Last night in Dheisheh ::: Carl and Chris Williams Freedom

Summer Update

 

Tuesday, August 11, 2002

 

Early Monday morning, at about 4 AM we were woken up by, what

has come to be know as "the sound".  The sound is an

explosion, but a specific kind of explosion. It is differnt that

the sharp sound of a homemade "Bottle bomb" use to blow up

Israeli jeeps, it isn't like the same as the quick snappy explosion

sound grenade used by the Israeli military to shock Palestinians.

 

It is the sound of a multifloor cement home being reduced to

rubble.

 

When you wake up to this sound your heart sinks and seems to

merge with a the fear that is rolling around in your stomach.

 

After the sound Chris called me. He was at the home of Abu

Samir. This home is also under threat of demolision becasue

the families eldest daughter carried out a suicide attack against

Israel.  Her name was Ayaat. She was 17. Chris told me that the

house that was destroyed was the house the Bedaer family. The

mother of the house had come to visit Chris and the Abu Samir

family 6 hours previous. She asked if someone, anyone could

come to here house because she knew the Israeli military was

coming to destroy her home tonight. She knew this because the

military had come earlier in the day to take the families "pass

cards" read here for more information on the pass card system

and its similarities to the pass card system under Apartied in

South Africa read here;

        

http://www.lawsociety.org/Intifada2000/articles/safrica.htm

 

Chris made some calls and came to the conclusion that there

was nothing we could do to protect the home. We, the

international activists staying in homes in Dheisheh, numbered

about 5 at that moment and were streched between 2 homes.

We couldn't possibly take on another home. We tried to

get other international activists to come to Dheisheh but at 10PM

and with the Israeli army enforcing the curfew with jeeps, sound

grenades and armored personnal carriers it was far to

risky.

 

Chris tolded her that it simply wasn't possible to get anyone to

her house. As I mentioned above her home was blown up about

6 hours by the Israeli military. Home demolision is a process

that has recently been upheld by the Supreme Court of Israel, but

somewhat ironically is rejected by international law, world

opinion and the Geneva Conventions.

 

Home demolision is also rejected by the opinions of the Bedaer

family, 18 of whom are now homeless and will likely live in a tent

on top of the rubble that was their home.

 

After the sound of the demolision, Samir, one of the sons in the

home, discussed some of the rumors he has heard of new ways

the Israeli military is using to destroy the homes of reletives of

suspected Palestinian militants.

 

One is to use a vacuum bomb to sort of make the house

implode (kind of like sucking is in instead of blowing it up).

Another he had heard of was a huge wreaking ball that is

attached to an Apache helicopter and dropped through the

house from the roof. We are not sure on the validity of these

stories but it speaks volumes to the attitudes and fears that

these refugees live in on a day today basis.

 

Sleep was sporadic at best from 4 AM until about 7:30 AM when

we need to wake up. We awoke and packed to leave.

 

Our team was leaving to go to Nablus, by way of Beit Sahour.

Nablus is under full 24 hour curfew with tanks in the streets. We

are told that the level of fear and oppression there are higher

there that in Dheisheh.

 

Today we will probably rejuvanite our affinity group with a few

new members and head off to Nablus tonight of tomorrow

morning.

 

Updates from Nablus are sure to be quite 'action packed' so be

sure to stay tuned but they are also sure to be fewer since it ain't

easy to get to an internet cafe under 24 hour curfew and

military occupation.

 

If you read this and you are as shocked and outraged as much

as we are please consider supporting the work of the

International Solidarity Movement.

 

The two best ways to help (aside from coming to Palestine) are :

 

1. Donate to help other activist come to Palestine:

 

Send Checks to: Carl Williams, 8 Sewall St, Roxbury, MA 02120

Make payable to : Boston Committe for Palestinian Rights

 

2. Call you Senator, and your 2 representatives offices and tell

them that the US stop its financial support for Israel until it ends

the occupation and stops destroying homes.

 

www.senate.gov (202) 224-3121    TTY (202) 225-1904

www.house.gov  (202) 224-3121    TTY (202) 225-1904

 

There will be peace and justice in Palestine/Israel as soon as

enough people of good conscience here and around the world

care enough to make it happen.

 

Insha' Allah,

 

Carl and Chris Williams

Cell Phone -- 011 972 67 387 881

(call anytime we are +7 EST)

http://christian.home.igc.org (click on "ISM Travel Blog")

http://carlton.home.igc.org   (Click on "My Freedom Summer")