Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2004 21:53:33 +0200
From: Jennifer Loewenstein
Subject: RE: the Gaza Strip and Madison-Rafah Sister City Project
To: Bagley, Andrea Andrea.Bagley@mail.house.gov
Dear Andrea,Thank you once again for writing and for your concern. I assure you that the people with whom I am staying in Rafah (the mayor and his family) are careful to see that I am safe and well looked after. I have rarely met such friendly and hospitable people as I am meeting here. It is an experience I shall never forget.
While I am aware of the concern the US has for its citizens in places such as Gaza (and I appreciate such concern) I want to emphasize that 99% of the danger here is from Israel not Palestinians. I have witnessed Israeli soldiers firing indiscriminately into buildings and at civilians on multiple occasions now. I am shocked and appalled by this behavior. Also, as I mentioned yesterday, I have witnessed more destruction (primarily to family homes, private businesses, and public buildings) than I have ever seen in my life. Truly there can be no just reason for punishing an entire population to this extent. Rarely in my life have I been so horrified at the treatment of one people by another. I would not waste my time telling you this were it not for the fact that American tax dollars are paying for Israel's behavior.
The people I have met here are not anti-American. They have welcomed me warmly wherever I have gone (in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and here in the Gaza Strip). They do not like US foreign policy toward the Middle East, but people are very quick to emphasize to me that they differentiate between the American people and the current US administration. As I said, I have been treated extremely well by everyone I have met. They know I am American and also that I am Jewish. I think this is important to note.
I must say again that any danger to my life here comes directly from Israel, not from the Palestinian people around me who have treated me with the utmost kindness and respect. When I am anywhere near Israeli military outposts, tanks, and checkpoints however, I feel I am a walking human target.
Can you see that Congresswoman Baldwin receives this message? I know I am just one small voice, but I believe what I have experienced here is very important for her to know.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Loewenstein
----- Original Message -----From: Bagley, Andrea Andrea.Bagley@mail.house.gov
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2004 9:38 pm
Subject: RE: the Gaza Strip and Madison-Rafah Sister City Project
Jennifer:I was very sorry to read about the dangers you encountered in Gaza. I urge you to rejoin the members of your group in Jerusalem as soon as possible, and remove yourself from the dangers you described.
Earlier today I forwarded to you the Department of State alert regarding the Gaza Strip shared by the Jerusalem Consulate. Alerts are issued by the Department of State in an effort to make American Citizens aware of potentially dangerous areas and situations. These alerts are not issued lightly, and are done so to minimize the chances of an American Citizens being exposed to exactly the type of dangers you faced.
Again, I am sorry to learn of your shock and horror at what you saw, and encourage you to remove yourself from potential future dangers as soon as possible.
My sincere wishes for your safe return to Madison,
Andrea
-----Original Message-----From: Jennifer Loewenstein
Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2004 12:04 PM
To: Bagley, Andrea Andrea.Bagley@mail.house.gov
Subject: the Gaza Strip and Madison-Rafah Sister City Project
Dear Andrea,Thank you for the message. I have managed to get in to the Gaza Strip because I now have an Israeli approved government press card.
I must tell you that the Gaza Strip is one of the safest places I have ever been (I lived here for five months in 2002) in terms of one's personal safety vis a vis the citizens of Gaza.
There is, however, a great deal of danger to people living here (and visitors such as myself): This danger is from the Israeli military, which nearly surrounds areas such as Rafah where I am currently. Soldiers are firing indiscriminately into crowded areas as I write. On the way home from a visit to a friend's home tonight, bullets showered us as we walked outside the door to go to the car. It was terrifying. We ran for cover and moments later ran as quickly as possible to get into the car. All of us but the driver had our heads ducked down under the windows as we listened to more bullets coming from the IDF watchtower behind us.
Earlier today I filmed the Israeli army destroying family homes in Rafah. They also destroyed the main water line to the western part of the city. None of the residents in the western sector have water now.
Tanks and bulldozers are still (as I write) actively demolishing homes to the south of me. I photographed this activity earlier today and went around the city with the mayor, Said Zoroub, with whose family I am currently staying.
I am writing this to you because of my shock and horror at what I have seen today. The level of destruction in this city caused by the Israeli military is unlike anything I have ever seen. More than 1,600 family homes have been destroyed in the past three and a half months displacing thousands of people, most of whom remain without permanent shelter.
If you wouldn't mind forwarding this message to Congresswoman Baldwin, I would be grateful. I would like for her to know about what is happening here. I want to also say that I am Jewish from a very pro-Zionist family. I have never witnessed such terrible destruction and fear in a city. I am deeply distressed to think that our tax dollars are subsidizing the Israeli military. [Yesterday in East Jerusalem I also witnessed and photographed the continued construction of the Wall. It is truly a blight on this land.]
For what it's worth, I want to say again that you have been enormously kind and helpful to me and the other two delegates, George Arida and Cisco Bradley. Although the others may not be able to enter Gaza, we deeply appreciate your help and support. We also recognize that your support does not translate into any particular political viewpoint.
I hope that if I can ever be of any help to you, however unlikely that may be, that you won't hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Loewenstein