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July 16, 2007
The Village of Ertas
We spent a couple of hours the valley of the village of Ertas (a.k.a. Artas or Irtas) on the 29th of June. Here are my reflections:
The settlement of Ephrata had demolished Awad’s home and orchards forty days ago to make way for a sewage tank on his land in the valley below the settlement. This tank would hold the sewage until it overflowed and spilled into the valley, ruining the most fertile soil around and contaminating the ground water. This was just a tank, not a processing system, or septic system. The idea is that the Israelis build a sewage tank that would last 8-10 months until it’s full, and then leave it to the Palestinians (who are the rightful owners of the land the settlement is built upon) to build the connector to their own waste water systems and process it themselves. Of course, all of this without compensation. NONE.
We took part in a non-violent demonstration in protest of this confiscation of property. We gathered at the end of a long dirt road pass around the mountain and heard from Awad and from folks from the Holy Land Trust, who explained it to us. There were dozens of armed Israelis in full riot gear, and two with video cameras in addition to their machine guns, taping everything that was said and every face that was present.
Because of the international presence there, Awad was allowed to go onto his property, but only for 15 minutes. How he did not break down and weep over his confiscated land I will never understand. He spoke to us about his land, pointing here and there to show where his home had stood, where his apricot and plum trees stood, where his children played, and where his animals grazed. And now the beginnings of a sewage tank sit there. As they were escorting us off the property, Awad invited us to eat the plums from the few remaining trees on his land.
This video (linked) was shot on the 20th of May and is the reason why we joined the non-violent demonstration on the 29th. The man who speaks is Awad.
Here's another link to an article about the day we spent with them. The young guy with the Camelbak is Rick. It is his hand you see in this shot.
your host for this episode : carrie; 08:28 AM | Comments (0)
July 13, 2007
photos from the trip
Words to come later, but for now I'll let these speak for themselves.
your host for this episode : carrie; 08:22 AM | Comments (0)
July 06, 2007
back in GR...
Just up from a short nap and packing for the lake! We'll leave shortly for a day or two in the woods/ at the lake, but I wanted you to know that we made it back... Fully safe if not entirely sound. Everything came through with the exception of Rana's bags, which are (surprise surprise) still in Tel Aviv.
By the way if you're ever in Jaffa, do us a favor and don't go to the Aladdin restaurant in the old city on the beachfront. Everyone we encountered there was RACIST, particularly against the Palestinian that was with us.
But they're a democracy after all, aren't they? My eye...
your host for this episode : carrie; 02:21 PM | Comments (1)
on the ground...
Just landed in Newark. We had a terrible departure from Ben Gurion, terrible service on the flight and terrible food. Rana was pulled aside again for an hour plus and strip searched this time. I've created a new word: dis-humane. Inhumane would imply that they don't have particular knowledge or skill of being humane. Dishumane to me means that they know exactly what they're doing and don't have the capacity to act any differently.
Ok we're at the gate now...more later.
your host for this episode : carrie; 04:34 AM | Comments (0)
July 04, 2007
I'm back from Amman... and Rick's news of 30 June
after almost two hours in the border crossing, 3 simultaneous interrogators, and hours in taxis on both sides of the border i am rejoined to the group. the wedding was beautiful, and such a joy to visit with her family. i'll put pics up when i can get to a computer with a better connection.
we're in nazareth tonight. from the main terrace you can see cana in the distance. wow.
i promised you rick's explanation of his checkpoint crossing. the copy/paste from his update to his home church family is below, in the link.
there is a group of pastors from another denomination that have joined us for the last few days. they've written (and performed for us) a song. here are the lyrics, to the tune of O Little Town of Bethlehem....
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O Little Town of Bethlehem, O how you've touched our lives
You brought us to the CRC, predestined to change our lives
We came here to vacation to sle-ep in and shop
But instead we've heard your speakesr who changed the plans we made
O thank you to the CRC for all that we have done
For Rana's wi-ld activism, for Rick's conver-sion
For checkpoints, settlers, soldiers, for gun shots at mid-day
The hopes and fears of all the years need Herm to ca-ll Bush.
O thank you to the CRC for opening up your group
You showed us hospitality, and bless-ed unity.
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God bless and Good night, see you Friday!
Yesterday I and the group was invovled in a protest against the Isralies buildng a sewage dump through a confiscated (without reason) farmer's field that had been in the family since before the time of Christ. The international media was there and can be found through the Palestine News Nework as well as covered by Rueters. I was actually filmed and photographed a couple a times. One time covering the camera of an Israeili solider who was filming the protestfor the Israelis. Another soldier came by up towards me during this time and as the solder was yelling at me in Hebrew. Then another protester yelled he is an American, he is an American, immediatly they backed away from me and moved. (it is amazing how much power citzenship can have when your government supports the opposing soliders and they all carry American guns and everything). Later I was told by the group that was a great thing and they had photographed it. By the way a couple members of the group attend Uncle Jacks church and have talked to him so I do not know how much you have talked to him about it. Today we visted a number of peace groups and I by myself got off the bus and walked through an Israeli check point at the West bank. Upon seeing me the Isrealis released a number of Palestians being detained in the heat, upon being realeased they walked passed me and each of the youth smiled and thanked me. I then had an Isreali solder who told me that all Palestians are animals and not to be trusted and are dangerous people (I did not tell him that I am living with a Palestine family and they are anything but animals and dangerous) I thanked him politly for the advice shook his hand and continued through the checkpoint, upon which I was later picked up by my bus.
your host for this episode : carrie; 02:11 PM | Comments (0)
bea u ti ful!
I made it to the wedding... It was beautiful and so much fun to be able to be there with my friend! I'm sitting now at the border crossing. Yesterday it took 2 plus hours, so I'm planning for the same...
your host for this episode : carrie; 04:34 AM | Comments (0)
July 02, 2007
Sakinah!
I just got off the phone with Sakinah! I'm leaving in the morning to visit
her - the wedding is tomorrow and I'll come back to the group on Wednesday morning... inshallah in Nazareth.
that's all for now!
your host for this episode : carrie; 02:35 PM | Comments (1)