(Ben Heine © Cartoons)
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From somewhere in the West Bank…..
It’s not your typical Friday here in Palestine…. all eyes, minds and prayers are with the people ‘over there’ in Gaza. There are few, if any, people here in the occupied West Bank that do not have loved ones in Gaza. There is talk among the old, the young, everyone in the area. Gaza is on everyone’s mind.
Frustration of not being able to communicate with them or help in any way is felt by all. Anger towards Abbas is not hidden from anyone, he is seen as the collaborator that he is, a tool that helped divide their nation.
Despite the split imposed by the Israeli-Palestinian Authority, despite the planned future collaborations between Abbas and Olmert, Palestine remains united in spirit.
There is one dream common to all of the people here, that being a Free and United Palestine, a Palestine not surrounded by walls. The present siege of Gaza has made that look like an impossibility…. but has reinforced the dream.
I am not far from Jenin, a city not yet recovered from their own siege a few years ago. Here, more than in most areas, the brutality of the oppressor is well known. Here too, the dreams are dreamt…. despite what seems to be a hopeless situation, there is hope.
The mosques in the area are usually full on Fridays, today they are overflowing with the faithful. One man said that “just as the God of the Hebrew children delivered them to the Land of Milk and Honey, He will deliver us as well”, ending with “Allah hu Akbar (God is great”).
Another old timer in the community commented on the irony of the situation saying “when the Hebrews were led to freedom, they LEFT Egypt. Our people had to GO to Egypt to escape oppression”.
Egypt is now considering resealing the border that was smashed open. There is a limit to the ‘humanitarian aid’ they are ‘willing’ to give. No one is overlooking the fact that Egypt has also been a great support to the zionist regime regarding the Palestinian situation.
Tomorrow, protests are planned involving both Israelis and Palestinians. Support demonstrations are planned throughout the world. These planned actions are a source of inspiration to all Palestinians. Do your part to help…. only a united world against oppression will help unite and free all of Palestine.
Rubiconski said,
January 25, 2008 at 2:37 pm
PEOPLE OF GAZA: YOU WILL PREVAIL!!!!
History is on your side Gazans. Criminal zionists get ready to leave.
Jim said,
January 25, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Ron Paul 2008
Mister Bill said,
January 25, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Our Prayers are with you in the Gaza CONCENTRATION CAMP
Tom said,
January 25, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Israeli leaders and sympathizers continually fall back on the treatment of Jews in WW2(The Holocaust) to “justify” their actions in the Middle East(protection), all the while doing the exact same thing to their neighbors! The cycle of retribution against innocent people continues!
marcela said,
January 25, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Gladiator Olmert and Israel’s identity MUST change.
The sadist display of assault collective punishment and daily torture from israel to palestinians
must be confronted by the jewish international community also. Not only from the bleeding and shamefully divided agonizing and humiliated palestinians.
attendingtheworld said,
January 25, 2008 at 3:51 pm
I enjoyed reading your post. The Israelis tried hard to make Gazans hate Hamas and succumb to the Israeli will. Instead, and as usual, their plans failed and Abbas is further exposed. So is Hosni Mubarak. We all knew that. With the freezing of $200 Million is aid (by Congress) to Egypt, he had to quickly run up to his Master’s ass and kiss it. After all, it’s all about money.
More power (and Peace) to you!
ATW
Ben Heine said,
January 25, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Really nice post, Steve, full of hopes for tomorrow.
Thanks for all your work and the information you give to us.
Take care wherever you are.
Ben
jack said,
January 25, 2008 at 4:22 pm
sraeli leaders and sympathizers continually fall back on the treatment of Jews in WW2(The Holocaust) to “justify” their actions in the Middle East(protection), all the while doing the exact same thing to their neighbors! The cycle of retribution against innocent people continues!
__________________________
Except that the Jews’ holocaust of the Arab peoples now, and the Christian peoples last century was not a hoax like their famous Hollowhoax, it was and is all too real!
Fiona said,
January 25, 2008 at 6:09 pm
I have to work tomorrow, but I’ll be wearing my support. I’ll probably end up in trouble, as the store I work in has strict dress policies and is owned by an Israeli born American gentleman from South Carolina by the name of Jerry Zucker, who recently purchased the corporation. Bless you all, Palestinian and Israeli alike who are working so relentlessly and tirelessly to bring about peace and tolerance.
Safia said,
January 26, 2008 at 12:41 am
It will be interesting to see whether anything happens with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, last I heard Egyptian authorities were rounding them up by the hundreds after protests.
Alex said,
January 26, 2008 at 5:17 am
It is conceivable that most Palestinians would forgive and move on if the occupation ended. This would dramatically decrease support for extreemist ideas, if resistance to occupation can be labelled as such. Then with economic prosperity comes the ability to police effectively and so on and so forth. I did once believe in this simple approach unfortunately the nature of the oppression is indeed sinister leaving any real solution however simple or complicated dead on arrival.