BostontoPalestine
Boston support group for the International Solidarity Movement

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Ben has worked on human rights and social justice issues for several years. He worked as a Union organizer for Janitors in Denver before moving to Boston in 2002 where he helped found BostontoPalestine, a group that sends local people to work in solidarity with the Palestinian people in their non-violent struggle to resist and end the occupation of Palestine.

8-23-04 Kids & solidarity in Qalqilya by Ben, in Qalqilya, West Bank

8-19-04- Photo report from Hebron by Ben, in Hebron, West Bank

8-18-04 The b2p delegation tour has started! by Ben, in Dheisheh camp, West Bank

8-18-04 The b2p delegation tour has started!

by Ben, in Dheisheh camp, West Bank

Our delegation of 7 from Boston is now back in Jerusalem after three very
intense days in the Bethlehem and Hebron area. There have been tears and much
stress but a great deal of learning and growing together.

Unfortunately I don't have time to write a proper report, but I wanted to
forward these photos and captions to you.

click on image to enlarge

This first photo is of one of the Boston delegates meeting in Bethlehem with the families of Palestinian political prisoners, thousands of whom are now on hunger strike in Israeli prisons.

click on image to enlarge

The second photo is from a very happy event at Deheisha refugee camp near
Bethlehem. The "Shiraa" youth group performed for us part of a wonderful
Dubke musical they have been working on for many months. Dubke is the
traditional Palestinian folkdance. Eroc, Op, and Ruth all performed hip hop
and poetry, which was received with much excitement. Lyrics were available in
Arabic thanks to translation help from b2p.

click on image to enlarge

Last photo: As we and the children walked to our homes in the camp, the army
attacked. We heard bombs and shooting an took shelter. The delegation
gathered in the living room of one of the Shiraa family's homes, and were
served Arabic coffee as the Israeli rifle fire cracked in the evening air. The
attack lasted about thirty minutes. We learned that plainsclothed army agents
entered the camp in a stolen Palestinian vehicle. They entered the camp and
grabbed three wanted men, and were then supported by eight arriving jeeps and
a military helicopter. We also heard military jets overhead. The whole
attack lasted about 30 minutes, and took place a short distance from where we
were staying. On television we could see smoke rising from the camp. The
next day we photographed some of the damage we found.

There is much more to report, but we have been moving constantly and this may
be the case for some time.

in solidarity,
Ben