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From Al Nakba to 'Anata: 56 Years of Home Demolitions

Jacob Pace West Bank 7 December 2004


“I never dreamed I would see my village,” she said as the wetness pooled in the corner of her eyes. “I never dreamed I would go back there.” And as I watched her choke back the tears, I couldn’t help my own. But I wasn’t as strong as the 16-year-old refugee girl that sat beside me and I had to reach up to wipe my eyes with the back of my hand. The young girl continued to tell us about her village. She explained that many of the homes there had been occupied by Israelis. Other homes had been demolished. A day after my visit to Ibdaa, I found myself in the village of ‘Anata in East Jerusalem watching an Israeli bulldozer tear down the home of a Palestinian family. 

The New York Times: Reality Bites

Zachary Wales 7 December 2004


Last week Zachary Wales read New York Times’ Greg Myre’s latest attempt to save Israel from itself. The article, titled, “Israeli TV Tackles War for Hearts and Minds,” described Israel’s new “reality” show, The Ambassador, in which multi-lingual Israeli youths are flown around the world vying for bragging rights in Israel’s propaganda campaign. The show’s most recent loser, Ofra Bin Nun, took her exit after trying to “make it clear that Israel has not taken anything from anyone” (her words). Myre wrote about a “reality” show while ignoring “reality” altogether. The Ambassador’s judge is a former Israeli military spokesperson — a burning bush of irony that Myre somehow misses. 

Miyasar's fear: The Aftermath

Shirabe Yamada Dheisheh refugee camp, Palestine 7 December 2004


Although the house is still standing, the engineers have declared it was too fragile and dangerous, as its foundation has severely been damaged in the explosion by the Israeli army last week.  Impact of the bombs left its fatal marks everywhere; cracks run through every surface, windows and doorframes are blown out, walls are crumbling. As people continue to empty the house for the second and final demolition, this time by workers of UNRWA, Shirabe Yamada spent countless days and nights for the last five years since she has become a close friend of the Hammash family —- rolling stuffed grape leaves with the mother and daughers, conversations on the rooftop over mint tea, laughers and tears. 

Mahmoud Darwish wins Prince Claus Award

1 December 2004


On Wednesday 1 December, this year’s Principal Prince Claus Award was presented to the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish at the Royal Palace. Darwish has been granted this award for his powerful and world-famous poetry that depicts his life as an exile and his desire for his native country. The award reflects the Fund’s new focus on the positive results of asylum and migration.The other nine laureates will be presented with their awards in their own countries. Since 1997 the Prince Claus Awards have been presented annually by the Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development to artists, thinkers and cultural organisations that are mainly located in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. 

Eighteen donors pledge nearly $90 million for UN Palestine refugee agency

6 December 2004


Eighteen donor countries pledged approximately $90 million for the 2005 budget of the UN refugee agency UNRWA, during this morning’s meeting of the General Assembly’s Ad Hoc Committee for Voluntary Contributions. Opening the meeting, Peter Tesch, speaking on behalf of General Assembly President Jean Ping, said it was tragic that UNRWA was still desperately needed some 55 years after the international community had attempted to find a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian situation. The Palestinian refugee population had swelled 500 per cent to some 400,000 since UNRWA’s inception. The Agency, however, remained considerably cash-strapped, and its staff worked under extremely difficult circumstances. 

Swedish election observers to Palestinian presidential elections

3 December 2004


The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has been instructed to recruit and train a maximum of 11 election observers, 7 of whom are to be short-term observers. The Swedish election observers will be part of the joint EU election observation mission. “Sweden supports democratic development in the Palestinian areas and we therefore consider it important to contribute election observers to the forthcoming presidential elections. Free and democratic elections in the Palestinian areas would be an important step forward in the Palestinian reform process and can contribute to better conditions for a resumption of the peace process,” says Carin Jämtin, Minister for International Development Cooperation. 

Palestinian expectations tempered by reality

Khalid Amayreh 4 December 2004


For many following developments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the death of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat gave rise to new hopes for peace in the Middle East. However, for many Palestinians, their feeling of optimism regarding the future is largely psychological since there is no practical justification for it. Most are convinced that Israel will seek to find any pretext to avoid a meaningful peace process that would lead to the termination of 37 years of military occupation. The vital question remains whether Israel is willing to pay the price for peace and withdraw. 

A schoolbag named desire

Toine van Teeffelen Bethlehem, Palestine 5 December 2004


With thumb held high and a broad smile, the school bus driver welcomes Tamer who proudly carries his little schoolbag on his back. He takes the seat right behind the driver so as to be able to peep over his shoulder towards the road. Watching this is one of those little rituals every day which keep Mary and me in a better mood than the situation otherwise would allow. Wearing her chequered school uniform, Jara too takes the school bus but unlike Tamer she is not always in her best mood. Her bag is stuffed with books and she curves her back to carry the burden. 

Denounce the deportation of Ahmad Nafaa, demand his return to Canada!

3 December 2004


December 1. 2004 — Tuesday morning, Ahmad Nafaa was deported from Canada to the United States. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) turned Ahmad over to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS), who immediately locked him up in the Clinton County Jail in Northern New York. All of this occurred despite the week-long efforts of the Coalition Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees and allies, who had been working, since Ahmad was detained on November 23, to prevent his deportation. 

Israel teaches Dheisheh's children a lesson they will not forget

Ziad Abbas Dheisheh refugee camp, Palestine 3 December 2004


1 December 2004 — At a quarter to four this morning the Hamash family building was demolished with explosives by the Israeli Army. At least 12 Israeli military jeeps invaded Dheisheh refugee camp and surrounded the families’ homes, as well as Ibdaa Cultural Center’s kindergarten, which shares the same building. The Army ordered Musa Hamash, Aziz Hamash, Ahmed Hamash, and their families outside into the damp and chilly morning air. They were given 30 minutes to remove as many of their belongings as possible before the bombing.