To: orscpdelegation@lists.riseup.net
From: orscpdelegates@riseup.net
Date: Mon, 17 May 2004 12:05:21 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [olympiaandrafah] [orscpdelegation] Update 2 from Israel and Palestine

1. By now, most of you are aware of the horrors occurring in Rafah, our sister city. We are in constant contact with our coordinator in Rafah ñ Fida. At least 200 houses have been demolished, 1500 people are without homes and are sleeping in the schools, 13 killed, and over 50 injured. The entire town of Rafah has been closed, meaning no one can enter, no one can leave. This includes the UN and all other humanitarian organizations. Fida and her group of friends are truly amazing and are trying to help the families in any way possible, although they can not do much because it is not safe. Just a few notes about Fida. She lives with 30 other (extended) family members in a home because their houses keep getting demolished. A couple days ago her cousin was killed in his home as it was being demolished. Two of her family members are in the hospital. Every night her family waits in fear of evacuation and destruction of their current home. She wants Americans to understand that Rafah is not just bombs and hamas attacks. She is very, very, sad, but her hope is extremely inspirational (and contagious).

2. Yesterday was our first experience of feeling what collective punishment is all about. We were in Ramallah for the weekend and were returning to Jerusalem. To get from Ramallah to Jerusalem (and vise versa) all people have to cross Qalandia checkpoint. For those of you who do not know, all checkpoints are Israeli military outposts in the middle of Palestinian territories. All people stand like a herd of cattle waiting in line for some 18-20 year old Israeli soldiers to let them through. Yesterday when we got to the checkpoint, it was closed. There is never any reason given for the closure and they never tell you when it will open, if ever. Elderly people, little children, people with food poisoning (us) stand there until the Israeli military says we can go through. So, for the first time in our lives we were treated like Palestinians. It is a totally dehumanizing experience and VERY easy to understand how this kind of collective punishment breeds hate. We stood there until 9:00pm until we decided to return to Ramallah.

3. Just outside of Qalandia checkpoint we got a good look at the separation wall that is being built. The section that we saw was a huge concrete wall that extended as far as the eye could see. Amazingly, this huge, disgusting barrier between humanity was built in just two weeks. We got some good photos and video, which we will share once back in the US. On a positive(??) note, there are these awesome billboards all around that have a dove surrounded by barbed wired that say "NO TO THE WALL" in Arabic, Hebrew, and English.

4. If you didn't catch it from #2, we were sick as dogs for a couple days. We now know why our phrasebook contains the Arabic word "Hamoot," which encapsulates the entire phrase, "I feel like I'm about to die." Not to worry though, the Palestinians have been more than helpful. They just won't take no for an answer when it comes to helping. We are feeling much better now thanks to all the Palestinian TLC.

Peace, Salaam, Shalom
Trent and Siouxzie

P.S. PLEASE PLEASE do whatever you can to stop the destruction of Rafah!!!!

visitors since July 13, 2003

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