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Games under occupation
14, January 03 I bow before the greatness of the Israeli occupation army. A peerless army in all points of view. But it is mostly because of its love for games… I hesitated for a long time before waking up my storyteller so that he can tell what the Israeli Oppression Army invents every day to entertain the depressed Palestinian people. However, this army of clowns makes enormous efforts but it just can’t make these palestinians get out of their incomprehensible, and apparently hereditary, depressions… After all, from time to time one should amuse oneself… So, given the routine of the checkpoints, the continuous harassment and humiliations which didn’t vary in rhythm or tactic, it seemed always evident, at least for certain palestinians like me, that we always win the game against the second role actors in a film of third degree, and that we arrive always where we want, except Gaza of course… However, let it be clear, I do not say that I am going to the heart of Israel… not me any way, because I have nothing to do there… (Sometimes, there is the temptation to go to the sea, for someone like me who haven’t been allowed-since no permit- to swim or to picnic or even to smell the sea since my return to the country in 1994, but officially, I didn’t take that risk). Any way, since a certain time, the giant Israeli checkpoint, in the heart of the palestinian city of Abu Deiss, where you can think that you are entering Alcatraz, this American prison which was closed longtime ago, because of the inhumane conditions, but there, it is a show that even the greatest cinema directors didn’t imagine.
What happens at Abu Deiss ? Since the glorified army of the enraged occupation have transferred the military checkpoint of Ras el-Amoud to the cross roads of Abu Deiss, and the hermetic closure of this point before the movement of vehicles, and the additional closure of every practicable road by people to go from one side to the other, the stories continue to flow… Actually, there is no more legitimate passage for people or vehicles between Abu Deiss and Al-Quds. Pedestrians, whether they are those idiots of students, pupils or professors who pass from Abu Deiss to their schools in Al-Quds, or those who pass in the opposite direction to the University of Al-Quds at Abu-Deiss, or to Bethlehem University… Whether they are the palestinian criminal workers with or without a permit (from the Israelis) who come to steal the bread of the Israeli, or Romanian or other foreign workers imported from Asia or Eastern Europe… Whether they are those ugly sick people or doctors or the palestinian tourists of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) who come to see what a checkpoint of the army of the biggest democracy in the Middle East looks like, if they haven’t yet the opportunity to see that (which would be really a very rare incident… but I could be wrong !!!). A wall of separation, which cuts the main street in two. In the beginning, the people went through the mosque to pass from one side to the other… The clever army has blocked the entrance of the mosque… The people then went a few meters up in the mosque garden, climbed the small wall of the mosque, and there again were on the other side… Few weeks later, the smart army has again blocked the passage putting stones and barbwires so people cannot pass. The people, stubborn and decided to pass through despite everything, and since there is no alternative passage, went up again to a higher level of the mosque wall, climbed up and jumped to the other side… A very good daily gymnastic and fitness exercises for the muscles and the spirit… There again, the eyes of the oppressors open to repeat what they have done before… And the people went up again to a higher level of the wall… The occupation army tired of its own game put in place a new wall of separation around the wall of the mosque, and left a space allowing the passage of one person… But this didn’t last… Few weeks later, the super powerful army blocked completely the passage left behind this wall… no more exit… no more possibility to pass… But no ! The resourceful palestinians began to pass behind the mosque, cross the building of Al-Quds University, and there again, on the other side… And the most curious thing is that at each step of this game, you will find every morning and afternoon, and during the day as well, the soldiers of this outstanding army of Israel controlling the passage of people and verifying their papers to be sure that everyone have a Jerusalem ID card, or a permit, while these people are jumping the wall… You can see that all these tactics are purely for security reasons for this state thirsty for peace… Isn’t it ???
Another tactic which surprises sometimes the palestinians is the change in the places of checkpoints, even though this change would be immediately transmitted to all the vehicles afterwards, so change of destination, or a long waiting till the soldiers change position and leave… Those who are unfortunate, they might be hit, their cars’ keys confiscated and left waiting for I don’t know how long… Well done for them, because they couldn’t pass this simple surprise test… Occupation is working to make the palestinians more clever and resourceful… So a punishment for those who fail would be a good lesson…
Certain drivers however are more cunning than the others are and have many copies of their keys, so as the soldiers turn their back thinking that they won the match, the drivers take another key and drive away…
One of the favorite games of the soldiers who become tired of the routine, is to give the choice for the taxi drivers : Break the front glass of the taxi or the nose of the driver… Certain drivers thought that it was a joke, so they preferred to break their nose… guess what ? Their wish was fulfilled… the nose was broken and some teeth ran away from their mouths… Certain have till now their teeth in their pockets to show them if some one doesn’t believe their story… What exaggeration ?
The most remarkable however is what happens in Hebron : If an adventurous palestinian is captured by the Israeli soldiers of the democratic oppression army, the soldiers have on their menu three choices… each choice is written on a small paper, and the palestinian gambler shall withdraw one paper. When he opens the paper, he will find : break the nose, or break the hand or break the leg… What an inventive army… these are serious games, and one should amuse oneself and assume the results…
There is also other players who get involved in the games.. the colonizers… And they are terrible players who worship bloody actions being so deeply involved in the rules of the games… Has anyone among you ever met some one who insists on crushing him ? or shoot at him ? or simply hit him ? Personally, I don’t like to play with them… What about you ? Do you want some one for Christmas?
And when there is a curfew, then we are so entertained by the confusing announcements: there would be a lift of curfew tomorrow… few hours later, guess what? No lift of curfew… In the early morning, there is a lift of curfew… people start going out to their work… the Israeli jeeps start circulating in the streets announcing the restoration of the curfew… and so on… And during all of this people start to put plans, in case of lift of curfew or no lift of curfew… Splendid, we would have a theatre rehearsal… we could celebrate the marriage of a friend… We could go to the bank, withdraw some money if we have an account in the bank… go to the school or to the university as a good student or professor, pass an exam, visit family members, consult a doctor, vaccinate your new born child, search a medicament from the pharmacy, or eat in a restaurant with your fiancé, or go to work… Small things of ordinary life, aren’t they?
And while being in all this, the Israeli jeeps circulate again and again, announcing the restoration of the curfew, shooting tear gas, shooting in the air, or around the feet of people, and then all are agitating, and people move around hitting each other trying to find their way, blinded by the tear gas… And saying that we don’t have fun under occupation with these magical games of the magician Israeli soldiers????
But also, there are two types of Atari games : One type with Apache Helicopters, and the other with the tanks and bulldozers… I think these games are specially designed to know if the Palestinians build their houses strong enough to withstand natural catastrophes… If they plant deep enough there trees … If they work well their streets… if the palestinian skin is covered with anti-bullets, anti-missiles, or anti-bombs layer… Anyway, Israeli soldiers love to experiment every thing, because after all, one should never take an over dose of whatever thing one might take!
Some times, Palestinians also try to play games as well… But then, we see extraordinary explosions… And then, the games are consequently considered no more the same for the media, the politicians or even the whole people… That is different… because they are not games designed by experts in uniform or colonizers…
Therefore, you see friends. We are not, absolutely not, bored here. We have an army of occupation who forces itself until death to entertain us with all the illegal means in the international law… The jungle is not far away… It is where we live… Those who are bored, wherever you are, come and visit, and you can assist and even participate in the games… It would be more interesting if you can disguise yourselves in palestinians… Make nice and sweet dreams, tranquil world ….
A cloud passes,
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