peace Keepers in New York Headquarters.”
Where is the Big Media in these important events that take place inside Palestine? Why don’t you Brake the Silence and exposed Israel Once and for all?..Will be the day that we will be celebrating Earth Day.
The next excerpts was taken from an article published by Aljazeera, I bring it to you because it has some good information, I do not agree with the way they portray the youth of Palestine taking the merit of their struggles, but now they are taking their time to give you a taste of the occupation with the “Big Media flavor”. Even thought in their article I see the youth of West Bank is not Numb as the great majority of the population, they [youth] see the situation from their young minds from different perspective.
“If you look at our social situation, people in Ramallah don’t care, mostly speaking,” says Dina Shilleh, a 27-year-old piano teacher who returned with her parents from Serbia during the heady early days of Oslo. “If they can go out, they have their car, they have their house, they can dress nicely, that’s kind of what it’s about. There’s a lot that’s been sedated. Because in the end you want to live. It’s like, hey, how long do you want to keep fighting? My grandparents fought, my parents fought. Am I gonna do it? My kids? It would have to be something that would really spark the people to get out of this numbness.”
I personally have experienced the disinterest from some Palestinians here in California and in Ramallah, they simply don’t care, they can come to the US, they work, eat and entertain themselves as long as they are not taking the heat from the IDF they care less for Gaza or for the struggles of Shuhada Street residents or East Jerusalem.
It is disappointing but also I see they are tired of fighting, they lived the occupation in their worse times, what can we do to wake up their dreams of freedom again?
Aljazeera Article published March, 05, 2011
On a cool January evening at the height of Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution, Najwan Berekdar and a few friends were sitting at a smoky café in Ramallah, puffing on water pipes and strategising. “We were talking about what’s happening in Tunisia, and we decided, maybe this is the momentum – we should use it,” Berekdar remembers weeks later from her office at Sharek, a youth-oriented Palestinian NGO. “We were, like, five people. We were sitting with our laptops and we said, ‘Okay, let’s make an event.’ We wanted something to encourage people to go out.” Within days, masses of Egyptians began filling Tahrir Square, and 27-year-old Berekdar, her friends and like-minded Palestinian youths were even more inspired. “We wanted to send this message that it is time for us to do something. And obviously we can do it. Look at other people. If they managed to do it, we can do it.” The demonstrations these Palestinian youths helped organized were quickly banned, sometimes with clubs, by a Palestinian Authority (PA) with deep historic and political ties to the Tunisian and Egyptian dictatorships. But then other groups began forming their own demonstrations. And Berekdar and her friends, through email loops and a face-to-face “thinking group” of about 20 academics and intellectuals, organized new protests. “We were suppressed by the PA a second time and a third time,” she says. Soon Palestinian authorities began to investigate the group. “One of our group members was called by the police, and by the intelligence, and by – I don’t know, we have four security forces, I think,” Berekdar says. (Actually, there are five.) “They stayed at his home until one in the morning.” The mukhabarat assumed the young man was the ringleader, Berekdar recalls with amusement. They pressed him for details of the hierarchy of what is in fact a loose, ever-shifting coalition that only recently got a name: Hirak Shebab, or Youth Movement. It is an informal, mostly leaderless group – a concept the centralised PA does not seem to grasp. As Berekdar spoke, at 1:30 on a recent afternoon, an email came in from a friend. About the demonstration that day at 6:00: Should they do it at Manara Square in the centre of Ramallah or outside the Muqata, the PA headquarters? Berekdar was not sure. Scarcely four hours before the event, she seemed unhurried, and confident of Hirak Shebab’s ability to get sufficient numbers to show up at the last minute. Berekdar is trying to involve young people, both unaffiliated and from different Palestinian parties, including Hamas. She estimates that so far about 2,000 people connect with the group’s message pushing for democracy and fundamental change. “It’s about changing the whole discourse of the Palestinians,” she says. “It is time for us to start doing something. Because obviously the political leadership is not doing anything.” The ‘pulse of Palestine’ In the revolutionary spirit spreading across the Middle East, Palestinian youth groups have become a small but important catalyst in a building wave of discontent with PA repression and complicity in a failed “peace process” backed by the US. The groups’ actions are sparked not only by events in the region, but by the US veto of the UN Security Council’s condemnation of Israeli settlements. A widening circle of Palestinian groups are calling for an end to negotiations with Israel, an end to the political division between the West Bank and Gaza and wholesale reform of the PA and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). Some advocate dissolving the PA completely. “Fatah and Hamas have failed Palestinian society,” says Nader Said, a Palestinian pollster and political analyst. Youth, he says, “represent the pulse and conscience of Palestine”. In Gaza, Said says, young people “are the ones who have demonstrated in the middle of the shooting, covering their faces with paper bags,” so that security forces would refrain from possibly shooting a brother or cousin. “They are the soul of the Palestinians,” but by themselves, “they’re not strong enough to carry the emancipation agenda.” Yet the message is resonating well beyond the youth groups. As Palestinians under a 43-year occupation watch their Arab neighbours fight for democracy, pressure increases on the PA to reform itself – or at least, to appear to do so. Faced with the threat of the US veto, the PA sought to burnish its resistance credentials by refusing to yield to American pressure to call off the Security Council vote. And Salam Fayyad, the prime minister, recently sent a message to Palestinian youth via Facebook, asking for input as he forms a new Palestinian cabinet. Within hours, he received hundreds of replies – some supportive, some sceptical. “Now suddenly they’re this nationalistic body that’s clinging to Palestinian rights?” scoffed Diana Buttu, a Palestinian lawyer and former PA negotiator, in a recent interview. “They’ve put their finger to the wind, and realised that the wind has changed. Right now you don’t want to be seen as the one nation that’s clinging to the United States. So they had to do something.” But others say the pressure from emerging Arab democracies, and what one insider called the “betrayal” by the US, may force the PA to turn inward, and thus make the kind of core changes it has long resisted. “We do not want an authority that is a buffer between the people and the occupation,” says Qais Abu Leila, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council and a founder of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine. “We need a Palestinian Authority that is part of the people and a continuation of the struggle against occupation.” Abu Leila believes the shifting political landscape may force the PA to confront its increasingly undemocratic, authoritarian character. “We are now facing the danger of the emergence of more or less police regimes” in Gaza and the West Bank. Under the PA, he says, “gradually the democratic checks and balances of government are fading away”. ‘A quiet colonisation’ Fundamental change within the PA, if it happened, would likely include a reassessment of its security cooperation with Israel. Some coordination of visas and safe passages, and movement of Palestinian police between West Bank towns, would continue, reformers say. More draconian measures seen as collaboration with Israel’s occupation could be suspended. These include the extralegal arrest and detention of hundreds of Palestinians, and incidents of torture, documented by Palestinian human rights groups, in the name of fighting terrorism and preventing a Hamas takeover in the West Bank. Human Rights Watch recently called on the US and EU to suspend aid to the PA “pending concrete steps to end a culture of impunity for security service abuses, including torture”. But a Palestinian decision to suspend security cooperation would likely have huge financial consequences. In recent years the US has spent nearly half a billion dollars in training and “professionalising” key parts of a 25,000-strong Palestinian security apparatus under three-star American general Keith Dayton. The money flow would likely reduce to a trickle if basic principles of the arrangement were suspended. Some analysts believe the PA could survive possible cuts in US funding, especially if the EU stepped into the breach. Others are sceptical. “The PA is a security subcontractor for Israel,” says Buttu. Despite the pressure the PA is facing, she does not foresee any change. “The whole aim is to allow Israel to have a very quiet occupation, a very quiet colonisation.” “We alleviated the occupation from its responsibility,” agrees Ali Jarbawi, a longtime critic of the authority who recently joined the government as the Palestinian minister of planning. “And they [Israelis] are living happily ever after when you go to Dizengoff Street and sip wine with the yuppies at these sidewalk cafés. As if the West Bank does not exist. As if Gaza does not exist. As if the Palestinians do not exist.” Jarbawi believes the two-year state-building plan the PA put in place in 2009, overseen by Fayyad, should be given a chance to work – but only until September 2011. Jarbawi insists there must be a limit to official Palestinian patience. “You can’t keep the negotiation track open forever, and keep the dependency on aid also open forever, so the world is paying for the continuation of the occupation. And at the same time they are building settlements on the ground, eating what’s supposed to become our state.” Jerusalem: ‘The next Tahrir?’ After September, Jarbawi says, the Palestinian strategy could include an end run around the US, through an appeal to the other members of the “Quartet” – the EU, Russia and the UN – to recognise a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders. Already nine Latin American nations have stepped forward. “Brazil, through this letter, recognises the Palestinian state on the 1967 borders,” Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the then Brazilian president, wrote to Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, in December. Other options Jarbawi envisions include asking for an international presence in the West Bank, building a new, nonviolent intifada – “one million people walking down the streets, chanting for an end to occupation” – or even dissolving the very authority in which Jarbawi now works. “That has to remain a viable option,” he says. Abu Leila believes dissolving the PA is unrealistic. But he insists the pressure for reform has become too great to ignore. “There is an almost universal recognition that there must be radical change in Palestine, and that it must start with ending the division” with Gaza, he says, echoing comments by Berekdar and many others. He calls this step essential “in order to face the occupation and a hostile policy adopted by the US. The PA could organise the Palestinian society in a way that could fuel the struggle against the Israeli occupation. This is a meaningful option.” This may be starting to happen. In February, Tawfiq Tirawi, a member of the Central Committee of the PLO and until recently the PA security chief, called for “days of rage” protests against the American veto in the Security Council. “They consider themselves the masters of the world,” said the man who until recently helped coordinate security arrangements with Israel and the US. “They [the Americans] call for democracy and freedom. They say that they want this for all nations of the world, but when it comes to the Palestinian people, it just evaporates. The interest of our people is the most important thing. We will say no to the Americans if it is not in the interest of our people.” Some Palestinians believe a nonviolent popular uprising is coming in Palestine – whether backed by the PA or not. “Resistance has always been a unifying force,” says Hani Masri of Badael, the Ramallah think-tank. “The youth, they are telling the leadership, either you will be changing or you will be changed.” Masri and others are discussing mass mobilisations, including 50,000 to 100,000 Palestinians marching peacefully to Qalandia, the checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah that now resembles an international border crossing. Beyond that, he asks, “why can’t we turn Jerusalem into the next Tahrir?” Weekly protests in the Palestinian towns of Bili’in, Budrus and Nili’in have already received international attention as focal points of a nonviolent Palestinian resistance. But whether mass mobilisations will actually take place to confront the Israeli occupation is another matter. High price of confrontation “The big question today is whether the Palestinian society has the juice to create a real civil disobedience, refusing-the-occupation campaign,” says Gershon Baskin, the co-director of the Jerusalem-based Israel-Palestine Center for Research and Information, and a strong advocate of the two-state solution. “There are 24,000 Palestinians working in settlements. Two Rami Levi supermarkets opened up in the West Bank, and many of the shoppers are Palestinian. If you’re going to wage a campaign to simply say we’re not cooperating any more with the occupation, then what that means is you’re not going to work in Israel any more, you’re not going to work in the Israeli settlements … You’re going to have confrontation with the occupation. And that has a very high price.” Would Palestinians, so dependent on the foreign-funded jobs and services that Buttu calls “donor heroin,” be willing to forego the sharp reduction in aid that would surely accompany a new strategy of confrontation? “In the short term we would really pay a heavy price economically,” Buttu agrees. “For one thing, you wouldn’t see people sitting around in nice cafés like this,” she says, smiling ironically while sitting in Ramallah’s Café de la Paix. But confronting the occupation “would definitely unite people who are not united now”. “Something could spark it,” Baskin says. “Who would have predicted Tunisia, Egypt, Libya? But I don’t see Palestinian society having the energy today to do it. Israelis and Palestinians today feel much more comfortable pushing a ‘like’ button on their Facebook page than going out to the street.” That may or may not be true. As major checkpoints have come down recently, the occupation has loosened around Ramallah, Nablus and Jenin, and relative freedom within a small portion of the West Bank has created a sense of limited breathing room. For some Palestinians, quality of life has gone up. Some say the “donor heroin” has created a sense of comfort, even complacency, in the small enclave inside the West Bank. “If you look at our social situation, people in Ramallah don’t care, mostly speaking,” says Dina Shilleh, a 27-year-old piano teacher who returned with her parents from Serbia during the heady early days of Oslo. “If they can go out, they have their car, they have their house, they can dress nicely, that’s kind of what it’s about. There’s a lot that’s been sedated. Because in the end you want to live. It’s like, hey, how long do you want to keep fighting? My grandparents fought, my parents fought. Am I gonna do it? My kids? It would have to be something that would really spark the people to get out of this numbness.” And yet, when Hirak Shebab organised demonstrations at Manara Square recently, Dina answered the call. “We need a new leadership,” she says, recalling her chants against the occupation and in favour of democracy. “We need a new idea.”
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Unity March 15 a date to remember
Posted on March 15, 2011 by Omar Karem, from Gaza, edited by Marivel Guzman
Opinion
Gaza City, photo by Omar Karem
Thanks to all Palestinians that turned out today for the great March 15 March that markes the beginning to demand for a united Palestine.
The protesters were oppressed by the government forces. Was a little set back but the battle is not lost.
The youth, the women, the men, came in big numbers to demand unity and they will come out again; tomorrow, next week, until unity is achieved.
Battles are not easy to win said Leila Khaled, the Palestinian heroine that fought with Yosef Arafat during the 70s. She will tell you is not easy.
Today was a great day for Palestine, no matter what the outcome, it is a change, for first time lots of women are taking charge of the affairs of their land. Thousands of women were mixed with the crowd of men.
They know they must not be afraid, they are all Palestinians. Hamas, AFLP,FATAH, every one no matter the party they follow, they are all Palestinians, we are all Palestinians.
One Palestine Nation united to fight against the common enemy, ‘The Occupier’, ‘The IOF’ ,’Zionism’,’Ignorance’,’Division,’ those are the real enemies of the people.
Gaza City, photo by Omar Karem
Today the turn of events are only a show of the government to exercise power over the people, “Intimidation won’t work with us,” said a Palestinian, “We are feed up with Israel, even without uniform we know them, they can beat us and incarcerated us, but we wont stop,” he said.
They (Palestinian police) need to stop and unite with us. This fight is not against our government, it is against the division.
The security forces of Gaza are shooting to the air, shooting to the feet of the crowd. The government is afraid, of course they are afraid. Every government should be afraid of its people not the other way around. They need to prove themselves worthy to stay in power and if they have not done it the people is speaking loudly and demonstrating in the street and demanding unity.
It is not going to be easy for Hamas or the PA to contain the discontent because now we know that the power is with ourselves. If tomorrow, we all come to the streets, they won’t be enough bullets, or sticks to scare us. Today we celebrate that we can gather together, I don’t see it as a defeat to the people, No..it is a lesson, for us, for the government, to take notice that the actions are all recorded in history in our land. We must continue to work together to bring us as one Nation, we won’t stop.
We Palestinians are resolved to bring Palestine Unity.
“To really respond to the practices of the occupation, there should be unity behind the leadership that can address the world with one voice, to once and for all end the occupation and establish a Palestinian State as a strategic option for peace” – Issam Samour-Coordinator of Christian Relieve in Gaza, Palestine
The day’s events both exposed Palestinian divisions and underscored the popular desire for political reconciliation between Gaza, controlled by Hamas, and the West Bank, controlled by the Palestinian Authority under Mahmoud Abbas amd his Fatah party. -The New York Times
Naji Shurrab, a political science professor at Al Azhar University in Gaza, which is unofficially affiliated with Fatah, said on Tuesday that ending the Fatah-Hamas split was beyond the capacity of the youths to correct. “The division is like cancer; the later you are in treating it, the more it spreads,” he said. –New York Times
The main stream media is ready to blame the set backs of the youth of Palestine on the people. They are mute when Israel is bombing our cities or killing us but as soon as the occasion arise they are ready to make headlines. We should ignore them all along, until they bring us the Truth.
We could feel the joy in the last few days in Palestine, all the videos that we shot in Palestine, people in the streets talking about March 15, Unity Day, Reconciliation day. It euphoria was overwhelming, the talks of a nation ready to emerge.
The people is what it make the nation not the leaders. Palestine is One, One land. The Holy Land is Only one. “We the People” make it.
Please stop the fights, come with us, all the fathers, and sons, that work for the respective governments, see us we are you, you are us. We are Palestine.
Palestinian youth at the Unity March photo by Omar Karem
Abu Yazan and other youth leaders, however, insist that unity is required to effectively resist the occupation and that political reform would significantly improve quality of life in the meantime. The slogan for the March 15 event is “End the division. One people against zionism.”
Ali Abdul Bari, a 24-year-old leader of Esha (Wake Up), a liberal, secular group devoted to promoting human rights, tells a story to illustrate just how deep the divide is. His group posted a sign demanding elections near the destroyed Palestinian Parliament building in downtown Gaza City. It was removed by Hamas 90 minutes later, despite the permit they had obtained. Later, many group members were interrogated or had their backgrounds checked. Pam Bailey
We must have high hopes that this movement wont stop, that today was a minor set back, but tomorrow a new day will come, bringing hopes. Specially that we will be commemorating Rachel Corrie day.
Come tomorrow March 16 to the streets to remember her memory, her martyrdom, we will celebrate her life, praise her memory for her sacrifice to our land.
Rachel Corrie
Please come with no banners, no flags, no colors, security forces please do not give bad image to the world. Do not copy the practices of Israel, we are tired of repression and oppression. Support us, in the new Palestine Nation that we all try to build.
Tomorrow is a new day, to rectify the errors, to take lessons of the past. Inshallah
March 15: Palestinian Youth Call for Unify under One Nation, without colors, only by their flag colors
Posted on March 14 by Marivel Guzman in collaboration with Omar Karem
Palestine(Akashma Web Blogs)Gaza one of the oldest districts in Palestine,with 62 Villages and Cities, on the Mediterranean Riviera, facing the sea if you sail in an straight line on the Mediterranean sea you can get to Crete, Cypress, Turkey, Egypt,Libya, Even to the south of Italy then why Palestinians are force to beg to the government of Egypt to let in to Gaza as it is happening in this moments, where thousands of Palestinians are stranded in various airports and main cities around the world, because the New Military Government in Egypt of Omar Suleiman does not allow them to set foot in Egypt territory, and the Palestinians that want to leave Gaza, go through a tedious procedure starting with their own government, where they need to pay a fee to get into a list to be permitted to leave Gaza, then once they cross to Rafah Egypt in the Egyptian side they wait another 5 to 10 hours, to be return back to Gaza without a valid reason what so ever. Some Palestinians are allowed to leave only if they have a Visa and ticket ready to leave the country, or some few cases of patients that cross for treatment to a specific clinics in Egypt. They are some talks about lifting the ban, but nothing concrete yet.
On the other side of Palestine where close to 8 millions of Palestinians live in the various cities and refugees camps, between hundreds of Illegal “Settlements” and “Outpost” surrounded by heavy military personal, a 25 feet wall and dozens of incorporated check points and road blocks, illegal detentions and targeting assassinations, that make their every day life impossible, without counting with the shortage of drinking water, lack of jobs, and a Unite government that oversee the necessities of their citizens.
Since Israel withdrew from Gaza on 2005, the situation in Palestine have gone from bad to worse, the physical division that separate Palestine making it into two different entities, at least that is what Israel have force them to be, and for the last 4 years seems that Palestinians living West Bank and Gaza have fallen into Israel Game.
The situation was looking too gray for the future of Palestine until a group called “Gaza Youth Brake the Silence” that in December 2010 exposed the conditions of the besieged Gaza to the world. This group call for the Unity of all Palestine and this movement started to grow to a magnitude that even Israel was taken by surprise.
In matter of days all the Outlets News of the world took notice of this group and their Manifesto was widely spread across the Internet, and their facebook group grew by the minutes in matter of days they have more than 12,000 members.
They have called for the Unity of the political parties, the people, the ideas to be Palestine One Nation, they are inviting all Palestine to raise their voice at unison, converging their ideas for the common good of Palestinians, not rule by Fatah, or Hamas, not intended for Gaza or West Bank but for Palestine.
Palestinians who carried on their shoulders all the sins of history and jammed events that Promoted a new generation resolutely legacy accumulated over decades in the both sides of Palestine; West Bank and the Gaza Strip. And from Gaza begins its new launch iniciative, said he wished to rectify the deficit of the older generation of parents and the errors committed at the height of the conflict between the sworn brotherhood of power.
The youth of Gaza are in their twenties, they dress sporty, they are University Students, they are the facebook activist, the twitters, youtubers, this generation that want to change the old ideas, they want a new Palestine without the rigor of religion, without the stamp of millitary flavor, their envision a new Palestine United by their flag, their Land, culture and her people, they want to forget about the political parties that have damage so much the reputation of Palestine.
The fight for the power, the hold of the chair, all the political and military mix that did not help Palestine to be United as a Nation fighting for a common enemy the Occupier, the Neo-Colonizer Israel that for 62 years sow the terrain to her convenience.
Israel divided the land in two diametrical entities that it made them believe that they were two people living in two distance lands. West Bank, Palestine dislike for long time Gaza People, they saw them for some time as intruders that came to take their jobs. In the Gaza Strip the situation did not go fine either, they were forced to choose and pick their candidates when the physical division made impossible the central government of Palestine to take care of the affairs of Gaza.
Gaza was forcefully neglected to the point that new factions were formed to filled the vacuum left by the Palestinian Authority, even when Yasser Arafat the revered men in Palestine, was imprisoned in his Rammallah compound, he could not ever serve his closest citizens, under the watch of the whole world. He managed the affairs of the nation from the headquarters of the PA in Ramallah, but Gaza was too far to be served or help. During those years Israel was brewing the fate of Gaza and the separation from Palestine. For almost 8 years and since Israel withdrew her army and dismantle the settlements from Gaza, the Strip is being deteriorating under a siege and a bigger negglect, but this time by the whole world that being witness of the situation and done nothing about it.The activist of the world have work tirelessly to show the raw truth to the world, and now the youth of Palestine is taking the lead.
Now all the lies are exposed, the internal fights need to settled, the youth of Gaza is forcing the old leaders to rethink their role, to lead Palestine as a Nation and come as one voice. They created a big plataform where all the dissidents voices can be heard and the obsolete policies and old practices be clean away.
They said: “We have moved more than a month to work on the ground and left the “Facebook” virtual world for the revolution to end the division and we started working on a campaign of house to house of Rafah to Beit Hanoun and in all parts of the West Bank to translate the Revolution to the ground in all parts of home.”March 15 activists speaking on their behalf and they visited the Office in Gaza.
Revolution Profile: Mohamed Sheikh Yusuf, Youth March 15 for the most we have to work to restore national unity and if we are not united Palestine is lost and her youth will be lost, and the old Palestinian people should carry the idea of the Palestinian flag without the other no one says, “To continued to divide the revolution, to allow for all to wrap around and the most inspirational to continue as young people, we relied on personal spending for this revolution, saying it was a revolution to add personal expense to the contributions of activists, saying sarcastically that the revolution of this kind does not need of funding.
Prosecutions and arrests for police officer and a Rose:
Through the process of build-up and preparation for the start of a revolution young Shaykh Yusuf: We have been prosecuted and there has been arrests and booking, our computer hardware and “Laptop” being taken by our own security services in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, but we are saying that young people have decided to give a rose for each element of police Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza during the first hour of the demonstrations, saying, “We get young men in a spontaneous march in the Gaza Strip days before the police and shouted to the societies of young people and police together to end the division, stressing that the youth revolution of the March that we have today we will distribute 1000 rose to the elements of the police.”
Legitimacy belongs to the Palestinians wherever they are:
Sheikh Yusuf saying: “Our response to Palestinian organizations, that he would not only represents the youth and young people will not be able to impose one view, but the view of all Palestinian Society.
Joseph another youth said: that the field will not allow any party whatsoever, or any one that tries to impose party color or class, because the field will not only receives a campaign of the Palestinian flag and raise the slogan of the people wants to end the division and a single emblem of the Palestinian people at this point.
“We will not allow anyone to Tahir March 15, in the interest of partisan or institutional and that it is not only the legitimacy of the field.”
Sheikh Yusuf called on all Palestinian to go on March 15, raising the Palestinian flag only.
He said: We call on Hamas, we also call for Fatah and other factions to get off wearing the Palestinian dress and the Palestinian flag and get free societies in this day of the party and our only goal during this phase is to protect the national project and protect the blood of the martyrs and call for unity, it is a call for great leaders Yasser Arafat and Khalil al-Wazir Ahmed Yassin, Abu Ali Mustafa, George Habash, Shakaki and decided that the young Palestinian leaders invited to meet the bone and split ends and restores unity to strengthen the Palestinian unified.
Sheikh Yusuf said the most important success of the revolution until the moment is to break the deadlock and break the barrier of fear and activation of the silent majority and people express their views and rights of what is going on.
And about gathering places, said Joseph Nouri, a militant revolution Onalamancn March 15 are:
In the central Gaza Strip, the crowd will be in the field of the Unknown Soldier at 12 noon.
West Bank crowd in the central Manara Square in Ramallah
For the rest of the areas in the West Bank, which will not be able to reach the lighthouse in Ramallah, the crowd will be in Bethlehem Church of the Nativity in Jenin in the field of the Jenin Martyrs. It will also be in the crowd in front of the Palestinian diaspora Palestinian embassies or offices of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Joseph Nouri said that the call would be to sit in the same places of the crowd, unless they decided that the field is saying to let the field decide.
As for the organization of the crowd and fields, “said Nouri, said the idea began by inviting youth groups to the crowd after crowd sleep youth work to organize the crowds and space management, explaining that he had been set up committees to the system of committees flags and committees supporting and unifying slogans stressing that young people have all the preparations for the management of post-crowd.
ISRAEL ATTACKED GAZA TODAY
Posted on February 28, 2011 by Omar Karem
Israel Tanks Entered Gaza Today February 28, 2011 their aims to Close the Roads that Connect Egypt and Rafah Gaza, Palestine
yesterday they attacked some people in Magazi camp no death were reported .
Israel now trying to take the time to make something inhumane in Gaza. Trying to inflict fear into the people, that are gathering together to end the internal divisions.
For the last few weeks the unrest can be felt in Palestine as all the people are Uniting to reconciled their differences between their views on the conflict and the aim of Israel to keep the division alive.
All the people inside Palestine and outside are raising their voices for ONE PALESTINE, There is one road to peace, Israel must end the occupation and Palestine be one Nation.
The US and the UN Club need to come to the realization that their support for Israel needs to end if they want to build lasting peace in the Middle East. As the situation is the middle east is concern the people are taking their lands back and the US needs to see itself isolated in its attempt to keep the dictators in place.
Israel is the only danger that we see in the middle east and in the world. Their lobbyists groups around the world are finally exposed and and there is no secrecy.
A Nation Under Siege
Posted on February 22, 2011 by Marivel Guzman
Palestine: A Nation Under Siege
Life is not easy in Gaza, Palestine. Palestinians are in a continuous battle for survival, Physical and Emotionally. Israel makes sure that the population feel unsafe on their persona and their future.
The psychological war that Israel wages against her people is more provocative than the physical one.
Israel continual excursions in Gaza air space and in West Bank keep the population in an upheaval situation every day. The destruction of Gaza dwellings and the complete disruption of their social life have made Palestinians to look for ways to heal their uncertain condition as a ‘Nation’ under the grip of a military power that have drained the natural resources and the energy of the people of the Holy Land.
For more than Six Decades, Palestinians parents have tried to give their children a better future, they have tried to send their children to foreign schools and Universities, or have them married to other Palestinians that have ‘successfully’ established in the ‘Exile’, two main reasons push them to do this:
– To save them from their uncertain future
– Guarantee the future of Palestine.
The seed and future of a Nation reside in every human.
Culture of Palestine.
Anybody that have made it outside of Palestine have the responsibility in their hands to grow as a Nation on the exile and to keep the history of the land from being corrupted, as well as the costumes, and traditional recipes intact.
Every year few Palestinians manage to escape the daily struggle that is living inside a Territory Occupied by a Military Power, specially the people of Gaza where every day more and more try to cross to freedom using what they called Under the Line (illegally crossing from the tunnels). Another modality of human trafficking with their consent but without the authorization of their local Government.
The series of Tunnels that started as illegal corridors to import products, goods and construction material to Gaza, have become part of the official Gazan bureaucracy as Hamas control the import/export of products and they issue permits to dig tunnels.
The people that have escaped through the tunnels have exhausted all the official mechanism such visas, medical care and scholarships as a last resort they use the tunnels to leave, not easy task because they see themselves exposed to the greed of the tunnel operators that take bribes as a payment, after all they are exporting prohibited merchandise. and they encounter another obstacle the handles in Egyptian side that have to be paid as well, and
transported them to the closest Port to take Ships to sail out of Egypt or to the Airport, every step of the way is a risky business for Palestinians as they are not well perceive by the Egyptian authorities, the sentence for being in Egyptian territory is 6 months to a year, step price to paid for trying to get a better future.
“As all of us watched recently on CNN, BBC and Aljazeera news networks, Gaza is being subjected to a new style of holocaust. What the Gazans have to counter the IDF’s state-of-the art high-tech weapons with? They have their right to resist, and they improvise in making their primitive missiles. After all, they are imprisoned by the IDF.
Gazans are denied the necessities of existence. Why? Don’t we campaign for animal protection? Don’t we argue with the Japanese over whaling, don’t we pass laws against foxhunting? Why then ignore what is happening to the millions of refugees from Palestine? They are under attack on daily basis, for demanding the implantations of the UN resolutions that definitely granted them the right to return to their homes. The irony is that the same resolutions gave birth to the State of Israel!”
Dr. Saeb Shaath is a writer, thinker and public speaker on Middle Eastern affairs, and a former diplomat
For the ones hat choose to stay in Palestine or have no other options to leave, life in Palestine is double jeopardy, resisting the occupation inside Palestine is painful, dramatic and sometimes deadly.
The Palestinians that have got out of Palestine on Student Visas or other type of Visa and they have expired them, or simply they got to another country illegally they still face many obstacles that the host countries place on them, their stateless situation make them target of the draconian Immigration Laws that many countries have adopted in the last 15 years, thousand of Palestinians are in Immigration detention facilities around the world, when their Visa expired and their Passport expired they lost their ability to travel, some of them being in infinite detention until their status change, if they have any family or friend that pay for lawyer they have a slim chance to leave those detention camps but for many their only hope is that Palestine Become a state so they can return.
The world is changing their view on the Palestine-Israel conflict and every day more and more people around the world are adding their efforts to the global resistance, against the occupation, being virtual activist or International Observer we all are taking part of Palestine struggle.
May soon all of our brother Palestinians enjoy of freedom of movement and freedom to chose their own destiny as a Free Nation.
Gaza and West Bank As One Nation. Viva Free Palestine.
Dear Susan Life is Not Fair
Posted in November 15, 2010 by Marivel Guzman
Dear Susan life is not fair, and has not been less unfair for Palestinians since the Zionist Movement started at the beginning of the century.
The situation in Gaza is deplorable worse than in the West Bank, and we know that everything that we people of the world wanted to happen for the good of Peace in the world, will only going to be possible if WE THE PEOPLE take the initiative and the lead in our world affairs.
Gaza Siege
The time has come when we must move the strings of power by the only way that is possible, Economic boycott of the diverse industries that finance Israel development and growth.
Hollywood Movie Industry, Knows for their support to Israel and their continuous subliminal messages against Palestine Rights to Resist the Occupation, Christian Non Profit Organizations, givers of astronomical donations to finance illegal settlements in West Bank and East Jerusalem, and every product that it is in the BDS list that give economical life to the Zionist Entity Israel.
The most important is keeping the pressure to our leaders in the US to stop the economic help to Israel. And to stop being the spoiler in the United Nations resolutions against Israel war crimes and pressure Israel to comply with the more of 350 resolutions put in place by this body.
Israel of 2009 is a spoiled country, arrogant and condescending, convinced that it deserves everything and that it has the power to make a fool of America and the world.
Raising awareness in our children about the prospects for peace in the world, educating them about the evil enterprise that is the War Complex Machine and their multi-billion dollars money deals they make with Israel.
Bodies with dead tissues and no apparent wounds; 'shrunken' corpses; civilians with heavy damage to lower limbs that require amputation, which is nevertheless followed by unstoppable necrosis and death; descriptions of extensive internal wounds with no trace of shrapnel, corpses blackened but not burnt, and others heavily wounded that did not bleed
The only way we will make our governments stop acting with impunity is showing them that we are united, that we are a uni-voice, a strong force growing every day, that we can not stay silence with the crimes they perpetrate and silently cover up, that we are awake and aware of the situation in Palestine, and elsewhere in the world.
That Israel is an entity that needs to disappear from the face of the Earth, because is causing great threat to World Peace, and was founded under false pretenses, deception, lies and deceit. And since the creation of this entity, the world has been in a constant battle to support it, against the will of the population of the government that finance her.
There is no secret any more that the Nazi regime so much vilified by the founders of Israel were in concord agreement with the Nazis to transfer as many Jews and their properties to Palestine. We know more about the deception played to world to created Israel. They did not stop at murder to cover up their lies in their way to the creation of Israel.
We have sons and daughters, they are our future educated them.
World peace is an ideal of freedom, peace, and happiness among and within all nations and/or peoples. World peace is a Utopian idea of planetary non-violence by which nations willingly cooperate, either voluntarily or by virtue of a system of governance that prevents warfare. Although the term is sometimes used to refer to a cessation of all hostility among all individuals, world peace more commonly refers to a permanent end to global and regional wars with future conflicts resolved through nonviolent means.
We have sons and daughters, they are our future educated them on the issue of Peace. Educate them on the horrors of war and their profiteers and financiers.
Israel is the biggest arm dealer in the world. And she profits every time there is a death somewhere in the world. BE WAR OR just a random shoot out.
Facebook is just one outlet to spread the truth, they are hundreds of this socials networks that we can use to change our world.
We can not just complain that nothing is happening, because is happening.
We are a force growing. Do not let us be just few raising our voices.
Be a peace activist too, reading is good because you are getting informed, then do your part, share the posts to other walls, export them to others blogs, others channels, other spaces.
Myspace, youtube,meta cafe,tweeter,digg this,blogerspot,wordpress.com. I can search the net and find maybe thousands of this social networks.
Soon the change will become our reality. Do not be discouraged by the tragic events, we all take lessons and must move on, we must make changes to our advantage, and ACT in our behalf, in the name of a brighter future, that for some parts of the world is just Future a temporary word.
They live in the situation of “Be Or Not To Be” where the fight for their life is an everyday affair.
We ALL are thinkers and able to share our concerns and give ideas of how to do better. How to participate in our political process and our world affairs.
Do not let no one dictate you what is good for you, if what you are witnessing is injustice and struggle and does not feel good for you, probably is not good for anybody else.
We can not move on as a society if we permit this tragic events pass in front of our News, and Television Sets and think and pretend that will never happen to us.
We can not move on as a society if we stay indifferent to the pain of other human beings, and look the other way pretending everything is right and there is nothing to change.
If There got to be Freedom in any society, Justice must be the base of the same. Human Rights is an inalienable right of every human being, being Gaza, US, Germany, Lebanon, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba(should not exist),Cuba, China, Iran, Mexico, Congo, Russia..or any place on Earth that humans co-habit under any authority of any type.
Take your future in your hands. If you do not do it, others will do for you.
Then you will have no face to complain or time to ACT.
ACT NOW for your future and for the change you want to see.
ACT NOW for betterment of our society.
Is Rupert Murdoch Ignorant?
Posted by Marivel Guzman
Original Post by by Raja Mujtaba
Article by Alan Hart
Its proclaimed objective is to “fight anti-Semitism”. In reality its main purpose under the leadership of Abe Foxman is to smear, harass, silence and preferably destroy those of all faiths and none who are critical of Zionism in action – critical of Israel’s policies in general and its contempt for international law in particular; and critical of the awesome power of the Zionist lobby, in America especially.
“In a recent speech at an ADL (Anti-Defamation League) dinner, Rupert Murdoch, arguably the most influential mainstream media chief on Planet Earth, made some extraordinary statements which must be challenged. But first it’s necessary for us all to be clear about what ADL’s role is.”
Murdoch and his empire They are very much aware of the situation in the world, at this stage ..there is no business as usual. His own empire is suffering the Social Networks taking their viewers and readers away from their outlets.
Even Abraham Foxman with all his ADL(Anti-difamation League) power is suffering the downs of the People waking up to the truth, learning the real agenda of his ADL as a front to kill any attacks on the Zionist Agenda..The ADL and the Jewis Lobby worked tirelessly to kill dissent..But now..we are seeing that their stage is falling down..
Their positions on issues are going to change with the Times, because that’s what they do good..these characters like the lizards will change the color of their skin..
Their ancestors did it in the past they change religion as convenience.
Now these lizards will change even their Views and responses to the times that are changing..
Murdoch is not stupid but he goes where the money will be generated, he is the money man.
Remember myspace.com when Tom the friend of millions make its debut on the wires, and the world got caught by surprise..Well you must wonder is myspace.com wasn’t just another theather mounted for your entertainment and once the show was mature they tear it down and Murdoch came and took his share, your presence, your friends, your pictures, your views. Murdoch is not stupid he is one of the most cleaver men of our time.
The power to the people is pushing aside the “legends” of the Media, characters made famous for their unrestricted use of Power to divert, their impunity to bend the truth with catastrophic consequences. People like Murdoch involved by power given to him by not other than you, your indifference to play a role in your own affairs.
His power is vested on nothing more than propaganda and lies.
Take your power back and Murdoch and his empire of Adds and Money will dissipate with the silver screen, and the Flash News, that the only flash is the light in the face of the actor of the scenery of the theater they mount everyday. Wake Up to reality and take back your rights, exercise your power to decide for your Present and Your Future.
Egypt’s Facebook front: Power to the People
Posted on October 23 by Marivel Guzman
from Original Post on Haaretz by Zvi Bar’el
Blog it–Share it — Tweet it– Youtube it– Digg it Mubarak human rights abuses must to stop, the assault in free speech of every individual is sacred and should be respected, Mubarak! is over, your reign of oppression is over..POWER TO THE PEOPLE.
Could Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who this month began his 30th year in office, have imagined he would have to conduct his political battles via computer? Via the “curse of the Internet”? Against bloggers and Facebook? Could he have conceived that one day he would have to relinquish his monopoly over public discourse to young people aged 18 to 25, who send messages to millions of potential voters in Egypt with the tap of a finger?
The Kafia (Enough ) movement, which was formally established in 2004, became active online during the 2005 election campaign. In its wake a dozen movements have arisen demanding regime change. Around the time when the Kafia website was established, the Muslim Brotherhood was also working on its own site. Each of these movements was immediately joined by long lists of bloggers, who helped foment demonstrations, strikes and an entire, new national discourse in which the regime has hardly any presence.
ccording to statistics published at internetworldstats.com, which tracks the distribution of Internet usage around the world, in 2000 there were only 450,000 internet users in Egypt. Now there are 18 million – approximately 22 percent of the population. This is also about the same proportion of the population that is between the ages of 18 and 27 – the segment likely to determine the outcome of the next election.
Mohamed ElBaradei, former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency and a Nobel Prize laureate, is now devoting most of his energies to this public. Although he has not yet declared himself a presidential candidate for next fall’s election, his slogan is “Change will come via the young.” His supporters have launched a Facebook group listing his demands for changing the constitution, and have more than 129,000 followers.
Supporters of the president’s son Gamal Mubarak, considered the front-runner at present, set up their own Facebook group attacking ElBaradei, and published photos of his daughter Laila wearing a bathing suit.
The presidential election campaign, which has started early, is closely linked to the parliamentary elections scheduled for next month, under the assumption that the latter will be an early test of the presidential race. However, it appears the regime has not yet appreciated the essence of the demographic change: It believes the main threat is not young people, but rather the Muslim Brotherhood, which until recently was torn over whether to participate in the elections or to boycott them along with other opposition movements.
As the group wavered, debates flared online between bloggers and on Facebook. “For whom should I vote when it is the government that determines who gets elected?” wrote one reader in response to the coverage in the Al-Masri Al-Youm newspaper. “Don’t make a laughingstock of yourselves – after all, you know that whether or not we vote, it’s the government that decides,” wrote another reader.
In the end the Brotherhood decided to run, and put together a list of about 160 candidates. Though it is an illegal movement and is prohibited from forming a political party, its candidates’ identities are known and they will run as independents. In the previous elections they got 88 representatives (out of 454 ) into Parliament, and are now expecting to win nearly double that number of seats and become a powerful faction.
However, the number of candidates the Brotherhood hopes to get into parliament indicates it is not aspiring to “conquer the legislature” per se. It wants to demonstrate power but not be a threat. Otherwise, it would have put together a list of at least 300 candidates.
The regime is not impressed by the Muslim Brotherhood’s “modest” approach, and considers it to be the main political threat. The regime is working against the movement both on the “traditional” level – nearly 200 activists have been arrested – and on the “electronic” level. First, the regime shut down four satellite stations that broadcast religious programming and informed them they would no longer be able to use Nilesat satellite services unless they upheld the terms of their licenses. These terms prohibit broadcasting content harmful to Christians and Shiites, limit religious content to 50 percent of all broadcasts, ban the broadcast of items “liable to disturb order and arouse civil war,” and mandate allocating specific amounts of airtime to films and music.
Now, media and official bodies are also required to apply for a permit to disseminate messages via SMS. Movements that do not enjoy official status, like the Muslim Brotherhood, the Kafia movement, the National Association for Change headed by ElBaradei and the Nasserist Al-Karama party, cannot receive permits.
However, these restrictions – which have made Egypt a focus of international criticism – cannot prevent activity on Facebook or stop bloggers from disseminating messages via their own personal sites.
When both the demography of Egypt is working against the regime and the “arsenal” is changing, perhaps Mubarak himself – like his colleague President Shimon Peres – will also have to open a Facebook group.
Zvi Bar’el is the Middle Eastern affairs analyst for Haaretz Newspaper. He is a columnist and a member of the editorial board. Previously he has been the managing editor of the newspaper, the correspondent in Washington and has also covered the Occupied Territories.
Bar’el has been with Haaretz since 1982, and has written extensively on the Arab and Islamic world. In 2009, he was awarded the Sokolov prize for lifetime achievement in print journalism.
Bar’el has a Ph.D in the History of the Middle East. He teaches at Sapir Academic College and is a research fellow at the Truman Institute at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, as well as at the Center for Iranian Studies.
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Power to the people.
By Marivel Guzman
Blog it–Tweeter–Digg it– Stumpt it–Youtube it—Myspace it—Share it–
Human rights abuses must stop in Egypt and every where in the world
Free Speech is a right every citizen of the world must enjoy
No President, Prime Minister, King, or anyone can suppress our rights, support Egyptian in their struggle
POWER TO THE PEOPLE
The era of instant communications is here, regardless of the propaganda still expensive and paid by the high hierarchy, we the people have in our hands powerful tools than can change the balance to our favor.
We are not talking of war or violence, not at all, the dissemination of the truth is sufficient to educate people and make them part of the social change that is inevitable.
Mubarak,Natajahu, to Obama..I mean any “smart” leader have to take notice of the reach of the social networks.
We are not talking of something sporadic and out of place, we are talking of facebook as a social phenomenon that can not be stopped.
Facebook even if it was put in place by the spy agencies and with the idea to gather information or control us, has got out of their control. Now we control it, we move the information, we are making the News from our keyboards, we decide what to believe, because we all are thinkers, in one level or other, we all are in the process of evolving to the next level.
It is not by chance of accident that we are in this point of history, society is continuously changing, and we being in the informatics age should not be surprise that we are making history, we are writing the history of our time.
Facebook is one tool, but without YOU is of no use.
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