Graveyard of trees

An apology for writing more frequent than the usual 2-3 messages a week but
our hearts broke when we arrived to find that much of the Israeli uprooting
of Palestinian olive trees was already done in Al-Walaja today. The old
farmer Mohammed Al-Atrash (Abu Wajih) was standing there in shock,
speechless, wondering where humanity is on this black day. Israeli
authorities picked the day well: it was the day of returning to school and
to work from the 5 day Eid (Holiday) at the end of the Holy Month of
Ramadan. They brought massive forces starting at dawn and circled an area
of over one square mile declaring it a closed military area. No media
presence was allowed (so much for «democracy») so that we could not even
videotape the destruction as it happened, only its aftermath. Dozens of
olive, almond, za’rur, and pine trees were destroyed . For pictures of the
corpses, see footnote 1 below. This despite the fact that there is a court
case pending on this land to be heard at the end of this month. The
villagers called for presence in the village tomorrow (Tuesday morning).
Telephone for info 0522054595.

I cried for this old gentlemen, who already suffered one heart attack and
who reminded me of my late father. I also cried for the apathy of so many
people and for the cruelty of Israeli contractors, their (Arab) workers, the
Israeli private «security» guarding the bulldozers, the Israeli «soldiers»
and «border police» who reminded me of mafias and of other fascists and
racists. (2)

It was uplifting to hear that Turkey is removing the ambassador and deputy
of the apartheid regime. Turkey has also started treating Israeli citizens
coming to Turkey like (but not as bad) as Turkish citizens traveling to
Lydda (aka Ben Gurion) airport. Some countries know what is right and what
is wrong and act on this knowledge. It is a shame that Israeli ambassadors
are still in Amman and in European cities. It is a shame that some
Palestinians who refuse to reconstitute the PLO insist that they will
continue «security cooperation» with the apartheid regime. Some even
continue to meet with Israeli war criminals. Meanwhile the US administration
in Israeli-occupied Washington DC is mobilizing its diplomats to try to
stall and convince Mr. Abbas to go back to «negotiations»; the same useless
negotiations between a prisoner and prison guards where the guards can
determine everything (3). 20 years of this «peace process» should by now
have demonstrated that it is nothing but a farce. Returning to it means
giving more time for colonialism to finish their ethnic cleansing and finish
the walls around the remaining «people warehouses»/ghettos/Bantustans.
Al-Walaja is one such place as it will be surrounded on all sides by walls
(an open air-prison). Meanwhile 1.5 million people remain in the largest
concentration camp in history, otherwise known as Gaza strip subjected to an
immoral and illegal blockade still with the help of Egyptian army (worried
about losing US aid). Occasionally, Israel uses high tech «games» to murder
the sitting ducks (oops, humans) in Gaza (4).

Also the settlers are on a rampage and today they burned a mosque in a
village near Nablus while they are recruiting foreign mercenaries to serve
in their ranks (5)

(1)Please see these preliminary photos of the destruction in Al-Walaja today
http://www.ryanrodrickbeiler.com/Previews/Al-Walaja-5-Sept-2011/18882193_fsR
Fmj#1463860230_BWkPcB5

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