New Update May 7^th, 2002

Dear Friends,

A group of ISMs came to Aida Camp today, to be witnesses of what is going on here, and to propose help to emergency situations. We made a tour in the camp and around the camp, and of course the main point is the new road and wall foundations they are digging around.  Israeli soldiers and workers started to put fences all around on the new road, and the closure is taking effect not only in the form of checkpoints, but also as concentration ghettos and separation walls… We call upon all to inform and protest against this criminal action of closure and discrimination, and confiscation of palestinians properties… Some of the land owners said that Israelis said to them: “you have 3 days to protest” Very thoughtful isn’t it… To protest… as if they lift the curfew… as if these people can go to the court or go to Jerusalem or make any legal action in the present situation of closure around every palestinian city…

On another level, the situation of the church is still a complicated issue. To begin with, even though palestinian authority have accepted the deportation of 13 Palestinians freedom fighters to Italy, which is refusing to receive them because no body asked it to do so, the palestinian street is against this illegal demarche, and in no way can accept it or forgive those who signed it whoever they are….

The position of the internationals who chose to join the Palestinians besieged in the church is another point. Are they to be detained and deported as well, like criminals? Would they be sent home with an interdiction to come back here for 5 years at least? Would any international who shall criticize the Israeli crimes be considered as a criminal?

Israelis say they will search the church… They want to interrogate and judge those to be deported to Italy and to Gaza under military court… They will interrogate all the others… they will take all their weapons, even those of the palestinian soldiers and policemen…

Israelis still taking their time on deciding to withdraw… there is a lot of damage and demolitions to be done, more arrests to be made, and probably more people to be assassinated, since the palestinians committed the fault of giving the names of the besieged in the church without any assurance from the Israelis, and guarantee for their immediate withdrawal  and so the situation is worsening day after day… And terror actions committed by Israeli occupation and terror army are more and more intense…

And of course, Bush is probably still begging Sharon to withdraw because enough is enough…

What is left to be destroyed? What crime is not yet committed by Israeli “powerful” and “human” army? What excuse is left for every single individual in this world to react to all this?

I pray for your peace, and that it would not be the same as the peace that Israel is offering to Palestinians, except if you still believe that Israel has the right to commit its crimes….