I made a mistake. I wanted to see what the American press had to say about the events of the past week, and I looked at CNN. "What were you thinking?!" I can hear you asking. I don't know. It's been raining here and maybe the weather funkified my common sense. Regardless, once the article ended and I awoke from my rage induced blackout, I guess I was hungry for more pain. So off to the New York Times I went. Whoops. Eventually I convinced the kids sitting around me in the computer lab that they didn't need to worry about the foam coming out of my mouth, that I was fine but that a kleenex would be greatly appreciated.
If you were also reading CNN and the NYT, then you know that 59 year Mary Jane Gardner, a British woman, was killed by a bomb that went off at the Jerusalem bus station on Wednesday and left 30 others injured. And that Obama immediately called up Netanyahu to express his condolences and that he "reaffirmed the United States' unwavering commitment to Israel's security." The details of the bombing are described in great detail. There is also some talk of Israel responding to an increase in violence by Hamas out of Gaza and of some "stray mortar fire" killing four civilians. And that the bomb comes as one of the first moments of violence in a relative run of peace.
Here's more, largely from Ma'an, a Palestinian run news agency operating out of the West Bank, and only glazed over by the aforementioned outlets. On Tuesday, IDF airstrikes into Gaza, in response to an increase of rockets coming out of Gaza, killed eight people. One of the morning attacks (the third of the morning of attacks) struck outside of a home in the north, where a family was playing soccer, killing Muhammad Jihad Al-Hilu (11), Yasser Ahed Al-Hilu (16), Muhammad Saber Harara (20) and Yasser Hamer Al-Hilu (50). Dozens have been injured in further airstrikes both before and after Tuesday. There are reports that Tzipi Livni has called for another Operation Cast Lead.
Also out of Israel over the past few days is the Nakba Bill. This allows Israel to deny funding to any organiztion that questions its existence as a Jewish state. The bill disallows any activity "which would entail undermining the foundations of the state and contradict its values." This, of course, directly targets Arab organizations within Israel. Institutions that take part in activities that question Israel's status as a Jewish state, such as commemorating 1948 as the Nakba (the Catastrophe) rather than Independence, are at risk for having their funding revoked.
This is what might be called an 'usbu3 al-busl. An onion week.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Itamar
Most of you are already aware of the murder of 5 Israeli settlers in Itamar last Saturday. It was a truly terrible crime, and one that is now having widespread ramifications. There remains some doubt as to who is responsible for the killings, an Israeli or Palestinian, though Israel seems confident it was the latter. The IDF has begun rounding up of dozens of Palestinian men around the Nablus area and imposed a curfew on the nearby village of Awarta. Settler violence towards Palestinians has increased across the West Bank: hurling rocks and molotov cocktails at cars, burning Palestinian property, and knife attacks.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, on the Itamar killings (March 12, 2011):
"I have noticed that several countries that always hasten to the UN Security Council in order to condemn Israel, the state of the Jews, for planning a house in some locality, or for laying some tiles somewhere have been dilatory in sharply condeming the murder of Jewish infants. I expect them to issue such condemnations immediately, without balances, without understandings, without justifications. There is no justification and there can be neither excuse nor forgiveness for the murder of children."
The Itamar killings were horrific. But such remarks by Israeli officials, and the rapidfire condemnations of the killings by Clinton and Obama is mindboggling. Netanyahu's reference to settlements (and the simultaneous bulldozing of Palestinian homes) as "planning a house in some locality" is infuriating, as is the fact that his government has announced plans for "laying some tiles" in 500 new spots across Palestine.
I can easily agree with Netanyahu, that there is absolutely no excuse and no forgiveness for murdering children. So what of the Palestinian children who have been killed, been orphaned, been taken from their homes in the middle of the night? The Itamar killings are not an isolated incident of violence. They have a context. Not a context that could ever begin to excuse such an act, but a context that cannot be ignored. Violence against children in the West Bank is not unusual. Itamar was another episode of daily terror and violence. But more people seemed to tune in this time.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, on the Itamar killings (March 12, 2011):
"I have noticed that several countries that always hasten to the UN Security Council in order to condemn Israel, the state of the Jews, for planning a house in some locality, or for laying some tiles somewhere have been dilatory in sharply condeming the murder of Jewish infants. I expect them to issue such condemnations immediately, without balances, without understandings, without justifications. There is no justification and there can be neither excuse nor forgiveness for the murder of children."
The Itamar killings were horrific. But such remarks by Israeli officials, and the rapidfire condemnations of the killings by Clinton and Obama is mindboggling. Netanyahu's reference to settlements (and the simultaneous bulldozing of Palestinian homes) as "planning a house in some locality" is infuriating, as is the fact that his government has announced plans for "laying some tiles" in 500 new spots across Palestine.
I can easily agree with Netanyahu, that there is absolutely no excuse and no forgiveness for murdering children. So what of the Palestinian children who have been killed, been orphaned, been taken from their homes in the middle of the night? The Itamar killings are not an isolated incident of violence. They have a context. Not a context that could ever begin to excuse such an act, but a context that cannot be ignored. Violence against children in the West Bank is not unusual. Itamar was another episode of daily terror and violence. But more people seemed to tune in this time.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Chilean Presidents, Occupied Apartment Buildings, and Manicures
This whole blogging thing is turning out to be kind of exciting. I find myself getting the same rush from a "new comment" notification as from a wallpost on Facebook. If I had known that would be the case, I would have embraced this years ago.
The past few days have been pretty eventful. Three days ago, President Sebastian Pinera (the very same Pinera of the Chilean Miners fiasco fame) visited Aida. Shop fronts were repainted, the Chilean flag was hung from the streets, and my Spanish was suddenly more important than my Arabic as Alrowwad Center prepared to greet him. The children put on a Dabka show for him, his wife, and about 25 of his closest travelling buddies. The Chilean TV reporters were pretty fascinated by the women wearing the headscarves and seemed to only film them. Which did not go unnoticed by the women themselves. After the show, Pinera spoke (in English) about the beauty that outweighs the ugliness in Palestine, and called for an end to the Occupation. All in all, the event was lovely but pretty quick, considering the preparation that went into it. The kids who danced, many of whom are my English students, seemed thoroughly unimpressed by their audience. Perhaps not so shocking considering they've performed for the Pope.
Two days ago, I was invited to the home of one of the Kindergarten teachers. She lives in one of the higher buildings in Aida camp, which is a three story apartment building. A lovely home, with an incredible view of the camp, the wall, and beyond. While we were enjoying the view, a few fireworks went off below us, and music began blasting from one of the houses. The son of the family living in the home was returning from an Israeli prison after three and a half years. He was first arrested when he was 16 years old, and was held without ever having a trial. This is the case for most of the Palestinian children arrested.
Later, over a cup of coffee, and while looking at wedding photos, I learned that one of the reasons the building was so nice now was because it was recently rebuilt. During the Second Intifada, the Israeli Army occupied the apartment building. The aforementioned incredible view was an asset to them, and all of the families living in the apartment building (42 people) were forced into one flat on the first floor for 15 days, and then again later for 40 days. Once the Army was done with the building, they shelled it.
I also learned that many Arab countries have banned Arabic Al Jazeera. Many people can still find it, but its usual channel has been cut off, and you have to constantly search for it. (Much like PotterWatch...) The thought behind this is that Al Jazeera is riling people up, and increasing these "days of rage."
At the risk of giving you whiplash, here are the other things that have happend over the past few days: a staff member turned 24 and we gave her a ridiculously lovely surprise party on the top of a mountain in Beit Sahour. I finally have roomates. My kindergarten students know that in the "summer" the weather is "hot hot hot." My older students have learned how to say "evil magic" and "dwarves" thanks to an abridged version of Snow White. And I got a truly horrible manicure from a five year old.
At least five different people have warned me to be careful because it might snow tomorrow.
The past few days have been pretty eventful. Three days ago, President Sebastian Pinera (the very same Pinera of the Chilean Miners fiasco fame) visited Aida. Shop fronts were repainted, the Chilean flag was hung from the streets, and my Spanish was suddenly more important than my Arabic as Alrowwad Center prepared to greet him. The children put on a Dabka show for him, his wife, and about 25 of his closest travelling buddies. The Chilean TV reporters were pretty fascinated by the women wearing the headscarves and seemed to only film them. Which did not go unnoticed by the women themselves. After the show, Pinera spoke (in English) about the beauty that outweighs the ugliness in Palestine, and called for an end to the Occupation. All in all, the event was lovely but pretty quick, considering the preparation that went into it. The kids who danced, many of whom are my English students, seemed thoroughly unimpressed by their audience. Perhaps not so shocking considering they've performed for the Pope.
Two days ago, I was invited to the home of one of the Kindergarten teachers. She lives in one of the higher buildings in Aida camp, which is a three story apartment building. A lovely home, with an incredible view of the camp, the wall, and beyond. While we were enjoying the view, a few fireworks went off below us, and music began blasting from one of the houses. The son of the family living in the home was returning from an Israeli prison after three and a half years. He was first arrested when he was 16 years old, and was held without ever having a trial. This is the case for most of the Palestinian children arrested.
Later, over a cup of coffee, and while looking at wedding photos, I learned that one of the reasons the building was so nice now was because it was recently rebuilt. During the Second Intifada, the Israeli Army occupied the apartment building. The aforementioned incredible view was an asset to them, and all of the families living in the apartment building (42 people) were forced into one flat on the first floor for 15 days, and then again later for 40 days. Once the Army was done with the building, they shelled it.
I also learned that many Arab countries have banned Arabic Al Jazeera. Many people can still find it, but its usual channel has been cut off, and you have to constantly search for it. (Much like PotterWatch...) The thought behind this is that Al Jazeera is riling people up, and increasing these "days of rage."
At the risk of giving you whiplash, here are the other things that have happend over the past few days: a staff member turned 24 and we gave her a ridiculously lovely surprise party on the top of a mountain in Beit Sahour. I finally have roomates. My kindergarten students know that in the "summer" the weather is "hot hot hot." My older students have learned how to say "evil magic" and "dwarves" thanks to an abridged version of Snow White. And I got a truly horrible manicure from a five year old.
At least five different people have warned me to be careful because it might snow tomorrow.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Blog The First
Disclaimer: I have never blogged before. Various levels of patience may be required of the reader.
Well. Now that we've got that out of the way. As most of you who will be reading this are already aware, I am currently living and volunteering at Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem. I am teaching English at Alrowwad Center, a truly incredible theater, dance, and arts youth center in the middle of the camp. http://www.alrowwad-acts.ps/ (Here's hoping you can click on that link...remember when I mentioned patience?) I have been here for almost one month now, and will remain at Alrowwad for about another month. I am hoping to stay in Palestine much longer though, and am looking for work in refugee rights, alternative information centers, and the like.
The title of the blog, Ya3ni, is the arabic word for "I mean..." It is often abused in the same way "like" is within the US. Though ya3ni is used by one and all, not just teenage girls. Since it is the word I most often use in Arabic--the word that pops out while I am racking my brains to figure out how to say what I am actually trying to say--it seemed an appropriate title for my blog.
Aida Camp is just on the outskirts of Bethlehem. It was created after 1948, and a good majority of its inhabitants are descendents of family members who came over at that time. Some, after 1967. The population of the camp is estimated between about 3,500 and 4,000. Everyone in the camp has refugee status. There are schools here that are run by UNRWA, but many children go to public schools in Bethlehem.
The camp feels sometwhat like an overcrowded small town. Everyone knows eachother and I find it nearly impossible to walk anywhere without running into people I know. However, the separation wall, which looms large against the edge of the camp, and the military watch towers, prevent one from falling too deeply into any sense of Pleasantville. There have not been any serious clashes at Aida for a while now I have not seen any soldiers withing the camp itself, but the military is a continuing presence and have heard about several recent small incidents. In addition, there are reports of night time raids by soldiers in houses in Aida, and even more so in cities and villages throughout the West Bank.
Every once in a while I will find myself forgetting exactly where I am--falling into the excitement of travel etc. This is almost always put into the larger perspective by a simple conversation with a friend or new aquanitaince. Such conversations can start anywhere, but almost inevitably come to politics, or some truly horrifying experience. What is most startling is how everyone here has these experiences. A mother killed in a grenade blast that came without warning, a brother who has been detained in Gaza for the past 7 years, a teenage neighbor who was taken away by soldiers in the night and has not yet been heard from, a brother who was killed in a clash only months before his son--now standing before me--was born. To name a few. These paralyzing stories seem almost incomprehensible to me, especially as they so often come out in casual conversations.
Then, of course, there are the day to day inconveniences. Though the checkpoint is open 24/7 to internationals, that is not the case for those travelling to Jerusalem with a work permit. People who live in Bethlehem and work in Jerusalem begin lining up at the checkpoint every morning at around 2am, waiting for the checkpoint to open around 5 or 6am. It is very difficult to plan ahead, as everything can be (and often is) put on hold for hours because of unforseen delays at checkpoints, or random checks, etc. This does not apply to within Bethlehem itself, but rather to travel within the West Bank on the whole, or to outside of the West Bank. There are many university students here who often have trouble reaching their classes in other cities on time, as they are held up and searched by soldiers. It was hard enough for me to drag myself from the dorm room to the PoliSci building at Macalester. Searches such as these, on students and people going to work, make every aspect of daily life difficult.
I do not want to get too far in on my first posting. These are my first impressions of life here, and 4 weeks is not enough time to understand everything. More will come as it comes. In the meantime, I should also say that life here continues and my personal day to day experience has not been one in which I am interacting with soldiers constantly or battling to walk down the street. I have been semi adopted by a fantastic family in the camp and will begin my Arabic dance lessons with them soon. The kindergarteners are just as annoying as knidergarteners in any other country. Germans, French, and British folk are my new hookah and lecture buddies. I am truly enjoying myself, but am also trying to balance that enjoyment with my larger knowledge of the situation.
Perhaps I should leave it here for now. I guess that I'll be blogging again soon! I hope to hear back on what you all think--assuming, that is, that I have successfully enabled this blog with some sort of "comment" capability...Once again, I beg for your patience and I promise that I will get the hang of this.
Well. Now that we've got that out of the way. As most of you who will be reading this are already aware, I am currently living and volunteering at Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem. I am teaching English at Alrowwad Center, a truly incredible theater, dance, and arts youth center in the middle of the camp. http://www.alrowwad-acts.ps/ (Here's hoping you can click on that link...remember when I mentioned patience?) I have been here for almost one month now, and will remain at Alrowwad for about another month. I am hoping to stay in Palestine much longer though, and am looking for work in refugee rights, alternative information centers, and the like.
The title of the blog, Ya3ni, is the arabic word for "I mean..." It is often abused in the same way "like" is within the US. Though ya3ni is used by one and all, not just teenage girls. Since it is the word I most often use in Arabic--the word that pops out while I am racking my brains to figure out how to say what I am actually trying to say--it seemed an appropriate title for my blog.
Aida Camp is just on the outskirts of Bethlehem. It was created after 1948, and a good majority of its inhabitants are descendents of family members who came over at that time. Some, after 1967. The population of the camp is estimated between about 3,500 and 4,000. Everyone in the camp has refugee status. There are schools here that are run by UNRWA, but many children go to public schools in Bethlehem.
The camp feels sometwhat like an overcrowded small town. Everyone knows eachother and I find it nearly impossible to walk anywhere without running into people I know. However, the separation wall, which looms large against the edge of the camp, and the military watch towers, prevent one from falling too deeply into any sense of Pleasantville. There have not been any serious clashes at Aida for a while now I have not seen any soldiers withing the camp itself, but the military is a continuing presence and have heard about several recent small incidents. In addition, there are reports of night time raids by soldiers in houses in Aida, and even more so in cities and villages throughout the West Bank.
Every once in a while I will find myself forgetting exactly where I am--falling into the excitement of travel etc. This is almost always put into the larger perspective by a simple conversation with a friend or new aquanitaince. Such conversations can start anywhere, but almost inevitably come to politics, or some truly horrifying experience. What is most startling is how everyone here has these experiences. A mother killed in a grenade blast that came without warning, a brother who has been detained in Gaza for the past 7 years, a teenage neighbor who was taken away by soldiers in the night and has not yet been heard from, a brother who was killed in a clash only months before his son--now standing before me--was born. To name a few. These paralyzing stories seem almost incomprehensible to me, especially as they so often come out in casual conversations.
Then, of course, there are the day to day inconveniences. Though the checkpoint is open 24/7 to internationals, that is not the case for those travelling to Jerusalem with a work permit. People who live in Bethlehem and work in Jerusalem begin lining up at the checkpoint every morning at around 2am, waiting for the checkpoint to open around 5 or 6am. It is very difficult to plan ahead, as everything can be (and often is) put on hold for hours because of unforseen delays at checkpoints, or random checks, etc. This does not apply to within Bethlehem itself, but rather to travel within the West Bank on the whole, or to outside of the West Bank. There are many university students here who often have trouble reaching their classes in other cities on time, as they are held up and searched by soldiers. It was hard enough for me to drag myself from the dorm room to the PoliSci building at Macalester. Searches such as these, on students and people going to work, make every aspect of daily life difficult.
I do not want to get too far in on my first posting. These are my first impressions of life here, and 4 weeks is not enough time to understand everything. More will come as it comes. In the meantime, I should also say that life here continues and my personal day to day experience has not been one in which I am interacting with soldiers constantly or battling to walk down the street. I have been semi adopted by a fantastic family in the camp and will begin my Arabic dance lessons with them soon. The kindergarteners are just as annoying as knidergarteners in any other country. Germans, French, and British folk are my new hookah and lecture buddies. I am truly enjoying myself, but am also trying to balance that enjoyment with my larger knowledge of the situation.
Perhaps I should leave it here for now. I guess that I'll be blogging again soon! I hope to hear back on what you all think--assuming, that is, that I have successfully enabled this blog with some sort of "comment" capability...Once again, I beg for your patience and I promise that I will get the hang of this.
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