Although I returned to the U.S. a few days ago I have been putting off this final email until I had some late news about Ryan..hopefully his release from Israeli jail....The Tuesday before I left I was able to visit with him..he was understandably quite scruffy after almost 3 weeks in jail but quite resolved to continue challenging the legality of his imprisonment and possible deportation.Later in the day a positive verdict came from the Israeli court affirming that he could not be deported without cause ( again, no charges have ever been filed against him) so unless the Ministry of Interior requested a 'stay' by noon on Thursday Ryan's lawyer expected his release by the weekend. As it turns out Ryan remains in jail as of Monday because his passport was "lost" during his arrest and the US Embassy decided it would not spend time during the weekend to renew it.Hopefully, now that the work week has officially begun Ryan will finally be out.
During my last week in Palestine I also:
* spent three days at the home of a wonderful Palestinian family in a small town south of Bethlehem. Zennab who I met planting olive trees and her husband have 8 children and a village full of extended family many of whom we visited over the course of 3 days.Education is a priority in this family: eldest daughters graduated from University of Bethlehem one with a degree in engineering and the other in social services; two are now in University one in microbiology and the other in education; four remaining children are scattered in high and elementary school.The priority given to education extracts a huge economic cost; the family has little income as Ahmed, a skilled finished carpenter formerly with his own business, has been unemployed for 5 years due to economic collapse brought on by Israeli policy.Food is often scarce with no breakfast and other meals consisting of bread and tea in a family that used to be solidly middle class.But as typical of Palestinian hospitality what they had was with cheer and pride, shared with me; Zeenab when not helping her children study for exam week amid flurries of kisses, or translating the endless questions directed toward me from her family members (eg: "Why do American mothers give permission to their sons to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan?") taught me how to bake bread in a taboon(enclosed small building with a rock pit kept hot with animal dung).Zeenab who spent many years in Kuwait ("Palestinians built Kuwait" she says) also volunteers 3 times a week in a womens' empowerment organization in Bethlehem.
We also visited her eldest daughter and her three young children who live in a tiny town surrounded by new settlements including one the home to Israeli Foreign minister Lieberman who openly advocates the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and the unrestricted increasing of Israel settlements....not a good situation for their village. Her husband with an Israeli ID allowing him to work in Jerusalem recently found that his permit had been rescinded..when he went to the Army to ask why he was told that the Army wanted him to work with them..in other words be a spy..he refused saying he wold rather lose his job than collaborate with Israel by spying on fellow Palestinians; brave for a young father who now has to worry about his own possible arrest for noncompliance as well as job loss.
* I returned to Beit Ommar for many sad goodbyes; especially with the kinder-gardeners ...one last routine of yoga,parachute games, many hugs tears and kisses.As I left the teachers led them in a loud and by now familiar rendition of "Head and shoulders,knees and toes, knees and toes" it was so heartening to know that the small school has clearly incorporated the games and songs introduced less than 2 months ago.Mousa took us on one last tour of his village showing the beautiful valley where Palestinians,activist Israelis and internationals are replanting trees recently uprooted by settlers; this valley will be destroyed if the Wall is allowed to continue its path through Palestinian land.
* We visited one more house whose proximity to the settlements have made it a frequent target of army raids and met the 14 year old daughter who was beaten up by Israeli soldiers because she wouldn't provide them with the names of her brothers.She tried unsuccessfully to prevent the arrest of her sick father several days later and, when he was later released made sure that he had not provided the boys 'names to Israel as well.
| 100 Palestinians, Israelis and internationals gathered after the Friday noon prayer for the weekly demonstration against the fence and the settlements in Ma'asara, January 8, 2010 |
In Al Tuwani, from where I earlier joined a childrens' march in support of the right to education the settlers have increased their attacks on students walking to school and the army recently arrested and beat up a Shepard (among other reasons he refused to says the Israeli army is the best in the world.(see attached report filed by very mainstream many middleaged American Christian Peacemakers).
The disheartening list continues:Three principal grassroots leaders of nonviolent protests against the Wall, Jamal Juma', Abdallah Abu Rahmah, Mohammad Othman, remain in Israeli custody. Concern for their treatment and calls for their release have become the object of an international campaign by Amnesty Interntional.
After two plus months in Palestine I leave even more appalled by our governments' funding of the now 43 year old Israeli military occupation of Palestine and appalled by the degree and frequency of continued settler and army violence and land and water theft. I also leave quite disgusted by ongoing references to calls/search for a "Palestinian Gandhi".. reinforcing a very unjustified stereotype of violent Palestinians .I have found and hope I have described a Palestine full of 'Gandhi's..not just the ones who make the Amnesty International website but the countless young men who refuse to collaborate, farmers who go about replanting destroyed land, and young girls simply refuse to give up names of their brothers and sisters.
Despite the ongoing tragedy of Palestine, Palestinians continue to live with the principal of "sumod" translated as 'steadfastness' regardless of the conditions imposed on them.Hopefully those of us committed to international law and human rights will have equal resolve as we increase our efforts to obtain justice for Palestine. I am sure I will return to Palestine..the hospitality and friendliness and sense of purpose is addictive. Let me know if you want to come along..
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