The Muslim Who Smiled For the Christian

January 27, 2007

by Housewife4Palestine

It is not often I talk about things I do in my life when it comes to charity.

However, in this instance I thought it would give a better understanding of the Palestinians as not just humanitarians, but as a people.

Also, sharing and aspect of Islam.

One of the few times I do go shopping these days, I was at a book stall and a very nice looking woman came up beside me and just keep looking and me with what appeared to be shyness at first. It was obvious she was pregnant and so I struck up a conversation with her.

As it turned out, she was a Christian woman that not only was pregnant she had four other children at home.

In my understanding, she needed help because she had lost her husband and did not know how she was to care for her children as well as the one that is coming in a few months.

Not fully understanding why people like herself did not seem to wish to help her, I offered to help her because of the situation and hardships she was faced with.

We went and I purchased coffee for us, so we could sit, talk over all that was going on towards what I could do for her. She asked much advice as well as tells me about herself. Before I knew it, we had talked for a few hours.

I mentioned to her, I would get back to her and see what we could do with my husband’s help.

I talked to husband later in the day and explained about this woman. He said it was no problem to help her and knew exactly what he could do. It would take him a little time to do all she asked of us, but she would be safe and cared for.

What is interesting at sometime in her past, she had needed some kind of help before and she knew the Palestinian people would help her, where it seemed as I mentioned before no one else would.

This is one of those times that I thank Allah, for the people we meet walking through life.

GPHRC: Checkpoints in Palestine

GLASGOW PALESTINE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN

The Campaign was set up with the two main aims being, to highlight the Human Right Issues in Palestine, or we should really say the lack of them.

Getting information out to the general public about the Daily Invasions occuring in Palestine.

We also fund raise for peaceful organisations in the Refugee Camps by selling goods purchased in the West Bank all money raised is returned to Palestine to help various groups involved making life a little bit more normal for the Children and Teenagers in the Camps.

GPHRC members stopped at Israeli checkpoint August 2006.

Canada 'sorry' for citizen's ordeal

Arar says he was tortured while he was detained in Syria [AP]

January 27,2007

Canada has apologised to a software engineer and paid him US $8.9 million in compensation after he was deported to Syria by US agents because Canadian police had mistakenly said he was an Islamic extremist.

But Syrian-born Maher Arar said on Friday his old life had been destroyed and the government’s money could not make up for what he suffered.

Arar, a Canadian citizen, was arrested during a stopover in New York in 2002 on his way home to Canada from a holiday.

He has said he was repeatedly tortured during the year he spent in detention in Damascus, the Syrian capital.

US officials deported Arar after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said he was a suspected Islamic extremist, but an official Canadian inquiry said there was no evidence he was linked to terrorism.

The deportation has strained diplomatic relations between the USA and Canada.

Stephen Harper, the Canadian prime minister, once again urged Washington to remove Arar from its security watch list as he announced the settlement on Friday.

Innocence acknowledged

"On behalf of the government of Canada, I wish to apologise to you, Monia Mazigh [Arar's wife] and your family for any role Canadian officials may have played in the terrible ordeal that all of you experienced in 2002 and 2003," Harper said in a letter of apology which he read at a news conference.

"There is no amount of money that will compensate me for what myself and my family have gone through"
Maher Arar

In addition to the $8.4 million, a lawyer representing said the government would pay for $847,750 in legal fees.Arar said afterwards that he could not begin to say how much Harper's statement and the compensation meant.

"In doing so, the government of Canada and the prime minister have acknowledged my innocence. This means the world to me [and my family]," he said.

However he said "I have come to believe more and more that I will never, never be able to rebuild the same life I had before ... If there's a way I could buy my life back - that's my biggest wish."

"There is no amount of money that will compensate me for what myself and my family have gone through," he told a news conference a few hours after Harper's announcement.

The official inquiry by Justice Dennis O'Connor found the RCMP had wrongly told US border agents that Arar was a suspected Islamic extremist and strongly criticised the police for incompetence and dishonesty. Canada's top Mountie resigned in December over the issue.

Arar had initially sued Ottawa for $340 million, a figure he later cut to C$31.4 million.

Senate pressure

Harper defended the final settlement: "I know to some Canadians that will sound like an awful lot of money, but I can tell you that the reality is, given the findings of the O'Connor commission and the unjust treatment that Mr. Arar received, that figure is within this government's assessment of what Mr. Arar would have won in a lawsuit."

In Washington, Patrick Leahy issued a statement saying he was seeking answers as chairman of the Senate judiciary committee as to why Arar was sent to Syria.

Harper wants Arar removed from a US security watch list [AFP]

"The question remains why. Even if there were reasons to consider him suspicious, the US government shipped him to Syria where he was tortured, instead of to Canada for investigation or prosecution," Leahy said.

Edward Markey, a Democrat member of Congress, urged the White House to follow the Canadian government’s example.

"The Bush administration should follow suit and admit publicly that it was cruel to detain and transfer Maher Arar to Syria for torture," he said.

US officials have said Arar will remain on their watch list because of unspecified information possessed by law enforcement agencies. Arar is also suing the US for damages.

Source

The Truth About "the White's," a Native American Perspective

The Real Human Beings vs America

January 26, 2007

by Housewife4Palestine

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When the Confederate Council of the Five Nations has for its object the establishment of the Great Peace among the people of an outside nation and that nation refuses to accept the Great Peace, then by such refusal they bring a declaration of war upon themselves from the Five Nations. Then shall the Five Nations seek to establish the Great Peace by a conquest of the rebellious nation.

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Please note much of what she speaks of in the part of the letter I did post, I did not know and I thank her for this.

I received another letter from my dear Native American friend and I must admit she had a powerful message to share on the Native American view of those who has been their enemy for about 400 years.

While I am not going to share the complete letter because for the simple fact, her kindness and appreciation of the Arab people, our music and thing’s of this nature.

By the way, we do like the same kinds of singer's while I do not know all of them; Sami Yusuf is one of my favorites. I also like Yusuf Islam.

I do wish my friend to know I am learning a lot from her and will readily admit I find her to be an extraordinary person. Something I wish her to know we are more alike then I can explain, while we not explain in the same manner, the sentiment is there.

I tend to think if her people, was in the war under the method, which is occurring in the 21 century and has been going on for about a 100 years like in Palestine. I tend to think her people would be insulted with the same tag that is placed on many of the resistance groups that is fighting for the survival of their people. Even going as far as equating that the real terrorist are those who take land, resources and murder for the sake of their own gain, to even places the equation of religion into the mix for the differences and the essence of it’s beauty.

Just a little note with a smile, you never bored me in the least, please know I was so intrigued and interested, I read parts to my husband with the hope he could understand appreciate you too.

You mentioned about jealousy and I learned something to a better understanding of this word.

The worse part was during the wars in the 1800’s, when Andrew Jackson signed the extermination order that allowed the attempted extermination of all indigenous people on land that was forcibly taken; in what is now known as the United States of America.

So now let me share the Native American side of what has became even into the twenty-first century and internal war of wills between the Native American’s and as my friend put it the, “whites:”

My dear new friend,

I am home tonite, alone in a peaceful & quiet way, and come to the pc to see if you connected to my letter to you. I loved the picture you put there as a piece of beauty for representing us. I give you a strong WELCOME! Chen'an (thank you in my Dene language) and salaam aleikum to you in your language. As I would be so welcome in your home, the same is for you in my home with all love and respect. May our Great Creator keep you always & forever.

What you said I see as true of people who have not suffered the unimaginable suffering of oppression & wars. They would not understand that there is a comraderie between peoples who HAVE suffered these conditions. Since it is the white (for lack of a better word) people of this continent, for all the years of their existence here, who have caused the wars against so many, starting with our people, and have covered over this root cause with propaganda's and lies to themselves first, and then to all others, they have a collective subconscious that is very mentally off balance and they do not even know it - do not understand even themselves and have an undercurrent of many obsessions of hates and prejudices against such ones as you and I.

They - and I categorize them collectively because too many of them act the same way - "they" appear not to have a real grasp on what loving their neighbor means. So yes. They cannot - will not, understand that we may love what they BLINDLY hate. Oh, I have a lot to say about this.

I support your anger and for this I tell you why - Here in racist america, is where my anger took its roots on many many levels for a million daily overt & hidden (subtle)assaults on my human innocence and dignity for all the years of my life til right now. I can say right now I am at my angriest.

Here, in the land of DENIALS of TRUTHS where the people do not know WHO they are - here where even anger is never allowed to be honestly expressed so that the individual violences one sees here comes out in horrendous ways that costs its society jillions in money for social & agencies and institutions for their societal ills such as domestic violences, unwed teens & women, crimes so heinous that the statistics over and over state that american white males have the MOST psychopathic killers on the planet and crimes so horrific to include children killing their parents & grandparents, and parents killing their children. In the past few years now it is young teens killing their classmates and teachers in america's schools.

Their ugliest crimes are the crimes of sexual predators against babies and children and youth. This is widespread. Its always been a part of their long stay here, kept hidden and now in this century bursting out of its smiling, "normal appearing", "we are the best and most superior" lie of themselves. What else can you say about their pornography than that it is the true face of their evils? They are obsessed with sex. They are women haters at their core at the same time. I call them collectively mentally ill.

So back to that anger. For putting all this upon my eyes and sensibilities - for putting this on lands we still know is OURS - for polluting it in the literal and physical as well as the moral and spiritual, for this I will and do indict them for as long as they remain who they are and what they do. You cannot argue with ones who are thusly blind in their souls and spirits. They would as soon as kill you first before being shown in their faces who they REALLY are.

I have been told so many times, so stupidly and hypocritically and at the last, so very emptily, "you are so angry"! this told to me as an accusation against me. I had only ONE answer to them directly to their eyes: "YOU! You shall never touch my anger and I shall happily keep it as you do not have the GREAT CREDENTIAL to understand it. I will NEVER let you take away that anger that is so deserved for you and your great ignorances." So, simply, I tell them in the same breath: "I'll keep my anger thank you. It has kept me alive! READY FOR YOU."

Yes my dear new friend, our anger is precious because it is bought with blood and tears from those who do not deserve any recognition as being called "human". To murder me and my family, to steal my land, to crush my religion, to strangle my language, and kill my culture is worthy of all high and noble and direct anger. I NEVER let "them" touch that.

For us and for you and for all who have been trampled in GENOCIDE, we never forget who kills us. Never. In their holy book, the prophets of old called this "righteous anger". It is as it is. None of their outrageous hypocrisy to deny this rage they so cause by their unbounded ignorances, savage violences, gross immaturities of mind and emotions - none of these ugly traits that far far too many of these white americans and those they have assimilated like to themselves, will EVER change this righteous anger into defeat.

I don't mind being angry because I can identify its root and cause. I am aware. I know. I am not blown about by the winds of any uncertainty of who the "enemy" is. Evil DOES reside in human hearts. I have no illusions to "them" or any who lie to themselves(the worst kind of liar) and those who lie to the world. They have nothing of my respect but only my anger. Since my anger is overt and calm in its way, I am protected in the sense that I can never be dehumanized nor denigrated. I simpy know what I am and what I feel and WHY.

Many, many, far too many american peoples are like base creatures without thoughts to raise them to a level of being "human". I call them creatures. In such spiritual blackness. They, like their zion-ist counterpart and allies are from the same baseness. Lies are really who they are. Just Lies.

I have always thought to look for the good. It was our way. That belief has been so eroded and tainted by living in this american culture. So much so, that I came to the conclusion that there is no "american culture" and I believe that underneath in the dark caves of their collective subconscience - they sense this. This makes them envious of real cultures and especially ancient cultures. Envious because in their national character - that character who does not YET know who it is - does not carry a happy and truly deeply appreciation for the "others" different from them. If not so, then why did they burn human beings as "witches" early early in their history? These were their own! From there it seemed "stealing" human beings from Africa was their right. Then, came the waves of immigrants and we who study these peoples - we who are outsiders in our own lands - we who have endured and still endure displacements, murders, continual violences of all manner - we who STILL are enduring the never-ending land thefts of what little we have left - we KNOW what it is we are looking at. We are looking into the pit of the american soul - or the soul-less american pit. We know this lean old carcass well. It is no culture - ancient or young.

I am not apologetic for what I SEE and EXPERIENCE every day of my life. I will be righteously angered til the end of my life. I will and I will live with this knowing these tigers will not change their stripes. Knowing that the american peoples are really a peoples who suffer from Culture Envy.

From this base envy comes their hatreds all covered up in all the ways one can try to cover up what is distasteful and ugly, that is, those who are AWARE they are not what they claim to be.

I've been in the argument with them so many times concerning statements like these I make here with their reaction being that I am the one with the problem. I am the one who is prejudiced. Its such a stupidity of response from them that I just say, well, "it was not we Indians who displaced anyone. It was not we Indians who slaughtered and massacred your children, your women and men. It was not we Indians who STOLE A LAND from ANYONE. I say it was not we Indians who built jails for our peoples. We did not build mental institutions, nor were our waters polluted when you came. We did not war upon our brother and sister Nations. NO! It was only when you came among us and the longer you were among us that we began to disintegrate at your black touch. The more we were with you the less we became in our broad and wide existence. I have to remind them ....

When they fall down in tears and in anguish at their OWN terrible and mighty mighty crimes against us & all others they helped to destroy, and when they beg our forgiveness and tell of their great sorrow and say from their hearts "I, WE, ARE SORRY FOR WHAT WE DID TO YOU" - then the anger will subside and we, being the "real humans" we are, we will forgive.

It is a misty and far off dream.

I am a person of great hopes always. I know it will never happen. That is realism. I say prove yourself to me O american.

No, I am not a hater. I love peace - quiet and lovely PEACE. I especially do not love anger, but it is an emotion the Great Creator put within all (to whom it applies) - know there is an injustice unrequited happening. It is there in everyone everywhere and it is supposed to be expressed in a way that some solution must be done to take away that anger. If no solution is worked upon, then, sorry, but that anger must remain. It will go in a bad way if there is no balance in the spirit and the mind of the one who holds it. If the source of the anger comes from outside and is perpetuated upon another in grievous injustices, what in the world would anyone do under such conditions? Normal, natural anger arrives.

Here is where hate is learned - by beating another to the ground, blaming him for his own victimization, might making himself right(in his own mind), and then feeling a perverse false pride in being the angry ape victimizer! I think of america in this way. Truly they are the ones who are the victimizers of any and all who get in their way - to call them angry "apes" is to insult the might of the beautiful gorrilla!

I do not like name-calling. Its such an immature act. I am only trying to find an apt description of terrible terrible bad behavior - a giant mountain of immaturity in these people who believe they are so superior to all other "real peoples".

Now I indict them outwardly - truthfully as they are - as I have experienced them - observed them - truly known them as only one who lives among them yet have kept us as "outsiders" always....so afraid we will soar past them in all the creative ways of our particular cultural way. Yes.

And so it is with all the peoples of color (for lack of a better word) in front of them. They will not have it. Not as long as they have THE power over us all. What really scares them most is that guilt that we will come back at them like they have done to us. They of course will never acknowledge this. They will not acknowledge it because as yet they do not even let it come up to their conscious mind. It lurks in their subconscience - too far down to really wake them up to their own reality of being - too far down to really know, even, who they are.

So our anger has to be so very unrequited because how can you come to solutions with a peoples who don't even really know who they are? For the few innocent among them I feel a tenderness of sorrow. They will only inherit that legacy of hates.

I speak of them collectively and it sounds unfair, but sorry to say, I cannot but help to see the "big picture" of them. I have to be angry at their badness otherwise I am an empty shell claiming to be human.

We Indians speak of ourselves as "the real human beings", "the real people", or just "the people" - the meaning is collective for us as we once lived as a collective for peace and for survivals and a good life. This was before the white man came. We were Nations and we did not war upon each other as the white man said we did. We did not call our leaders "chiefs" either. That also came when the white man came. We did not call ourselves "warriors" either. What we actually were and what was told of us was the white man's low intellect of observation and understanding. He never took our peace in return for peace. Here is just one example of our way of governing - in Peace: http://www.iroquoisdemocracy.pdx.edu/html/greatlaw.html The immigrants who landed on our shores even stole part of this in the creation of their "DEMOCRACY". Of course they did not give any credit to the ones who created it.

The lies of us began immediately.I will save that for another time. Its too depressing and this mail is already so very big.

really have said alot about that anger issue. Simply put: you and I and our peoples have righteous anger. Period. It is normal and healthy to have it. Oh if the conditions were reversed for the american white peoples as they have done to others, you can bet they would be screaming like poor stuck pigs. But since they never put themselves into their victims shoes, they cannot suffer to imagine all the levels of destruction that their victims experience. And if their victims express anger they label them as "terrorists" and "savages"!

Again, I speak of them collectively as I have known them. In my daily life I take them as they come. If they are decent and kind I accept them as such and if not, which is most of the time, I stand guarded. They will need a lesson in "encountering difficult people"! For isn't that what we are to them?

Afterall, here, the undercurrent of their violent past is, still, "the only good Indian is a dead Indian". Its true. The wild west is running in the veins of "cowboys and Indians" yet today. There is a picture in a book about the Bush family history and little "george" is in full regalia cowboy outfit. I rest my case. He is the epitome of the american people "collectively". No Yale University education has ever changed that mindset.

I hope I did not bore you to sleep. I could go on and on but after a while all the above subject starts to get tiresome and I would be sure it would be the same for you who have to read it. Forgive me that. Otherwise all that I said is, sadly just a drop in the bucket of words that can be said.

On a much happier note, I wanted to say that I love your blog and all its advertisements of sites. Still haven't read the entire blog, but I will because you have so much to teach everyone. If stupid, blind and hateful people respond then it just shows they are unteachable. They will just have to wallow in that and be the worse for it. As you said and I agree, they make their choice. To be unteachable - what a rotten condition.

To change the subject abruptly: I have to tell you how much I love music. Especially world music. Arabic music is my favorite. I've been this way about Middle Eastern music since I was a child and did not know anything yet of your culture. I was mesmerized always by all things from the Middle East.


Taleal Bedru Aleyna
by Yusuf Islam
(My way of sending a gift with love.)

There Is No Honor In Fighting For Profit, No Glory In Dying For Pay

Jan 25, 2007

The Blackwater Five

Blackhawk down

and a White house clown

wants to send some more to die

Chanting, "God and Country"

for a price they're bound to cry,

"Save us from this awful death!"

And the world just wonders why?

With hearts bereft and baited breath

at the podium he stands

asking for civilian reserves

to try and lend a hand.

But here in Carolina

we've come to know the truth:

history will call the Blackwater Five,

mercenaries, and with proof.

There is no honor in fighting for profit, no glory in dying for pay.

This in no way reflects on this Blackwater 5.

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Links via Billy The Blogging Poet

Update: Beth: "North Carolina Building Its own Massive Private Army".

Update 2: Robert E. Williams: "Blackwater Again"

Video: Allegedly showing aftermath of Blackwater USA crash in Baghdad .

Ismael Hossein-Zadeh: The Profits of Escalation: Why the US is Not Leaving Iraq"

Life under Hamas a rough ride

26 January 2007
By Jeremy Bowen
BBC Middle East Editor


A year ago, on a freezing, foggy night in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, party officials in the Palestinian election centre could not believe what they were hearing.

Hamas was on top. It was hard to tell who was more amazed - Hamas, or Fatah, the other big Palestinian faction.

Hamas people had expected to do well. But their plan was to be the opposition, troublesome as well as loyal. They had not expected to win parliamentary elections to control the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Fatah had not expected to lose. It took both of them months to recover from their January surprise.

Hamas had not won an election to form a government, as the Palestinians do not have a state. The territory that they hope to make into one is under varying degrees of Israeli military occupation.

A legacy of the now defunct peace process of the 1990s is that Israel allows Palestinians to administer some aspects of their lives, like the education system, hospitals and basic policing.

Within the limitations of what was possible, Palestinians voted for Hamas because they were sick of years of corruption and mismanagement by Fatah, and because they believed Fatah's approach to Israel was not working.

A rough ride

Fatah, and its leader Mahmoud Abbas, who remains the elected president of the Palestinians, has recognised Israel and is committed to finding a way to live alongside it.

Palestinians hoped the world would respect a democratic election

A majority of Palestinians has never stopped believing that dividing the land between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea into two states, more or less along the boundary that held until the 1967 Middle East war, is their only chance of peace.

But when they went to vote a year ago, Palestinians felt that the moderation of the 1990s had brought them no closer to independence. They were also exhausted by the armed uprising that started in 2000.

But they wanted to give Fatah a slap - and to send the Israelis a message that they could not expect co-operation while they kept Gaza as what Palestinians often call the world's biggest prison, while also deepening their occupation of the West Bank by expanding Jewish settlements and taking more Palestinian land.

Palestinians may have guessed that a vote for Hamas was a vote for a rough ride.

But there was a sense of desperation, even nihilism among them, and while they knew Israel well enough not to have expected a welcome for Hamas, there was also the hope that the result of a democratic election would be respected by the rest of the world.

Money tap turned off

The Americans, after all, were pushing democracy as the solution to the stagnation, corruption and decay of the Arab world.

Palestinians have protested against the PA's financial meltdown

But the message from the US, the European Union and the Russians was essentially that you Palestinians can vote for who you like, but if we don't approve of the winner we don't have to deal with them.

It turned out to be a very rough year for the Palestinians.

Hamas refused an ultimatum from the outside world to recognise Israel, give up violence and accept previous agreements made by Fatah.

As a result, Israel and the big countries turned off the money tap that had been part of the Palestinians' reward for being part of the peace process in the 1990s.

The PA was in deep financial crisis when Hamas won the election. Afterwards it was much worse.

PA employees, including doctors and teachers did not get paid; hospitals ran out of some medical supplies.

When rockets were fired repeatedly at the Israeli border town of Sderot, and an Israeli soldier was captured in a raid into Israel, the Israeli army started a military offensive in Gaza that lasted for the rest of the year.

In 2006, the UN calculated that 876 Palestinians were killed in the occupied territories and more than 4,000 were wounded. The figures for Israel were 25 dead and 377 wounded.

US intervention

Fatah was used to being in power, and has found it very hard to adapt to the new set-up.

Fighting between Hamas and Fatah factions has claimed over 60 lives

It still controls big sections of the security forces. Even before the elections, Palestinian society, weakened by the absence of hope about the future, was already splintering under the crushing weight of Israel's military occupation.

Israel pulled its settlers out of Gaza in 2005 but is still, effectively and under international law, the occupying power.

Fatah's resentment at losing, the indignation of supporters of Hamas that their victory was being questioned, and the continuous pressure exerted by Israel generated more violence.

At least 60 Palestinians have died in shoot-outs between Hamas and Fatah supporters.

If any of the bullets had killed prominent leaders it could have tipped into civil war - it still might.

The most significant intervention made by the US in the last few months has been to rush weapons to Mr Abbas for his supporters.

Mr Abbas has been trying to start a dialogue with Israel and to negotiate with the Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya to form a national unity government.

The president's supporters in Western capitals are hoping he can create a new government which will agree a form of words about Israel's existence that will allow them to ease the financial sanctions that were aimed at crippling the Hamas administration.

That is unlikely, or it would have happened already.

Gloomy year ahead

For Palestinians, just as important is stopping the mayhem in the streets.

Ismail Haniya says a long-term ceasefire with Israel is possible

Some Palestinians are disappointed with the performance of Hamas. Recent polls (not always reliable) suggest that if there was an election tomorrow Fatah would win.

The year ahead is gloomy. The rest of the region is locked into its worst crisis in generations - some say the worst of modern times.

Hamas will do all it can to stay in power. Sanctions against it are still in place but more money is coming into the occupied territories through the office of the president.

Hamas takes a long view. It believes that time, and history, are on its side, that the future of the Middle East belongs to Islamists.

For Hamas, secular nationalism - the creed of Fatah and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) for almost 50 years - has failed, because Palestinians still are not free.

Despite the pressure it has been under, Hamas has stayed with its twin-track strategy of following a political route as well as sticking with what almost every Palestinian views as a legitimate armed struggle.

Its political leaders who are free to speak (mainly in Gaza and abroad, as most of those in the West Bank are in Israeli jails) send out what look like conciliatory statements, offering Israel a long-term ceasefire in return for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.

The idea, they say, is calm instead of perpetual war. What happens after that would be left to the next generation.

Is Hamas changing?

Israel is not ready to give up the entire West Bank and to allow a Palestinian capital in east Jerusalem. Even if it was, mainstream Israelis and their friends abroad do not have much time for what they view as the weasel words of spokesmen for a terrorist organisation.

Hamas is known for espousing conservative Islamic values

Why, they ask, should they trust Hamas not to use a long truce to build up weapons? What about the Hamas charter, written in religious language, which sees the entire land of Palestine as an Islamic possession, with no room for Israel?

Why give Hamas a base from which they could try to destroy Israel? Why give Hamas the victory a state would represent in return for nothing more than an airy promise that they will not kill Jews?

Their caution is understandable. In the last 11 years or so Hamas has killed hundreds of Israeli civilians.

But what if Hamas is changing, now that it is embracing the complexities of politics as well as the simplicities of the armed struggle?

At the very least it is clear that some of its leaders are moving down the same path towards co-existence that Fatah and the rest of the PLO took in the 1980s and 1990s - or the Irish Republican Army followed in its war with the British.

Western leaders have not yet tried to find out if the Hamas claims of wanting to live in peace with Israel are serious.

But if one of them, perhaps the next US president, wants to break the deadlock in the Middle East's most intractable conflict, then that might have to change.

Video allegedly showing aftermath of Blackwater USA crash in Baghdad

Five members of a private security detail working for Moyock, NC based Blackwater USA were killed Tuesday when their helicopters came under attack while protecting an American convoy. A senior Iraqi military official said the helicopter had been shot down, but this was disputed by a U.S. military official in Washington.

Also in dispute is how the crew members died. Fox News is reporting this morning that according Iraqi officials, 4 of the 5 crew members were shot execution style in the back the head after they went down in a dangerous Sunni neighborhood in central Baghdad.

The group, Ansar al-Sunnah had earlier claimed downing the Blackwater helicopter and had produced personal documents allegedly taken off one of the dead crew members as evidence. This video was posted by another Sunni insurgency group, the 1920 Revolutionary Brigades.

"Hearts Ruptured with Sadness"

Protesting Gitmo

By FRIDA BERRIGAN

January 25, 2007
On January 11, 2007 more than 100 people in orange jumpsuits trudged slowly from the Supreme Court to the Federal District Court in Washington, DC. Black hoods covered their faces. Another 400 protesters followed "the prisoners" as they tried to enter the U.S. court building. This bit of political theater symbolically brought the plight of tortured and indefinitely detained prisoners out of the legal shadows of Guantanamo and into the court, thereby shining a light on the illegality of their treatment and detention.

Five years after the first "war on terrorism" prisoners arrived at Guantanamo -- invisible and isolated in their hoods and shackles and orange jumpsuits -- the world community sought to draw attention and sympathy to their plight. From Warsaw to Wichita, from Bahrain to Boise, from Birmingham, Alabama to Birmingham, England, more than one hundred protests joined this month's International Call to Shut Down Guantanamo.

In front of the Federal District Court -- the one that ruled in November that an ailing prisoner at Guantanamo could not gain access to competent (and unbiased) medical attention off base -- the theater began. Police turned the hooded prisoners away. But another 89 people had entered the building earlier in the day and gathered in the atrium to read the names of nearly 400 men who remain imprisoned.

It was a haunting litany of loss and lamentation. I took off my sweater to reveal an orange t-shirt emblazoned with "Shut Down Guantanamo: End Torture" and began to read former Guantanamo prisoner Moazzam Begg's account of arriving at the prison camp.

As we continued our program, the head of the U.S. Marshals Department told us that if we put away our banners and took off our orange t-shirts, we could stay throughout the afternoon. It was an unprecedented offer. But to those committed to bringing the names, cases, and stories of men rendered invisible and unheard by the Bush administration (an injustice largely unchallenged by the U.S. criminal justice system), it was an unacceptable bargain. We kept reading the names -- Saifullah Paracha, Mahbub Rahman, David Hicks, Jumah al Dossari, Abdullah Mohammad Khan.

My hands shook. In my pocket was enough money to get on the subway and an index card with the name "Omar Deghayes, Britain." Many of us standing in the courthouse atrium did not bring our own identification. We were experimenting with how to move beyond symbolism and concretely bring the name and story of a Guantanamo prisoner to the attention of the courts.

At the same time, the mother and brother of Omar Deghayes were in Guantanamo, Cuba, demanding to be let onto the U.S. military base and reunited with Omar. They had come as part of an international delegation that included peace activists, lawyers, the co-director of the film The Road to Guantanamo, and former Guantanamo prisoner Asif Iqbal.

In December 2005, as part of Witness Against Torture, 25 of us had walked more than 100 kilometers to get as close to the U.S. base as we could, fasting and vigiling and calling on U.S. authorities to grant us access to the prison camp.

Journeying from Dubai to Guantanamo a little more than a year later, Omar's brother Taher and his mother Zohra were now standing in the same spot. Zohra writes of the "excruciating" pain of being so close to her son but unable to enter the base. Omar "is in this cursed jail for so many years in conditions which are not even fit for animals," Zohra writes. "I pray to Allah during every prayer that he is released and that he finds people who treat him kindly and compassionately. My heart is ruptured with sadness." It is not the first time the Deghayes family has suffered. When Omar and Taher were children, the Qaddafi regime assassinated their father. Zohra sought political asylum in the UK for her family.

By all reports, Omar is an innocent man. A devout Muslim who aspired to be a human rights lawyer, he traveled to Malaysia and Afghanistan in early 2001, got married, and had a child. When the United States invaded Afghanistan, the young family fled to Pakistan and made plans to return to England. Instead, Pakistani security forces arrested them in April 2002 and turned them over the U.S. forces in exchange for a $5,000 bounty.

At Guantanamo, Omar says he was singled out for harsher treatment because of his familiarity with the law and his tendency to stand up for other prisoners. Permanently blinded in one eye when a U.S. guard jabbed him with his finger, Omar has also been subjected to sexual humiliation, has endured high power water jets forced up his nose, and was held in solitary confinement for over eight months. U.S. officials at Guantanamo also allowed Libyan intelligence agents to question and threaten Omar.

At the District Court protest, I focused on Omar, Taher, and Zohra to put my own predicament in perspective. We followed through on our plan to read the names, and the marshals kept to their word as well by arresting us. Held in a cold basement cell for three or four hours, we were released with a citation to appear in Federal District Court on April 18.

When I go back to court, I will have a chance to tell Omar's story. The citation bears my height, weight, and hair color. But the name on the ticket is Omar Deghayes.

As the court cases about Guantanamo grind on -- bandied among the Supreme Court, the Federal Court, and the Executive Branch -- the movement to shut down Guantanamo builds in the streets and the statehouses. More and more Americans are unwilling to tolerate torture and indefinite detention as the only visible end products of the "war on terrorism." January 11, 2007 marked five years of Guantanamo imprisonment for Omar and the hundreds of others. Can their hope and humanity endure another year of imprisonment? Can our sense of law, justice, and democracy withstand the corrosion of executive impunity that long?

Let's not take that chance. Let's shut Guantanamo down.

Frida Berrigan is a columnist for Foreign Policy in Focus and Senior Research Associate at the World Policy Institute's Arms Trade Resource Center. Her primary research areas with the project include nuclear-weapons policy, war profiteering and corporate crimes, weapons sales to areas of conflict, and military-training programs. She is the author of a number of Institute reports, most recently Weapons at War 2005: Promoting Freedom or Fueling Conflict. She can be reached at: berrigaf@newschool.edu

Hamas warns of Israeli attempts to bury future Palestinian state

25 January 2007

Gaza - Hamas Movement has absolutely rejected Wednesday the new Israeli scheme of implementing new security plan similar to the "Marshal Plan" in the Palestinian territories, adding that sending European troops into the Palestinian lands as part of that plan is vehemently rejected by all Palestinian sectors.

The Movement also accused the Hebrew state of attempting to defile landmarks of the future Palestinian state through that plan.

"It became obvious that the Israeli occupation government was and still is trying to disregard Palestinian legal rights and aspirations" said Fawzi Barhoum, the spokesman of Hamas in Gaza Strip in an exclusive interview with the PIC Wednesday.

He added that every time the Palestinian factions are close to reach national consensus; Israel invents new initiatives and plans to abort any possible Palestinian national harmony, and to maintain divisiveness in the Palestinian street.

An Israeli academic close to Israeli premier Ehud Olmert authored the initiative that calls for the dispatching of tens of thousands of European troops into the PA-run lands with the aim of disbanding Palestinian resistance factions, and collecting "illegal" firearms before establishing Palestinian army and police in full coordination with Israel to work side-by-side with a Palestinian civil administration.

Barhoum mocked the plan, affirming that Hamas won't accept partitioning of the future Palestinian state, asserting that the Israeli occupation government was wasting the time in presenting more and more plans with the aim to create resistance-free, and weak Palestinian community.

The spokesman, furthermore, explained that international forces were sent to Palestine prior to 1967; yet, unfortunately they did nothing good for the Palestinian people, and instead, they stopped the Palestinian resistance at that time, which, he underlined, the Palestinian factions now aren’t ready to accept.

"The Palestinian people have clear and sound political horizon and ambitions ", Barhoum asserted, expressing hopes that such "malicious" Israeli plans will be confronted with united Palestinian front that would preserve the resistance till occupation ends.

For his part, Palestinian legislator Dr. Salah Al-Bardaweel of Hamas warned that there were external parties "working in the dark", and conspiring to abort the ongoing Palestinian national dialogue in Gaza city.

But he indicated that all Palestinian factions participated in Tuesday's meeting were sincere in reaching a national understanding that would end internal disputes in the Palestinian arena and unite the Palestinian people.

"The agreement on a number of crucial matters within few hours, per se, reflects the collective desire of the Palestinian factions to let the ship sail safely", Bardaweel marked.

He added "A committee was formed after the session, and was commissioned to formulate the new political program of the PA coalition government based on the national harmony document which the factions agreed-upon before presenting it to the next session on Friday".

Israeli settlers kidnap, manhandle Palestinian boy in Jerusalem

January 25, 2007

Occupied Jerusalem - A group of fanatic Israeli settlers in the occupied city of Jerusalem have kidnapped and manhandled Palestinian teenager in the village of Hazma, north of the occupied city of Jerusalem Tuesday night before fleeing the place and leaving him unconscious, Palestinian sources revealed.

The sources quoted Palestinian eyewitnesses as affirming that three armed Israeli settlers abducted Palestinian boy Rafat Sameh Al-Khateeb, 16, who was visiting his relatives along the road connecting his village with Jericho city, and led him to the nearby Maale Adomim settlement, the biggest Israeli colony in the West Bank, before attacking him with sharp objects that left him unconscious.

The attackers left the place and left the boy bleeding for few hours before a Palestinian passersby spotted the boy and rushed him to a local hospital, the sources furthermore revealed.

More Israeli aggressions against Palestinian citizens were also reported as many Palestinian prisoners in the Hawara detention center affirmed that they were tortured at the hands of their Israeli interrogators, adding that Israeli soldiers in the detention camp attempted to take off the scarf of a Palestinian female detainee.

Lawyers from the Palestinian prisoner club affirmed that Palestinian detainee Ruba Mahmoud Helmi Al-Khateeb, 20, of Salfeet city, north of the West Bank, was arrested two weeks ago at the Beit Eba checkpoint at the hands of the IOF troops manning the barrier before being led blind-folded to the Hawara detention.

Muslim cemeteries weren’t spared Israeli aggressions, as fanatic Israeli settlers desecrated the town's only cemetery in Awarta town, north of Nablus city. Headstones were broken and graves vandalized.

Palestinian residents who witnessed the sacrilegious act denounced the act, asserting that the settlers were escorted by large numbers of IOF troops and military vehicles.

On Wednesday, Israeli occupation police arrested Palestinian citizen Luay Mousa Hudaib, 16, at his house in the old town of Jerusalem city for scuffling with Israeli settler.

Despite the fact that the boy proved that the settler attacked and insulted him, and that he was the victim rather than the aggressor, Israeli police refused to release him on bail.

Keep Your Money, Got a Match?

New proposal: Transfer-for-cash plan









By MATTHEW WAGNER

Originally Published: January 21, 2007

A new proposal designed to solve Israel's Arab demographic concerns suggests offering a million Palestinian residents of refugee camps in Judea and Samaria incentives totaling as much as $50 billion to convince them to leave the area.

Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, head of the Ateret Kohanim Yeshiva in Jerusalem, and MK Benny Elon (National Union-National Religious Party) have joined forces to promote the proposed program, which they said would be funded by the state. The two men, who are next door neighbors in Beit El, propose paying the refugee camp residents $50,000 to $100,000 each if they agree to emigrate.

"Those poor people have been suffering for six decades," said Elon. "I believe that if we give them the option of leaving they will grab it."

Elon said that he was astounded to discover that Palestinians who want to leave had difficulty getting to Ben-Gurion Airport, for security reasons.

Elon said many western countries, including Canada as well as some in South America, were open to immigrants, especially if they brought cash with them. He said he hoped to gain the cooperation of western countries for the program by emphasizing its humanitarian dimension.

Aviner, a respected halachic authority, has written an article advocating the transfer-for-payment idea, which appeared this weekend in Be'ahava U'Be'emuna, a pamphlet that is distributed in thousands of synagogues across the nation every Shabbat.

"Arabs are busy killing Jews or providing aid, cover and legitimacy to terrorists," Aviner said in a telephone interview.

"There is no end in sight. I do not want to keep killing them to protect myself. So the best solution is to encourage them to leave," he said. "As soon as the word gets around that Israel is paying compensation to anyone who leaves, it will have a snowball effect."

Aviner quoted the Koran as well as the Bible to demonstrate that the Land of Israel belongs to the Jewish people.

Arabs who agreed to stop all terrorism against Israel and to accept second class citizenship, without voting rights, would be allowed to stay, Aviner said.

MK Ibrahim Sarsour (United Arab List-Ta'al) called the proposal "satanic," "fascist," and "nearly Nazi."

"Palestine is an integral part of Waqf-administered sacred Islamic land," said Sarsour, who is also the head of the Islamic Movement in Israel. "It belongs to the Muslim people. Benny Elon and others like him will have to trample over our dead bodies to remove us from this place."

Sarsour said "Islam" was willing to normalize relations with a sovereign Israel within the Green Line. He said all Jews living in the West Bank or eastern Jerusalem must leave their homes or renounce Zionism and agree to second-class citizenship, without voting rights.

"But Elon is trying to push for the option of conflict and extinction of both peoples," he said.

Sarsour said "zealots" like Elon and Aviner had caused the destruction of the Second Temple, and that history could repeat itself.

"The weak do not stay weak forever, nor do the strong," Sarsour said.

Knesset approves Katsav leave

Katsav says he has been subjected to a "trial by media" [AFP]

January 25, 2007

An Israeli parliamentary panel has approved a request by Moshe Katsav, Israel's president, to be suspended from duties after prosecutors drafted an indictment against him for alleged rape and other sexual misconduct.

The Knesset house committee on Thursday voted 13-11 to declare Katsav "temporarily incapacitated".

Katsav's suspension will remain in place until Menachem Mazuz, Israel's attorney-general, decides whether to order a trial.

The president has denied wrongdoing in the scandal but said he would resign if charged.

Ruhama Avraham, the committee chairwoman said: "From this moment the president is temporarily suspended. He can no longer exercise his powers".

Dalia Yitzik, the parliament speaker, becomes interim president, Avraham said, making her Israel's first female head of state.

The leave of absence allows Katsav to retain presidential immunity from prosecution. Katsav's seven-year term runs out in late July.Avraham said that many MPs had wanted tougher measures against Katsav, and discussions to impeach him could begin next week. "For many lawmakers it is not suitable and not correct that the president should be able to continue in his role for a single day longer," she said.Impeachment by a three-quarters parliamentary majority would allow a trial to take place before July.

Mounting pressure

On Wednesday, Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, called for Katsav to resign over the allegations Olmert said: "I have no doubt that the president cannot continue and fulfil his position and he should leave the residence of the president of Israel."

Mazuz announced on Tuesday that he planned to indict Katsav on suspicion that he raped a former staff member and sexually assaulted three other women who worked for him. Katsav called the allegations "smears and lies" that were "terrible, hurtful" and said: "I will fight to my last breath to clear my name." He said he had already suffered a "trial by media".

source

Red Cross provides assistance to farmers blocked from their land for four years

20 January 2007

The International Red Cross is assisting northwestern West Bank farmers affected by the Wall. The project aiming to enable farmers to cultivate their agricultural lands in the Tulkarem District's towns and suburbs benefited some 90 farmers thus far during its three month run.

The Director of the Red Cross Tulkarem office, Milani Tremblay, said that for four years farmers have been unable to access their lands freely due to Wall activity. The program's beneficiaries are being provided the necessary support through the provision of infrastructure for land cultivation to begin farming again.

As for the possibility of continuing such projects, Tremblay said that the Red Cross sees a need and it must be seriously considered.

Head of the Tulkarem group of Palestinian Farmers in the People's Committee, Suheil Salman, said that “to face the affects of the Wall such assistance would enable farmers to remain in our homeland, particularly after the devastation suffered since the beginning of the Intifada, the Wall construction at the expense of agricultural land, and the destruction of fields and infrastructure by bulldozing and uprooting trees and crops.”

Salman continued to say that “more support is needed to continue the efforts begun thus far and in order to keep the land by working it.”

Farmer Fayez Al Tanib thanked the International Red Cross for helping the Palestinian farmers, stressing the need or such assistance. He added that over the past years they have been deprived of access to their lands which has “enabled the Israelis to destroy the infrastructure by building the Wall at the expense of Palestinian land.”

Al Tanib directed his words to the issues several greenhouses which Israeli forces destroyed when the Wall was built and the chemical factories west of Tulkarem. He called on international institutions to contribute to support Palestinian farms by all means available, including enabling them to market their produce or sell to foreign markets.

Bassam Hassan Isa from the Tulkarem suburb of Irtah operates an artesian well in the region that farmers have been unable to work and said he hoped that such assistance will “continue to support the vital and important sector of farming.”

Farmer Mousa says that part of the Red Cross assistance was in agricultural fertilizers, “a high need at this point,” he said. He called for continued support in light of the poor conditions of farmers so that they may be able to remain on their land and cultivate it. He said that farmers incur some of the highest losses, particularly those whose farms are now near the Wall due to the high production costs.

Another farmer said he and his family left the land two years ago and tried later to resume agricultural work, but could not due to lack of financial resources. “The Red Cross provided farmers access to the land and the ability to freely farm.”

Several officials from the International Red Cross in Tulkarem toured the region with the farmers who have benefited from the program, listening to the needs of the people in Tulkarem and its environs. Each farmer was screened and cross referenced by the Red Cross, the Ministry of Agricultural and the Association of Palestinian Farmers. All requests were studied by the three agencies in order to prevent duplicating services.

source

Palestinian social fund supporting Gaza Strip women and traditional embroidery

25 January 2007

The Social Responsibility Fund and the Palestinian Communications Group are making gestures in solidarity with women and traditional crafts.

The project is based in the Gaza Strip to “protect cultural heritage” and is providing sewing machines, embroidery materials and other essentials for the traditional embroidery sewn by generations of Palestinian women.

A delegation included official from the Gaza Social Responsibility Fund, Mohammad Saleem, Rafiq Falouji from the company that supplies the fabric, head of the solidarity mission, Maha Abu Ramadan, and Director General of Cultural Contributions in the Communications Group, Anwar Mahila.

The donation comes in support of the cultural sector and for job creation in the sector of heritage and women's development.

Falouji emphasized that the group is working with the community “in light of the current political and economic situation that has contributed to a scarcity of resources also on the domestic front.” Abu Ramadan affirmed that the group of companies pay special attention to civil society institutions. She said that her focus is to act in solidarity with activities that benefit large numbers of women economically and socially.

Mahila thanked the group for their interest in the northern Gaza Strip as a region hit particularly hard by Israeli attacks in all forms, and where the economy has taken a heavy blow.

Due to the contributions, more than 50 women are once again working in traditional embroidery. Mahila said, “This is an integral part of our heritage, passed down through generations.” The Communications Group has several interests in the service of Palestinian
Society.

source

Nonviolent Palestinian demonstration in Hebron protesting Israeli settler and soldier harassment

25 January 2007

The people of Hebron are protesting the practices of Israeli settlers and soldiers against them. Planned for this afternoon, the nonviolent demonstration will take place in Tel Rumeida and Shuhada Street. Dozens of foreign supporters are expected to join.

Israeli forces closed Shuhada Street in the center of Hebron's Old City six years ago. Since then Palestinians have had to take rooftops and balconies to reach their homes.

Last week the Israeli court publicly stated that the closure had been “a mistake” that would be immediately rectified. The street remains closed to Palestinians.

On the main road to the Tel Rumeida neighborhood citizens plan to speak out against the daily harassment endured at the hands of Israeli settlers who have inhabited the region. Many Palestinians have been forced from their homes in the process of dealing with the recurring assaults.

The demonstration was organized by the Popular Committee in the southern West Bank city, with the support of international organizations and Legislative Council members, including attorney Hatem Kafisha.

He spoke specifically of the conditions in what is referred to as “H2,” the area of Hebron under complete Israeli control as opposed to “H1” that suffers what are considered “the normal practices of occupation.”

The lawyer told PNN, “H2 in Hebron is under Israeli security control where citizens are subjected to daily raids and searches by soldiers, in addition to attacks by Israeli settlers on people and their children. The Israeli army also prevents Palestinians from entering Tel Rumeida if they do not have permits indicating they live there.”

Kafisha stressed that the “people of the region demand their right to freedom of movement and the prevention of abuse by settlers and occupation forces, which is part of human rights law and the Fourth Geneva Convention.”

source

Despite Palestinian nonviolent resistance, Qalqilia village under threat of demolition

25 January 2007

After a year-long closure Israeli forces removed its barrier from the only road to the eastern Qalqilia District's Izbat. The village's 200 people have had to walk over a dirt and stone blockade in order to reach any other town in the West Bank, including Qalqilia seven kilometers away.

The main road built on Qalqilia lands between the northwestern West Bank governorate and Nablus further to the north is used by the settlers of some 21 settlements. Several farmers report, however, that when Israeli forces opened the entrance to Izbat they closed agricultural roads.

The Israeli military liaison office was built near the eastern entrance to Qalqilia between the village of Kafr Qaddum 18 kilometers to the east of Qalqilia and an Israeli settlement to the northeast.

The general population of Izbat is voicing fears that the Israeli Civil Administration intends to maintain the demolition order in place and destroy much it. The Palestinian Minister of Local Government told PNN that Israeli Civil Administration officers did indeed visit villages in eastern Qalqilia, harassed residents, and issued demolition orders to several houses.

The head of the local council pointed out that this is “part of the scheme to overtake more of the West Bank, 16 houses at a time as is the case in Izbat.”

The area has been a hotbed of local nonviolent resistance, including sit-ins and demonstrations that drew large-scale participation, including that of Palestinian members of Israeli Knesset.

source

When the East Met the West in Love

The Native American's and the Palestinian's Plight

January 25, 2007

by Housewife4Palestine

I wished to show this letter that was sent to me in response of an article I wrote about a misconception many people have of us as Palestinian’s and the recent attack against me called, "Do Palestinian's Teach Hate?".

The person who sent this letter is Native American and for the life of me, I wish never to disrespect these people in any manner.

The plight of the native American’s has been compared numerous time’s to what is happening in Palestine, I will even go as far as say many people including myself have seen the same thing in great sorrow.

Because of the close comparison, I had event went so far as to learn all I could towards these people in the West and as their heart goes out to me; I have always felt the same towards them.

As the letter speaks, of our differences, it also speaks of how much we are alike and I do have to agree in numerous points if anyone cares to actually read the history of the two cultures.

There is a million things I wish I could say to the writer of this letter, but the best I can give because of the tears that I have shed for them is their love their friendship and feel for them the same as they do for us.

That they would always be welcome to my home because of what I have always known of these people and the respect I do have for them.

Any people that have been put in the position of these types of wars get so used to being kicked, that it is sometimes hard from the outside world to see the trueness of love that some have for us. One thing I have learned lately is that we should not quite be so, but again it is hard because the enemy comes in so many directions’ you sometimes do not know if they have an olive branch or a gun. Therefore, what do you do, stay in a type of protection mode, which may sometimes not be the right way to be, but sometimes when you let down your guard that is when the enemy seems to attack. So what can one do?

Going for the recent attack by the questionable Zionist against me, I did not get ill because of the initial attack, but the fact they may see the deep parts of hell.

Someone who I love and trust very much mentioned the pressure we live under and I have thought and thought about this. I even went as far as ask my husband if these women intended to murder the baby and me by upsetting me. His answer was yes.

I know we are not supposed to just get angry for the idea of being so, but I did get angry for as I felt a good reason. I actually started feeling better. And it seemed many of my other problems started to resolve it’s self the moment I understand that sometimes what people do and where they go is strictly up to them to change and be good or not. That sometimes you can not help them. The best I can say, Allah help them before it is to late.

As for my new friend, I am so happy and how you are so right.

The Letter:

To Housewife4Palestine:
Your writing touched my heart deeply. I sit here in front of this screen feeling your grief and pain. I know it well. You and your peoples are the twin of me and my peoples - in all our diversities as the cultures we two come from. I love our differences as I love our sameness. Twins in sorrow and grief and the war that never ends upon us. Please, in all deep love for your culture from mine, accept my love and friendship.

It is your children that so breaks my heart in a million million pieces for the GIFT OF OUR GRAND CREATOR they all are. I am and will be in grieving til that day we who are called the "two-legged ones" put everything we are as humans into stopping the evil of war and those who are drunk with its mental illness - tainting all our earth with violent bloodshedding of innocent ones - until that day comes, I will stand in solidarity beside your people who so endure what my people have also endured and still endure in a more silent and subtle way.

I will forever speak of the wonderful humanity and beauty of the peoples of Palestine. I have many more things to say and hope through offering my friendship, we may talk of many other things. I want to share the hungers of our hearts that we so deeply desire for our peoples both. Just to share your life and mine would be a great privilege.

My name is Deennaa in my language and I am what you in the east call a "red Indian". I am from the Dene peoples of Alaska USA. The CREATOR of us all knows my prayers and feelings are fiercely for you.

With great and unblind love for you and your people I remain.

Deennaa

Haneyya: The Aqsa Mosque faces serious judaization process sanctioned by the IOA

January 24, 2007

Gaza - PA premier Ismael Haneyya has deprecated the Israeli occupation government's expansion in and around the occupied city of Jerusalem and the Aqsa Mosque, including permitting fanatic Jewish groups to build a synagogue about 150 meters away from the Dome of the Rock Mosque among other serious procedures.

Haneyya furthermore accused the IOA of attempting to create facts on the ground and judaize the holy Muslim city, affirming that his government pays great attention to the issue, and that it was and still is very much concerned with extending all forms of support to Palestinian Jerusalemites to enable them defend the city and thwart Israel's harmful schemes against it.



The PA premier's remarks came during the weekly session of his cabinet Tuesday where he underlined his government's utmost concern with bringing the inter-Palestinian national dialogue into full success, and of reaching a solution to bail the Palestinian people out of the crises engulfing them.

Moreover, the prime minister raised extreme concern over disturbing reports on the miserable social and security conditions of the Palestinian refugees in Iraq, affirming that his government was and still is closely following their issue, and trying its best to spare those refugees rampant violence in that war-torn country.

In this regard, Haneyya urged all concerned parties, including Iraqi officials and UN human rights agencies among other parties to extend all possible help that would save lives of those refugees.

In a related matter, the Aqsa foundation that caters for Muslim holy shrines in Palestine accused Israeli company producing Spirits of maliciously posting photo of the Dome of the Rock Mosque on whisky bottles, warning that the company's act constitutes plain sacrilegious act against Muslims, and undermines the feeling of 1.4 billion Muslims worldwide.

"This act is tantamount to declaration of war against Islam and Muslims' holiest shrines" the Islamic Movement in the 1948-occupied Palestinian lands charged in a statement it issued in condemning the company's profane act.