Comments on: The Darkest side of Occupation: Hebron 2

By: Aminah Carroll, West Virginia

Aminah Carroll, West Virginia — Sun, 23 May 2010 13:48:54 +0000

Thank you so very much for bearing witness. This is how change comes–
supporting adn reinforcing the good and the strengths in people and situations. It is a beautifully written, evocative and throughly blessed existential encounter with those too often villified and characterized as subhuman and “Other”.

Alumdulillah

By: Martin Clay

Martin Clay — Mon, 17 May 2010 10:17:25 +0000

Thank you Mike for such a well documented and thoughtful piece. I can completely corroborate Mike’s account from my own meeting with Hashem and Nisreen maybe 3 weeks before his own. Although Hashem is resiient I note MIke’s comment that he seems tired. He was showing a Belgian group around when I visited him. Showing them the same videos he couldn’t help getting emotional and angry. I sensed this was not helping to communicate his message and that it was a sign of his fatigue. He told me that he was losing hope now, and also showed his ange with Israeli peace activists becasue after say 5 years of showing them around his home, and their sympathy still there was no evidence that their number was growing or that they were effective. He contrasted them with US supporters who were succesfully mobilising support in their communities. I understand that he was frustrated and also that the loss of hope was also beasue of a sense that time is running out for the community. He said that the young people are getting older and they will say to him to shut his mouth talking about peace becasue it is not working and becasue it is not working what can he say in response? Nonetheless even then he was starting a new campaign to get the community together and travelling in a few days to Bethlehem to have a meeting with other likeminded. I mentioned to him the Christian community and in particular one lady whose home is surrounded by the wall in Bethlehem, by Rachel’s tomb, and I put her on the phone to him. Even though his position is more precarious and risky to life and limb, there is a simiarity in their trapped-ness, as her family also cannot stay and have a decent life, but they are determined to do so as neither can they go, economically, not that they are prepared to gie up. This is Clair Anastias. Hashem is a brave and passionate and also very moral man and a leader. He is a physiotherapist but of course not able to pursue his profession, and they survive as said. I bought some of the art which I thought very good if disturbing and can recommend it. You can contact Hashem at h.azzeh@yahoo.com He is also on facebook.

By: Ciarán McCollum

Ciarán McCollum — Sun, 02 May 2010 23:15:48 +0000

Roff,

the definition of fascism is still debated today – a “fascist state” could never be described in two sentences. In any case, if objectively fascist, the ideology driving Israeli crimes would differ somewhat from fascism in the past. The willfull use of violence by the IDF, possibly institutionalised racism – here there are similarities but broad Nazi comparisons are simplistic and clumsy. Take the influence of religion and the presence of American interests in the Middle East today for instance or Hitler’s cult of personality at the time of the Third Reich – there lie few comparisons.

False branding is unhelpful. It inhibits the understanding of the causes and therefore the resolution of a conflict. Moreover such comments can undermine Palestinian support, they can easily be written off as anti-semitic and, conversely, used to brand Palestinian supporters simply as Israeli detractors.

What’s happening in Israel is horrific and must stop but dehumanising (and at times deliberately insulting and hurtful) branding could fuel Israeli aggression and decrease the likelihood of a peaceful resolution.

I hope you will take time to consider my argument. I shall not justify your impertinent and anonymous jibe, hastily framed as a question, with an answer. We are both entitled to our opinions and equally so to disagree, however you should devote your energies to more constructive thoughts and debate.

It is a pity this has gone so far wide of the article’s tone but I hope the author will appreciate that great articles provoke heated debate.

By: Hannah Ewert-Krocker

Hannah Ewert-Krocker — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 19:04:30 +0000

Mike –

I am so proud to call you my friend. You present an articulate and touching account of your experience, and I only wish that more people could see what you have seen or, at the very least, read what you have written. We have so much to learn from people like you.

By: Sophie Chambers

Sophie Chambers — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:31:23 +0000

Mike, Thank you for this poignantly articulate account of your experience. I so appreciate what you have to say, and for the thoughtfulness with which you say it.

By: Joseph Kutzman

Joseph Kutzman — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:36:15 +0000

A very well written article. The stories of suffering were poignant. The most telling was Hashem choosing a one state solution. It is perhaps the most singular moment of truth in this article. It have been well for the author not to press him for his answer of a two state solution. In spite of being a well meaning observer the author still has to interject and gain support for his own political agenda.
What is always overlooked by well meaning observers is the fact that a two state solution would doom the palestinians to a life much worse they now endure. I am sure the majority of palestinians would rather not be governed by a government that was corrupt and where justice was brutal and savage.
If palestinians did not have a gun to their heads as they do now with their current leadship they would overwhelmingly choose a one state solution. In the coming days you will see more of this as this one sate solution grows within the palestinian people themselves. As it does the backlash will at first be horrific with palestinians murdering each other over ideologies. But the one state solution will prevail. This rather surprising turn of events will lead to other rebellions with Arab countries who will look to Israel for support. Because of this not will Israel be returned to Biblical borders they will also expand that land to include southern Lebanon, Western Jordan and parts of Syria will be under Israel’s protection.

By: Roman

Roman — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 10:21:15 +0000

Mike, you bought Hebron to life better than my pictures and memories currently do. It is of no small comfort that people still turn up to to witness and are deeply affected. The tale of the vineyards in the area, the shop-owners hassled and attacked from above, the wells concreted in. So many stories of hatred. God forgive us all for letting this happen on our planet!

By: Rolf

Rolf — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 23:20:45 +0000

Hector Lopez is quite aqurate with his comparisson. I have visited quite a few sites, and they all compare this to the nazis.
You yourself with your last two sentences clearly describe a fascist state.So tells us what kind of a person are you:
1) you dont like calling something for what it is.
2) you advocate two wrongs make a right.
3) you cant see past the end of your nose.
4) all of the above.

By: Ann Fontaine

Ann Fontaine — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 15:54:58 +0000

I visited Hebron in November, 2009, and found conditions exactly as described here, saw the entrance to the school and the welded shop doors. We, as Americans, could walk on the roads closed to Palestinians, but our Palestinian friends had to go a longer way. We then got onto the wrong side of a gate, and had to walk a very long way before we got to a checkpoint where the soldiers would let us through. I was worried about my elderly aunt having to walk so far, and can only imagine what this means for elderly or otherwise vulnerable people who have to deal with this every day. This was well and thoughtfully written.

By: Horace Lim

Horace Lim — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 15:13:03 +0000

Thankyou for this.
I will just paraphrase the great Nelson Mandela, “the plight of Palestinians is the moral and ethical issue of our time”.
This is an abomination, and it WILL stop… and soon!
I would like the Palestinians to have faith, if this doesn’t stop there is NO GOD. And I am pretty sure there is!