Black and White

Every time I sit and talk to new foreigners coming either to study Arabic in Beir Zeit, or to spend the summer volunteering in some NGO or doing some work somewhere, the hell I care, I hear the same old talks. Ohh I love Palestine and Palestinians, I am so coming next year, freedom, Love, Peace... CRAP CRAP CRAP and finally BS.

I usually listen to them talking passionately about the amazing time they spend at this village or that. "ohh i am sooo in love with tea and Meramyeh and na'a na'a" they would also talk about the Wara'a Enab they ate the other day too, and they always finish it with "Ohh, Ahmad living with those people, sharing food with them, made me understand their pain, I feel like I am one of them." (seriously, already? You came like a week ago!). I usually smile, and think "how deep lady gaga’s lyrics are!?" 

Most of those people never stayed in Palestine longer than the usual 3 months, they come in, have a nice trip, and maybe hook up with either a Palestinian, or an Israeli(you never know) Then they get on an airplane and get the fuck out of here. Many we never see again(Thank God), some return;"they come back to liberate Palestine".

Ramallah down town 

About a month ago a friend of mine asked me to meet up in a bar in Ramallah called Bait Annesah, despite my promise to myself not to step a foot there, I went to see this friend, as she was leaving the next day. I finally got in the pup,, after convincing the bouncer that I am part of a group, which was waiting  for me inside.

I walked up to sit with my friend, who was already sitting with a group of Palestinian(i am not sure) Europeans and Americans. The conversation carried on, while I sat there saying nothing, until one of the so called Palestinian said "Existence is Resistance, being here is part of resisting the occupation". I looked to their faces for reaction, I saw nothing but approval. I said bye to my friend directly, as I couldn't stay any longer;I would kill someone if I did.

FYI: existence is resistance when your house, land, or even bar under threat of being attacked by settlers or army, when your existence as individual effect the Israeli policies in your area. Existence is NOT resistance if you are sitting in a bar in Ramallah downtown! 

This is one of the too many statements I heard from many of those same pretentious, arrogant white-people, with a big colonialist and orientalist mentality. And just to help you understand why I said what I said, I am adding a couple of those statements I heard:


"The Palestinian keep fucking it up." American. "they wont give up!"

"I really can't understand why you people love violence that much" European. "coffee?"

"Palestine will be much better, if you got rid those bearded fanatic" European. "who?"

"I can't believe this man, he told me I can't drink in there, so dark age" European. "OK"

"I dressed as Palestine for Halloween this year." American. "not going to ask how!" 

"I don't think Palestinians understand, what non-violence means" American. "TRUE"

This post is not directed against a lot of the great people who got to knowthe Palestinian cause as their own, standing at the front line in Nabi Saleh, Bilin and Nilin, or spend hours documenting and translating to expose the Israeli practice against my people. I have nothing but respect and appreciation for them, this post is against those who think by spending a week or 2 hanging out in Ramallah bars and expensive restaurants, they can claim to understand me, my people and my cause. This one is against everyone who thinks he/she has the right to judge my people, based on their standards.

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged" Luke 6:37

Best

A

Palestinian Prisoners in Solitary confinement

1- Ahmad Saadat

Born in 1954. 
Became the Secretary General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine(PFLP) after the Assassination of Abu Ali Mustafa in 2001. 
After the Assassination of the right wing leader, and the Israeli minister of  tourism Rehaven Ze'evi, the Palestinian Authority arrested Ahmad Sa'adat, and held him in the presidential compound in Ramallah, before he was moved into a prison in Jericho under US/Britich guards. In March 2006, the Israeli kidnapped him in Operation Bringing Home the Goods. 
In December 25, 2008, the Israeli military court in offer, sentenced Sa'adat for 30 years.
He have been in solitary confinement since then.


2- Ahed Abu Gholmah

Born in 1968 
Joined the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine(PFLP). studied anthropology in BeirZaiet University, he was active during the first Intifada. In 1994 Israel put his name on its wanted list, he managed to stay free until the PA arrested him in 2002. 
From 1996 until 2001 Ahed worked with Al Dameer (concentrate on the Palestinian prisoners rights in the Israeli prisons).
Israel accused Ahed for providing armed and training for the PFLP cell that assassinated Rehaven Ze'evi.
Arrested by the PA in 2002, and later kidnapped by the Israeli in 2006 in Operation Bringing Home the Goods.
In December 25, 2008, an Israeli military court sentenced Ahed for 30 years.
He have been in solitary confinement since then.


3- Abdallah Barghoti

Born in 1972. 
was Born in Kuwait which he left with his family in 1991 to Jordan, where he finish his high school, before he move to South Korea to work and study Korean literature for 2 years, after that he returned to Jordan to study mechanical engineer. 
Barghoti returned into his village in Palestine in 1990, worked in Jerusalem until 2000, before the first Intifada start, he then started to work in Ramallah and then Nablus where he was recruited by Hamas.
In 2001, after the Sbaro restaurant suicide attack in Jerusalem held by Ez Al Deen Al Massri(Picture below) AlBarghoti became on the top of Israel's wanted list.

In  March 5th, 2003 while ALBarghoti was taking his daughter to the doctor he was arrested by the Israeli special force, few months later, an Israeli military court sentenced Al Barghoti for 1700 years.
He have been in solitary confinement since then.

4- Jamal Abu AlHaija

Born in 1959
ٍJamal returned to Palestine after the second Gulf war in 1990, after 11 years of teaching in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. As soon as he arrived to Palestine he participated in the first Intifada, he was arrested six times. 
During the Second Intifada he lead the Islamic movement in Jenin, in April 2002, Jamal fought with his brothers in Jenin camp against the Israeli invader where he lost his arm. 
He was arrested in August, 26, 2002. 
In April 11th, 2006 he was sentenced for 225 years. 
He have been in solitary confinement since then

5- Mahmoud Essa 

Born in 1968 "Not confirmed"
Mahmoud Essa was arrested in 3 Jun, 1993, after the kidnapping and killing of the Israeli officer Nassem Tolidano. 
"In response to this attack, Israel arrested and exiled 415 into Marj Al Zohor, they all returned a year later, as they refused to leave."
Mahmoud Essa was sentenced for 121 years. 
He have been in Solitary confinement for the last 12 years. 
He describe his solitary confinement 

"Life and Death are Equal in the solitary confinement, even death and grave are more merciful, as it hold internal comfort after the man passes away, but in those cells, its a continuous death, in every second, in every blink. Words can't describe, and human cant stand" 

Hope this gave you an Idea about some of the men who suffer from the Israeli fascist policies in its prisons industrial complex. Solitary confinement has no purpose but revenge from those men, who did nothing but standing in the face of the Israeli occupation.


Best
A

Israeli Military Commander Admits Violently Dispersing Nabi Saleh Protests Also When Peaceful

The trial of Nabi Saleh protest organizer, Bassem Tamimi, opened today with the testimony of Major Michelle Dahan who alleged that Tamimi ordered youth to throw stones based on the fact that he saw him on rooftops during demonstrations.

After more than half a year behind lock and key, the trial of Palestinian protest organizer, Bassem Tamimi, opened today with the testimony of the first prosecution witness, Major Michelle Dahan. Dahan served as a deputy battalion commander in Nabi Saleh between January and May this year, and was to testify on behalf of the prosecution in order to substantiate allegations of incitement to violence against Tamimi.


Dahan, who was commander of the military forces in the area and in charge of the Nabi Saleh demonstrations throughout said period, made it clear that the protests were dispersed before any violence ensued . He said, "[...] after midday prayer, at around noon, some 40 to 70 people would set out from the mosque's courtyard [...] and march down with flags [...]. As soon as the procession arrived at the [village's] main junction, we would declare it illegal and order people to disperse [...]. When the march would not disperse, we would start using crowd control measures [...]".


Referring to the protesters Dahan said, "We recognized the same activists, the same children and adults, with the adults mostly occupied with directing the forces [...]". Throughout his testimony, Dahan reputedly  to referred to the stone throwing children as "forces", alternating the two words.


 He went on to say that "The defendant would appear at the beginning of every demonstration, and as soon as it would turn violent, the defendant would disappear. During the stone-throwing, when we would enter inside the  village to arrest the stone throwers, we'd recognize him on rooftops".


The indictment against Tamimi alleges that he architected an elaborate system of violence against soldiers during Nabi Saleh demonstrations. Dahan indeed testified that Tamimi directed the village youth from rooftops, but could not back his statement by more that hearsay and speculation. The only concrete incident Dahan was able to tie Tamimi to took place at an unknown date in January wherein he claimed to have seen the defendant standing on a roof top in the village, shouting  and waving his arms during clashes in the village. Dahan, however, admitted to not having heard what the older men were shouting and to the fact that he does not at all understand the Arabic language.


When asked why he did not order Tamimi's arrest based on what he saw, Dahan admitted that his commanding officers ordered him not to do so, saying "My certainty [that Tamimi incited the youth] was apparently not sufficient [to justify arrest]".


Source: the popular struggle 

The Chair

The Chair.

The Blue Chair.

The UN Chair.

The Palestine's Right Chair.

The Palestine Deserve Chair. 

The State of Palestine Chair. 

The God Forbid Chair. 

The For God Sake Give Me A Break Chair. 

The Over Compensation Chair. 

The *censored* Chair 

The What Ever You Want To Call It Chair.

Must admit, this blue is pretty nice 

Are we done with the chair!? more?

With chair that big, the US wont Veto

Now, lets put the big ass blue chair a side and lets talk real politics.  

How the UN bid is going to serve the Palestinian cause? 

To be fair watching the US and Israel panicking is pretty amusing, yet this wont change much as the US value it relation with Israel more than its relation with the Arab world "which is already fucked anyway", adding to that the US presidential election is around the corner, so, Fuck those Arab "VETO". 

at the same time Israel expect violence to break anytime in the coming days, regardless the PA promises it will be peaceful, the troops in the west bank were increased 20%, new equipment have been bought and of course a lot of statements were made, either calling the PA for negotiation, or claiming the PA is playing solo. "as id Israel is a great team player"

In other hand the coming Palestinian state will mean nothing as long as Israel doesn't recognize it, after all the Israeli still consider the West Bank as disputed territories, which mean the Israeli government and people wont have any moral obligation to give up the occupied west bank. After all, morality tend to fade away when 40% of you economy come from controlling this territories and its native population. 

Fast Note: Security and military industry make good money without mentioning the settlements and it's business. agricultural, industrial and touristic"around dead sea" one!

leaving the most important to the end"Those are what concern me the most", The Right to Return-the core of the Palestinian cause-, and the PLO status as the only representative of the Palestinian people everywhere.
Can someone please explain it to me, how the PLO will represent the Palestinians when the state is declared, people can not have 2 representative, its simply not logical.
The PLO after the establishment of the Palestinian state will no more represent the Palestinian people, the Palestinian state governments will, a government the Palestinian refuges in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and diaspora wont be able to elect.  

Speaking of the refuges, how they expect from Israel to allow the Palestinian refugees back to their original homeland, while the Palestinian state is just next door. Its a first grade logic, Palestinian live in Palestine, Israelis live in Israel! Which mean the Palestinian refuges, if they were ever allowed to return, will be only allowed to return to the Palestinian state, in the West Bank and Gaza, not to their original homeland, Israel will be no more responsible about their cause and their right to return.

The Palestinian want Palestine

Until someone give me a clear answer regarding the PLO and the right to return I will never consider supporting the PA bid in the UN. At the contrary, I will stand with many other Palestinian youth against it(I guess I live in a free nation). After all, Haifa and Jarra aren't mine to give up.

Best
A


* Pictures and Art work are stolen from around the web, I would mention the source if I wasn't lazy to trace them back.

Knocking on Jerusalem Door

In the last Friday of Ramadan, an Independent Palestinian group named "Olive Revolution" called for a protest at the gates of Jerusalem; the wall gates at Bidu, Sho'afat, Bethlehem and Qalandia were the targets. Unfortunately, all of the protest were canceled last minute, except for a small gathering at Qalandia.

The protest was supposed to start at 10 AM, as announced on the facebook event.  But, off course Arabs are always late, even when they revolt. The people who were standing by the checkpoint were either waiting to be allowed to pass qalandia checkpoint or were already denied, but were still waiting for a wonder to get in after all. Most of the people in the lines at qalandia had no clue about the protest that was announced earlier and many of the denied men left to nearby mosques to pray.

Meanwhile at the other side of the checkpoint, a crowd of women was waiting to enter; many of these women were already denied and out of frustration they started chanting against the Israeli occupation, which banned them from entering Jerusalem. They chanted for a while, even before the protest organizers had arrived. Finally the Friday prayer was announced and people started gathering for prayer at the gate of the checkpoint. It was announced that the protest would start directly after the Friday prayers with the ultimate aim to enter Jerusalem. The soldiers at the checkpoint were already geared up; they had started the gearing as soon as the women had started to chant.

The call for prayers was announced, women and men, used pieces of cartoon to sit on while listening to the Imam's lecture. Meanwhile the internationals and Israeli activists stood in the back watching. The Imam spoke about AlQuds, and the right of every Muslims to reach and pray at its holy places. -I couldn't keep myself from pointing the Irony of this speech to the photographer standing next to me, though-

As soon as the prayer ended the protesters walked 2 meters towards the barrier that separated them from the Israeli soldiers. The protesters started chanting; they chanted loud against occupation, racism, settlements, and demanded their rights to enter Jerusalem. In the middle of this mess -I was informed about this later- 1 young men from Bilin actually tried to reach Jerusalem and walked over a lower part of the wall through the checkpoint, he was arrested and released later that day.

20 minutes after the protest started, the organizers announced the end of it; calling the participants to leave the place of the protest. However, many of the young participants refused, stayed, and continued chanting. While the protest was continued, some soldiers positioned in the tower which overlooked the protest were spitting at the protesters who stood below it. The protesters below the tower were provoked and soon one of them threw a stone at the tower; the soldiers got their excuse.

As soon as the soldier saw the stone flying, they start throwing teargas and concussion grenades; the protest ended at that point, some of the youth threw stones, but the whole confrontation ended within a few minutes.

In the end, I realized how weak the Palestinian independent movement is, and how long it's going to take before it will become capable of moving the people. In other words, I think the Palestinians with their long history of revolution, find themselves now in a similar place as the Egyptians found themselves in 2004.

Wish us luck, we need it in this long run towards revolution and decolonization!

Best
A