To war, or not to war?
Posted on 3 August 2010 | No responses
When I finally got downstairs the talk was, of course, about the skirmish on the border with Lebanon. No one was especially bothered about it, the threat of conflict or actual conflict is a way of life, but there was a feeling that this is preparation for taking on Hezbollah and therefore Iran. From what I’ve read in the Israeli press America seems to be quite preterbed by the incident. Read more
The decline inside
Posted on 2 August 2010 | No responses
Since I got home I’ve been finding it very hard to sleep. Not from the heat, which is like a furnace at the moment and with very little breeze, but from a newly resident cockerel in the neighbourhood. After four nights I promised I’d wring it’s scrawny neck, but a distinct queasiness about expiring a chicken by my own hand led to its reprieve. I had no idea how temporary this would be. Read more
Bad Luck from Palestine
Posted on 1 August 2010 | No responses
As usual there is so much to write about, I almost don’t know where to start. There’s the new supermarket: the only place in Israel and the West Bank where Jews and Palestinians are treated with absolute equality, and it’s in a settlement. Or the water shortage: there’s always a water shortage but it’s so bad this year people are actually talking about the water shortage. Or possibly the real plan for Gaza: Israel to hand it over to the EU to “look after” but still retain a monopoly over goods imported ensuring a lucrative market for Israel. Or how Palestinian society has been irrevocably changed by the “economic plan”: now people are taking out mortgages, loans and credit cards. Or how the once vibrant and amazingly strong prisoners’ movement has now been all but destroyed by Israel’s divisive tactics. I hope to write about all of these issues, and much more. Read more
Life in the bubble
Posted on 30 July 2010 | No responses
So, less than 24 hours and already we’ve been to a wedding. It’s the height of wedding season, and as Ramadan will be in just a few weeks, everyone is cramming them in now. As I write, there are two weddings going on, one either side of the flat. How R has managed to sleep is beyond me. I imagine this must be what it’s like to sleep underneath Blackpool pier. Read more
Coming home
Posted on 29 July 2010 | No responses
Leaving was uneventful, unsurprisingly. As the plane circled to make its descent to Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv came into view. I don’t know why but it looked different. So familiar, yet so unreal. I looked to the distance and thought of all my family and friends, and all other Palestinians, living across the West Bank. Of the difficulties they face each day, just to get to school, work or survive. Of my friend’s brother who was released from prison last week. Of those thousands who still remain incarcerated. And of Ameer Makhoul and Omar Said, Palestinian Israelis accused of espionage. And of the countless other stories of oppression and injustice that fill this country until it overflows. Read more
Interview with Janan Abdu
Posted on 26 June 2010 | No responses
With thanks to Richard Silverstein (Tikun Olam) and Nadia Hijab.
You can show your solidarity and support by writing to Ameer at Room 4, Department 1, Gilbou prison, 10900 Israel. Please also join the Facebook group. Read more
The old journals are back
Posted on 16 June 2010 | No responses
After much procrastination, I am finally reposting my original journals from the second Intifada back onto the internet. Sadly they are not complete: my laptop was stolen and it contained a significant amount of writing about life under occupation, particularly during the early days of the second Intifada and the relentless, violent attacks against Palestinian communities. Still, there is plenty left which should give you a picture of what life was and is like for Palestinians living in the West Bank.
The journals are in a messy order which I intend to tidy up once I’ve become a little more proficient in WordPress. It is also likely to take me a few weeks to get everything posted back up. I’m not sure why I’ve started adding them in such a random order, bear with me!
I have purposely not edited any of the entries, other than really appalling typos, so this is pretty much what happened, as it happened.
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