Becca's Palestine Letter (pt. 1)
The following letter from a good friend in the New Orleans design community, also a fellow graduate from Loyola University, actually sparked my search for a blog site to post this first meaningful message. I must also give a shout out to Paul Cella for pointing me out to the site and whole blog scene. On to the blog:
Becca Rapp is a 22-year old social activist and member of New Orleans Human Rights Delegation to Palestine, where she will be for the next few weeks. Before I offer my take on the whole messy situation in the Holy Land, I hope this letter / journal entry gives you an insight not only into my opinion on the abuse the United States is partially responsible for, but may it also open your eyes to the reality of daily life which no Western media corporation will ever show you:
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Beginning my third day in Nablus was simple enough. We met with a Palestinian
friendship alliance working towards improving international relations,
including assisting Palestinian students with scholarships and foreign exchange
programs. The situation in Balata was unpredictable but turned into a near 24
hour occupation of homes and main entrances into the camp. Through sources in the
camp, we learned of four homes occupied by Israeli soldiers during the night.
Homes have most recently been occupied for two reasons: to survey the
landscape for invasion or to plan assassinations of Palestinian occupants of
neighboring homes. During these secretive operations in the night, the soldiers
use force to invade dwellings usually housing at least two families, forcing the
families into one space for countless hours without food, drink, or fresh air.
They become illegally imprisoned in their own homes.
Our goal as internationals is ultimately to protect the families inside by
offering medical/health attention with the hope of forcing the soldiers to leave
the homes. In many cases, we work closely with the Palestinian Medical Relief
Center in seeking first aid for the Palestinians.
Our first target home housed three families with estimates of 20-25 people
inside including at least 12 children. Five internationals including myself
decided to take action early in the afternoon. It is more risky for Palestinians
to be involved in these situations, so our Palestinian contacts remained in the
background as our support. We began our action by introducing ourselves as
unarmed internationals concerned about the families inside. Shouting out from
different points around the three story house, we tried to get the soldiers
cooperation but they stayed hidden inside behind closed windows and curtains.
The metal double doors securing the home had bits of glasses shattered where the
soldiers apparently broke in and cut the wires that secure the lock. But there
was no way for us to get in.
We tried to "be polite" and use the buzzer, but of course, there was no
success. Our 60 second decision was to make as much noise as possible to get the
soldiers' attention. While one activist rpeatedly buzzed up to the flats, I and
another activist grabbed shoes from piles that lined the alley and began
banging. An armored jeep showed up about fifteen minutes after our initial
arrival and said they will not allow us entry and that we must leave. Meanwhile
Palestinians lined the street opposite the home with much anxiety, but in total
support of our actions. We weren't ready to give up and reassumed our positions
banging and shouting. The jeep returned shortly after and threatened to shoot
everyone on the street if we did not leave and drove off after tossing a sound
bomb into the street. Immediately we phoned media contacts to inform them of
the situation--that soldiers had literally threatened to shoot a crowd
consisting mainly of children if we did not leave the scene of an illegal home
occupation.
The Jeep returned a third time accompanied by another Jeep and a Hummer (used
to load up soldiers), collected their soldiers (the exact number unclear),
and left the scene. We immediately went upstairs with our cameras and found all
the families--25 people ranging from infancy to at least 70 years
old)--terrified with the arms held up in the air coming out of a room in the
second floor flat. The room was windowless and about 8'x 10'. The room temperature was at
least 100 degrees and they were stuck there for 16 hours. Another room in the
house was ransacked, bed broken into pieces, and the father of the family told
us that the soldiers stole 700 shekels, money he had saved for his children.
They were very grateful for our and the community's help in getting them
released. Fortunately, all were unharmed and managed to find enough nourishment
for everyone in the stash of candy they had in one corner of the room.
Our day didn't end there. Jeeps had already been at one of the camp, doing
nothing but antagonizing the people of Balata with their armed presence. As the
day progressed, the people began to show resistance. Stones began to fly, but
one thing I never realized before coming here was that these "stones" were
really not stones at all but bits and pieces of homes that were demolished by
the soldiers themselves. It was sickening to see the Jeeps--as much as three at
one time--circling the streets, only to fired rounds in the air and tear gas
into the small crowd accomplishing nothing but the destruction of their own
vehicles that are paid for by the US dollar. I'm curious to know the turnover
rate of Jeeps in Israel.
In the later evening we received a phone call of another occupied home with a
pregnant woman at full term inside. A new negotiating team approached the
home and after several hours of pleading for their release, the soldiers finally
left. Again, fortunately, no one was harmed.
Throughout the evening, children were pulling on my sleeve yelling, "Jaesh,
jaesh!" (Soldier, soldier!) hoping that I would be able to do something to
force them to leave. But there was nothing more to do than document their
presence and pray that no one would be seriuosly injured. By the end of the evening
one boy was shot in his back with a rubber bullet, but after treatment in the
ambulance awaiting such cases or worse, he was released with minor injuries. The
day was long and stressful for everyone, but the Palestinians expressed their
gratefullness for being present.
ANOTHER DAY:
The following day was no less stressful. Nablus was completely shut down for
those coming and going. For seven+ hours in the sun people waiting at both
Hurawa and Beit Furik checkpoints. The numbers at Hurawa alone amounted to over
500. When we arrived at 6:30 pm to assess the situation, it was complete chaos.
Both soldiers and border police were present, using their vehicles as
baracades, continuously thrusting them into the crowds not caring if a child was
standing in front of them. The soldiers immediately identified a couple
internationals with cameras and went after them--either brought them down to the
ground and kicked them or tried to run over them with their Jeeps.
Babies were crying in their mothers' arms, older women and men were sitting
on the rocks with their canes propped up next to them. And on either side of
the line that was busting out of the concrete walls, men and women were being
pulled aside and beaten for no reason. The entire checkpoint was surrounded by
soldiers and M16's pointed at the heads of Palestinians with no discrimination
or purpose. When were finally able to confront the soldiers with their
reasoning for closing the checkpoint, they could only say, "I can't say. There's
a situation." The only information we were able to gather was that they were
looking for someone. At about 8:00 pm they began to let women and children
through. At that point, two internationals were arrested without cause.
With the cooperation of many Palestinians, several activists worked
tirelessly to see to it that a young man--21 years old--with X-rays and
paperwork in his hands could pass immediately because he was was experiencing severe kidney
problems and infections. An activist with medical training tried to express the
condition to the soldies, but they were not interested and refused saying the
only way he would pass is if he was in an ambulance. The surrounding men even
promised that no one else would ask for special permission if they would let
this man through, but the soldiers still refused.
That was the story for the rest of the night. Ambulances were denied access
to opposite sides of the checkpoint, as well families in cars. We left the
scene at 1:00 am when there were 10 vehicles left for inspection,and just barely
after all of the detainees (amounting to 150)were released to cross. The two
internationals that were arrested were seen at a hearing today where their
release was granted--much to our surprise.
There is much more to discuss from these situations and I know that I have
been very descript, but it is hard to edit such stories, especially knowing that
many of you have not had the opportunity to see this first hand. I will write
more when I have the chance. Please give permission to any media to contact
me at any time. The phone works well in certain areas, and not at all in
others, but it is still a valuable tool.
In solidarity,
Rebecca
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-M. Nix New Orleans, LA
