Make some noise!!
With the border still closed, I've been trying to keep busy-and take some action in any way I know how. For me, that means writing and networking to inform as much media as possible. I'm working now on getting some television crews out to film the border-though with the tight Egyptian security bans, that might be difficult.
We are also considering pitching up some tents near the border and camping out during the days-but as one man I met at the Crosing pointed out "if the Egyptians kill 8 of their own in protests in FRONT of the media, think about what they will do to us!!"
So for now, I've been writing. Two articles for Aljazeera, one on the UN/OCHA report saying that Israel has broken every provision of the year old US-brokered Agreement on Movement and Access, and another short feature on people who are caught at the crossing.
I've also written a commentary for the Guardian's Comment is Free blog, and have continued doing audio postcards for the BBC's World Update program. I also reported on the matter to Pacifica's FSRN news.
Also my thanks and thoughts with all of those who have sent emails of support and solidarity.
All I can say now is: Go out and make some noise in any way YOU know how!!
posted by Laila @ Saturday, December 02, 2006
12 Comments:
I don't think bringing TV to the border is feasible! I remember 3 years ago when I was there a guy was filming by his own video camera, the Egyptian officers took his camera and destroyed it! besides I am quite sure that the "Israeli" side is demanding the Egyptian border security not to have any kind of media coverage for the border crossing!... Inshallah tofraj 2areebn...
As someone said in Guardian comments;"Sorry, Laila, but until Hamas et al stop tunnelling, planning terrorist attacks, bleating generally that they are the victims, when the poor idiot Palestinians who voted them into power "democratically" are the real victims here because of Hamas' attitude, then I can't find it in my heart to feel at all sorry for you. After the way you snatched defeat from the jaws of victory after Israel withdrew from Gaza, you don't deserve any sympathy from anyone.
You carefully avoid mention of the fact that arms and ammunition are being smuggled into Gaza (no doubt for the use of the "brave" "resistance" fighters who hide themselves and said armaments among civilians) from the Egyptian side, and probably through Rafah"
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/laila_elhaddad/2006/12/post_734.html
Anonymous please report back with civilian casualty numbers for the past six months or year, those inflicted by Hamas and all other militant factions, and those inflicted by the Israeli military; I wish to see the great damage all these smuggled super weapons are doing so I can see if the response of Israel and other nations is appropriate, with all these civilians suffering and dying.
You reveal your ignorance when you quote and support a man who generalizes voters for hamas as idiots. One wrong makes another wrong of immensely bigger impact right? Inform yourself then speak, otherwise you add to the conflict and confusion, unless that is what you wish to do.
I will add that personally I oppose all attacks on civilians by anyone.
I will also say I am informed enough to know that the Israeli military kills far more Palestinian civilians then Israelis civilians killed by militant attacks, to about a four to one ratio; injuries are much worse for Palestinians too. And that does not even account for the terrible suffering physically and mentally of living in an occupied territory. This does not mean either is right for those acts but it places the conflict in the context of reality and those who do not admit this truth instead admit their bias and anti-Palestine sentiment.
Do you care only for Israeli civilians?
why can,t the rest of the civilised world wake up and see what is being done to the Palestinian people has to be against human rights. A song from my childhood went;
"wherever you turn, you will find my kin, whatever the creed or the colour of skin - its the family of man"
'H'
Good luck, Laila. Rabinah maaki.
Let's all keep our emotions in check here. Strong emotions over a comment board rarely do anything; it's a safe haven for people to yell and scream with impunity. Channel that emotion into getting the word out to your friends and make your voices heard. You can start by sending the "broken border agreement" link out to your friends and family, give them a chance to see the light.
Again Lelia, thanks for your insider input at the crossings. It's always a refreshing look at the life the palestinians lead. Though people have a bias about any Muslim country, deserved or not, they seem to take a second look when UN resolutions are involved. Somethings amiss, and people are beginning to see it.
A list of UN Resolutions against "Israel"
http://www.action-for-un-renewal.org.uk/pages/isreal_un_resolutions.htm
Torontoman i am sure your emotions would be a lot higher if those people who are denied access to their own homes and country were canadians or westren
as it is you have a pro israeli attitude of 'us vrs arabs' thinking that israel is westren and a democracy...therefor the good guys and part of 'us' and the palestinians are 'them' arabs
lets take a closer look:
the european jews stole israel from palestine after ww2 after massive ethnic cleansing, and thats not just history it goes on today...not a day passes that more land is not stolen and more palestinians killed and ethnically cleansed
is israel trueley a democracy? not at all...it maintains a jewish majority through ethnic cleansing. not only that but the askhenazi has more rights than the sephardi and ethiopian, and all jews have more rights than christians with arab muslim citizens at the bottem of the heap.
is israel westren? not really...take a closer look at their laws...they are oriental whether you believe they originated in khazaria or biblical israel..it is a very ancient religion and not much civilized about it at all..
no zionism has more in common with nazism than anything...a 'chosen people' a 'master race'
now you see this blog as a place to discuss comly the genocide od palestinains
i see it as a place to inform
are you getting it?
Forget what the egyptians did to their own, what about what the palistinians did to the egyptian boarder police earlier this year killing and injuring 15-19 egyptian soliders! What was their response do you think!? About a 1000 Palistin still managed to cross, there was no record of any palestinian militans dead or injured. Who do I blame! Israel for their prison they call Gaza! Who do I always know will stand and be killed for the palesintians, you guessed it! The egyptians! But when will they ever say thank you?
http://www.counterpunch.org/finkelstein11292006.html
Even by the grim standards of Gaza, the past five months have been cruel ones.
Some four hundred Palestinians, mostly unarmed civilians, have been killed during Israeli attacks. (Four Israeli soldiers and two civilians have been killed.) Israel has sealed off Gaza from the outside world while the international community has imposed brutal sanctions, ravaging Gaza's already impoverished economy.
"Gaza is dying," Patrick Cockburn reported inCounterPunch, "its people are on the edge of starvation. A whole society is being destroyed. The sound that Palestinians most dread is an unknown voice on their cell phone saying they have half an hour to leave their home before it is hit by bombs or missiles. There is no appeal. "
more here:
http://www.counterpunch.org/finkelstein11292006.html
..how terribly sad......how really alike the pals and the israelis are...in america they are as much alike as brothers from the same famliy...if not brothers certainly cousins......seeing how the arab world hates the pals,and how much the rest of the world dislikes israelis....how about these guys getting together..and building one great place...but to do this the pals have to make the first moves to peace..give up violence...give up terror..i am sure..the israelis will then meet you half way......is this an idea or what?
Post a Comment
<< Home