Nabisaleh, another night raid

The Israeli army raided Nabisaleh again, and as before they raided the house of Bilal Tamimi. The Israeli army this time insisted on waking up the children, including Bilal 5 years old daughter.

In the video and as Bilal refused to wake up his own daughter, one of the soldiers said "If you don't want to wake them up, we will do that!" in Arabic. His deceleration was met with an angry protest from Manal Tamimi, Bilal's wife. Obviously the captain ordered his Arabic speaking soldier fuck off, as the soldier gave up seconds later.

Funny story, the soldier felt so threatened from Manal's words, he responded "like wet scared cat" he is not from the Arab Druz minority, which might be true.
PS: He might be from the former South Lebanon Army(SLA) that collaborated with the Israeli occupation through out Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon and fled it when Israel withdrawn it's forces in April 2000.

Later, one soldier attempted to take Manal's photo using his cellphone, but as Manal and Bilal protested the soldier attempt and asked for a justification for this attempt. While Manal was protesting the soldier kept on saying "will u listen to me!?". When Manal told him, he can talks, he got an order over the radio, and simply walked away...
I will kill to know what he wanted to say!

Watch the video bellow.

 

Salute to Bilal and Manal for their bravery.

We are here Because we want Peace.

The Israeli Army raided the Village of Nabisaleh last night! "AGAIN"

This time they raided the house of Bilal Al Tamimi who filmed the raid and the conversation between him and the Israeli soldiers. When Bilal asked the soldier why you are here. 

The soldier answered "We are here because we want peace!"

Every time I hear an Israeli soldier talks to a Palestinian, I feel hatred superiority and dehumanization in his voice and the way he talks.

Which I believe, is something deeply rooted in the Israeli army culture, if not the Israeli society. 

You can sense that from the video. Can't you?

Nothing Normal about Normalization

A response to Aziz Abu Sarah post in 972 magazine what is normal about normalization.

First of all, allow me to start with the definition of ‘normalization,’ at least the one that Palestinian anti-normalization activists use; normalization is the participation in, or joint work with, any Israeli in a field other than politics, which might imply that the relation between the Palestinian and the Israeli is normal. i.e. myself and an Israeli write a book about fashion. Normalization is also when Palestinians and Israelis meet "voluntarily" to discuss the Palestinian-Israeli conflict without the Israeli participant’s recognition of the Palestinian’s rights to return and self-determination. i.e. Well, all those programs we have been protesting!

"Voluntarily" being highlighted in the previous paragraph brings me to my second point. My birth certificate has the IDF civil administration logo on the top, and it’s written in Hebrew and Arabic, same as my ID card. Do you call this normalization? If you do, allow me to remind you that in the case of occupation, the occupier takes the responsibility of administrating the occupied nation’s needs. That includes issuing ID cards, drivers licenses…etc. In other words, we, the Palestinians living in the West Bank, Gaza, Jerusalem and in ‘48, don’t cooperate with the Israeli occupiers because we choose to, but because we have to. Or, do you want to lose your Jerusalem ID because you didn't renew it on time?

Beside Mr. Aziz’s ignorance in the definition of normalization, he has obviously never stepped foot in any of the weekly protests across the West Bank, such as the one in Nabi Saleh. Over the last 2 years, Israeli activists who recognize the Palestinian's rights to return and self-determination joined Palestinians in the field against their government’s oppression. They jump in front of the soldiers to protect Palestinians from getting arrested, and if they are arrested, they provide the needed legal aid to the detainees and their families. Many of those activists challenged their loved ones, their families, and their whole world to protest on our side.

Speaking of that, allow me to quote my friend’s sarcastic comment in Nabi Saleh last Friday, in which she referred to Mr. Aziz Abu Sarah’s article.

“I did something shockingly bad today, I called an Israeli activist "Habibti" after she swore she wouldn't sign release papers, in the case we got arrested, until we both get released. Aziz Abu Sarah, I have joined your ranks of Normalization.”

I recommend what Maath wrote about co-resistance. 

Finally, the Freedom Riders, I knew this would happen, and this is why many of the anti-normalization activists protested the action, as we were almost sure it would be misused, or at least misunderstood by world media. If you read the coverage of the action, you would see it. They ignored the original press release that explained why those activists were carrying out the action, and concentrated on what serves their propaganda. So, please, spare some time and read the press release again. You can also find my take onthe Freedom Rides actions right after it.

In the end, I have Israeli friends, they are good people, but the moment they reenlist in the army, or question my people’s rights to return and self-determination, they are out of my life.  

As the oppressor, Israelis hold more responsibilities than the oppressed Palestinians.

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a case of the oppressed against their oppressor, just a reminder in case you forgot.

Happy New Year 

Ahmad 

To Mustafa's Mothers

In the name of God the Merciful the Compassionate.

O beautiful mothers who have waited for their sons to return,

My beautiful sisters, which gave to the country what is most dear to the heart,

O most beautiful women dressed in mourning cloth,

For what do you want to sing and cry, what do you want of respect, loyalty, and order,

For when he gave the most precious, when the tender met the land’s call,

With tournament and sacrifice,

His soul went up to the heavens in splendor.

For this is the way of the free among the strain of the martyrs,

Of those who proceeded on the altar of freedom and redemption for Palestine.

For our belle Palestine the spirit pays a tribute and drenches the land with blood.

We comfort you and mourn you because you left like folding clouds in the sky,

So be our symbol who we seek its light.

Perhaps, my dearest sister, perhaps you are grasped in the perturbing sadness and in the numbness wounds,

Our blood defiled above the ground is a rose shining from behind the blockade,

A rose that lights the way for us to renew our path.

Mustafa’s blood writes; on the ground pregnant with the beloved; the opening anthem,

It is for Palestine that martyr fell after martyr, and when his hand captured the stone of the intifada (uprising) and victory,

The spirit of Umm Nizar ululated and Bakr sang.

We wont write about him or enrich him. As the doors of the heart leading to him and the reluctance of his songs with their hopes and aspirations announces his presence in us, and seek our presence in him.

On the walls we see his leaps,

On the ground we trace his footsteps,

In the fields we hear his whispering cry followed by a blessed stone that calls upon him,

We will remember him and will not forget him as he enriches us and we don’t enrich him.

God will bring him closer and purify him and grant him long life.

On our land pigmented with blood, in the village of redemption, the town of martyrs, the village of Nabi Saleh, the intifada of loyalty (uprising) opens the death laden.

Barbarians scatter snipers, invaders of death on the place and on the living,

To steal life and spread grief.

Earth groaned, when the murderers instilled the gas canister in Mustafa’s fragile flesh.

Leading his soul to the sky, to befriend the companions and prophets.

The seventh sky lights up and our mother, earth opens her heart to embrace his pure body to scent its ground with his blood.

On this day resistance is announced on the slopes, on the hills singing songs of revolutionaries for the land,

The voice announcing “we die for our people to live, Long live Palestine!”.

Do not shed tears Umm Mustafa, his soul embraces us to the spectra of freedom,

Through his eyes we will look on the horizon to our victory, the victory of blood over the sword. Dearest sister, it's not easy or easy to self stand in such a situation, but with patience and faith you will come out from the circle of grief to reverence and honor that befit the presence of a martyr. So sleep in the skies Mustafa, and send Umm Nizar my greeting and tell her verily here we stay, like our olives trees resisting until we continue to be. Until we write the statement of victory, of a long desired life - humanitarian up to all the meanings of living of freedom, democracy, justice, human dignity and peace.

‘Peace be upon you the day you were born, the day you departed and the day you will be alive again’.

Greetings of peace to your mother and your father.

With warmth in my heart I dedicate this to you and to them.

Bassem Tamimi

Ofer prison.

إلى آم المصطفى

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

يا أجمل الأمهات التي انتظرت ابنها وعاد يا أجمل الأخوات التي أعطت للوطن مهجة الفؤاد يا أجمل النساء التي ما نزوت في ثياب الحداد لكي ما تشائين من الغناء ومن البكاء لكي ما تشائين من الاحترام والوفاء ولكي ما تشائين من المديح ومن الثناء فحين أعطى أجزل العطاء لبى للأرض النداء بالبطولة والفداء فصعدت روحه إلى العلياء في بهاء فهذا نهج الأحرار من سلالة الشهداء من سبقوه ع...لى مذبح الحرية والفداء لا اجل فلسطيننا الحسناء تدفع الروح مهرا وتسقي الأرض بالدماء فلنا فيك العزاء لأنك رحلت كالغيم 

الملفع في السماء فكن شراعنا الذي نلتمس به الضياء .

لعلك يا أخت الروح في يقضة الحزن وغفوة الجراح ودمنا المستباح فوق الأرض وردة تلمع من خلف الحصار يضئ لنا الطريق لنجدد المسار فدم المصطفى يكتب على الأرض الحبلى بالأحباب الإحياء سفرا يقرأ فيه افتتاح النشيد فلأجل فلسطين سقط من الشهيد تلو الشهيد وحين قبضت كفه على حجرا الانتفاضة والنصر زغردت له روح ام نزار وغنى بكر لن نكتب عنه أو نرثيه فأبواب القلب تفضى إليه وتردد أغانيه وتحمل أماله وأمانيه تعلن حضوره فينا وتبحث عن حضورنا فيه فنرى على السور قفزته وعلى للأرض خطوته ونسمع في المدى صرخته حين يتبعه حجرا مباركا ينشده ويناديه سنذكره ولن ننساه فهو الذي يرثينا ولا نرثيه فالله يقربه 

ويصطفيه وامتداد الحياة يجزيه .

على راضنا المخضبة بدمنا في قرية الفداء بلدة الشهداء النبي صالح انتفاضة الوفاء تفتح كوة من حُسن الموت المحمل برابرة العصر

 ليوزع قناصة الغزاة الموت على المكان والإنسان ليهب الحياة وترسيخ المعاناة تراب يئن يخضبه دم مصطفى حين يغرس ألقتله قنبلة الغاز في لحمه الطري فتصعد روحه إلى العلياء رفيق الصديقين والأنبياء يضئ سمائنا السابعة وتفتح أمنا الأرض قلبها لا احتضان طهر جسده لتعطر التراب من مسك دمه وفي يومه صهلت جيادنا المسرجة بالمقاومة على الروابي والسفوح تغني للأرض أغاني الثوار وتعلن بصوت دمه نموت ليعيش شعبنا وتحيا فلسطين

لا تبكيه يا أم مصطفى فروحه تأخدنا لنعانق أطياف حريتنا الحائرة ونطل من فضاء عينيه على أفق انتصارنا انتصار الدم على السيف فيا أخت الروح ليس الأمر سهلا ولا هينا على النفس الوقوف في مثل هذا الموقف ولكن بالصبر والإيمان نخرج من دائرة الحزن والفجيعة إلى مستوى الإجلال والإكرام الذي يليق بحضرة الدم والشهداء فنم في عليائك قرير العين يا حمامة سلامنا وأقرئ آم نزار مني السلام واخبرها إنا باقون هنا كأشجار زيتوننا نقاوم حتى نستمر في إن نكون ولنكتب في الأحمر القاني بيان انتصارنا للحياة المشتهاة التي نستحقها من بابها الإنساني صعودا إلى كل المعاني الحية من الحرية والديمقراطية والعدالة والكرامة الإنسانية والسلام .

سلام عليك يوم ولدت ويوم رحلت ويوم تبعث حيا والسلام.

وسلام على أمك وأبيك ودفئ قلبي اهديهم وأهديك.

باسم التميمي 

سجن عوفر

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