To: orscpdelegation@lists.riseup.net
From: orscpdelegates@riseup.net
Date: Fri, 4 Jun 2004 05:06:58 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Update 6 from Israel & Palestine

Update 6 from Israel & Palestine

We have learned a lot on this trip to Israel, Palestine, and Egypt. We have worked extremely hard for the Olympia-Rafah Sister City Project and much progress has been made through this delegation. We have made excellent contacts and gained valuable resources and friends that will surely affect how our group works over here in the future. While we were unable to enter the Gaza Strip on this trip, we are confident that we will on our next trip. Much of this trip has been a learning experience in how our group can work here and who to work with. We have obtained all the specific information for receiving and working with a press pass. We have made good contacts at UNRWA and other organizations that will facilitate our entrance into Gaza in the future.

We have made friendships with numerous activists (internationals, Palestinian, and Israeli). These friendships not only add meaning in our day to day lives, but they help us work here and allow us to know what is happening here when we return home. These are friends we will never forget.

We have not only seen the affects of occupation on both populations, but have felt it close to our hearts. This goes beyond what a friend of ours calls "conflict tourism," because on many instances in this journey we have felt what it means to live under occupation. This occupation keeps friends (and families) from seeing one another and growing together. While some have visited Rafah and have talked about how painful the situation is, we wonder what could be worse, seeing or being prevented from seeing. Our amazing friend Fida in Rafah is one that has taught us a lot about hope, strength, and inspiration. Last night, as the three of us cried together on the phone about the pain of separation, we promised each other to not let this occupation build a wall between our friendship. The three of us dream of the day when we can see each other and giggle in the same room and not over the telephone. It hurts so much to love and want something so bad, and know that a third party has direct control over how we receive it. Although the occupation could never keep us from loving each other (and it is resistance to keep loving each other), we have never had the simple freedom of seeing each other. Our friendship lives under military occupation. Occupation means crying and it means dying, and in between, you resist.

Peace, Salaam, Shalom
Siouxzie & Trent

visitors since July 13, 2003

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