Jan 2, 2013

2013

Photo" Children in Bethlehem wish you a happy new year 2013

Obama was reelected president of the USA, a country still under Israeli occupation. So he fails to make Israel accountable for violating International Law and even American law. US law prohibits funding a country that persistently violates human rights. Israel goes on doing just that on a daily basis. But despite Zionist efforts, most countries recognized Palestine and Israel lost its attack on Gaza and lost more of its credibility.  Bethlehem is celebrating its first Christmas as a world heritage site (per UNESCO) also despite efforts by the increasing isolated US and Israel to stand against the tide of history and people power.

The Apartheid State of Israel (ASI) continued ethnic cleansing that it engaged in from its founding days when it ethnically cleansed 530 Palestinian villages in towns). In 2012 ASI removed more natives from the Jordan valley and from the Negev and from the hills of the West Bank. ASI continued to squeeze us natives into smaller and smaller ghettos/Bantustans/concentration camps. ASI even started beginning November 1 to restrict the internationals who manage to come here to“Judea and Samaria” which prevents them from even entering Jerusalem.  But I as a Palestinian native like 99+% of Palestinians do not have “Israeli permission” to enter my own city of Jerusalem. However, I entered Jerusalem from Bethlehem in the New Year by bypassing the occupation soldiers showing again that these restrictions are not about security but about harassment. Thousands of Palestinians still do this as an act of civil disobedience to the illegal occupation policies.

I enter to see a city being disfigured and 5,000 years of its history slowly destroyed or disfigured. Israeli colonial settlers continue moving into Palestinian homes and lands with Israeli government support (and US government subsidy). Palestinian natives are meanwhile prevented from normal housing, normal education, and normal living. I enter and I have pain in my heart to witness injustice, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. But I also have pain to see many of our own people corrupted by money. Hundreds of thousands of dollars for example where just spent on “celebrations” of the birth of political factions that have long been overtaken by corrupt leaders who abandoned the original programs of these factions in favor of normalization with the occupation. Expensive shiny cars are all over major Palestinian remaining cities driving officials from their posh offices to their posh villas and mansions. Israeli and Palestinian businessmen/politicians, separately or collaboratively work to ensure they get more millions in their bank accounts while millions of children sleep hungry and cold.

Palestine will have an implanted population hold elections for an even more right wing apartheid government on January 23. In an interview, I tell a reporter that the choice in these “Israeli elections” is between right-wing and extreme right wing and ultra right wing government. Ben Gurion who presided over the destruction of 530 Palestinian villages and towns and the ethnic cleansing of most of Palestine would if resurrected today be considered far too moderate to even get one seat in the Israeli Knesset . Palestine continues to be transformed from a multiethnic, multireligious, multicultural society that was at balance with its environment to an apartheid Jewish state with overpopulated ghettos. The larger ghetto called Israel and the smaller ghettos of Gaza, Bethlehem, Ramallah etc. They are teaming with people who now suffer from pollution and increased rates of cancer but also from deep psychological scars that will not heel easily even if apartheid was ended this year. The combined Palestinian and Israeli environmental damage will soon outstrip any possibility of livability. This is not even considering increasing populations and global warming and pollution etc. Since the 1960s, this country (and it is one country Israel established on the ruins of Palestine) is actually not self sufficient. It is only maintained by massive infusion of money to benefit both the Zionist project and to sustain the humanitarian needs of an increasingly impoverished Palestinian natives. This economy of beggary cannot be sustained long term for many reasons. So a majority of Israelis and a lot of Palestinians consider leaving. All of this is also sustained by a web of lies using religious mythologies and other manufactured stories to justify the unjustifiable. The brainwashing is reaching incredible levels as most young Israelis believe ethnic cleansing was OK in the past to allow for a Jewish state in Palestine and they also believe it is OK now to remove Palestinians because we refuse to accept the colonization and transformation of our country. This negative trend towards more racism was predictable from the early days of Zionism and it explains why in each Israeli election cycle, the government becomes more right wing.

We can blame these ominous negative trends on Israeli and Palestinian “officials” including their known and hidden corruption but we must also take responsibility as people of this country (whether we happen to be natives of colonial immigrants, whether we are Jewish, Muslim, Christian, atheists etc). If human history has a lesson to teach us, it is that only when people stand-up to the lies of governments, shed demented ideologies, and declare rebellion they can (and must) change things for the better.  Even in the United States, a country built on the genocide and ruins of native populations, positive trends happened only when enough people said “enough is enough”: giving women a right to vote, social security, 40 hour work weeks, ending the war on Vietnam , the civil rights movement, reigning in those who pushed for nuclear confrontations, and ending US support of apartheid in South Africa among many. In all these cases, politicians were pushed by massive popular movements. Politicians did not lead but were actually dragged kicking and screaming to eventually do the right thing. Evil continues only when enough people let it continue. That is our main challenge.

We are encouraged by the growth of activism including campaigns of boycotts, divestment, and sanctions.  We are encouraged by the growing chorus rejecting the illusion of a two-state solution in favor of one democratic state in historic Palestine.  We are encouraged by the persistence and resilience of the Palestinian people.  May the new year bring more people out of the darkness of a life of apathy and into the bright, beautiful and meaningful life of caring (empathy), self-empowerment, and action for justice (a prerequisite for peace). For those already active, may you continue to be blessed and may you never lose those qualities that make you a great and caring human being.

Action: A call from Palestine to the EU; Ask your governments and EMPs to suspend EU-Israel Association Agreement and stand up for human rights in 2013! http://palsolidarity.org/timeforjustice/

Action: Sign a letter to President Obama to say: no blank check for Israel http://obamaletter.org/

Confrontations in Nablus between Palestinian "security services" and Palestinians unhappy about the Palestinian authority (whose term in office has long expired) taking decisions without consulting the people
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=y3SsyUZeAl4

Palestinian Public Relations: Coordination and Unity: What Palestinians could learn from Zionist hasbara
http://www.redressonline.com/2013/01/palestinian-pr-coordination-and-unity/

My letter as published in Cape Cod Times, December 26, 2012: 
In his Dec. 13 letter, Joseph Garodnick attacked the letter of Noreen Thompsen. But instead of dealing with the substance of her letter about human rights abuses by Israel in its colonization of Palestine, he chose to attack the messenger — one of her sources. That source happens to be me.
Garodnick claims I did not achieve tenure at either Duke or Yale; actually, I was never on a tenure-track position and did not seek tenure at either place. He then twice mentions my fields of genetics and biology as if somehow this diminishes my credibility or ability to write on human rights. I wrote two books on human rights and I did teach the subjects of history and human rights.
In this season of Christmas, I write from Bethlehem, a city now of 180,000 Palestinian Christians and Muslims who lost most of their lands and are squeezed into a ghetto, isolated behind a 30-foot wall, and suffering from over 30 percent unemployment. Talking about those things is a far better use of your pages than printing personal attacks on authors of documentary sources.
 Mazin Qumsiyeh
Bethlehem, West Bank
The writer is a professor at Bethlehem and Birzeit universities.

A Message from Beyond the Wall By Mazin Qumsiyeh

35 comments:

  1. Mazin (if I may be so familiar),

    I am inspired by your messages. I admire what you do and the manner in which you do it. I send you my warmest best wishes and trust that I will one day shake your hand.

    Every week in Adelaide, South Australia, we demonstrate for the Palestinian cause (see Utube.)

    The tide is turning.

    Stan

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sorry about the parasitic assholes who try to put spam posts in comments. Please ignore

    ReplyDelete
  3. A Happy, Healthy and fulfilling New Year to you and all those who are striving for the cause.
    Mazin, you are truly inspiring. May your tireless efforts and vision for a secular single state come to fruition. I believe it is the only solution that is both just and sustainable for all of the peoples who wish to live in the land of Canaan.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mazin,
    For several years until I changed computers and lost a bunch of email addresses I received your columns regularly, and always appreciated them. So today, remembering you and looking you up on the internet and finding this column was refreshing and rewarding. Thank you so much for writing from Beyond the Wall both literally and figuratively. Your spirit of compassion, justice, determination, ecological wisdom, hope and resistance can't help but increase energy for the ongoing struggle...for a lifetime and beyond!-- John Stoner

    ReplyDelete
  5. At Quality Discount Tyres, we stock tyres, wheels, and batteries that fit every vehicle make and model as well as every budget; from brand new tyres, wheels and batteries to second hand tyres, wheels, and batteries that are as good as new. We take pride in our great customer service, friendly staff, and unbeatable prices.
    Cheap Second Hand Used Tyres
    Quality Discount Tyres Services
    Second Hand Car Rim
    Buy New and Used Tyres Brisbane
    Second Hand Tyres Brisbane
    Used Tires for Sale
    Auto Service Brisbane
    buy car wheels
    2nd hand tyres for sale
    car alloy wheels price

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is a useful blog, and thanks for giving us nice information ! I agree that innovations are the most important thing for most businesses because with today’s fast-changing world we also have to fast in our business strategy


    Second Hand Tyres
    Cheap Tyres available
    Get Best Tyres Logan
    Bridgeston Tyres In Logan
    Mag Wheels In Logan
    Cheap Tyres In Logan
    Dunlop Tyres In Logan
    Tyres Deal In Logan
    Tyres Repair Service In Logan
    Tyres Recycling Service In Logan

    ReplyDelete
  7. While marketing can be tricky, it is the content that makes the site important. If you provide informative content that serves the needs of your visitors, word will spread. While marketing can be tricky, it is the content that makes the site important. If you provide informative content that serves the needs of your visitors, word wispread.
    cash for cars logan

    ReplyDelete
  8. Fantastic blog! you have cover all aspects of this topic? There are so many options out but you have describe them all.Bless you!You can avail our cash for cars service when your car is absolutely fine, and it can drive miles.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Quality discount tyres, is a well-known and reputed service provider of Cheap second hand used tyres including many more valuable offers like, fast and free fitting, balancing and disposal of your old tyres without extra charges. Call us if you require tires in any condition, cheap, second hand, for any make and model, we provide you at very low cost.
    Mag Wheels In Brisbane
    Tyres Repair Service In Logan
    Tyres Recycling Service In Logan
    Tyres In Brisbane

    ReplyDelete
  10. NIce blog thanks for written .We Offer Instant Cash for Cars Brisbane up to $9999"

    Cash for car
    Cash for cars
    Cash for cars Brisbane
    Free car removal Brisbane

    ReplyDelete

  11. Amazing post. Thanks for sharing wonderful information.
    painting contractors gold coast

    ReplyDelete

  12. I've been surfing online more than 2 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. In my view, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be much more useful than ever before.
    Cash for Cars Brisbane

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wonderful blog post. This is absolute magic from you! I have never seen a more wonderful post than this one. You've really made my day today with this. I hope you keep this up! Also, visit us at Cash For Car Sydney

    ReplyDelete
  14. I have read your excellent post. This is a great job. I have enjoyed reading your post first time. I want to say thanks for this post. Thank you. Take a look at Car Removal

    ReplyDelete
  15. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thanks for sharing such a useful blog post.

    Onroadz offers an affordable one way rental cars in Chennai for self drive to all the major cities such as Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Theni etc in Tamil Nadu. Our self driven car rental services can make your journey very comfortable which gives you more freedom to reach your destination.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Five Fingers Exports are the leading industrial machinery manufacturing company in offering the high quality PP woven sack making machine , single color, two color, three color and four color offset printing machine manufacturers in India at an affordable cost. You can get high-quality offset printing machine which has been specifically made for quick printing to meet the requirements.
    Five Fingers Exports are leading manufacturer of high quality non woven bag, supreme face mask , paper straw, surgical head cap and pp woven sack making machines which are fast and cost-effective. These machineries also come with a lower total cost of ownership.

    ReplyDelete
  18. تهویه مطبوع هورسان یکی از بهترین شرکت های ارائه دهنده محصولات و خدمات در حوزه تهویه و سیستم های سرمایشی و گرمایشی است و شما میتوانید با مراجعه به سایت هورسان انوان سیستم های وی ار اف، چیلر، فن کویل و هواساز را به صورت انلاین خریداری کنید
    مشاهده وبسایت

    ReplyDelete
  19. This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I love seeing blog that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free. Visit us at Scrap Car Removals

    ReplyDelete
  20. Great job for publishing such a beneficial web site. Your web log isn’t only useful but it is additionally really creative too.

    Thanks
    Unwanted Vehicles Towing

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love the way you write and share your niche! Very interesting and different! Keep it coming!

    Visit Car Removals Adelaide immediate car removals and top cash offers.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thanks for writing this post. I was looking this kind of post since long time. Here I have some suggestion regarding this post.
    Please visit Auto Removals Adelaide to sell your junk cars.

    ReplyDelete
  23. We offer complete office remodeling and restoration services in Singapore. A proper renovation plan will help you to bring a total style change or a better space utilization of your office space. Our specialization is commercial renovations, which includes small / medium / large office renovation, restaurant renovation, retail shop renovations, hotel renovations, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Kamsys Techsolutions are the No.1 Amazon SEO Agency USA, boost your online sales through effective and advanced amazon seo strategies. Kamsys is a leading Amazon SEO Company, offering performance-driven Amazon SEO services that help Organic traffic to your products from buyers, thereby increase in sales and revenue. We provide cost Effective Amazon SEO Services with 24/7 Client Support. If you have a fairly large category and variety of products then also, it is advised to get it managed by SEO Professionals. Taking experts help is also recommended since it will help save your time and energy, which you can use to focus on product improvements.

    ReplyDelete
  25. You’re so interesting! I don’t believe I’ve truly read something like this before. So great to find someone with genuine thoughts on this issue. Really.. many thanks for starting this up. This website is something that’s needed on the internet, someone with some originality!

    CBSE Schools In Samba
    CBSE Schools In Srinagar
    CBSE Schools In Udhampur
    CBSE Schools In Budgam
    CBSE Schools In Kupwara
    CBSE Schools In Poonch
    CBSE Schools In Rajouri
    CBSE Schools In Bilaspur
    CBSE Schools In Chamba
    CBSE Schools In Hamirpur

    ReplyDelete
  26. Such amazing thoughts you shared with us thank you. You sell your dumb vehicles without knowing their benefits well, I think you should know get money for used car and benefits if you’re interested then we are ready to serve you.

    ReplyDelete
  27. The writing in this article is excellent. I really like and respect your posts, which I think are very original. I appreciate your contribution.
    Custom Candle Boxes

    ReplyDelete
  28. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete