two feet in.

Beit Hanoun

Back in May of 2004 I was out walking near my house and came upon a long list of names stapled onto a telephone pole.  The names were those of the Palestinians killed during the massacre in the Gaza city of Rafah -- hit by Israeli missiles while participating in a peaceful march.  For some reason seeing those names neatly typed out and displayed in my neighborhood opened my eyes.  Not that I'd been blind to the horrific acts that were happening in Palestine, just that it had been easy, too easy, not to pay attention.  I thought of this incident the other morning while listening to an interview with Diana Butto on Democracy Now.  She was speaking about this week's massacre in Beit Hanoun --

AMY GOODMAN: Tens of thousands of people came out after the killing of the many people in one family -- overall, 19 people killed -- in Beit Hanoun, I believe 16 in one family. Can you talk about the effect of this both in Gaza and where you are in the West Bank?

DIANA BUTTO: The effect of the protest has been to really shake people and to realize that what Israel is doing is going to continue to happen. Unfortunately, I think the international response, which has been largely muted, has really spurned a lot of Palestinians to feel that they are alone and that nobody really is out there to help them. In fact, in many of the demonstrations and many of the protests, this was a very constant refrain that I was hearing, which is there's nobody out there that’s going to help us, nobody’s out there who’s going to protect our human rights.

At the same time, as I was watching these protests, I thought back to almost a year ago, when almost the exact same thing happened in Gaza in almost the exact same area. And I, too, was left wondering if we’re going to see a repeat of this in a couple of months time, four months time, six months, seven months, whatever, a year, and then left wondering that why is it that it's these big events that really capture the attention of people, rather than the day-to-day killing that’s happening. Already since just June until today, there have been more than 350 Palestinians who’ve been killed in the Gaza Strip. And yet, it's only the big events that actually end up capturing our attention. It leads Palestinians to a very sad reality, that large numbers of them have to die before the international media will actually focus on their plight for freedom.

On that walk in 2004, as I stood reading the names on that pole, my walking companion questioned why names of Israelis who had been killed by Palestinians were not included on the list.  One answer might be that the US media has no difficulty or blindness when faced with Israeli deaths.  We hear those names.  That aside, were we consider this question in light of the 350 Palestinians killed by Israel since this past June in Gaza (see here for details of children killed), the answer is easy.  As best I know, there have been no Israeli deaths due to shelling from Gaza.  Not one.  We'd all like that to be that way for both Israelis and Palestinians, but this current course of aggression, ethnic apartheid, and ethnic cleansing is not now, not ever, going to make that true.

Qata'en an Nasrawiyyat

This is truly beautiful. 

This song by Reem Kelani, from her debut album, Sprinting Gazelle:  Palestinian Songs from the Motherland and the Diaspora --

The opening notes from “As Nazarene Women Crossed the Meadow,” Reem Kelani’s  Sprinting Gazelle, are a shock to the system as if Kelani was intent on blowing the listener off the face of the earth with a voice from the heavens. It’s seems almost impossible that this is the Palestinian singer’s debut album, as Kelani’s depth of soul vocals stir the very air and prickle the hairs on your arm. Setting traditional Palestinian folk songs and verse from poets like Mahmoud Darwish, Rashid Husain and Mahmoud Salim al-Hout to her own compositions, Kelani has poured the Palestinian soul of loss, longing and lullaby into some hauntingly spare compositions, topped off with her strong vocals.

I listened to As Nazarene Women Crossed the Meadow today as I read about the Israeli bombing of a house in Gaza City, killing 2 parents and 7 of their children.  Now there have been 68 Palestinians killed since the beginning of this military operation in the Gaza strip -- 14 of them children. 

Kelani says that from women in refugee camps she "got the message that I now use in my life as a Diaspora Palestinian - personally, collectively and artistically - that we are not victims. You get on with life, you acknowledge your pain and you're strong and you celebrate and you sing and dance. This is resistance in its purest form." (link)

It is hard to imagine celebration today, but as I read and listened, loss and longing resonated fully.

Listen to Qata'en an Nasrawiyyat HERE .

Satire of the Very Un-Funny Kind

I received this faux "news flash" through an email list.  It was not marked as satire, and I think it is indicative of how horrifying things have become that many members of the list took it seriously.  Not true, I repeat, this story is not true. 

NEWS FLASH

 

Ehud Olmert announced today that Israel would kill 1,000 Palestinians a day until their captive soldier is released. Said Olmert, "The Palestinians are expecting us to exchange upwards of a thousand Palestinians for that soldier, so this figure makes sense for everyone involved."

Condoleezza Rice said that Israel has a right to defend itself, but cautioned that the 1,000 figure was perhaps too high and maybe should be lowered . But in a show of support for its "partner for peace," Rice said, "The administration won't publicly condemn Israel if they stick to that number." The rest of the world was silent, waiting to see if Israel actually carries out that policy before considering talks to decide if the action should be condemned.

 

STORY DEVELOPING...

Here's what the person who posted the story later wrote:

Sorry the posting I gave on Palestinian situation has cause some unpleasantness for some. It was intentionally, I thought, so over the top that it could not be believed--It was based on what is happening now in Gaza of Israeli aggression and the rest of the world remaining silent. I thought it was a way to get that across in a way to show the unjustness of the situation by exaggerating it. . I do think it interesting that we have come so far in this situation that something where a killing of a 1000 people a day and no condemning it might be considered possible. I also thought that if true it would be on the news within a few minutes. I will label as satire in the future. Again, sorry.

UPDATE:  It has been pointed out to me that the so-called news flash is better characterized as hyperbole, not satire:  Satire is the use of ridicule or sarcasm  to expose vice or folly.  The piece you quoted .. doesn't seem to quite fit into that category - hence my characterization of the
information as 'hyperbole'  which is kinder than saying that the writer misquoted both
Olmert and Rice to make a point.

In any case, the news flash is still not true.  But, my original point in posting it remains -- as the writer articulated in his apology.  "I do think it interesting that we have come so far in this situation that something where a killing of a 1000 people a day and no condemning it might be considered possible."

This is so-called "Summer Rain" in Gaza.

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The following links are good sources of information about this horrifying collective punishment on an entire population:

-- Justin Podur gives a good summary of the month on ZNet.
-- First hand accounts from Mona El-Farra on her blog, From Gaza with Love.
-- Institute for Public Accuracy news release on Gaza and Israel.
-- Democracy Now!  AIPAC vs. Norman Finkelstein:  A Debate on Israel's Assault on Gaza.

And, here's what else needs to be remembered about the month of June, 2006, in Gaza (NOTE that the following list ends at June 15.  Many more names are missing):

Salem Muhammad Salem Abu Zabeidah
22 year-old resident of al-Bureij Refugee Camp, Deir al-Balah district, killed on 15.06.2006 in Deir al-Balah by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during an attempt to plant explosives near the Gaza perimeter fence, north of Kissufim.

Muhammad Mahmoud Rajab Tanjarah
22 year-old resident of al-Bureij Refugee Camp, Deir al-Balah district, killed on 15.06.2006 in Deir al-Balah by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during an attempt to plant explosives near the Gaza perimeter fence, north of Kissufim.

'Ali 'Ali Hussein al-'Umari
32 year-old resident of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, killed on 13.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed when the Israeli airforce fired missiles into a residential neighborhood in northern Gaza city.

Shauqi 'Ali 'Omar a-Seikali
41 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 13.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed when the Israeli airforce fired missiles into a residential neighborhood in northern Gaza city.

Rafiq Muhammad Faraj al-Mabid
17 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 13.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed when the Israeli airforce fired missiles into a residential neighborhood in northern Gaza city.

Mussa Muhammad Mussa Nasrallah
21 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 13.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed when the Israeli airforce fired missiles into a residential neighborhood in northern Gaza city.

Muhammad Subhi Naji Barghish
23 year-old resident of Jenin Refugee Camp, killed on 13.06.2006 in Jenin by gunfire. Additional information: Killed during an arrest operation in the city.

'Adnan Da'ud Hassan Taleb
46 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 13.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed when the Israeli airforce fired missiles into a residential neighborhood in northern Gaza city.

Husam Isma'il 'Abd a-Rahman Hamad
37 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 13.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed when the Israeli airforce fired missiles into a residential neighborhood in northern Gaza city.

Ashraf Faruk 'Ali al-Mughrabi
39 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 13.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed when the Israeli airforce fired missiles into a residential neighborhood in northern Gaza city.

Maher Ashraf Faruk al-Mughrabi
7 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 13.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed when the Israeli airforce fired missiles into a residential neighborhood in northern Gaza city.

Hisham Rajab Muhammad al-Mughrabi
14 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 13.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed when the Israeli airforce fired missiles into a residential neighborhood in northern Gaza city.

Muhammad Hussein Faraj al-wadiyah
24 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 13.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed on his way to fire a Qassam rocket.

Ibrahim Ibrahim a-Da'alseh Muhammad
38 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 13.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed when the Israeli airforce fired missiles into a residential neighborhood in northern Gaza city.

Salem Muhammad Zaki a-Radi'a
20 year-old resident of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, killed on 11.06.2006 in Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed on his way to fire a Qassam rocket.

Muhammad Bachar Mussa al-Masri
21 year-old resident of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, killed on 11.06.2006 in Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed while he tried to fire a Qassam rocket.

Khaled Yusef Ahmad a-Z'anin
44 year-old resident of Beit Hanun, North Gaza district, killed on 09.06.2006 in Jabalya Refugee Camp, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed.

Ahmad 'Ata Zaid a-Z'anin
21 year-old resident of Beit Hanun, North Gaza district, killed on 09.06.2006 in Jabalya Refugee Camp, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed on his way home, after driving an injured person to the hospital.

Basel 'Ata Zaid a-Z'anin
27 year-old resident of Beit Hanun, North Gaza district, killed on 09.06.2006 in Jabalya Refugee Camp, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed on his way home, after driving an injured person to the hospital.

Muhammad Khalil Muhammad 'Asaliyah
19 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 08.06.2006 in Rafah by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed while attending a training center belonging to the Popular Resistance Committees.

Jamal 'Ataya Zaid Abu Samhadaneh (Abu 'Ataya)
43 year-old resident of Rafah Refugee Camp, killed on 08.06.2006 in Rafah by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed while attending a training center belonging to the Popular Resistance Committees.

Ahmad Muhammad Murjan Abu Sitah
28 year-old resident of Rafah Refugee Camp, killed on 08.06.2006 in Rafah by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed while attending a training center belonging to the Popular Resistance Committees.

Nidal Nabil Muhammad Mussa
21 year-old resident of Rafah, killed on 08.06.2006 in Rafah by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed while attending a training center belonging to the Popular Resistance Committees.

Anwar S'ud Suleiman Abu Sala'h
35 year-old resident of Jabalya Refugee Camp, North Gaza district, killed on 07.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Additional information: Killed while trying to infiltrate into Israel.

Riad Hammad Msalam Abu Sala'h
37 year-old resident of Jabalya Refugee Camp, North Gaza district, killed on 07.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Additional information: Killed while trying to infiltrate into Israel.

Khader Hamdi 'Abdallah Qassem
24 year-old, killed on 07.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: An Palestinian police man.

'Imad Muhammad 'Ali 'Asaliyah
26 year-old resident of Jabalya, North Gaza district, killed on 05.06.2006 in Jabalya Refugee Camp, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter. He was the target of an assasination.

Majdi Taysir Hassan Hammad
29 year-old resident of Jabalya, North Gaza district, killed on 05.06.2006 in Jabalya Refugee Camp, North Gaza district, by gunfire. He was the target of an assasination.