I'm ill - I need a dose of freedom.
You know, I am really sick today. I am sick of everything. I am sick of Israel, I am sick of the USA, I am sick of Iraq. I am sick of Palestine. I am sick of you versus me. I am sick of what happened in the past and its effects on me. I am sick that Israeli Citizen Security is More Important Than My Freedom. I am just sick sick sick.
I am sick that I can't leave my city to go to Ramallah for a beer with my friends without being hassled. I am sick that its hot and I can't go swimming in the Med, a distance of maybe 1 hour from Nablus. I am sick of being degrated and treated like a criminal at checkpoints which surround my whole city. I am sick of feeling like a leashed animal. I am just sick sick sick.
I am sick of being afraid. I am sick of hearing my future sister in law talking about being afraid to arrive at the Tel Aviv airport. I am sick that she will get hassled, I am sick that she may not be allowed in for the wedding. I am sick of being second class. I am just sick sick sick.
I am sick of being afraid of Israeli's. I am sick of being nervous all the time. I am sick about thinking of my future. I am sick that I feel so helpless and hopeless. I am sick and tired of this wedding, I just want it to be over. I am sick of my fear of flying. I am sick sick sick.
I am sick of talking about how sick I am.
I think there needs to be an NGO to come into Nablus and give free mental and emotional therapy to people who have to live under occupation. Especially, when you are STUCK and you see these settlers have all the freedom of moving and you just wish you could drive your car more than 15 miles.
I NEED A VACATION!
posted by Palestinian Princess @ Saturday, May 13, 2006
77 Comments:
Stumbled onto your site today. I am sorry things are so sickening for you; my heart goes out to you. We, in the US (as the average person on the street- like yourself), have no real understanding of it all; but numbling blur through our own whirl of daily activities that don't even resemble yours.
Reading your site is a wonderful insight; please keep writing, for yourself, and those who may stumble by and suddenly be inlightened... I wish, like you, it was all different.
Thanks for coming by Falconmyst! Sorry that your first read had to be my ranting!! Hahaha, I think I am a bit stressed out!
May 13 2006
Nablus: IDF uncovers explosive belt
Belt captured during military operation in West Bank city following concrete warning on plan to carry out terror attack; two Palestinians detained
Efrat Weiss
Soldiers from a special IDF unit on Saturday morning uncovered an explosive belt weighing seven to 10 kilograms (15.4 to 22 pounds), destined to be used in a terror attack at a crowded place in Israel.
The belt was detonated in a controlled manner. There were no reports of injuries. Two members of the terror group connected to the explosive belt were captured.
Several days ago, the defense establishment received a concrete warning on a plan to carry out a terror attack from the northern West Bank. Following the warning, the army boosted its operations, particularly in the Nablus area.
Some of the group members were captured in the past two days. The belt was caught Saturday morning in a Palestinian car.
Number of warnings up
Border Guard sappers were dispatched to the area and detonated the belt in a controlled manner.
The group members were taken into interrogation by security forces.
Since the holiday of Purim, IDF soldiers have been operating in the Nablus and northern West Bank area against terrorists attempting to carry out terror attacks.
Security officials told Ynet that since the beginning of the year, the defense establishment has seen a considerable rise in terror organizations' attempts to carry out attacks, as well as in the number of warnings.
It is still unclear whether one organization was behind the plan to carry out an attack. Terror organizations in Nablus are known for working in cooperation.
WE'RE SICK OF IT TOO.
Well, my brother and I were JUST discussing this over lunch. Actually, let me give some background, here in Nablus we have TONS of stolen cars, I have no clue how the hell they get in to the W. Bank, I think it might be a "joint" job you know, because I know those checkpoints are hell, but I also know you can get around them sometimes. But still, I havent a clue how the hell they get in. Anyway, we also have a bunch of Rambo's here, they take the car and they do some "fast & furious" scenes and make tons of noise. LOSERS. Anyway, know here is my point. Ok, so a guy from the camp gives this guy (he is Christian) for sake of keeping the story straight I will call him B, a car to play around with, you know cause its sooooo cool. So, B takes the car and rides aroudn with it and parks it infront of his house.
Anyway, that night Israeli soldiers come to the house and tell the people that there is a bomb in the car and they blow it up. This caused the windows in my brothers friends house to shatter, hence how I know of the story.
sometimes, I am suspectful of these things, because I really feel that they are inside jobs to make Palestinains look REALLY BAD and all the more of an excuse to keep things really tight on us.
I dont know. I know Israeli's are sick of it, but let me tell you WE ARE MORE SICK OF IT, hence why there is more violence brewing from our side, we are seriously losing hope, damn it, I AM LOSING HOPE. That can't be a good sign.
I don't believe most Israelis have a clue what life is like for you, Lucy.
Nor do most care, I suspect.
A total of 62 percent of Israelis want the government to encourage local Arabs to leave the country, according to the 2006 democracy index released Tuesday by the Israel Democracy Institute.
That is to say, their own fellow Israeli citizens.
The Israelis are very good at forming the international debate as an intractable struggle between two relatively equal sides, largely because they are perceived as "like us" to the Europeans and the Americans.
If that infernal wall was about "security", it'd be built inside Israel using the shortest route possible.
Strangely if both sides are REALLY SICK of it, it could be a good sign. Maybe there is light in the end of the tunnel? Other Palestinians had a strange way of showing that they want this to end when they voted Hamas.
I do think that within a couple of years Israel will leave you to your own devices with measures necessary to ensure that the risk to Israeli citizens is minimized. I am not sure it will help you.
Shlemazal, is it possible that they voted for Hamas because they were sick of the other government & its obvious prefrence of it by the USA & Israel? Maybe they thought, why not? It could not possibly be any worse then the corrupt fatah?
Think about it!
By the way, Palestinians were still under occupation under the old government as well. So stop ranting about voting in Hamas......Fatah wasn't any better!
Lucy, I know just how you feel. I can't take a car ride anywhere in this country without being fearful the entire time that an Arab sniper will pick me or my husband off as we drive along. When I get on the bus in the morning, I have to give myself a talking to just to stay calm. It is an exercise in courage and self-control to stay on that bus until I reach my destination 30 minutes later. When I go to a restaurant, I can't relax and enjoy my tea or my meal -- ever. The cost of living is ridiculously high here, largely because our tourist industry has been destroyed by Arabs (who themselves are hurt by that, but who cannot seem to admit that this is yet another hardship they have brought on themselves!) and because we have to spend so much money on security. I know that most Arabs reading this comment will smile with satisfaction, to think that a Jew has to go through her day in fear of her life.
Abu Shaar, please let's not pretend that Israeli Arabs feel any sort of real loyalty to the state of Israel. They may prefer to live here, because life is easier for them than it would be under Arab governments (particularly true for Arab Christians), but they would also prefer that all the Jews were gone. I know that isn't very logical of them, since every freedom they enjoy is due to having a Jewish rather than a Muslim government, but, there you have. People are not always rational. I would prefer that 100% of Arabs moved out of Israel, based on this knowledge. The Arab MKs we have in our government are vocally and virulently anti-Israel. What craziness we are living with, that we allowed them into government and that we allow Arabs to be citizens of Israel. You know that this is not a racist comment, you know that it is a rational comment, because you know better than any Jew just how much Israeli Arabs hate Jews and the state of Israel!! (Of course, that won't stop you from making the accusation, but as I said, let's neither of us pretend.)
Muslim Arabs cannot even tolerate peaceable, law abiding Jews who once lived in their nations -- imagine how Muslim Arabs would treat Jewish residents who vocally proclaimed their hatred of the host country, and who collaborated with her enemies (as our Arab MKs did when they secretly met with Hamas). I'm thinking such Jews wouldn't live very long. What do you think?
WHEN will you admit to the kind of people that you are? You accuse Israeli Jews of being discriminatory, but you have not a single example from among any of your many nations of leaders or citizens who champion and protect their minorities, to say nothing of minorities that speak against the populace and the government.
Talk about arrogance, and hypocrisy, and low moral character. Will you address these things, or will you just go silent again, or evade the issues and launch into another unrelated screed? Just curious.
Your medicine is nearby, about a two-hour drive east. Choose a happy life among your brothers and sisters in warm, friendly jordan - why be unhappy i israel - because your ancestors lived there? do you do everything you do and think everything you think based on what your grandfather or great-grandfather did or thought? sure hope not - very uncool. if most people did then no one would ever move.
Anonymous said...
"is it possible that they voted for Hamas because they were sick of the other government & its obvious prefrence of it by the USA & Israel? Maybe they thought, why not? It could not possibly be any worse then the corrupt fatah?"
Is it not a little bit paternalistic to downplay the intolerant, violent nature of the party chosen by the majority of the Palestinian people in order to make the outcome of the election seem more tolerable? Why must we conceal the true nature of Hamas (extremist, intolerant) in order to rationalize the outcome of the election?
Furthermore, if corruption were truly the only reason for Hamas' support (as opposed to its violent acts against Israel, etc.), ask yourself why a less corrupt moderate and/or secular alternative has not emerged from the Palestinian political landscape. Why should we ignore the intolerant, radical Islamist nature of Hamas just because they happen also to have a clean record on corruption? If a political party of skinheads swept to power in a European country on a platform of good governance, would we give the voters that supported the party the benefit of the doubt? Not likely.
Ramblings : I'l repeat myself: It was my land, Israel, before you got here.It was my land before your Prophet was born. I came before you.....You yourself aknowledge Moses,my "prophet" as one to respect. Respect my life.I will respect yours.
I am sorry the way we all feel when we ride an Israeli bus or when we get to a checkpoint.
Speaking of ancestry: we owned this land, Israel, before you.
Now, let's talk about PEACE and about not being abused by leaders like Arafat, while Suha lives in splendor in Paris, or by Iran (Shia and Palestinians Sunni or Christians).........We don't teach poison in our schools. Stop teaching poison in your schools. Let's talk about PEACE and how to force our leaders to really start negotiating..........
Anonymous May 13 2:59 PM, shlemazl and Batyah: You say e.g. "WE'RE SICK OF IT TOO. " But you are not sick enough of it. You are nowhere near as sick of it as the Palestinians, treated like Jews in pre-Enlightenment European ghettoes, or worse. Above all, you are not sick enough to take an objective, detached, unemotional look at the facts and history of the conflict and realize, like everyone else who has, that Israel is beyond question the aggressor against the Palestinians and that Israel has the easy option open to aggressors - simply stop attacking, stop robbing, stop killing, stop oppressing, stop terrorizing, stop committing war crimes. Just go home, go behind the Green Line and leave other people alone. Behave the way Israel has and what the hell should one expect? A first step is to look at the propaganda accusations made at the Palestinians and other Arabs and realize that they generally fit the Israelis rather better. A very common psychological mechanism.
Amos Elon wrote a fine book called The Pity Of It All on the destruction of the European Jews. If someone in the future writes a book on the destruction of the Israeli Jews and the Palestinians too, it should be called The Stupidity of It All. If there was ever a tragedy recapitulated as a (sick) farce, this is one. All Israel has to do is accept the "generous" offers the other side has been making for 30-35 years. But no, in the words of the imbeciles in the Israeli cabinet who rejected these offers in the 70s which they knew were serious and would probably lead to real peace, "we think we can get a little more."
Thinking that the government of Israel has given a flying f**k about the safety of its citizens is a joke. It prefers to use Israeli civilians as human shields. It's just a ludicrous excuse to justify thefts which are unfortunately supported by a large number of Israelis. People who don't realize that is the Israeli Jews who quite naturally have the psychological issues in this conflict have a bad case of holocaust denial.
Calgacus, I'm sorry to say, but you're quite simply an idiot. It is impossible to respond to your delusional and distorted rantings. Speaking of human shields, I think we all know which group uses those, and children at that. There have been no 'generous offers' from any Arabs, anywhere -- or were you perhaps referring to the 'offer' that we all go jump in the sea?
Abu, back to you. Are you kidding me? History is rife with examples of the persecution of Jews under Islam. The Muslim massacre of Jews in the 12th century in Spain, for starters; the Damascas blood libel; the expulsion of Jews in Yemen, whose imam was particularly harsh and hateful; the Dhimmi laws, practiced fully in Palestine against its Jewish residents. Jews living in Palestine were not given equal protection under the law, a fact that is well established. (I suspect you know it, too.)
Refreshing I suppose, to see such honest racism.
As far as nonviolent demonstrations go, the press doesn't report them;
Just yesterday two international activists were shot in the head by some brave Israeli soldier.
Abu, you are once again skirting the issues raised. And that, my friend, makes you a coward on top of everything else.
Calgacus,
you say: "Israel is beyond question the aggressor against the Palestinians and that Israel has the easy option open to aggressors - simply stop attacking, stop robbing, stop killing, stop oppressing, stop terrorizing, stop committing war crimes. Just go home, go behind the Green Line and leave other people alone. "
Could not agree more, except you have to replace the word "Israel" with another one. Prior to 1968 Israel was behind the Green line, but there was still terrorism and aggression against it.
Abu Shaar,
What are you referring to when you say "Refreshing I suppose, to see such honest racism."
Mazel tov, murderous Arabs (not you, Lucy) -- Daniel Wultz has succumbed to the wounds sustained in the homicide bombing in Tel Aviv one month ago.
Read what your compatriots had to say about this 16 year old boy:
http://jscottbarnard.blogspot.com/2006/05/daniel-wultz.html
This is better yet:
http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=49952
The word racism is often misued too There is no one group that has a monopoly of racist words or acussations. I do not think the Israelis are any more racist than the Palestinians, both are alittle paranoid and afraid of each other. I have seen the word racism used to justify all sorts of rubbish, in England we go to absurb lengths so as not to offend other cultures even when there is no hatred or ill will involved, to the extent that we deny our own culture to appease and it is sanctioned. That is the difficulites and the challenges of living in a multi cultural society. Racism is a word I would not use lightly, it stirs up the bitterest hatreds.
The word racism is often misued too There is no one group that has a monopoly of racist words or acussations. I do not think the Israelis are any more racist than the Palestinians, both are alittle paranoid and afraid of each other. I have seen the word racism used to justify all sorts of rubbish, in England we go to absurb lengths so as not to offend other cultures even when there is no hatred or ill will involved, to the extent that we deny our own culture to appease and it is sanctioned. That is the difficulites and the challenges of living in a multi cultural society. Racism is a word I would not use lightly, it stirs up the bitterest hatreds.
dear palestinian princess... and i'm so glad there are still princesses over there. i just came back from a 10 day holiday, a awakening one, in Palestine, of course no one in Israel know, but i hated the false environment over there... a great contrast with the reality and the thruthfulness in Palestinians' eyes.
your blog will now be part of my life... in a strange way i would like to apologize to you for all that's happening, but i'm not sure that helps.
i'm living in Belgium now, and with some photographers that i know, i am trying to have one of the museums here in Antwerp to give us space for a mega-exhibition... hopefully that will open a few eyes...
feel free to feel sick, angry and even hopeless, we understand, and i will not let your hope die.
my sister-in-law works in Qalquilia for COOPI, www.coopi.it, a job creation organization.
What craziness we are living with, that we allowed them into government and that we allow Arabs to be citizens of Israel
What settlement do you live in, batyah?
I don't know about false environment but only twice in my life has someone literally refused to give me the time of day (that is, an answer to "Excuse me, do you know what time it is?")
That was in Israel.
Abu, still avoiding the issues -- I guess it's tough dealing with the truth.
"What settlement do you live on?" Is that supposed to be an insult? Hahaha! You make me laugh.
You can't win, you know. There may be more of you, but more of us are smarter.
Batya - Don't waste your time here. If you have children or perhaps a nephew or niece that is 4 years old then you know what it is like having a discussion and they do not agree with you. Any adult is smart enough to know that in many instances you cannot change a 4-year-old's mind with logic or negotiation or repetition. They are just stuck with their thoughts, with blinders on, and there's no shifting it.
Arabs in general, especially Muslim ones, and most especially "Palestinian" ones are like the 4-year-old in the example. They will not budge from their perspective, no matter the logic or evidence or truth (a word they cannot support culturally).
As for Tomer, your comment "I know it is much harder on your side" is shameful and you should cry some tears for your own people instead of looking for opportunity to sympathize with those who would just as soon cut your throat as have a coffee with you given the collective (not individual, Lucy) chance. If I were your m'faked you'd be jailed as a traitor for such a comment, especially in the face of so many maimed and dead people at the hands of these proud "Palestinians."
Proud indeed - of what? Proud of your contributions to society? Well, thanks for the 1,000 year-old mathamatics.
Short-term the Arabs will continue to score political points and achieve various victories simply because the Jews at this point in time are a lost and disunited people, and many are so confounded that they actually think that they are wrong for feeling that their land is theirs. No matter - this generation will die out, and the next one will change the tide. Consider the fact that 65% of first-graders in Israel this year are religious and take comfort. Consider that as of today almost 70% of soldiers who remain in the army after their commitment time wear a kippah and take comfort. We'll have to suffer these animals for some time, but noit for a long time.
Once the Olmert's, Peres's, Beilin's, Sarid's, Peretz's and others have peacefully left this earth their replacements will not be so stupid, this is for certain.
Lucy - Why be miserable? Enjoy your life and go to Jordan, study anthropology or something in Amman and feel at ease - you deserve it. Is it really worth staying where you are knowing that you simply cannot win in the end?
You'd like to think that is true, wouldn't you.
yes, i really felt that in Tel Aviv there is a false environment, a greed for being "modern", for being european, when israelians are simply not!
2 weeks ago all over the papers we could read "Tel Aviv wants to be the gay capital of the world", as much as i respect gay people, i think wishes like this one show how much Tel Aviv wants to pretend!
i'm an architect and i could see how desperate the population is to built a perfect world, perfect towns, maybe to hide something else, to make the world believe that everything is going as it should... travelling in Israel i found this "city boom" all over, specially in the settlements all over Palestina, building towns in 2 years, to pretend that people live happily ever after... it's sad that the israelian government pays their own people to live within a wall, only this wall isn't gray.
the false environment that i experienced was exactly this... tell me if i'm wrong, please, i would really like to believe that Israel is doing the right thing.
by the way, does anybody know of good books about the conflict, from whatever side, even just historical romances would be fine. i need to know more... so that all of the bad things i saw can somehow make sense. thanks
Dearest Batya and the Doctor,
In the immortal words of my inner child:
"I'm rubber your glue, whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you!"
Please, we are trying to have an intelligent discussion relating to Lucy's post titled: I'm ill - I need a dose of freedom
To use a more relevant quote:
"You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom." - Malcolm X
Peace.
Abu-Issa
You could start with one that probably is available where you are, since it was written by an Israeli historian, Tanya Reinhart:
Israel/Palestine : How to End the War of 1948
hmmm, yeah so???? Are you suggesting that Jenin was anything but a massacre? Or were they fighting terrorism by destroying homes right and left?
Have you ever thought that that land belongs to them? And if Israel would attempt a truly peaceful overture and give back Palestinian land to the Palestinians you wouldn’t have to worry about being blown up in cafe's and Palestinians children wont have to shot? Or do you actually believe the crap your politicians tell you that this occupation is a necessary defensive measure? Man you’re such a fruit loop. Occupation has failed for 40 years just give them their land back.
I interrupt this scintillating exchange of brilliant ideas to bring something important to your attention. There is currently a young woman on death row in Iran -- her crime is killing in self-defense a man who, together with several of his friends, tried to gang rape her and her niece. There is a chance that if enough international pressure is applied to Iran, they will not execute her. I sincerely hope that she will be released because I don't think life in prison (with daily rapes by prison guards) will be a much better alternative to death by hanging.
Here is the website:
http://save.nazanin.googlepages.com/home
Please sign the petition and then notify EVERYONE that you know. Time is of the essence, as the appeals court will be making a decision within the week.
Um, just a friendly hello, might not sit too well with the comment above.
I enjoy your blog, think you have the wisdom and patience to get through. You create dialogue, even though it must be hard to read, it is hard for an outsider to read.
It's not in * any * way parallel to your own situation, but I decided not to travel anywhere abroad for a while, to save money and airmiles. So I travel on the web, read descriptions of life in other countries, enjoy the connections I have with friends in different places. I hope you can find escape in the virtual world too, and know that your voice travels further than 12 miles.
best wishes,
Innocent_Criminal said...
hmmm, yeah so???? Are you suggesting that Jenin was anything but a massacre?
hmmmm, yes, that's exactly what the poster was doing.
The Jenin "massacre" story is a dangerous lie. The myth has been thoroughly debunked. No one seriously insists at this point that a massacre took place. (A main proponent of this lie, the filmmaker Muhammad Bakri, recently admitted under oath to falsifying scenes in his documentary on the subject). The UN concluded that a massacre had not in fact took place, and the outrageous claims made by the Palestinian Authority during the battle have long ago been proven baseless.
This definitely ranks among the most shameful media manipulations in recent history - and you have apparently fell for it.
And no doubt there are those that would shrug off the whole Jenin debacle as just another case of PA propaganda and/or sloppy journalism. "Let's talk about occupation instead." Well, I would suggest that this event is of far greater importance. Indeed, the Jenin "massacre" - among other myths - has played a major role in attempts to demonize Israel among Palestinians and abroad. And in the context of the Arab-Israel conflict, such demonization is not to be taken lightly. For the Jenin "massacre" is precisely the type of libelous accusation that adds to an already hideously distorted view of Israel and its actions - and ultimately makes killing Israeli civilians acceptable.
Do some homework:
http://www.adl.org/Israel/jenin/jenin.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenin_Massacre
http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_article=217&x_context=7
The Human Rights Watch report on the battle of Jenin concluded:
"Israeli forces committed serious violations of international humanitarian law, some amounting prima facie to war crimes."
Yes, War Crimes!!
How does that make you feel? Proud to be Jewish now??
War crimes in the name of our religion...
After all is said and done Judaism is going to be the biggest victim...
Join the REAL battle here:
http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/
Are you fucking kidding me? are you taking ADL and Camera as your source? do you even know anything about these two institutions and who runs/funds them? Have you ever read any anti-israeli articles in Camera or its sister Campus Watch? And its funny you didnt answer my point about getting off their fucking land to solve the situation.
The only war crime committed in Jenin was the fact that the Israeli soldiers were forced to put themselves in danger and lose lives due to the cowardly, weak leadership in today's Israel that bends over backwards to avoid "collateral damage" rather than concentrate on victory.
Imagine an army of Arabs with firpower moving their way through an Israeli town. How would they act? Now let's see the Israelis do that!
I've found your blog today...Keep up the good working,dear Princess!
I'm sorry you are so sick of everything :-(
kisses from italy
*Rula*
The Doctor said...
Imagine an army of Arabs with firpower moving their way through an Israeli town. How would they act?
I would ask the Israel-haters on this site to further hypothesize:
Would the world be dealing with a "Jewish refugee" problem if the Arabs had prevailed in 1948? Doubtful there would have been any such refugees.
And as for you, Innocent_Criminal: You can dispute the merits of a particular website all you want. But to continue to claim that a massacre occured at Jenin is to promote a LIE.
And about "answering your point about getting off their fucking land to solve the situation"...well, not sure what your "point" was, but I would suggest that a sizeable majority of Israelis have agreed for some time now that abandonning the West Bank and Gaza may be the only solution.
Of course, there are those that claim that to do so (setting aside the injustice of insisting that Palestine be ethnically pure while Israel retain an Arab minority) would merely invite terrorists to fill the void and attack Israel from the vacated territory.
Which is, last time I checked, exactly what happened in Gaza.
So, no, your simplistic formula for ending the situation is flawed in theory and has proven flawed in fact. The Palestinians have had at various times in their history a massive amount of good will toward them from parts of the Israeli public on which to capitalize. Unfortunately, they continue to make a mockery of those Israelis that favor withdrawal, and in so doing discredit those Israelis within Israel.
And to Mr/Mrs/Ms. "Jewish Voice for Peace": You ask if it "makes me proud to be Jewish now?? War crimes in the name of our religion..., etc."
Setting aside for a second your baseless presumption that I am Jewish, I would suggest that not all of Israel's actions are done in the name of religion. There are certain unfortunate responsibilities that come from being a state which are not attendant to being a religion. The Jews (OK, most but not all Jews) made a strategic decision at one point in their history to forgo their powerless (with all the blissful inocence that comes with it) and take a stab at self-determination. The result was the creation of the State of Israel and the establishment of a safehaven for hundreds and thousands of threatened or otherwise disenfranchised people.
Normal people can separate in their minds what is done "in the name of religion" with what is done by a state in carrying out its functions and fulfilling its duty to protect its citizens.
Sometimes what a state does is fucked up. But Islam is seldom blamed for what Muslim countries do and Christianity is certainly not blamed for what Christian countries do.
Why do you hold your own religion to such an impossibly high standard? Is there perhaps some underlying discomfort that you feel with Jewish power? Did you prefer being subjugated to being free and shouldering the burdens of statehood? Are you sitting complacently in the West somewhere, unable to fathom the enormous good that Israel has done for Jews not as fortunate as yourself?
Take your self-doubt to your shrink, rather than offering it up as fodder for people on the internet who could NOT GIVE A DAMN about the survival of your people.
JEWISH QUESTION NEEEDS TO BE SOLVED ONCE AND FOREVER! ANY IDEAS?
If the Europeans created the problem for the Jews, why didn't the Europeans create a 'homeland' for the Jews in Germany - which was the country responsible for their deaths during World War II? Why should the Palestinians have to provide a 'homeland' for them?
Also, keep in mind that the Jews didn't start out in the land that is now called Israel. My understanding is that they started out in what is now called Iraq and moved to Egypt and only later moved to what is now Israel - after attacking and killing all of the men, women and children of certain towns and villages like Jericho.
If Europe caused the Jews so many problems, why has the U.S. given Israel billions of dollars over the years? Why should the U.S. taxpayers borrow money from China in order to give it to Israel so that Israel can act like the German Nazis during World War II?
If the Jews really wanted a safe 'homeland', they could convince the U.S. to give them a section of any of the U.S. National Parks - like Yosemite or Yellowstone - that would be the size of Israel and surrounded by National Park land. It would probably be cheaper than the cost of giving Israel billions of dollars every year.
The U.S. has already established a precendent by allocating land for Native Americans (the original owners of what is now the U.S.).
Also, if the World is supposed to feel so sorry for the Jews because of what happened to them during World War II, why aren't the Jews and the World in general also sorry for what happened to the Gypsies and the Catholics and Protestants who risked and lost their lives by trying to help the Jews and Gypsies during World War II? Why is it that the World is only supposed to feel sorry for the Jews?
Why is it that when a museum is created in Washington, DC, to honor victims of genocide during World War II that the Jews aren't trying to prevent genocidal atrocities from happening throughout the World today? Why do they complain that no one helped them when they were the victims of genocide, but they don't feel the need to help others who are the victims of genocide right now?
I feel very sorry for Lucy to have to read all of the nastiness of these comments. It must only make her more depressed and sick.
What? Now the Jews are being blamed for not intervening in Darfur? Hmmm. Has everyone forgotten that the murderers and rapists in Darfur are MUSLIMS??????
Muslims, escape while you can:
http://www.faithfreedom.org/testimonials.htm
Lucy: I second Tomer's suggestion about getting involved with local Palestinian NGOs as a medication for your "sickness":
There's lots to do in whatever direction (peacebuilding/education/women/refugees/empowerment/youth/rights) you want!
Recently I've been reading things like this thread, and becoming increasingly convinced of something. One philosopher recently said that the worst idea in history has been ethical monotheism (the idea that there is only one true god). I think that's wrong. I think the worst invention in all of history is the simple concept of "us" and "them".
Of course, I have no idea if cognition is even possible without the ability to form groupings of "things like me" and "things not like me".
Where is Lucy? :(
Tse.
I'm afraid something is going on. A quick Google search for news found these:
Army invades Nablus, surrounds residential building,injures one resident
IMEMC & Agencies - Friday, 26 May 2006, 12:42
In an Israeli army invasion of Nablus in the West Bank, earlier on Friday morning, Israeli troops surrounded a residential building and injured one resident.
Yousef Abu Laila, 26, a Palestinian security officer, sustained injuries after being hit by live rounds in his left leg and left arm, then he was moved to the nearby hospital in the city, medical sources reported.
Soldiers randomly fired rounds of live ammunition and sound bombs at the residents' homes during the invasion and while searching the houses, local soujrces reported.
AND
Army invades Nablus and arrests several residents among them the wife of a wanted man
IMEMC & Agencies - Thursday, 25 May 2006, 10:51
The Israeli army invaded the West Bank city of Nablus and Balata refugee camp and arrested residents among them the wife of a wanted man, on Thursday morning
Those known from the arrestees are Jamile Al Qabag, Iyad Abu Al Adass, from the old city area , Abd Al Rahman Hatnawi, and the wife of Fadi Kafisha, because the army claim her husband is wanted .
Troops searched homes forced residents and their children outside detaining families for several hours, causing terror amongst the children, eyewitnesses said.
in order to force them to surrender ,this type of intimidation is illegal under the international law.
According to some women previously arrested for such purposes, soldiers force them to remain standing for long hours and tortured them before they were released from the nearby Howwara military post.
It is quite possible Lucy's electricity has been cut off...
Lucy...please let us know what's happening. I'm not the only one concerned.
Abu-Issa
After more digging I found out what's been happening in the area, here's an official Press Release from earlier this week:
May 23rd, 2006
Tomorrow: Solidarity Meeting Against Land Confiscation in Asira, Nablus
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
At 1:30pm tomorrow (Wednesday the 24th of May) the people of Asira, near Nablus, will be joined by Israeli and international supporters in holding a meeting in solidarity with the owners of land that the Israeli military is about to confiscate. The aim of the meeting is to ask for an official military order for the confiscation, which they will use in a lawsuit they intend to bring against the military. Legal representatives, human rights workers and other members of Palestinian civil society will attend the meeting.
On the 22nd of May, Israeli soldiers issued an order declaring their intention to confiscate 120 dunams of village land for expansion of the Sabatash checkpoint and military base. Three Palestinian families currently live on the land that will be confiscated. They will be facing potential displacement if the confiscation succeeds.
The land confiscated includes strategically important electricity power lines that come from Nablus over which all the electricity for village is supplied. The order also decreed that at least 70 additional dunams of the land of Asira will come under Israeli military control.
Asira municipality is intending to file a lawsuit against the military in Israeli courts. The Jerusalem Centre for Human Rights will be assisting in this case.
For more information call:
Kanan 0599 398 266
Zadie 054 590 2319
ISM Media office 02 297 1924
This could be a reason for all of the military action today.
Abu-Issa
Perfectly timed as Olmert is in the US getting stroked by the American Congress.
Well done, lads. Show those kaffirs Israel wants peace.
Electricity cut-offs that extend for weeks?
I hope you're well, Lucy....
Thanks for the info, Abu-Issa
Tse.
To Friday, May 19th, 2:40:31 ...
Your comment is really making me SICK!! If you don't know what you're saying - don't say anything at all! Forget Israeli newspaper-reports -I have been to Jenin refugee camp about a week after the killing-and destruction spree and seen it with my OWN eyes ... rest assured it WAS a massaker! Should you have any doubt, just read the report (if it was not taken out by the army or government as it does NOT shed good light on the IOF) about this caterpillar-driver who, drunk to the rim, ravaged for two days uninterruptedly there only to destroy whatever came in his way! It will give you an idea of what was going on there ...
People like you should be taken to Gaza, Rafah, Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah, and to ALL refugee camps, made sit down with people and LISTEN TO THEIR STORIES!! Only THEN you can rightfully open your mouth and talk - but NOT before!! I'm curious if you'd still have the same impression or of you'd understand that your picture was "somewhat" distorted ...
Ignore the last anony-mouse, who obviously does not know what a massacre is. If anythinjg, the Jenin failure was an example of just how weak the israeli army is, with no true vision on how to get a job done.
Anonymous said...
To Friday, May 19th, 2:40:31 ...
Your comment is really making me SICK!! blah blah blah blah
DUDE. You are talking nonsense. Drunk Catapillar drivers? Take a break, make a sandwich, and ask yourself what really motivates your rambling posts. Is it concern for Palestinians? Is it? Because I will be the first to admit that Palestinian history is regrettably full of "massacres" - but hardly any of them have come at the hands of the Israelis. There is no doubt who is more militarily powerful as between the Israelis and Palestinians and we all know what the Israelis could have done in Jenin - indeed, could do when and where they want - if they operated according to the amoral rules of the other states in the region.
I'm sorry the Israelis had to enter Jenin to stem the relentless stream of devout shaheeds who found fame and glory blowing up Israeli kids. I'm sorry that civilians were killed thanks to these brave warriors deliberately hiding among them. And I'm sorry that so many buildings got destroyed - that, after all, seems to be your definition of a "massacre."
But what I'm most sorry about is that the Israelis did not build their security barrier sooner. It would have prevented the parade of baby-killers from Jenin in the first place, and would have obviated the need for the Israelis to enter Jenin and place Palestinian civilians in danger. (Check the stats - seems to be working). Let me guess - you disagree. You'd like to have it both ways: no fence, and no Israeli retaliation when the pious shaheeds pop on over to kill Jews. Sorry, but we live in a place called "reality," a place that you - with your drunk bulldozer drivers, imaginary massacres of apartment buildings, and piss-poor historical perspective - may want to visit one day.
Is this our Princess??
Picture
21 residents of Nablus have been rounded up and taken into detention in the last 24-hours.
Abu-Issa
Why? What did they do?
I don't think it's her. (I hope it's not)Abu_Issa.
She doesn't sound like the girl who's putting up resistance against whatever.
I hope she's allright :(
Tse.
are u on a holiday,Lucy? ;-)
joking apart, I hope u are well...
Lucy: I hope you will write a post about the debate going on bet. Fatah & Hamas about the Prisoner's peace plan & the proposed national referendum. I've been scouring Palestinian blogs for someone who's written about it & haven't yet found one.
you might be sick of it, but that is an inconvenience. you do not have any real fear of getting physically hurt. Just the inconvenience of getting hassled by security everywhere you go. I feel bad for you and wish it did not have to be that way.
However, Israelis are not "sick of being hassled". Israelis are afraid to get ona bus because maybe a Palestinian got through a checkpoint and is goign to blow it up. Or a shopping mall or a coffee shop. It is a result of these bombings that you get hassled, even though you might be against what the bombers do.
As soon as there is a period of quiet, Israel eases the restrictions and while still things are not a good situation, they are better for everybody, until the next bomber takes advantage of eased restrictions and blows himself up.. then Israel tightens the clamps again. It is a vicious cycle that will never end until (both sides) stop with the violence..
Rafi, go back to your own blog!! You have come on the scene a little too late! Right now we are worried that Lucy is okay since no one has heard from her in a long time!
sheesh! I was not aware it is evil to leave a comment on someones blog.
I hope she is ok..
you do not have any real fear of getting physically hurt. Just the inconvenience of getting hassled by security everywhere you go
Either you're really disingenous, or clueless or just do not get out much.
ur princess's been taken by shabak
Yup - seems that "Lucy" did not really even exist. She is probably a leftist Israeli high school kid from Haifa names Osnat who is now too busy studying for matriculation exams to continue the charade - welcome to the wonderful world of anonymous blogging.
abu - she does not write about any of what you are implying. She writes she is sick of the hassles.
I agree, I do not know what you go through, that is why I read the blog. I do not experience the same thing when I go through checkpoints, that is why I am interested to read about the other side of what happens..
Update for readers who are concerned about Lucy's silence:
I asked a well-connected Palestinian journalist in Ramallah to see what I could find out. So far, he says that he hasn't found anybody in Nablus who has heard of Lucy Widaad, or even a Widaad family with a daughter her age.
Someone in the Jenin area says that there might be a Christian family with a daughter who recently returned from studying in the United States, but that she recently went abroad. He didn't say where.
There are no reports - either from the IDF or Palestinian sources - of a woman corresponding to Lucy's age, background and appearance being detained.
Conclusions: none, just speculation. Lucy might not be this blogger's real name, or she might not really live in Nablus but rather somewhere else in the West Bank.
I do think it's odd that her statcounter is in Turkish (bottom of the page), and I also think it's odd that her email address domain links to a science website. But I don't know what these facts mean.
I wrote Lucy an email a few days ago, but haven't received a response yet.
Lucy, how about giving us a hint?
Dear Lucy,
Your blog is great!!!
I opened a new blog, please come and visit it:
http://almanarasquare.blogspot.com
Please add my blog to your favorites,
Shukran
Asad al-Nimr, Ram allah, filastin
Lisa, whether you like it or not conspiracies aside, Lucy is real. I have personally gotten a personal email from her. Have you checked out her myspace & pictures? She has not logged on since May 21 and that is wierd unless she did go on vacation as she suggested at the end!
By the way Asad, I tried to go to your blog, love the pictures, but do you have it in english as well....my arabic reading is very rusty!
Hi Halla,
I am very glad to hear that Lucy is real. I would also like to meet her next week, when I will be in the West Bank, so I hope she will respond to my email and comment.
There is no conspiracy theory in what I wrote. I simply wrote a fact: a Palestinian journalist who lives in the West Bank tried to find Lucy and failed, because no-one who lives in her area had heard of her. That is all.
In the last paragraph of my comment I wrote very clearly that I had drawn no conclusions and was waiting for more information.
Hi Lisa,
I hope you find her and that she is okay. let us know....
whatever palestine is doing , i am with her.
i am with u and also very much ashamed that my country india india is not doing needful.
no plaestinian is terrorist.
when india was fighting for reedom we had both "hot-blood" and the one under mahatma gandhi peace loving.
so when any palestinian defend herself and himself and want the israeli "terrorist " occupier to go, i am with her/his side.
Rakesh,
I outlined my understanding of the origins of the conflict here
and would appreciate your comments/corrections and additions.
rakesh said...
no plaestinian is terrorist.
Wow. Just WOW.
Well, it is apparent to me after following this "conflict" for about three years and reading various books about the history of it, that:
The conflict will not end without much more bloodshed.
The conflict is past any point of solving no matter what Israel gives up or the PA gets.
That most of the Middle East either does not care one way or the other about the PA.
That American interests are not served by doing anymore assisting Israel or the PA.
That truth means nothing to either side.
That truth is not wanted by either side.
That the world would be better off if they ignored both parties in this conflict.
That life is not fair, and whoever told you it should be was a lier.
Have a good trip Lucy and if I were you, I'd start a business elsewhere.
Papa Ray
West Texas
USA
"you know that this is not a racist comment, you know that it is a rational comment"
how would you describe it then, Bataya? tolerant, maybe? open-minded? rational?
that one goes well with youre "we're smarter" in a subsequent posting.
why is it that you want a purely Jewish state, anyway? isnt that a bit racist, in fact. some would say. if id suggest that immigrants move out of britain, id certainly be called a racist, then imagine suggesting the indigenous people to move out. hm. "rational", was it? please clarify
I have no idea how I came across this website and to be honest I have never been to a blog before. I'm from New York City but currently living in New Delhi working in investment management. I have always been partial to Israel, mostly I think because the way Palestine is depicted in the news - which is an angry mob burning a US flag - or something to that extent. After reading your blog, I actually went and did some research pertaining to the conflict, and now I have completely changed my views. Not to say Israel is exactly wrong, however the people of Palestine definately have a very good reason to be upset, which is probrably an understatment.
cmlgrace@gmail.com
Just leave West Bank and go to Jordan or something, GOD. If I don't like where I live I MOVE. Stop being such stubborn muslim stereotypes, you stole so much land and killed SO many people that we just learnt to accept it, and now look at you fighting over Israel with propoganda, getting stupid Westerners to support your cause.
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