tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467055143005810762023-11-16T05:11:04.161-08:00Voice From GazaAyman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-47774853222699132742012-08-07T05:08:00.001-07:002012-08-07T05:08:31.003-07:00Il est temps de déclarer le blocus de Gaza terminé !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Il est temps de déclarer le blocus de Gaza terminé !</div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">lundi 6 août 2012 - Ayman Qwaider</span><div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZTYUeJE8pOKNmA2yi9p2sFi4hmCCUckW5Ti1bQTcYkDInoR3maRwkjm6ztAanxd6CKZGIWxc1q7bXVS7DUTZHcKZ7Hl4fytK78sIvjrkHW0ChbKcWnMBCSbJKs5Zv7SdDqurOSujcao/s1600/A0-774.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZTYUeJE8pOKNmA2yi9p2sFi4hmCCUckW5Ti1bQTcYkDInoR3maRwkjm6ztAanxd6CKZGIWxc1q7bXVS7DUTZHcKZ7Hl4fytK78sIvjrkHW0ChbKcWnMBCSbJKs5Zv7SdDqurOSujcao/s400/A0-774.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Gaza est une véritable prison à ciel ouvert, un camp de concentration où vit confinée une population de 1,7 million de Palestiniens. La tolérance (voire le soutien) dont bénéficie Israël au niveau international pour perpétrer ses crimes est une honte pour l’humanité.</span></div>
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Ce point de passage relie le territoire assiégé avec l’Égypte et le monde extérieur. L’ouverture de la frontière n’est pas seulement une nécessité humanitaire, mais aussi une responsabilité morale et éthique.</div>
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L’ouverture du passage de Rafah est un exigence essentielle dans les relations entre les deux voisins. Sous le régime pro-américain de Moubarak, ce point de passage n’avait pas un fonctionnement normal, à cause de prétendues « raisons de sécurité », sans même définir ce que signifiait la sécurité. Il est bien connu qu’à travers l’Histoire, la bande de Gaza était le fer de lance de l’Égypte en même temps qu’une garantie de sa sécurité face à Israël. L’Égypte n’est liée par aucun accord pour imposer un blocus draconien sur la bande de Gaza, ni pour restreindre la liberté de circulation de 1,7 millions de personnes.</div>
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Après la chute de l’ancien régime en Égypte en février 2011, les Palestiniens de la bande de Gaza étaient plein d’espoir et d’enthousiasme, attendant que le nouveau système politique égyptien mette un terme à l’épopée du seul point de passage de Gaza. La fermeture de la frontière de Rafah a été très coûteuse pour les civils de Gaza. Plus de 600 Palestiniens ont perdu la vie après avoir été empêchés de quitter Gaza pour une hospitalisation à l’extérieur. Les étudiants ont été privés d’accès aux écoles et universités à l’étranger. Une grave pénurie de produits de base empêche de répondre aux besoins essentiels. Et par-dessus tout, les Palestiniens, ont été laissés sans aucune possibilité de se mettre à l’abri pendant le massacre dans Gaza, l’hiver 2008-2009.</div>
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L’Égypte a réellement diminué les restrictions sur la frontière de Rafah, mais n’a pas explicitement déclaré que ce blocus de 6 ans est terminé. Il est vrai que les Palestiniens sont autorisés à sortir librement pour la première fois en quatre ans. Il y a cependant toujours des restrictions concernant le flux de matériaux de construction, les produits alimentaires et le commerce. Il convient également de mentionner que les Palestiniens sont incapables de recevoir des amis d’autres nationalités, librement et sans certaines conditions. Alors que l’humanité est passée dans le 21e siècle, les étrangers doivent passer par d’humiliants tunnels entre Gaza et l’Égypte pour rencontrer leurs homologues dans la bande de Gaza.</div>
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L’Égypte est toujours l’objet d’un processus révolutionnaire et le nouveau-né du système politique égyptien devrait aller main dans la main avec la volonté du peuple égyptien pour mettre fin à la souffrance quotidienne des Palestiniens dans la bande de Gaza.</div>
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L’Égypte devrait apporter son soutien à la bande de Gaza. Il convient d’abandonner ce siège injuste, et de mettre fin à l’humiliation délibérée aux passages frontières et dans les aéroports. Le nouveau président Morsi devrait prendre une décision historique et humaine en ouvrant le passage de Rafah, sans conditions ni restrictions tous les jours et toute l’année pour les personnes et les biens.</div>
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L’ouverture du passage de Rafah est un véritable test pour le succès de la révolution égyptienne et la volonté de changement et de réforme exigée en Égypte et par tous les révolutionnaires arabes.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">http://www.info-palestine.net/article.php3?id_article=12511</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">http://aymanqwaider.wordpress.com/2012/08/06/il-est-temps-de-declarer-le-blocus-de-gaza-termine/</span></div>
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</div>Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-59492444364013140042012-04-22T12:49:00.003-07:002012-04-22T12:49:30.420-07:00Mind the Strip, Lessons Learned<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFWXQXRnDMCqoyFc1hcthyphenhyphennhGVcqC-hdC_Fl1xeQ2Rg93ezcXlUQpGdeW0OWW6pqqFSAkz-9R8UNRuS1Bw7SFl_zBzaL-Otrl5vG33NrFqYhk2i5PxSG4ZzGCTFuuc8I4Npt3FXtyJBw/s1600/Mind_strip+copia2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFWXQXRnDMCqoyFc1hcthyphenhyphennhGVcqC-hdC_Fl1xeQ2Rg93ezcXlUQpGdeW0OWW6pqqFSAkz-9R8UNRuS1Bw7SFl_zBzaL-Otrl5vG33NrFqYhk2i5PxSG4ZzGCTFuuc8I4Npt3FXtyJBw/s320/Mind_strip+copia2.JPG" width="226" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Firstly,
humanity and human rights should be our prime concern as peace makers and peace
caretakers. I was helped by people I have never met in my life when i was stuck
in Gaza and was being prevented by Israel to go to Spain to complete my
masters. My newfound friends, who were different
in colour, religion, nationality and language, assisted me without any
pre-existing conditions. They initiated a media campaign to pressure
public opinion so that Israel would allow me to leave Gaza, simply because we share
the most important aspect of what can bring all peoples together and that is
humanity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">When I
asked them why they helped me, someone that they had never before met, they
replied that they believed that what was happening to me was unjust and that
they were in a position to help me and so they did what they felt was natural
and right. It is important to
stress here is that humanity and a belief in universal justice can transcend
all nations and all tribes. At
this point, I would like to bring to your attention an important verse from
Sura al-Hujurat of the Quran which highlights this point:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">O mankind! We created you</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></i></span><b><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">from</span></i></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made
you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may
despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of God is
(he who is) the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well
acquainted (with all things).</span></i></span><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Secondly,
we should never overlook or undermine our power as people to make
significant changes in the world today. When I was stuck in Gaza and was
struggling to leave Gaza for nearly two months, we did not give up. We created peaceful
and powerful tools and strategies to put pressure on the Israeli
state where we knew it would be most effective: public opinion. We were
determined that our efforts would succeed, and that is first and foremost
because we believed that we <i>would</i> succeed from the very beginning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">So, first
and foremost the strategy was to affect the sphere of public opinion and
second, we needed to find the proper tools and access points to achieve this
goal. Through our access to social
media networks and local Catalan media and through another Spanish media
contact in Jerusalem, we managed to reach the Spanish mainstream media that
reported my story in the major Spanish media outlets, and it spread like a
wildfire! The major social media tools that we
used included Facebook, Online Petitions and Twitter, however it wouldn’t have
been successful had we not taken the effort to reach a more broad audience
through traditional media outlets.
However we likely would not have been successful in reaching the mass
media without firstly instigating the social media campaign.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Thirdly,
we learned to never be afraid to demand your basic human rights because it is
yours and no power on earth should deny you these rights. These are not simply the rights
outlined in the UN Charter or the Geneva Conventions, but God given rights,
irrespective of any international organization or piece of paper that they are
written on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Fourthly,
all human rights violations should be documented because it is the only way to
raise awareness of these plights to a wider audience. It is important that we
stand beyond all deprived and vulnerable people. There are
so many people on earth whom their voice is voiceless or they do not have
the means to bring their voices to the attention of the world. Thus, it is our
duty to help give them a louder voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">And
finally, in situations of injustice, never wait for others to assist you.
We should always take the lead to change realities of unfairness and injustice.
We should always utilize all possible means available to us in order to remove
or contribute to removing injustice. Others will be convinced later
and take the initiative and complete the path.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Watch </span><a href="http://www.mindthestrip.com/" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 102, 51); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #265e15; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Mind the Strip</a></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-57009969340252024442012-01-27T17:41:00.000-08:002012-01-27T17:43:41.708-08:00Why do I Support the Welcome to Palestine FLYTILLA.<p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: justify; "><a href="http://aymanqwaider.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/welcome-to-palestine-2012.jpg" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(38, 94, 21); border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 102, 51); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dashed; "><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-353" title="welcome-to-palestine-2012" src="http://aymanqwaider.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/welcome-to-palestine-2012.jpg?w=300&h=215" alt="" width="300" height="215" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; background-image: url(http://s0.wp.com/wp-content/themes/pub/mistylook/img/shadow.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-width: 1px; background-position: 100% 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; " /></a></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: justify; ">In 1947-48, the Palestinian people were subjected to an ethnic cleansing campaign at the hands of the Zionist forces. The number of Palestinians that experienced expulsion anduprooting during this period of time is estimated to be approximately 775,000. Over the past 64 years, while the Zionist policy of population transfer has continued at a slower and retracted pace, it still remains an extension of the pogroms that began in 1947. <span id="more-352" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "></span>Currently, the Palestinians diaspora totals approximately five million. While many Palestinians live in cities across the world, including in North America, South America and Europe, there still remains millions of Palestinians living in abject poverty and horrible conditions in refugee camps across bordering ...</p><p style="text-align: left;padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">To complete the article, <a href="http://aymanqwaider.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/why-do-i-support-the-welcome-to-palestine-flytilla/">click here</a></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: justify; "><br /></p>Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-23048689627089352352012-01-27T17:17:00.000-08:002012-01-27T17:18:33.665-08:00Palestine is the Anvil of our Souls: My New Blog<h2 style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, serif; font-size: 1.4em; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: justify; "><span style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 153, 102); ">Palestine is the Anvil of our Souls</span></h2><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: right; "><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 153, 102); ">Ayman Qwaider</span></strong></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: justify; ">My name is Ayman Qwaider, a Palestinian from the Gaza Strip. I am 25 year old raised up and received my primary education in one of the Refugee camp where I live in El Nuserate refugee camp, middle of Gaza Strip. I finished my university degree from Islamic University of Gaza in 2008, then I worked for almost two years in International Humanitarian Aid organization based on the Gaza City. In Feb 2010, I was granted a scholarship in peace, conflict and development studies to complete my post graduate studies in Spain.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: justify; ">I started my blogging experience directly after the one-sided war on the Gaza Strip Winter 2008-2009. I launched my blog in order to contribute the mainstream media, which is often influenced by one narrative usually the Israeli narrative. I report so as I can reach a worldwide audience who seek the true facts on the group about the life under a military occupation.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: justify; ">I blog because I believe that audience worldwide has the right to receive information, stories, and news about what is happening in Palestine using alternative media sources. I believe that alternative media sources play a vital and effective role in countering the Israeli propaganda. This is not to declare that we are the winners, but we have to be alert that Israel spends over a $1 billion per year on public relations efforts compared with almost nothing that we spend. Though we do not have the money to influence the mainstream media and the politicians, we are able to reach the free voice of the people and we will continue to inform and mobilize the masses.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: justify; ">Fellow me: </p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: justify; "><span ><span style="line-height: 20px;">http://aymanqwaider.wordpress.com/</span></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: justify; "><br /></p><div class="sharedaddy sd-like-enabled sd-sharing-enabled" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; clear: both; border-top-left-radius: 0px !important; border-top-right-radius: 0px !important; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px !important; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px !important; zoom: 1; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><div class="robots-nocontent sd-block sd-social sd-social-icon-text sd-sharing" style="padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px !important; border-top-right-radius: 0px !important; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px !important; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px !important; zoom: 1; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.128906); width: 509px; "></div></div>Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-69127306121221045522011-11-04T08:33:00.001-07:002011-11-05T02:25:32.480-07:00Vers une culture de Paix et Reconnaissance<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9XkRLaWzY9hcKIggCTUCEDkrrXm2kmCz4TDlXY7_hQU7U6C0kZcR01Afbkzy7iWGNHIv-p4pjcja413EheK0nb2ssxpxbltf78NFmYYK6Ju0Lmkc6JgByfmJQBtMeuxd88IVSziui1Q/s1600/unesco.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 145px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9XkRLaWzY9hcKIggCTUCEDkrrXm2kmCz4TDlXY7_hQU7U6C0kZcR01Afbkzy7iWGNHIv-p4pjcja413EheK0nb2ssxpxbltf78NFmYYK6Ju0Lmkc6JgByfmJQBtMeuxd88IVSziui1Q/s200/unesco.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671164219055212274" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#262626">Vers une culture de Paix et Reconnaissance<br />La Palestine est un membre de l’UNESCO<br />par Ayman Qwaider<br /><br />La Palestine est devenue le 195ème Etat à joindre l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour l’éducation, la science et la culture, ci-après, l’UNESCO . Son admission au sein de la famille de l’UNESCO a offert une bouffée d’optimisme et d’espoir aux Palestiniens qui croient, profondément, dans la mission de l’UNESCO, à savoir « construire la paix dans l’esprit des hommes et des femmes. » L’admission de la Palestine est une victoire symbolique non seulement pour les Palestiniens, mais aussi pour les nombreuses nations du monde ayant voté pour la reconnaissance de la Palestine au sein des Nations Unies et soutenu la demande légitime du peuple palestinien à être représenté en tant qu'Etat aux Nations unies. Si ce vote n’est pas en soi une reconnaissance de la souveraineté palestinienne dans le concert des Nations unies, cette large majorité de nations ayant soutenu l’admission de la Palestine à l’UNESCO est symbolique du soutien remarquable dont jouit globalement la cause de la souveraineté et des droits nationaux palestiniens.<br />Les Palestiniens ont été soumis de manière prolongée à un système d’injustices et se battent depuis des décennies non seulement pour être reconnus en tant que peuple à part entière, mais pour se voir accorder des droits humains fondamentaux. Aujourd’hui avec cet pas unilatéral en direction de l’obtention de droits humains élémentaires, ce pas vers la dignité et vers la reconnaissance d’un Etat, les droits et la dignité des générations futures de Palestiniens semblent plus accessibles.<br />Quand il est question de conflit et de paix entre deux parties, et lorsque l’on tente d’atteindre plus de justice, l’acceptation et la reconnaissance de l’autre, est essentielle. Si les droits et la dignité de l’autre ne sont pas pris en compte, comment est-il possible d’imaginer une quelconque justice ? Cela a été impossible depuis plus de 63 ans, et cela ne saura l’être sans la reconnaissance des Palestiniens en tant que peuple. Peuple ayant toute légitimité et ayant droit aussi bien aux droits fondamentaux, que celui d’un Etat et de leur propre souveraineté établie clairement au sein des Nations unies, et à travers son Assemblée Générale. La reconnaissance et l’acceptation par l’UNESCO est un pas positif dans cette direction.<br /><br />De nos jours, la diplomatie est dominée par des intérêts politiques et économiques, et contribue à maintenir des inégalités. C’est le phénomène que d’aucuns ont qualifié de « realpolitik ». Pourtant, malgré de très puissants intérêts en jeu dans la donne géopolitique actuelle, et malgré l’existence d’une opposition à l’initiative palestinienne et sa demande d’une reconnaissance au sein de l’ONU, cette acceptation de la Palestine à l’UNESCO prouve l’existence sous-jacente d’un large consensus sur la question d’un état palestinien. Ce consensus est plus évident que jamais.<br /><br />La Reconnaissance est une étape vitale vers la Justice. La Paix est à la Justice ce que le fruit est à l’arbre ayant pu fleurir. Aucune paix de longue durée n’a pu être atteinte sans une base fondamentalement de justice et d’équité pour toutes les parties concernées. En tant que Palestinien, témoin de décennies de chagrin et injustices, comme tous les Palestiniens, je peux affirmer que nous sommes terriblement reconnaissants à la famille qu’est l’UNESCO pour la générosité de ce geste, cette reconnaissance et son soutien, et de ne pas avoir failli en ce qui concerne cette question de la Palestine. Nous, le peuple de la Palestine, nous vous saluons pour votre droiture, votre équité et votre intégrité dans votre soutien de la cause qu’est la justice.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#262626"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#262626">Ayman Qwaider</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#262626">ayman.qauder@gmail.com</span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-52141602500220045122011-11-04T08:05:00.000-07:002011-11-04T08:30:26.274-07:00Towards a Culture of Peace and Recognition<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_T6mylCzG8zdVjTKnfJJfc5kx5kVOWk0l7ZQlek-96FWoVzbe5BVRGo4643p-hpl8dyDf2Qo-KqRy8jBkARl66-oWDq7drb7JZZVM94l7yG_iUer7KKeNJiRHNnCxye1jw_4hLbq4F84/s1600/unesco.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: justify;float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 232px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_T6mylCzG8zdVjTKnfJJfc5kx5kVOWk0l7ZQlek-96FWoVzbe5BVRGo4643p-hpl8dyDf2Qo-KqRy8jBkARl66-oWDq7drb7JZZVM94l7yG_iUer7KKeNJiRHNnCxye1jw_4hLbq4F84/s320/unesco.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671163329641213954" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>428</o:Words> <o:characters>2444</o:Characters> <o:company>AYMAN QWAIDER</o:Company> <o:lines>20</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>3001</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.256</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#262626"> Towards a Culture of Peace and Recognition<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#262626"> Palestine is a UNESCO Member State<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#262626">By: Ayman Qwaider <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(38, 38, 38); font-family: Arial; font-size: 17px; ">London (Pal telegraph) </span><span style="text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 13pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(38, 38, 38); ">Palestine is the </span><span style="text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 13pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">195th</span><span style="text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 13pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(38, 38, 38); "> state to join the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO. The admission of Palestine to the UNESCO family has given optimism and hope to Palestinians who believe in the mission of UNESCO “Building peace in the Mind of Men and Women”. The admission of Palestine is a symbolic victory not only for Palestinians, but also for the many nations around the world that voted for the recognition of accepting Palestine as the legitimate sovereign state of the Palestinian People. While this vote did not result in the legal recognition of Palestinian sovereignty in the league of the United Nations, the large majority of nations that supported Palestine’s admission to UNESCO is symbolic of the overwhelming global support of Palestinian national rights and sovereignty.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#262626">Palestinians have been subjected to a prolonged system of injustice, and for decades we have been struggling not simply to be recognized as a sovereign people, but simply to have our basic human rights protected. Today, with this unilateral step towards attaining our human rights, dignity and statehood, we are that much closer to ensuring the rights and dignity of the future generations of Palestinians. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#262626">In attempting to address issues of justice, conflict and peace between two parties, firstly the recognition and the acceptance of the other is paramount. Without acknowledging the rights and dignity of the other, how can justice ever prevail? It hasn’t for over 63 years, and it won’t until our recognition as a legitimate people; a legitimate people with full human rights and the right to statehood and self-governance is fully achieved in the United Nations General Assembly. Our recognition and acceptance into UNESCO is a positive step in this direction.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#262626">Diplomacy in the world today is dominated by political and economic inequalities and interests, or what many great geopolitical analysts have coined “Realpolitik. Yet still, despite the very powerful interests at work in the geopolitical fold today, many of which have staunchly opposed the Palestinian initiative and demands for legal recognition of statehood within the UN; this acceptance of Palestine into UNESCO proves that there is a broad consensus on the question of Palestinian statehood. That consensus is now clearer than ever. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#262626">Recognition is a vital process towards justice. Peace is to justice as a fig is to the tree that flowers it. No long-lasting peace has ever endured without a strong foundation of justice and equity for all parties involved. We wholeheartedly appreciate the UNESCO family for their generous recognition, support and stand on the question of Palestine. We, the people of Palestine, commend you for your integrity, fairness and righteousness in supporting the cause for justice</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Published: <a href="http://www.paltelegraph.com/opinions/editorials/10396-for-culture-of-peace-and-recognition-palestine-is-a-unesco-member-state.html%20http://www.paltelegraph.com/opinions/editorials/10396-for-culture-of-peace-and-recognition-palestine-is-a-unesco-member-state.html%20http://www.paltelegraph.com/opinions/editorials/10396-for-culture-of-peace-and-recognition-palestine-is-a-unesco-member-state.html">Paltegraph</a></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 9px;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Ayman Qwaider</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">ayman.qauder@gmail.com</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background:white"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 9px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#222222"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-4464279707021064402011-09-15T08:18:00.000-07:002011-09-15T08:20:12.918-07:00Who Is Killing People in the Middle East?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 25px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Thu, Sep 15, 2011</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><div class="date-comments" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(202, 202, 202); color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-size: 11px; height: 30px; line-height: 25px; "><p class="fr" style="text-align: justify;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; float: right; line-height: 25px; "><a href="http://orientalreview.org/category/regions/africa/" title="View all posts in Africa" rel="category tag" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); text-decoration: none; ">Africa</a>, <a href="http://orientalreview.org/category/issues/anti-human-rughts/" title="View all posts in Anti-Human Rights" rel="category tag" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); text-decoration: none; ">Anti-Human Rights</a>, <a href="http://orientalreview.org/category/issues/chaosistan/" title="View all posts in Chaosistan" rel="category tag" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); text-decoration: none; ">Chaosistan</a>, <a href="http://orientalreview.org/category/editorial/" title="View all posts in Editorial" rel="category tag" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); text-decoration: none; ">Editorial</a>, <a href="http://orientalreview.org/category/regions/middle-east/" title="View all posts in Middle East" rel="category tag" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); text-decoration: none; ">Middle East</a>, <a href="http://orientalreview.org/category/issues/war-in-libya/" title="View all posts in War In Libya" rel="category tag" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); text-decoration: none; ">War In Libya</a></p></div><b style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; clear: left; float: left; ">By ORIENTAL REVIEW</b><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="entry" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><a title="Who Is Killing People in the Middle East?" href="http://orientalreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/libyalarge.jpg" rel="bookmark" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(232, 160, 44); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://orientalreview.org/wp-content/themes/freshnews/thumb.php?src=/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/libyalarge.jpg&h=100&w=100&zc=1&q=80" alt="Who Is Killing People in the Middle East?" class="fl" style="text-align: justify;border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 12px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 2px; float: left; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-right-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-left-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 244); " /></a><p style="text-align: justify;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px !important; font-size: 12px; ">Russian and Chinese <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/26/us-syria-un-idUSTRE77P4X920110826" target="_blank" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(232, 160, 44); text-decoration: none; ">refusal</a> to support UN sanctions against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad at the end of August has caused a dramatic outburst of criticism in Western media and from the local human rights activists. On Tuesday the Facebook group ‘<a href="http://www.facebook.com/Syrian.Revolution" target="_blank" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(232, 160, 44); text-decoration: none; ">Syrian Revolution 2011</a>’ posted a banner in Russian condemning Moscow for allegedly ‘killing the Syrians’. Let’s have a brief outlook on who is actually killing in Syria and other Arab countries.</p><p style="text-align: justify;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px !important; font-size: 12px; ">Despite a common prejudice the rioters opposing the Syrian authorities are by no means ‘peaceful protestors’. The Syrian army and police fight against well-trained and properly armed professional raiders supported by the West and the <em style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">fifth column</em> inside Syria.</p></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 244); "><a href="http://orientalreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Hama11.jpg" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(232, 160, 44); text-decoration: none; "><img class="size-full wp-image-2719" title="Police Station Hama" src="http://orientalreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Hama11.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><div class="entry" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><div id="attachment_2719" class="wp-caption alignright" style="border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; display: inline; float: right; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 244); border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-right-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-left-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); text-align: center; width: 310px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><p class="wp-caption-text" style="text-align: justify;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px !important; font-size: 11px; ">A police station in Hama, raided by ‘peaceful demonstrators’. 12 policemen were assassinated inside the building.</p></div><p style="text-align: justify;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px !important; font-size: 12px; ">Since April the total record of Syrian soldiers, policemen and security officers assassinated by the ‘demonstrators’ has reached 600, while the number of injured is even higher. Many of them are killed by knifes with utmost cruelty. Every second shot by the long range sniper fire from upper locations (tops of the multistoried buildings) precisely above or under the vest. That’s a notably professional pattern of action. Although typical for Syria Soviet and Russian-made arms are being widely used in the clashes, many victims were hit by the weapons of Western origin having higher killing power, including pump rifles. There are many mutilated by improvised explosive devices.</p></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 244); "><a href="http://orientalreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/soldier1.jpg" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(232, 160, 44); text-decoration: none; "><img class="size-full wp-image-2721" title="Syrian soldier" src="http://orientalreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/soldier1.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><div class="entry" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><div id="attachment_2721" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; display: inline; float: left; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 244); border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-right-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-left-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); text-align: center; width: 235px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><p class="wp-caption-text" style="text-align: justify;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px !important; font-size: 11px; ">An assassinated Syrian soldier having his throat cut by the assaulters.</p></div><p style="text-align: justify;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px !important; font-size: 12px; ">A number of other photos of injured and killed Syrian soldiers were <a href="http://arabic.rt.com/news_all_photo/photoline/68344" target="_blank" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(232, 160, 44); text-decoration: none; ">published on the RT web-site</a>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px !important; font-size: 12px; ">The tactics of provocations is another distinctive feature of opposition’s modus operandi set to keep the situation destabilized and create havoc and bloodshed. Having the most significant gangs already dispersed by the governmental forces, the opposition renews this tactics. Here is the message from Elena, who has relatives in Syria:</p><blockquote style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 2px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 5px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: auto; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(119, 119, 119); width: 460px; color: rgb(119, 119, 119); font-style: italic; "><p style="text-align: justify;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; ">‘The gangsters were planning a series of debacles on 27th day of Ramadan (August 26). This is a special day for Muslims, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laylat_al-Qadr" target="_blank" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(232, 160, 44); text-decoration: none; ">Laylat al-Qadr</a> (the Night of Destiny), when the sky is believed to be open and Allah is fulfilling all dreams. They wanted to organize a series of explosions and assassinations to cause people’s outrage. Syrian security agencies were timely informed about these plans and managed to detain around 200 plotters. There were several foreign specialists in subversive actions among the detained as well as Arab mercenaries from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and other countries. According to the evidence obtained, they were about to capture al Abbasein and al-Amaween squares in Damascus by pretending to organize pro-Assad march. When on the site, they schemed to change the slogans generating chaos, scuffles and eventually victims among the civilians.’ (<a href="http://nstarikov.ru/blog/11066" target="_blank" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(232, 160, 44); text-decoration: none; ">Source in Russian</a>)</p></blockquote><p style="text-align: justify;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px !important; font-size: 12px; ">NATO’s ‘humanitarian intervention’ in <strong style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Libya</strong> has already led to unprecedented sufferings of the Libyan people. The so-called ‘new government of Libya’ has shown to their former patrons in the UK, France and Italy that they do not care much about the sentiments of international community. The mass lynching of black-skinned foreigners are now typical on the Libyan territories controlled by anti-Qaddafi forces. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustafa_Abdul_Jalil" target="_blank" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(232, 160, 44); text-decoration: none; ">Mustafa Abdul Jalil</a>, one of the leaders of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Transitional_Council" target="_blank" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(232, 160, 44); text-decoration: none; ">Libyan Transitional National Council</a>(TNC), has even admitted that ‘there are no bloodless revolutions… We should not be surprised if some casual victims of skirmishes are the case. Our soldiers cannot afford wasting time for identifying detained personalities. Their loyalty to the new authorities will be determined subjectively.’</p></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 244); "><a href="http://orientalreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/libya.jpg" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(232, 160, 44); text-decoration: none; "><img class="size-medium wp-image-2725" title="Photo by Alexkots, krig42.livejournal.com" src="http://orientalreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/libya-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><div class="entry" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><div id="attachment_2725" class="wp-caption alignright" style="border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; display: inline; float: right; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 244); border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-right-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-left-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); text-align: center; width: 310px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><p class="wp-caption-text" style="text-align: justify;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px !important; font-size: 11px; ">A necropolis of blacks on a street of Tripoli</p></div><p style="text-align: justify;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px !important; font-size: 12px; ">As a result the number of victims of the new regime among Libyan residents from Chad, Niger and Sudan is counted in thousands. Khamis al-Bass, a Saudi journalist reports from Libya: ‘On my eyes several uniformed men dragged an entire black family off their asylum, accused them in espionage for Qaddafi and hanged them all.’</p><p style="text-align: justify;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px !important; font-size: 12px; ">The chairman of the African Union commission, Jean Ping, <a href="http://www.lhrtimes.com/african-union-urges-new-libya-to-halt-racist-attacks.html" target="_blank" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(232, 160, 44); text-decoration: none; ">said</a> many members of the Union had not yet recognized the TNC as the legitimate government of Libya because of reports of anti-black violence. He warned that the rebellion had left Libya unstable and its huge arms caches prey to looting by extremists and smugglers.</p><p style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px !important; text-align: left; font-size: 12px; "><a href="http://orientalreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Hand1.jpg" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(232, 160, 44); text-decoration: none; "><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2727" title="Photo by Alexkots, krig42.livejournal.com" src="http://orientalreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Hand1-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" style="text-align: justify;border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 2px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-right-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-left-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 244); " /></a></p></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The perspective of turning Libya into a new lawless territory resembling Somalia or Liberia is thrillingly tangible. The civil war is gaining momentum as the NATO Special Forces get seemingly restrained from further involvement into conflict. Their loss toll is already too high. According to several insider reports, e.g. British SAS has lost 21 to 35 soldiers, most of them during the storm of Tripoli and helicopter crash on the Algerian border in August. So NATO apparently decided to pump the ‘new Libyan government’ with more weapons in the endeavor to turn the scale of the on-going faceoff in Libya in favor of TNC and wash the hands. For example, this week the Russian news agencies <a href="http://www.gazeta.ru/news/lenta/2011/09/13/n_2007561.shtml" target="_blank" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(232, 160, 44); text-decoration: none; ">reported</a> a massive arms shipment to the TNC from Moldova. An air-craft IL-76 arrived in Kishinev from Benghazi on Tuesday to be loaded by a ‘cargo of Moldavian army’s stores with expired date of usage’. Defense Ministry of the Republic of Moldova officially commented that ‘the shipment is being carried out according to the contract between the Ministry and a Latvian company’. Most likely the delivery of the second-hand Soviet weapons (there are no other sources actually available at Moldavian stores) to Benghazi was arranged by K.S.Avia Ltd, a Latvian Riga-based transportation firm and used Soviet arms supplier. (This company is notorious for multiple exports of the second-hand and unconditional military equipment from Ukraine, Belorussia and Poland to the Yemeni weapons market, which is a known hub for the cheap arms spreading throughout Arabian peninsular and beyond. Ironically, until recently this market has been totally controlled by the family of Yemeni president <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Abdullah_Saleh" target="_blank" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(232, 160, 44); text-decoration: none; ">Ali Abdullah Saleh</a>. The current uprising in this country against acting president is a reflection of Yemeni and Saudi inter-elitist rivalry for the control over this super-lucrative business.)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><div class="entry" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><p style="text-align: justify;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px !important; font-size: 12px; ">Factually we can see that a small mediator from Latvia, a NATO country, starts playing a key role in channeling old Soviet-made weapons to the Afro-Asian conflict zones. The outcome of such arming would be extremely dangerous. That will lead to the escalation of civil war in Libya and other hotspots meaning more victims and more sufferings for the civilians. We have already written about this strategy in previous posts <a href="http://orientalreview.org/2011/03/09/the-last-victory-of-muammar-gaddafi/" target="_blank" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(232, 160, 44); text-decoration: none; ">here</a> and <a href="http://orientalreview.org/2011/01/28/who-has-blown-up-moscow-airport/" target="_blank" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(232, 160, 44); text-decoration: none; ">here</a>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px !important; font-size: 12px; ">The last but not least, it would be surprising if NATO pumping up Islamic Orient with old Soviet arms had not played the propagandistic card of ‘Russian weapons killing Arabs’. Indeed, since late August they have <a href="http://yemenpost.net/Detail123456789.aspx?ID=3&SubID=3996" target="_blank" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(232, 160, 44); text-decoration: none; ">launched</a> a ridiculous press campaign in Yemen, accusing Russia (!) of ‘supplying equipment to Saleh regime to be used against peaceful pro-democracy protesters’. In a propaganda stupor they are even <a href="http://marebpress.net/news_details.php?sid=36299" target="_blank" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(232, 160, 44); text-decoration: none; ">claiming</a> that the presidential palace in Sana’a is being defended by the Russian tanks T-92, a model that does not exist in nature! Here we will not get into details of US$ 4 billion deal for military modernization program of Yemeni army and police that United States<a href="http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2010/01/11/US-backs-Yemen-Russia-arms-it/UPI-60911263241218/" target="_blank" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(232, 160, 44); text-decoration: none; ">provided</a> to President Saleh in the framework of counter-terrorism cooperation in 2010. We just take a note that the ‘military convoys’ coming to Yemeni port of Hodeida are contracted by the same dubious Latvian company K.S. Avia transporting arms to the Libyan Transitional National Council.</p><p style="text-align: justify;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px !important; font-size: 12px; ">So who is killing people in the Middle East?</p><p style="text-align: justify;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px !important; font-size: 12px; ">Resource: </p></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://http://orientalreview.org/2011/09/15/who-is-killing-people-in-the-middle-east/">ORIENTAL REVIEW</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><div class="entry" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><p style="text-align: justify;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px !important; font-size: 12px; "><br /></p></div></span>Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-72619774697717273402011-08-18T23:40:00.000-07:002011-08-18T23:43:27.833-07:00Is Gaza Occupied?<div style="text-align: justify;">So a journalist sends me a few questions for an article she is writing, those are the questions and my quickanswers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1. In your opinion, is Gaza “occupied”by Israel?</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2. What do you want Americans to know about the situation in Palestine?</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3. What do you want Americans to know about the Arab or Muslim world?</div><div style="text-align: justify;">4. Any additional comments</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1) One must understand the definition of the word ‘occupation’ and then compare it with the facts on the ground in order to judge whether Gaza is indeed occupied by Israel or not. According to my dictionary, occupation means ‘Invasion, conquest, and control of a nation or territory by foreign armed forces’. Another definition is ‘The military government exercising control over an occupied nation or territory.’ Now let us act blind and try to find out whether this is the case in Gaza or not.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As a Palestinian living in Gaza, I am subject to random Israeli air strikes every now and then. Case in point would be the day previous to yesterday where the Israeli jets pounded my area with their missiles, using apaches, F16s, and helicopters. In the past couple of days, around 7 people were reported injured, two of whom are children. That is for armed forces. Then we move to our basic human right of movement. As a Palestinian from Gaza, I am destined to strive for at the very least three or four months to plan on leaving the strip for whatever purpose; be it educational, medical, vocational, or even for a holiday. I am destined to work 40 times harder to get the needed documents months in advance, and even then, the likely possibility is for me to be rejected and not allowed to leave the strip. Hundreds of people are rejected everyday at the Rafah crossing, due to the Israeli siege. It is noteworthy that also an engineer in Gaza is assigned the Gaza International Airport project, but Israel would not allow us to rebuild it. Other than movement would be trade. It is incredibly dangerous for any trader to engage in trade, noting that trade in Gaza means only imports as we are not allowed to export. What is allowed to pass through Israel is peanuts compared to the needs of 1.5 million locked up in this 360km2 of land. If it weren’t for the tunnel industry, as dangerous as it is, Gaza would be starving by now. Add to this the regular power cuts we face every single day. Every 8 hours, the power goes out and our only resort would be power generators. This is resulting from not allowing enough fuel to get into Gaza, of course by Israel. Not to mention also the restraints on sent and received mail; never mind the fact that it takes months to reach its destination, whether coming in or going out, but what you are allowed to ship is what matters (only papers and documents are allowed to be shipped in or out, nothing else). These are but few examples of the ‘control of a nation or territory by foreign armed forces’ mentioned in the definition of occupation, and the list goes on for whoever is living in Gaza or interested to know the facts. In the end, what does blockade and siege fall under if it weren’t ‘occupation’?</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">2) I want Americans to know that their tax dollars are contributing to one of the biggest injustices of modern history, resulting in a massive disproportionate use of power against a civilian population. I want Americans to try to understand what it is like to be under occupation, and to try to feel the anger jammed up inside every Palestinian for seeing their family suffer endlessly when there is very little that they can do about it. I also want Americans to know that violence is never an inherent part of the culture, and if it were them facing 63 years of pain, agony, oppression, displacement, humiliation, and massacres, they would do far more than homemade rockets. While Israel is supplied with the most destructive weapons of all time, on a constant basis, we are being locked up and forced to live a miserable life under a tight, inhumane blockade. We are dying in the hundreds, but the world is not paying attention. I want them to see the injustice in how a Palestinian life is nothing compared to a scratch an Israeli person might get. I want them also to notice the countless non-violent resistance approaches by the Palestinian people from years and years ago and continuing until this day, yet the response is always violence, murder, and oppression from the Israeli internationally-back armed forces; case in point would be the continuous Nabi Saleh peaceful protests that are always dispersed violently by the Israeli army. I want Americans to know that the Palestinians are paying for what Hitler did, and that we were never part of any victimization of the Jewish people. They came to this land, massacred my people and displaced them to settle there and build their country. I want them to know that my mother is a refugee and her family was thrown out of their home during the Nakba of 1948 (formation of Israel) to have an Israeli family live there instead. I also want Americans to know that Jews and Arabs in Palestine used to coexist peacefully, and it wasn’t until the Jewish immigrants (later called “Israelis”) who were supported by the British started to displace Palestinians from their livelihoods on farms owned by absentee landlords and then the creation of the state of Israel which puts the Jewish people (that are born to a Jewish mother) first, and any other citizen would be a second-class citizen with less rights, that the conflict started. I want them to open their eyes to apartheid in this part of the world, and if not act against it and against the discrimination and injustice it entails, then at least not to contribute to it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">3) I want Americans to think outside the box and open their eyes to the protests that are taking place across the Arab world in order to see that we all love democracy, love freedom, and love justice (contrary to what the media usually portrays). I want them to think of how such dictators as Mubarak, for instance, were supported by the American government for years, which shows the complicity of that government that advocates ‘democracy’. And I also ask them to not be too stupid to accuse Muslims in general of being terrorists, because terrorism knows no religion. This can be seen in the latest bombings in Norway that left over 90 innocent people killed, and how it was instantly claimed to be Islamic terrorists until the truth came out. Open your minds and hearts, stop contributing to the injustice and violence against innocent Arabs and Muslims and creating more enemies while you are at it, merely for domination and imperialistic purposes. Muslims respect and love all religions, and perhaps the most important verse in the Quran would be “There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion” (2:256). My friends who were killed during Israel’s assault were named Musa (Moses) and Eesa (Jesus). In fact, we learn about Moses and Jesus in school as our prophets too, and we respect them that we name some of our children after them. Let us see each other as equal human beings and respect each other, and there shall be peace.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">4) I want to shed light on Israel’s reaction to the PA appeal of UN recognition of a Palestinian state. Although this ‘state’ would mean giving up almost 80% of the land, Israel is rejecting it and is threatening us not to go on with it. I do not support this UN recognition anyway, but it just goes to show that no matter what we do, Israel will find a way to say no, and then they say it is us who do not want peace. We, as Palestinians, have tried everything in our pockets. What else are we supposed to do? What does Israel suggest?</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I also blame the decent Jews for not rising up against Zionists, just as they blamed the decent Germans for not rising up against the Nazis. On the other hand, my love & respect goes to the decent and brave Jews who are opposing the crimes of Israel, most recent of those is Lucas, the American Jew who spoke about Palestine inside Israel and got beaten and arrested for it. And also the Jewish activists who come to Palestine, including Gaza, to show their solidarity. Our problem is not with Jews as many seem to believe, it is with the apartheid regime that puts people born to a Jewish mother as the standard, and everybody else is second-class. It is with those who claim that the Palestinian people never existed and those who see us as ‘cockroaches’ and not worthy of living. I don’t see them attacking Peter Griffin, from Family Guy, for saying Jew is the only religion with the word ‘ew’ in it! I mean I never heard a Palestinian say it, as funny as it is! Finally, I love Chuck Norris and I think if he were here, he would stand with the Palestinians in their struggle for justice, peace, and freedom! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://palinoia.wordpress.com/2011/08/07/is-gaza-occupied/">
<br /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://palinoia.wordpress.com/2011/08/07/is-gaza-occupied/">Resource</a></div>Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-51830935406930430412011-07-22T17:22:00.000-07:002011-07-22T17:28:11.260-07:00Waging Non-Violent Action in Violent World<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">by Imran Khan</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Non-violent refusal to co-operate with injustice is the way to defeat it.” R.M Gandhi</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We live in an extremely violent world. States and transnational non-state actors use violence to achieve their political and strategic objectives, believing that use of violence is the most effective way to do so, notwithstanding that it does not work most of the time. Only the last decade (2001-2011) saw 9/11 terrorist attacks, a protracted and bloody war in Afghanistan, the American invasionof Iraq, Israeli aggression against Lebanon and Palestine, 7/7 bombing in London, terrorist attacks in Mumbai in 2008 and so on. Literally hundreds of thousands of people died in these violent conflicts and terrorist attacks. For that matter, the 20th century was perhaps one of the most violent centuries in human history, witnessing two world wars responsible for the deaths of millions of people.</div><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><div style="text-align: justify;">Talking about Pakistan, we are used to violence in thiscountry. In the weeks and months leading up to the creation of Pakistan, the sub-continent witnessed mass killings of both Muslims and Hindus in communal riots. In 64 years of Pakistan’s history, we fought four wars against India. We launched at least four military operations against our Baloch brothers because they offended the state elite by asking for their legitimate rights. Although we haven’t fought any war against a foreign enemy during the last ten years, more than 35,000 Pakistanis were killed during this period in hundreds of terrorist attacks carried out by fellow Pakistanis ledby terrorist organizations.</div><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibxmF-3Ymv61yZeZwR5BRy1AnTYA3wJxxpxdZ32qbDVeSu8NWc2cTiIhfrsTUmxQhJDViWSG7BEoauXD-oJUrNe6evUMvbX0g4bJURvsLlxcaLy0QPBjH89CRaHIV5Y-lOiSaIzM-JMc4/s320/FSI-2011-Group-Photo-1.jpg" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 158px; " border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632337006450823586" /><div style="text-align: justify;">(Fletcher Summer Institute participants with researchers and academics from Tufts University and ICNC)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Even now as I write this blog piece, Karachi – the biggest city of Pakistan – is burning due to ethnic-cum-political violence perpetrated by the armed gangs of mainstream political parties. They use violence in Karachi for their political ends. More than 100 people have died in target killings during the last two weeks. Not long ago, we witnessed the assassination of Salman Taseer, the then-governor of Punjab, at the hands of his own bodyguard for criticizing draconian blasphemy laws. Later, the Federal Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti – the only Christian member of the cabinet – was brutally assassinated under the same pretext. And yes, how can I forget the mysterious abduction and gruesome murder of the journalist, Saleem Shahzad.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While I work for Khudi Pakistan, a non-violent counter-extremism social movement working to promote democratic culture and pluralism, being a student of history and a Pakistani, I was carrying a baggage of violence when I went to the Fletcher International School to attend a course on Strategic Non-Violent Action (June 21-24). The people I met, the stories I heard and the ideas I was exposed to showed me the other side of the picture.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While I thought that 20th century was a century of war, bloodshed, suffering and genocide, it was also a century of strategic non-violent action, I was told. A century that witnessed many successful non-violent movements waged in different parts of the world.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6s9k16TSiiBO3i7mMQmIiDRl6XfzGBMPzsoZWfMs2sIfyIbi5M4oa0Srpk1SRPeilVEp-gGcq3aeqMvCO2wRlTtGh8ab1xkEyIacg8ZsENeB_l_R1hdza25WIdFvib5AfyavcnqtEsk/s320/IMG_1367.jpg" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px; " border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632337346607333986" /><div style="text-align: justify;">(A session at the FSI 2011)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I did not know about the role Gandhi’s philosophy of Satyagraha and the civil resistance movement played in the Independence Movement of sub-continent. I was not aware of the strategies anti-apartheid activists used in South Africa to bring down the brutal and repressive Apartheid regime. With my class-mates at Fletcher, I studied the strategies the pro-democracy activists used in Chile and Serbia to bring down the ruthless dictatorships of Augusto Pinochet and Slobodan Milosovic respectively. I heard about the non-violent Solidarity Movement against the repressive communist regime in Poland. These stories convinced me that non-violent action as a political strategy has always had better chances of victory than violent action.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Erica Chenoweth, the author of Why Civil Resistance Works and an assistant professor of government at Wesleyan University, previously a fellow at Harvard University, told us in her talk that empirical evidence from history proved that non-violent movements had twice as much chances of success as violent movements. More than anything else, I was inspired by the great people I met at the Fletcher Summer Institute. People like Reverend James Lawson, a veteran of American Civil Rights Movement and a close associate of Dr Martin Luther King. Dr King once said: “Revered Lawson is the leading theorist and strategist of nonviolence in the world”. The volunteers Rev. Lawson trained in waging non-violent action launched a desegregation movement in 1960s in Nashville, a city in the US state of Tennessee, which eventually led to the desegregation in other parts of the US. The humble and soft-spoken reverend shared with us his experiences as a leader of civil rights movement.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was a very enlightening experience listening to Jack DuVall and Dr Peter Ackerman – the founders of the International Centre on Non-Violent Conflict that hosted the course for us. Both Jack and Dr Ackerman have devoted their lives to the study and propagation of knowledge about strategic non-violent action. Identifying the elements required for the success of a movement, Dr Ackerman told us: “A civil resistance movement must unify the wider spectrum of society – young and old, all ethnic groups, religious groups, all economic strata – around a limited set of achievable goals. The second thing that is required is planning. There has to be the capacity for the leadership to look objectively at what its capabilities are, who it can mobilize, what tactics it can use, how to sequence those tactics that it has biggest negative impact on the opponent. The third element is non-violent discipline.” According to Dr Ackerman, these three elements are pre-requisite for the success of any civil resistance movement irrespective of the cultural and political context.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVVcg__a-nw6tOhQzkJsMXboFXi-uIO_C86eF8RM-w-vXUPuAsOsOx4wvpL6Y9woFpziuATtVrv9QaJRZjLGjP1AKuEFc-obalNFVgqSlMrVsFe4nAeLtGxv_VF0wgrdUUj12pAozpY8/s320/IMG_1420.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632337701404890146" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(Khudi activist Imran Khan with Palestinian activist Ayman Qwaider and Indian participant Ayushman Jamwal)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While Dr Ackerman taught us the strategies of non-violent civil resistance, I was thinking about Pakistan. I was relating what he was saying to Pakistan. Our lawyers’ movement for the restoration of the deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan had all three elements. Different segments of society were united under the leadership of lawyers, who immaculately planned their every move, organizing long marches and using the traditional and digital media very effectively. Non-violent discipline was also there. No matter how much force Musharraf regime used against peaceful lawyers, civil society and activists, the latter did not respond with violence.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dr Ackerman told us during his talk that the conditions under which activists work are always difficult and dangerous. However, he said, we witnessed during the Arab Spring that the conditions can be changed by the skills of the activists. Since the activists were successful in mobilizing hundreds of thousands of people because of their superior skills and planning, it was no longer as dangerous to protest against the tyrants as it was before. The dictatorial regimes had become weaker, whereas the people had become stronger.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I made many amazing friends at the Fletcher Summer Institute. They are the people whose lives are an epitome of non-violent resistance in the face of oppression and tyranny. My friend Ayman Qwaider is a Palestinian activist, who has witnessed the brutality of the occupiers while working for various humanitarian organizations in Gaza. However, he still strongly believes in non-violent civil resistance. He thinks that brutality against brutality is not the solution. Born, raised and educated in Gaza, Ayman got a scholarship a few years ago to study in Europe. However, the Israeli Army refused to allow him to leave the strip because of their blockade. An undeterred Ayman launched a personal advocacy campaign on the social media, eventually forcing Israel to issue him a permit to leave Gaza. Mashallah Ayman has now completed his M.A in International Peace, Conflict and Development from a university in Spain and he is planning to continue his peaceful struggle for the liberation of Occupied Territories.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While India and Pakistan are archrivals, the people of two countries do not have innate hatred for each other. Far from that, we have so much in common. This is what I realized when I met Ayushman Jamwal, an Indian student from Cardiff University, at the Fletcher. We immediately became friends and spent most of our time together during the course. We discussed the history and politics of Indo-Pak relations. Ayushman criticized the atrocities Indian state has committed against Kashmiris and I castigated Pakistan for supporting non-state actors against India. Thank God neither of us was jingoistic, which made a constructive discussion and friendship possible. We discussed the curriculum taught in Indian and Pakistani schools and realized that both the states were teaching a pack of lies, a perverted and distorted interpretation of history to its future leaders. We concluded that whilst both states might continue their past policies, the people will have to come forward to make South Asia peaceful and prosperous.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.khudipakistan.com/blog/?p=91">Resource</a></div>Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-33486851631483971162011-07-21T00:46:00.000-07:002011-07-21T01:51:34.571-07:00The humanitarian situation in Gaza Strip - July 2011<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7AWYalUIg0oNa6IDA6QM9lVjQMUN6aN4fWprvfTpp0vNlhGQT5jy3k4reH-7szW6Amv7petzyBcyCElt0aMZaJsHfO6et7CJefQS-z0sfauRfTwKtaY0se9Nxr7MvwlaB6j2vq8-6Aec/s1600/Gaza%252BHumanitarian%252BSituation%252BWorst%252BSince%252B1967%252B58sGNb1XAwrl.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7AWYalUIg0oNa6IDA6QM9lVjQMUN6aN4fWprvfTpp0vNlhGQT5jy3k4reH-7szW6Amv7petzyBcyCElt0aMZaJsHfO6et7CJefQS-z0sfauRfTwKtaY0se9Nxr7MvwlaB6j2vq8-6Aec/s320/Gaza%252BHumanitarian%252BSituation%252BWorst%252BSince%252B1967%252B58sGNb1XAwrl.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631709704788403906" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: medium; ">59 people were killed in accidents in tunnels, including 5 children, and 115 people were injured.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; "> </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: medium; ">Since the beginning of 2010,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: medium; ">The main crossing point for the movement of Palestinians to and from Gaza Strip (Rafah border with Egypt) remains limited to the passage of 500 people per day.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">
<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; "><div class="mbl notesBlogText clearfix" style="margin-bottom: 20px; display: block; zoom: 1; line-height: 1.5em; word-wrap: break-word; "><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Please, spread this information as you can, and these dramatic and incontrovertible truth, write to friends, to newspapers, national and European parliamentarians, to anyone you want.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Gaza has 1.6 million inhabitants, more than 50% under the age of 18 years.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span">38% of Gazans live in poverty.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span">31% of the workforce in Gaza has no use and 47% of young people are unemployed.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span">54% of Gazans live in conditions of food insecurity and over 75% dependent on aid.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span">The economic output in 2010 was 20% lower than in 2005.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span">35% of agricultural land in Gaza and 85% of the fishable waters are totally or partially inaccessible due to Israeli military measures.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span">50 to 80 million gallons of partially treated sewage are discharged into the sea every day.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Over 90% of the water coming from the Gaza aquifer is not potable.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span">85% of Gaza's schools operate double or triple shifts.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></p></div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-align: justify; font-size: 11px; "><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; ">United nations- office for coordination of humanitarian Affairs/occupied Palestinian territory</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 11px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_Gaza_Fact_Sheet_July_2011.pdf">Resource</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" > </span></div></div></span></div></div>Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-75085706364486152792011-07-03T10:05:00.000-07:002011-07-03T10:24:16.763-07:00Reflection on Nonviolent Conflict Training Course, Boston 2011<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tzk6d9jgJ6P_pHMNBRHOpZrmVWgbwHdH2ehZDV-w6nYMkpuXuGqLOSpEYoVow44A4Hr_Wcuz1yzixqhCZMcMlIsobrUejz27mTYzZRs1FxxmYHRbqOn_2Qo9OFIMfeeMPHrjv6B9Wdw/s1600/FSI+2011+Group+Photo+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tzk6d9jgJ6P_pHMNBRHOpZrmVWgbwHdH2ehZDV-w6nYMkpuXuGqLOSpEYoVow44A4Hr_Wcuz1yzixqhCZMcMlIsobrUejz27mTYzZRs1FxxmYHRbqOn_2Qo9OFIMfeeMPHrjv6B9Wdw/s320/FSI+2011+Group+Photo+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625175867478424962" /></a><div style="background-color: transparent; margin-top: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><p dir="ltr" id="internal-source-marker_0.30388951301574707" style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; "><span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >FSI is a setting for radical transformative empowerment. It’s likely that one might say I am exaggerating to start off my article with such a strong sentence. I have these feelings because I experienced them being a member amongst real united nations, full of inspiration and dedication to bring about change needed to be seen in their realities. Human rights, justice, freedom, aggression, intimidation, equality are part of the discourses I recognized and learned about from very experienced activists for freedom, justice, self-determination and equality. I often think that there are several forms of injustice taking place cross our globe, but all these forms of injustice result pain and suffering are at the same level for any nation regardless of its identity. Through an intense one week training program on nonviolent conflict at Fletcher School, I realized that the result of injustices and oppression are the same regardless of where conflict exists, in Palestine, Tibet, Colombia, Burma, and these are just a small number of conflict affected countries. When there is armed conflict, serious violations of human rights occur, and civilians are significantly the most to suffer its consequences. Probably, what helped the most to keep me faithful and hopeful after being subjected to an enormous number of human rights violations, is the good people I met in the training course and seeing their dedication and commitment to being at hand and of assistance for deprived voiceless people. Attending the training course on nonviolent conflict at the Fletcher Summer Institute in Boston was a spark of inspiration which gives me energy to stay hopeful that justice will prevail. Ordinary people have absolute power is an overwhelming statement which always fascinates and empowers me. Having the chance to share real stories from different parts of world on issues of freedom, equality and justice and being introduced to various kinds of struggle, has assured me that people still have power to challenge state power, and people still have the ability to transform realities through nonviolent resistance. Attending the FSI training program has widened my perspective and allowed me to see issues from different angles. Further, it equipped me with the essential tool of self-empowerment. Nonviolent and civil resistance will prevail against radical injustices. Knowledge is power and self-empowerment. Being a part of the FSI has placed a great responsibility on my shoulders. International Civil society. Throughout listening to people’s testimonies firsthand, I felt the suffering they were subjected to in their countries. I was moved by certain stories and highly motivated to end these injustices.</span></span></p></div>Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-46333391565273965132011-06-21T20:40:00.000-07:002011-06-21T20:44:37.449-07:00Challenging Israeli apartheid, starting at Ben Gurion Airport<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); line-height: 24px; "><p style="text-align: justify;padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">by </span><span class="author vcard fn" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">LAURA DURKAY</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"> on </span><abbr class="published" title="2011-06-20" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1em; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; cursor: help; font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">JUNE 20, 2011</span></abbr></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; ">From July 8-16, I will join <a target="_blank" href="http://bienvenuepalestine.com/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(35, 97, 161); ">hundreds of internationals</a> for a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.palestinejn.org/component/content/article/1-latest-news/121-palestinians-call-on-all-people-of-conscience-come-visit-palestine-this-summer" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(35, 97, 161); ">week of solidarity actions</a> in coordination with 15 Palestinian civil resistance organizations in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. To my knowledge, this will be the first attempt to bring such a large number of internationals—already over 500, according to organizers—to the West Bank and East Jerusalem in a coordinated manner. While Freedom Flotilla 2, sailing in the coming days, rightly puts the spotlight on Israel’s cruel blockade of Gaza, we intend to show that Israeli repression in the rest of historic Palestine—the West Bank, Jerusalem, and what is now Israel—is no less important and is part of the same project of ethnic cleansing and colonization. </p><p style="text-align: justify;padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; ">The opening act of our week of nonviolent resistance is, in my opinion, its most creative and daring component. On a single day, July 8, hundreds of internationals and Palestinians living abroad will fly in to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport and perform one simple but radical action: refuse to lie about the fact that we are there to travel to the Occupied Territories and visit Palestinians. </p><span id="more-45045" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "></span><p style="text-align: justify;padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; ">Anyone who has traveled to Palestine knows the potential risks associated with this action. Israel controls all entry points into Palestine, except for the Rafah crossing into Gaza, which is controlled by Egypt and has its own Kafkaesque challenges. The Israeli government routinely denies entry to people it knows or simply suspects of being Palestine solidarity activists; journalists, academics and cultural workers sympathetic to the Palestinians; even people coming to do volunteer or charity work in the Occupied Territories. </p><p style="text-align: justify;padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; ">This means that for years, the most common strategy among solidarity activists entering Palestine has been to keep your head down and lie about why you are there. </p><p style="text-align: justify;padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; ">Plenty of us know the routine. You say that you’re a tourist. You play dumb about history and politics, and you never say you are going to visit Palestinians. You don’t point out the fact that every person of color in your group just got picked out for questioning. You submit calmly to interrogation and construct non-offensive half-truths, conveniently leaving out certain parts of your itinerary. When they search your stuff, you nod and say you understand it’s for “security reasons.” You swallow every rebellious instinct that brought you to Palestine in the first place and temporarily submit to a racist, invasive, intimidating security apparatus in the hope that they will deign to let you in to Palestine, and accept that this is the price to be paid for being able to do the work you want to do. </p><p style="text-align: justify;padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; ">For the record, I don’t think there is anything inherently wrong with this strategy. In any given situation, the most useful way to interact with agents of the Israeli state is a tactical decision. I understand there are many groups of people who do not have the luxury of pissing off Israeli security: people who depend on free movement in and out of Palestine for work, study, or to see family; those engaged in long-term projects in the region for whom maintaining access to the Occupied Territories is crucial; those engaged in critical media work that gets Palestine’s story out to the world; those who may be in a more vulnerable position for any number of reasons. </p><p style="text-align: justify;padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; ">But at the same time, we should be clear that Israel’s border controls and repressive entry policies are part of the apartheid system—a big part. Entry restrictions on solidarity activists, journalists, and NGO workers are a natural outgrowth of the restrictions that prevent a large percentage of the worldwide Palestinian population from returning to their own country and/or moving about freely within it. They are a component of the elaborate matrix of borders, walls, checkpoints, permits, soldiers and secret police by which the Israeli government exerts a choke-hold on free movement and political activity throughout occupied Palestine. They are part and parcel of the occupation machinery that seeks to isolate the Occupied Territories and make life there unbearable so that Palestinians will leave, and that frequently <a target="_blank" href="http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-admits-it-covertly-canceled-residency-status-of-140-000-palestinians-1.360935" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(35, 97, 161); ">forces them out</a> whether they want to go or not. And like all other parts of the apartheid system, they deserve to be challenged. </p><p style="text-align: justify;padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; ">This year’s Nakba and Naksa Day protests saw Israel besieged on every one of its garrisoned borders by unarmed Palestinians simply wanting to return home. At the end of this month, Freedom Flotilla 2 will defy Israel’s punitive and illegal naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. We see the July 8 fly-in as our contribution to the new movement that is chipping away at Fortress Israel. </p><p style="text-align: justify;padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; ">Some fellow activists have raised the possibility that this action will result in nothing more than hundreds of us being summarily deported, and possibly banned from entering Palestine in the future. It is entirely possible that this will happen, and anyone participating in this action should be aware of the risk. It seems to me a very small risk to take in comparison to the crushing violence Palestinians have stood up to for over 60 years. While this action is not for everyone, I believe the time is right for those in a position to expose and nonviolently resist Israel’s repressive entry policies to do so on a mass scale. </p><p style="text-align: justify;padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; ">Just as no one thinks one flotilla (or two or three) is going to bring the siege of Gaza to an end, no one believes this one day of action will immediately alter the state of affairs at Ben Gurion Airport and the rest of Israel’s borders. In the short term, it is possible that it may even make airport personnel more suspicious and aggressive. That is how oppressors respond to acts of resistance. They often become more aggressive before they are defeated, because they rightly sense that the momentum is on the side of justice. </p><p style="text-align: justify;padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; ">July 8, and the week of solidarity it opens, is one step in the long process of taking down the apartheid system. The Arab revolutions, the growing BDS movement, and Israel’s own increasingly hysterical reactions to nonviolent protest have radically accelerated the timeline of that process from what many of us believed possible only a few years ago. Israeli apartheid’s days are numbered, and now is the moment to challenge it on every front. </p><p style="text-align: justify;padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; "><em style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Laura Durkay is a member of Siegebusters Working Group and the International Socialist Organization in New York City. You can follow updates from the week of solidarity on her personal blog, </em><a target="_blank" href="http://lauraontheleftcoast.blogspot.com/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(35, 97, 161); "><em style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Laura on the Left</em></a><em style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">, and on Twitter at </em><a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/#!/lauradurkay" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(35, 97, 161); "><em style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">@lauradurkay</em></a><em style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">. </em></p><p style="text-align: justify;padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; "><em style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Individuals interested in participating in the July 8-16 week of solidarity should email </em><a target="_blank" href="mailto:info@palestinejn.org" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(35, 97, 161); "><em style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">info@palestinejn.org</em></a><em style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "> or visit </em><a target="_blank" href="http://www.palestinejn.org/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(35, 97, 161); "><em style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">http://www.palestinejn.org/</em></a><em style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "> for more details.</em></p><p style="text-align: justify;padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; "><em style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><a href="http://mondoweiss.net/2011/06/challenging-israeli-apartheid-starting-at-ben-gurion-airport.html">Resource</a></em></p></span>Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-60657044932546215412011-06-20T17:21:00.000-07:002011-06-20T17:31:25.582-07:00GISHA: The top 10 reasons why the opening of Rafah Crossing just doesn't cut it<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img alt="Rafah Border Crossing | The Egyptian Side" src="http://www.roytov.com/articles/RafahBorderCrossing.jpg" width="600" border="1" style="border-top-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-right-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-left-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); " /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">In no particular order of importance, we thought we'd list some of the reasons why the opening of Rafah, while significant and helpful, doesn't meet all of Gaza's needs for access and why, as some voices in Israel have recently suggested, it can't serve as Gaza's only access point. Despite four unanticipated days of closure last week, the crossing has been operating for the passage of travelers on a more regular but still semi-limited basis.</p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">1.Passage through the crossing remains limited: Egypt has indicated that it will operate the crossing six days per week during regular working hours, but it seems this won't be enough: between 400 - 450 individuals have been able to travel through the crossing per day from Gaza to Egypt. From November 2005 to June 2006, approximately 660 passengers per day exited the Gaza Strip through Rafah and according to the Palestinian Crossings Authority, 10,000 people are currently waiting to travel.</p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">2.The situation is unstable: As last week's closure of the crossing indicates, the situation on both sides of Rafah remains unstable, such that it's not clear whether the crossing will remain open, nor exactly to what degree.</p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">3. Rafah doesn't lead to the West Bank: Travel and movement of goods between Gaza and the West Bank remains severely limited, a problem which Rafah cannot address, as goods and Gaza ID holders are not allowed into the West Bank even via the Egypt-Jordan route. The West Bank and the Gaza Strip are part of the same customs envelope, and are recognized, including by Israel, as a single territorial unit, which, despite four years of tight closure, still shares one economy, one education system, one healthcare system and countless familial and social ties.</p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">4. Export is not moving and not through Rafah either: Export remains severely limited (about 2 truckloads per day, the last of which left Gaza on May 1, 2011, compared with a target of 400 per day in the Agreement on Movement and Access) and is currently not taking place through Rafah at all. This is impacting industries across Gaza which used to sell or export their wares in Israel, the West Bank and abroad. Before the closure, the vast majority of Gaza’s "exports" were sold in Israel and the West Bank.</p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">5.Construction materials do not enter through Rafah: Construction materials are being let into Gaza via Kerem Shalom only (between Israel and Gaza) for approved projects undertaken by international organizations and following exceedingly lengthy bureaucratic procedures. Each month since January 2011, about 10% of what entered monthly in the years prior to June 2007 has entered for these specific projects. At present, Egyptian authorities have not indicated if or when they will allow construction materials to pass at Rafah.</p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">6. Import of goods does not take place at Rafah: Imports to the Strip purchased by the private sector enter Gaza from Israel via Kerem Shalom Crossing. Even if Egypt were to allow goods to enter at Rafah (and there is no indication that they intend to do so nor when) the crossing and surrounding roadways are not currently equipped to handle the transfer of large quantities of goods, on the scale of the access needs of the Strip.</p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">7. Humanitarian aid does not regularly enter through Rafah: Aid enters Gaza via Kerem Shalom Crossing, between Gaza and Israel. At present, Egyptian authorities have not indicated if or when they will allow convoys of humanitarian aid to pass at Rafah.</p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">8.Medical patients in need of treatment not available in Gaza cannot always make the long journey to Egyptian hospitals. In any case, Palestinian hospitals in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, part of a common Palestinian health care system, are there to serve all residents of the Palestinian territory, including Gaza residents.</p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">9. Reports prove it: Restrictions on access at the crossings between Israel and Gaza (at Kerem Shalom for goods and Erez for people) continue to impact the well-being of residents of the Strip. Yesterday UNRWA published a study showing high rates of unemployment and the Association for International Development Agencies also reported recently on how limits on the entrance of construction materials primarily impacts the work of aid agencies and residents of Gaza.</p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">10. Rafah doesn't lead to the West Bank: Oh wait, did we say that already? Well, we're saying it again, because it's very, very important.</p></span>Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-56954012107933060922011-06-13T01:29:00.000-07:002011-06-13T01:34:46.744-07:00معا لنغير واقع فلسطين هذا الصيف<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvqT4iMTP45Yb3P01YmUUzAC6vCjac_Q2dgncEluFCDFoXNOxxgYHTh0xbJ1hwn5SYHXDvCWIdSKrG4u9wNiVe8_D5SzK4C2lCdBgrYq750_rxLok6WuCejiTR-wtD3X6rrARfjODmeY/s1600/images.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 251px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvqT4iMTP45Yb3P01YmUUzAC6vCjac_Q2dgncEluFCDFoXNOxxgYHTh0xbJ1hwn5SYHXDvCWIdSKrG4u9wNiVe8_D5SzK4C2lCdBgrYq750_rxLok6WuCejiTR-wtD3X6rrARfjODmeY/s320/images.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617619948081624402" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><div dir="ltr"><p dir="rtl" class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; direction: rtl; "><span ><b><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 14pt; ">معا لنغير واقع فلسطين هذا الصيف</span></b><b><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; "></span></b></span></p><p dir="rtl" class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; direction: rtl; "><span ><b><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 14pt; "><br /></span></b></span></p><p dir="rtl" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; direction: rtl; "><span dir="rtl"></span><span lang="AR-SA"><span dir="rtl"></span><span ><span > </span></span></span></p><p dir="rtl" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; direction: rtl; "><span lang="AR-SA"><span > لجان المقاومة الشعبية ومؤسسات المجتمع المدني الفلسطيني ومناصري ونشطاء السلام وحقوق الإنسان و أصحاب الضمائر الحية في كل العالم يدعون الجميع لنشاطات في فلسطين في الفترة بين 8-16 /7. مئات ألأجانب استجابوا للدعوة وبانضمام أعداد كبيرة من الفلسطينيين نستطيع عمل الكثير للتغيير. لندركْ أنّ الدخول بالمئات لفلسطين عبر مطار بن جوريون في فترة 24 ساعة سيرسل رسالةً واضحةً لإسرائيل لاحترام الحقوق الإنسانيّة الأساسيّة للذين يريدون زيارة فلسطين. يمكنكم زيارة موقع حملة الحق في الدخول على </span></span><a href="http://www.righttoenter.ps/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 81, 168); "><span dir="ltr"><span >http://www.righttoenter.ps</span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span lang="AR-SA"><span dir="rtl"></span><span ><span >. سيكون هناك برنامج فعاليات ومقاومة شعبية في القدس ومحافظة بيت لحم والخليل ورام لله والأغوار والنقب الخ.</span></span></span></p><p dir="rtl" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; direction: rtl; "><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"><span dir="ltr"></span><span > </span></span><span lang="AR-SA"></span></p><p dir="rtl" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; direction: rtl; "><span ><span ><span lang="AR-SA">إنّ الفلسطينين في فلسطين التاريخية و المنفى لا زالوا يؤمنون بالعمل من أجل السلام المبني على العدل وبمساعدة المجتمع المدني نستطيع أنْ نحقّقَ سلامنا و حريتنا. نحن نؤمن بالمقاومة الشعبيّة كوسيلة لاستعادة حقوقنا كما اعترفت بها القوانين الدوليّة. نحن نؤمن -بناء على تجاربنا الناجحة السابقة- أنّ كلَّ فردٍ منّا تقع عليه مسؤوليّةٌ ويستطيع أن يصنع التغيير اللازم. ندعوكم للإنضمام إلينا لكي نكون التغيير الذي تريدون أن تروه في هذا العالم. إنّ تجربتنا السابقة في هذه الفعاليات كانت ناجحة</span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="ltr"></span> </span><span dir="rtl"></span><span lang="AR-SA"><span dir="rtl"></span><span> </span>مثلا أنظر فعاليات شهر 12 <span> </span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rif2ZSSeRok" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 81, 168); "><span dir="ltr"><span >http://www.youtube.com/watch?<wbr>v=Rif2ZSSeRok</span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span><span dir="rtl"></span><span ><span > <span lang="AR-SA">وفعاليات يوم النكبة 15/5 والنكسة 5/6 وأسطول الحرية. هناك عددٌ كبير ملتزم بالحضور والمشاركة في هذه النشاطات وأكثر من 100 متطوع محلي.</span></span></span></span></p><p dir="rtl" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; direction: rtl; "><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"><span dir="ltr"></span><span > </span></span><span lang="AR-SA"></span></p><p dir="rtl" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; direction: rtl; "><span lang="AR-SA"><span >مجموعات النشطاء المحليّين في أوروبا وامريكا الشمالية واللاتينية ومناطق أخرى من العالم تقوم بترتيب قدوم الوفود إلى فلسطين. وقد قامت المجموعات المحلية المدرجة أدناه بتكوين لجانٍ مختصّة للعمل في نواحٍ(قانونية, وإعلامبة, ولوجستية,وتواصل, وبرنامج) ولقد شرعت في العمل. راسلونا على </span></span><a href="mailto:info@palestinejn.org" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 81, 168); "><span dir="ltr"><span >info@palestinejn.org</span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span lang="AR-SA"><span dir="rtl"></span><span ><span > اذا كنتم تودون التواصل أو المساعدة مع المجموعات المنسقة في بلدكم أو محليا في فلسطين. معا لمرحلة جديدة للتغيير والحرية.</span></span></span></p><p dir="rtl" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; direction: rtl; "><span lang="AR-SA"><span ><span ><br /></span></span></span></p><p dir="rtl" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; direction: rtl; "><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"><span dir="ltr"></span><span > </span></span><span lang="AR-SA"></span></p><p dir="rtl" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; direction: rtl; "><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span >مسرح الرواد </span></span><a href="http://www.alrowwad-acts.ps/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 81, 168); "><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span >alrowwad-acts.ps</span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-size: 9pt; "><span dir="rtl"></span><span > <span lang="AR-SA"><span> <wbr> </span></span></span></span><span ><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span> </span></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; ">شبكة العدالة لفلسطين </span></span><a href="http://www.palestinejn.org/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 81, 168); "><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span >palestinejn.org</span></span></a><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; "></span></p><p dir="rtl" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; direction: rtl; "><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span >مركز بديل </span></span><a href="http://www.badil.org/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 81, 168); "><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span >badil.org</span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-size: 9pt; "><span dir="rtl"></span><span > <span lang="AR-SA"><span> <wbr> </span></span></span></span><span ><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span> </span></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; ">المركز الفلسطيني للتقارب بين الشعوب </span></span><a href="http://www.pcr.ps/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 81, 168); "><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span >PCR.PS</span></span></a><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; "></span></p><p dir="rtl" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; direction: rtl; "><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span >أصدقاء الحرية و العدالة في بلعين </span></span><a href="http://www.bilin-ffj.org/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 81, 168); "><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span >bilin-ffj.org</span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-size: 9pt; "><span dir="rtl"></span><span > <span lang="AR-SA"><span> </span></span></span></span><span ><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span> <wbr> </span></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; ">الحملة الشعبية-<span> </span>اوقفوا الجدار </span></span><a href="http://www.stopthewall.org/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 81, 168); "><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span >stopthewall.org</span></span></a><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; "></span></p><p dir="rtl" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; direction: rtl; "><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span >مؤسسة هولي لاند ترست </span></span><a href="http://www.holylandtrust.org/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 81, 168); "><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span >holylandtrust.org</span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-size: 9pt; "><span dir="rtl"></span><span > <span lang="AR-SA"><span> </span></span></span></span><span ><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span> </span></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; ">مشروع المناصرة </span></span><a href="http://www.palestinesolidarityproject.org/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 81, 168); "><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span >palestinesolidarityproject.org</span></span></a><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span ><span><wbr> </span></span></span></p><p dir="rtl" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; direction: rtl; "><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span >اللجان التنسيقية للمقاومة الشعبية </span></span><a href="http://www.popularstruggle.org/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 81, 168); "><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span >popularstruggle.org</span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-size: 9pt; "><span dir="rtl"></span><span > <span lang="AR-SA"><span> </span></span></span></span><span ><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span> </span></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; ">مركز سراج للسياحة البديلة </span></span><a href="http://www.sirajcenter.org/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 81, 168); "><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span >sirajcenter.org</span></span></a><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; "></span></p><p dir="rtl" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; direction: rtl; "><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span >شباب ضد الاستيطان </span></span><a href="http://www.youthagainstsettlements.org/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 81, 168); "><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span >youthagainstsettlements.org</span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-size: 9pt; "><span dir="rtl"></span><span > <span lang="AR-SA"><span> </span></span></span></span><span ><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span> </span></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; ">حركة التضامن العالمية </span></span><a href="http://www.palsolidarity.org/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 81, 168); "><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span >palsolidarity.org</span></span></a><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; "></span></p><p dir="rtl" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; direction: rtl; "><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span >مركز المعلومات البديلة </span></span><a href="http://www.alternativenews.org/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 81, 168); "><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span >alternativenews.org</span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span dir="rtl"></span><span > <span> <wbr> </span></span></span><span ><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span> </span></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; ">مركز العمل المجتمعي- القدس </span></span><a href="http://www.cac-alquds.org/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 81, 168); "><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span >cac-alquds.org</span></span></a><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; "></span></p><p dir="rtl" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; direction: rtl; "><span ><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; ">حملة شدو الرحال من أجل القدس </span><u><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; "><a href="http://pncj.org/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 81, 168); ">pncj.org</a></span></u><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span> <wbr> </span>الإغاثه الطبية الفلسطينية </span><u><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; ">PMRS.ps</span></u><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; "></span></span></p><p dir="rtl" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; direction: rtl; "><span ><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; ">مبادرة الدفاع عن الأراضي المحتلة </span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; ">OPGAI.net </span><span dir="rtl"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; "><span dir="rtl"></span><span> </span><span> </span>مركز العودة-بيت ساحور</span></span></p><p dir="rtl" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; direction: rtl; "><span ><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 9pt; ">مركز شباب مخيم عايده<span> </span></span><u><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; "><a href="http://key1948.org/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 81, 168); ">key1948.org</a></span></u><span dir="rtl"></span><span lang="AR-SA"><span dir="rtl"></span><span ><span> </span><span> </span>اللجان الشعبية في عدة قرى ومواقع</span></span></span></p><p align="right" style="text-align: justify;"> </p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div></span>Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-55373964864278100012011-06-12T08:39:00.000-07:002011-06-12T08:50:47.359-07:00Mind the Strip Documentary<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWfg5VC66UWax9RO4-eVVPStYt09XAm8oQI1MvaS6WNxQSDH-Q_RFX8f1SznXu8JvZfv5uBoAf34j0FsojlpnQ7PPLMC9uF_DX-sqNEdQLePRsLN7qQ52YBZ8gaESWALtPIo455GdKGM/s1600/Mind_strip+copia2.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWfg5VC66UWax9RO4-eVVPStYt09XAm8oQI1MvaS6WNxQSDH-Q_RFX8f1SznXu8JvZfv5uBoAf34j0FsojlpnQ7PPLMC9uF_DX-sqNEdQLePRsLN7qQ52YBZ8gaESWALtPIo455GdKGM/s320/Mind_strip+copia2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617360871082426914" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><br />Mind the Strip is a documentary to highlight a story of Ayman Qwaider, Gazan student who had difficulties to access the closing borders of Gaza to pursue his studies in Spain. It does not often happen that students can easily get out from the blockade in Gaza Strip pursuing their further studies abroad. Ayman had numerous obstacles to reach his goal in Spain and pursue his masters’ studies. After working tirelessly and contacting anyone who would listen to his story, comprehensive media campaign, he received his longed-for transit permit from Israel in order to exit the Gaza Strip and travel to University of Jaume I in Spain, to pursue a graduate degree in Peace, Conflict & Development Studies (how appropriate!).</span><br /></div><br /><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/home.php#%21/event.php?eid=1%29%2069714556423250">Facebook Event in Girona, Spain June16</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mind-the-Strip/112229428859647?sk=info">Mind the Strip Facebook page</a><br /><br />Website: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.mindthestrip.com">Mind the Strip Website</a>Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-41405991710828834362011-06-12T08:22:00.000-07:002011-06-12T08:36:46.231-07:00Let´s take part of ending injustices happening in Palestine<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPCbZ0jYRnb1okHajTorcpVDRjAuMMwOI3q1luE62SUsp5wJhVY3pxqr13X7Zuz4jQXTDswBDPNEV1g95CvDcMmjGto8uXDvRC7he_f8Bop0kHVbDV_qK1y8zvnC_yJdLdu2ewSh8Uk8/s1600/mainwrap-top.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 458px; height: 111px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPCbZ0jYRnb1okHajTorcpVDRjAuMMwOI3q1luE62SUsp5wJhVY3pxqr13X7Zuz4jQXTDswBDPNEV1g95CvDcMmjGto8uXDvRC7he_f8Bop0kHVbDV_qK1y8zvnC_yJdLdu2ewSh8Uk8/s320/mainwrap-top.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617356324963836178" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 4);ButtonMouseDown(this);" class="" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Italic" title="Italic"><img src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Italic" class="gl_italic" border="0" /></span></span><span><span>Dear friends,Palestinian civil society organizations applaud the Freedom Flotilla that will again, in May, challenge the brutal and illegal siege of the people of Gaza. Decent peopl</span></span><span><span>e around the world </span></span><span><span>will be working in support of this international intiative.</span></span><br /><br /><span><span>While we rightly focus on Gaza we must not forget that Israeli colonial authorities are implementing their racist apartheid policies throughout historic Palestine. In the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and in the Negev and the Galilee, ethnic cleansing and killing/injuring civilians are just some of the many violations of basic human rights. The aim is always to keep us isolated as well as divided, the better to achieve the goal of dispossessing us.</span></span><br /><br /><span><span>For this reason, we call on civil society organizations and people of conscience around the world to support and join the other important international challenge this summer to the Israeli siege of the whole of Palestine. The daily indignities heaped on the Palestinian people are reflected in the attitude of officials at Tel Aviv airport to prevent any humanitarian/solidarity trips. Israel’s attempts to prevent entry by peace activists even though the occuupied Palestinian Territories are recognized internationally as illegally occupied by Israel. We must oppose Israel’s arbitrary, unlawful, and abusive behavior (See the Right to Enter Campaign at http://www.righttoenter.ps/)</span></span><br /><span><span>A week of solidarity: 8 – 16 July</span></span><br /><br /><span><span>Hundreds of men, women and children fly into Tel Aviv airport to visit us in the occupied Palestinian territories The international community must recognize our basic human right to receive visitors from abroad and support the right of their own citizens to travel to Palestine without harassement. We call upon citizens of many countries to visit us on July 8th. Where Israel works to isolate us, we invite you to join with us openly and proudly as the decent human beings you are. We do not accept the attempts to keep us apart or to force you to speak less than with the honesty you are used to.</span></span><br /><br /><span><span>You will be accommodated locally. You will enjoy Palestinian hospitality and a program of networking, fellowship, and volunteer peace work in Palestinian towns and villages (e.g. land reclamation).</span></span><br /><br /><span><span>For futher details please check:</span></span><br /><a href="http://http//bienvenuepalestine.com/?page_id=232"><span><span>http://bienvenuepalestine.com/?page_id=232</span></span><br /></a><br /><br /></div>Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-29664846475271451022011-05-21T08:05:00.000-07:002011-05-21T08:05:06.079-07:00Palestinian Activist Says Obama Speech "Irrelevant"<a href="http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=6801">Palestinian Activist Says Obama Speech "Irrelevant"</a>Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-37011347586160727192011-04-06T05:21:00.000-07:002011-04-06T05:23:22.406-07:00“Social networking helped me realize my right to education.”<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><h3 style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 2.15em; color: rgb(63, 149, 195); clear: both; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; "><a href="http://www.unesco.org/new/index.php?eID=tx_cms_showpic&file=fileadmin%2FMULTIMEDIA%2FHQ%2FED%2Ftemp%2FAyman-Qwaider_01.jpg&md5=e06397145b59c8d271e6f4c4738af8491c75d550&parameters[0]=YTo0OntzOjU6IndpZHRoIjtzOjQ6IjUwMG0iO3M6NjoiaGVpZ2h0IjtzOjM6IjUw&parameters[1]=MCI7czo3OiJib2R5VGFnIjtzOjI0OiI8Ym9keSBiZ0NvbG9yPSIjZmZmZmZmIj4i&parameters[2]=O3M6NDoid3JhcCI7czozNzoiPGEgaHJlZj0iamF2YXNjcmlwdDpjbG9zZSgpOyI%2B&parameters[3]=IHwgPC9hPiI7fQ%3D%3D" target="thePicture" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(33, 74, 135); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://wa1.www.unesco.org/new/typo3temp/pics/e951f34e02.jpg" width="242" height="212" border="0" alt="" title="" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " /></a></span></h3><div class="content_intro" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: left; position: relative; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; zoom: 1; "><div class="news-single-img video" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: left; width: 240px !important; float: left; position: relative; "><div class="news-single-img" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: left; position: relative; width: 240px !important; "><p class="news-single-imgcaption" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: normal; float: none; width: auto; ">©Ayman Qwaider</p></div></div><h4 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1.05em !important; clear: both; color: black; font-weight: bold; display: inline; float: none; "><div style="text-align: justify;">Ayman Qwaider, a 24-year-old Palestinian student from Gaza, has led several parallel lives: student, teacher, humanitarian worker and blogger.</div></h4></div><div class="news-content clearfix" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: left; display: block; position: relative; "><p class="bodytext" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1.05em; ">Ayman is currently an intern in UNESCO’s Education Sector, working with and learning about post-conflict post-disaster education as part of a Master’s degree in peace studies. “I believe in the importance of education for transforming societies and resolving conflicts,” he says. “I know this from experience.”</p><p class="bodytext" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1.05em; ">After completing his primary and secondary education in UNRWA schools, and graduating in 2008 from the English programme of the Islamic University of Gaza (Palestinian Authority), Ayman became first a teacher, then a humanitarian worker. “I was Child Welfare Programme Officer with a number of international NGOs,” he explains. “During this time Ayman started blogging about daily life in Gaza. His main ambition, however, was to travel abroad and pursue peace studies. The blog and his social network ultimately made that possible. </p><p class="bodytext" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1.05em; ">Ayman was interested in the International Master’s degree in Peace, Conflict and Development Studies (or “Peace Master”) which is one of the activities of the UNESCO Chair of Philosophy for Peace at the Jaume I University in Castellón, Spain. He applied for a scholarship financed by the Bancaja-Caja Castellón Foundation and was accepted for the session from February 2010 to May 2012. </p><p class="bodytext" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1.05em; ">With the help of a go-between – an Israeli friend he had met online, who benefited from greater mobility than he – Ayman obtained a Spanish student visa. Once his papers were in order, he booked a flight for 1 February 2010. However, like several hundred other scholarship students, he was prevented from leaving Gaza. The Master’s degree programme began without him. </p><p class="bodytext" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1.05em; ">Having tried and failed to get support from official channels (embassies, NGOs such as Amnesty International, even the European Parliament), he turned to social networking. The week before he was due to start his studies, Ayman posted an article on his blog called “I have a dream” recounting his difficulties with the Israeli authorities in trying to leave Gaza. “It was non-accusatory,” he explains”. I was just asking for the basic right to pursue an education.” He ended the article with the sentence: “I am appealing and calling lawyers, politicians, journalists and all activists for human rights to join the fight for me and my right to the education that I have always dreamed of.” </p><p class="bodytext" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1.05em; ">The response was overwhelming: Ayman’s online friends translated his appeal into English, Spanish, French, Catalan and Hebrew. It was picked up by bloggers everywhere. A Facebook campaign was launched and acquired 1000 followers while an online petition gathered almost 2000 signatures in the first week, many from Israel. Ayman had become a <i style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">cause célèbre.</i></p><p class="bodytext" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1.05em; ">“Social networking helped me realize my right to education,” Ayman claims. Following the international mobilization Ayman finally received his permission to travel. He arrived in Spain one week late for class. At the Jaume I University, he is taking several courses on aspects of human rights education, peace education and conflict transformation. “It is a very healthy environment where I am also being educated in mulitculturality,” he says. “Thanks to these courses I have became more aware about different conflicts taking place around the world.” Ayman also shared first-hand experience with people who have lived in conflict situations. “It assured me that conflicts are the same everywhere, and that humanity is humanity wherever we are.” </p><p class="bodytext" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1.05em; ">Ayman recently visited Austria to study UN Peacekeeping. This was part of his Master’s degree, as is his current internship in UNESCO. He is frequently invited to give conferences and is now writing a project proposal targeting youth in Arab countries. The title? “How to use social networking to promote human rights education in the Arab world.” </p><span class="news-date" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(129, 129, 129) !important; "><div style="text-align: justify;">04.04.2011</div></span><span class="news-author" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><div style="text-align: justify;">Source:</div></span></div><div class="news-content clearfix" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: block; position: relative; "><span class="news-author" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><a href="http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/single-view/news/social_networking_helped_me_realize_my_right_to_education/">http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/single-view/news/social_networking_helped_me_realize_my_right_to_education/</a></span></div></span>Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-36230346834579409252011-04-03T15:44:00.000-07:002011-04-25T02:32:20.411-07:00Skype with Gaza: A Story of Ahmed Qwaider<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Qcz7qnFlVFjU6W6PfvshqcrZSIn4PTiCEipX1qc523HbH9Mauo1lLJxGWApFRaFDYQtzuRwg5-Z7EtqDL7yNHOKiLZKNDpg6Bb93JC-ZdvCZRqB03kqhv89d1usT8YBSzetdQVFR4gY/s1600/183164_107056386041349_100002109644076_72556_7162314_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: justify;float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Qcz7qnFlVFjU6W6PfvshqcrZSIn4PTiCEipX1qc523HbH9Mauo1lLJxGWApFRaFDYQtzuRwg5-Z7EtqDL7yNHOKiLZKNDpg6Bb93JC-ZdvCZRqB03kqhv89d1usT8YBSzetdQVFR4gY/s320/183164_107056386041349_100002109644076_72556_7162314_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591494007194898322" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif"">Ayman Qwaider</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i>April 4th. </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif""><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif"">After recent bombings in my home the Gaza Strip, I finally had an opportunity to speak with my </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">brother Ahmed, 23 years old on skype. The focus of our conversation was my brother's job search after "recent" graduation from his university in Gaza—The Islamic University.</span></i></b></div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">Below are excerpts from our chat.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">Ayman: Brother, what are you doing now?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black">Ahmed: I am waiting the exam from Government in order to get a job and I am fed up from situation in Gaza.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">Ayman: Which government are you applying for and what is the nature of the job you might get?<br />Ahmed: I have applied for the government in Gaza because you are aware of our unfortunate situation: we are two governments under occupation. (I applied just) in case I will get accepted, though I am not hopeful. Because I will end up in front of office and not practice any of the skills I learned at University because Israel’s government still prevent all construction material to get to Gaza which makes it quite complicated to find a job in the field and to practice what I have leaned at University.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">I was proud that my brother was striving to be employed, and wondered how he passes his time. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; ">Ayman Qwaider: What are you doing nowadays?</span></div><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black"><div style="text-align: justify;">Ahmed: I spend most of my time taking training and receiving courses; this how the Gaza graduated engineers end up in Gaza.</div><o:p></o:p></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black">After a while, the conversation turned to the issues of violence that Gaza experiences daily. Having left Gaza 1 year ago myself, I rely heavily on information from family members such as my brother, to give me details of my home. Media sources are often inaccurate. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">Ahmed relayed his experience during a receiving bombing and how it affected him personally.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; ">Ayman Qwaider: How is the current situation in Gaza?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; color: black; font-family: Cambria, serif; ">Ahmed: Insecure, deprived and no glace of hope at all. One day we feel hope and 10 days we are lost. I am not even able to think of the upcoming future. Dreams you are not allowed to have in Gaza. Almost every day, people of Gaza are exposed to the Gaza common theme, bombardment, cut off electricity, and blockade.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: justify;">Ayman Qwaider: Has the Israeli army waged attacks recently?</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: justify;">Ahmed: Ayman, I want to tell you a joke; it sounds funny but it is ridicules. </div></span> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: justify;">Ayman Qwaider: Yes please share it; I miss jokes from Gaza.</div></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black"><div style="text-align: justify;">Ahmed: Three days ago I was up at out home sleeping at my room. It was around 3 am and the power was off. I heard a sort of an Israeli F16 fighter jet but it was a bit far from us. Then I said to myself, let me back to my bed. AS soon as I got back to bed, a big voice of explosion took place somewhere close to us, but I had no idea where exactly. As you know, in my room there is a sort of big decorated star which is made of plaster hanged at the ceil. It felt down in the ground and I had the feeling that the rocket ended up in my room. It was super crazy and I was really terrified. I left my rood down to my family floor creaming when I felt that the attack is just close. </div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div> <span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black"><div style="text-align: justify;">Ayman: How do you feel now?</div></span><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black"><div style="text-align: justify;">Ahmed: Ayman, look, I have been passing though such hard week now. I was send to doctor to check my health situation after the attack. I am really suffering bad psychological situation now due to this attack. It was really massive and it walked up all people around. I do not know when this will come to an end?! </div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--> <!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">As a peacebuilder myself, I felt moved to say something encouraging. I tried to provide moral and emotional support to Ahmed in his times of trial. My own thoughts and feelings regarding the situation came out as well.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black"><div style="text-align: justify;">Ayman: Ahmed, I am extremely sorry but I really feel bad and I am powerless to change this. But you should keep in mind that any system of injustice will come to an end. I am sure of it exactly as I am talking to you right now. I am assuring you that justice and peace will prevail soon inshallah. And what people of Gaza expose to is really system of injustice. I really would like you to show more strength and patience, please. I am aware that the situation I tough but am sure that tomorrow will be better. Just take good care of yourself now and be strong. I do really not understand it at all, how human being is able to dehumanize human being like this. It is totally desperate situation and I really feel sorry of this Israeli solider how he is not forgetting all principals of humanity and just bomb. Ahmed, I do not know what to say, but keep dreaming of good future and tomorrow will be shine inshallah.</div><o:p></o:p></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; color: black; font-family: Cambria, serif; "><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ahmed explained that while he was hopeful, the violence affected his will to stay in Gaza, his job-seeking resolve, and his motivation to work for the government. </i></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div> <span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black"><div style="text-align: justify;">Ahmed: Shukran (thank you) for the support and every day I pray that this will come to an end and people of Gaza would have a normal secured life like you now in Paris. I am really worried about our young siblings and the kinds in Gaza as well. Imagine, if this happened to be and I was supper terrified, what about young kids? I am really hoping of good future and this system of dehumanizing human being will end up soon.</div><o:p></o:p></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; ">Ahmed: I am thinking seriously to pursue my post-graduate studies, please in case you come cross any opportunity, let keep me posed. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black"><div style="text-align: justify;">Ayman: I could imagine how children feel in Gaza. I worked with them in Gaza and I experienced really profound problems which children suffer from such harsh situation. Children should never be part of any conflict and they should entitle for their childhood rights with health and secured environment. This is how I have been tough in my master about human rights. I will let you know in case I come cross any opportunity for post-graduate studies.</div> </span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div> <span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black"><div style="text-align: justify;">Ayman: Now, are you that motivated to join the government and to start working in case you get accepted? </div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify; color: black; font-family: Cambria, serif; ">Ahmed: Ayman look, I am not that motivated as you expect, but we have no choice in Gaza expect join the government and working at office. I just explained to you. And you know the situation in Gaza, so many times, employers got killed in a governmental building, people killed with no reason whatsoever. I really do not want to end up my life quite recent. The story is quite easy: they come up with the F16th fighter jet and then bomb the building and then you become breaking news just in Gaza. This is how many governmental workers life ended up.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: justify;">Ayman: You are totally right Ahmed and I could imagine how you could feel whilst working in unsecured office hearing bombardment from time to another. Sometimes, they just call for evacuation for these governmental building as soon as they hear F16 jet flying in the skies. It is really despite and I am really sorry brother.</div><o:p></o:p></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">We ended the 30-minute conversation discussing our own family. I learned of my siblings and what they were doing, and my parents. I do not know when I will get a chance to speak with or see Ahmed again; I only hope that he, and the rest of my family, is safe, and that the atrocities come to an end with peace in the Middle East. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-15767973495383274742011-03-18T13:45:00.000-07:002011-03-18T14:36:14.113-07:00Come peace train and pick me up<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Come peace train and pick me up</span></b> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Ayman Qwaider & <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Abeer Abaid</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">March 18.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKWOWRvBSwRi6xBxL7fJaqOcNOb_d3CsDnJgF1nRo9O5GETRdRosXESAEwuGmDk5qfzzhdaxDEwbnxAI4GvNwTGPJWtAZvh2MEvswtvGXIR7_FOoc8Ek7imf6Z83L3u8xI0-OoyZhpYs/s320/17032011052.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585525392075547266" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Give me my freedom and childhood back: a statement stressed on through an action day taking place on March 18th in Al Maghzi Refugee camp stationed in the Gaza Strip. Remarkably some 10,000 refugee camp kids gathered and participated in the action day entitled We Need Freedom….We Need Childhood.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Despite the fact that the Gaza Strip residents have been enduring a profound and extraordinary living conditions as a result of the on-going unlawful Israeli’s government blockade, regular military activities and internal Palestinian political conflict, children still dream of happiness and going back their normal lives. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"I am still dreaming of a better world dominated by peace and tranquility. It is more than enough what we; children in Gaza have to cope with in the 21st country. We believe that war is incredibly costly and devastating in the meanwhile, peace is much cheaper and adorable" says Asmhan Shaaban a fifteen year-old child from Al Maghzi refugee camp who participated in the event.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For several decades, exposure to tension and violence in the local community has resulted in tremendous negative repercussions for the children. This lingering situation has had negative consequences on all aspects of life, including education, health, economic situation and financial status, and social interactions and interpersonal relationships. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"When I take part in this event, I feel cheerful and relaxed. I like playing and getting my face painted. I love peace, I love the world. I dream of a better tomorrow for us, the children in Gaza where we can have a peaceful and secured environment. I need to walk around my neighborhood peacefully and pick pretty flowers. I do not like to hear Israeli fighter jets or bombardments," another participant told the organizers. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The action day was organized by the Gaza Art Gallery committee team that is organized by Unlimited Association Friends, a local non-governmental organization based in AL Maghzi Refugee camp, and sponsored by a Dutch association, Rotterdam for Gaza. The action day organizers pointed out that this event shows how the world is interconnected and human beings should share with others’ human rights grievances and happiness. Abeer Abaid, an event organizer, graciously gave her time for an interview. She extended her gratitude to Rotterman for Gaza, stating that the organization based in the Netherlands had provided outstanding support and helping make the children’s dreams come true and bringing them a little bit of happiness.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The event started directly with children at the end of the children’s school day. They were escorted by funny clowns walking around the refugee camp alleys while music and live performances were being performed. It was a public invitation for children from the refugee camp to join the biggest children’s caravan organized in Al Maghzi Refugee camp. The caravan ended up at the main refugee UNRWA (United Nation Relief and Work Agency) sports club. It was an amazing popular festival taking place in one of the most densely populated camps in Gaza and everyone was invited to share it with the children. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">With smiling and painted faces, children happily joined the activities suggested, along with the youth volunteer participants. Among the activities carried out were music performances, puppet shows, and a traditional Palestinian dance, the Dabka. The event succeeded in drawing smiles for over 10,000 thousand faces, restoring the sense of hope and belief in peace for its young participants. The event stressed on the fact that the children in Gaza are not left alone and there are millions of people outside Gaza who believe in humanity, peace and justice with constant support for freedom and love.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_za_ii_IVISY_mAK2n0iIRNWPBPrChOnWolG-Ljw1Y2ywd0a05K51KoZgMVztF-ZqYSHVAy7ncHLWSQ-2k6QjEwjURrAJWicP_oD8dGEBrnPCgG81qHPtdphFoIMrpIk1-hT2EJsekfo/s1600/17032011054.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_za_ii_IVISY_mAK2n0iIRNWPBPrChOnWolG-Ljw1Y2ywd0a05K51KoZgMVztF-ZqYSHVAy7ncHLWSQ-2k6QjEwjURrAJWicP_oD8dGEBrnPCgG81qHPtdphFoIMrpIk1-hT2EJsekfo/s320/17032011054.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585525393121387938" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEoTgawmL-uRwK_2Wd-KuqvL9ZwipyVJbKblOz8DfO8QXcerrSksESTtEaYq3IqX9JNfN2YGmtFMgfIn4NjEmddZadfhcxTxHBiXb_Uo_PH6EJuBhIded4CtMklrg75vDcUqBpb6wuZg/s1600/17032011037.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEoTgawmL-uRwK_2Wd-KuqvL9ZwipyVJbKblOz8DfO8QXcerrSksESTtEaYq3IqX9JNfN2YGmtFMgfIn4NjEmddZadfhcxTxHBiXb_Uo_PH6EJuBhIded4CtMklrg75vDcUqBpb6wuZg/s320/17032011037.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585525389695121122" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94ppW-hKNKKXDRD5US0n_2yryygEcipNkjimTRYYqY_8wsltVFfgme8jl_m_ncFHI12udGPw8Y7IZc9NFyMvAldS_4c0_gQkbkfvzSUviT0JB8UTGY03781nlE0WLfZ-JGPR0fHWzres/s1600/17032011027.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94ppW-hKNKKXDRD5US0n_2yryygEcipNkjimTRYYqY_8wsltVFfgme8jl_m_ncFHI12udGPw8Y7IZc9NFyMvAldS_4c0_gQkbkfvzSUviT0JB8UTGY03781nlE0WLfZ-JGPR0fHWzres/s320/17032011027.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585525383756594594" style="text-align: center;float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-86885591171384714312011-03-14T03:52:00.000-07:002011-03-14T03:57:08.841-07:00We Need Childhood…We need Freedom<div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Setting:</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Day & Date: Thursday March 17th, 2011</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Venue: Maghazi Refugee Camp</b></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Special Invitation</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><br /></b></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_L_SRCeIAHfqF1mRZN5DgG1t84bDhz3cBVdIeVhOa7FjWMWeN9NA92hceI4-gWm4ONnCTP6Zn5v5Z2Kl5O-eFTlwRMKbpiVKrSwsLVp_jvFJK3zzqm6bFDJxY_YB0FDOPRETKPFWjO4/s1600/IMG_8459.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_L_SRCeIAHfqF1mRZN5DgG1t84bDhz3cBVdIeVhOa7FjWMWeN9NA92hceI4-gWm4ONnCTP6Zn5v5Z2Kl5O-eFTlwRMKbpiVKrSwsLVp_jvFJK3zzqm6bFDJxY_YB0FDOPRETKPFWjO4/s320/IMG_8459.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583887684779135714" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; ">The Unlimited Friends Association cordially invites you to our action day for children entitled:</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >We Need Childhood…We need Freedom</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; ">The event aims at creating space for children from the Al-Maghazi Refugee camp and rebuilding the peace and love inside them. Several activities will be carried out, including Puppets' shows and popular Dabka. </span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; ">The Unlimited Friends Association welcomes the participants, branding the event as a quest for freedom, and an endeavor to allow children to spend some time out of the stress and frustration.</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; ">The Unlimited Friends Association declares that this event voices a message that calls for defying the siege and emphasizing children's rights to live like any other children all over the world. Children voice slogans saying:"No to Siege, No to Destruction" & “Yes to peace, yes to love”.</span><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; ">The event sponsored by: Rotterdam for Gaza</span><br /><a href="http://rotterdam4gaza.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; ">http://rotterdam4gaza.wordpress.com/</a><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; ">Yours truly</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; ">Ayman Qwaider</span>Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-56498316483299520132011-02-19T02:39:00.000-08:002011-02-19T02:40:49.165-08:00US vetoes UNSC resolution on Israeli settlements<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; ">Dear friends,<br /><br />President Obama has just missed out on an opportunity to bring a major change in direction to the Peace Process between Palestine and Israel by vetoing a resoltion which had been backed by over 130 members including all 14 other members of the security Council (even the UK): <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12512732" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; ">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12512732</a><br /><br />Please write to President Obamam telling him how you feel about his decision:<br /><a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; ">http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact</a><br /><br />Thanks for your support,<br /><br /><br />Suggested email to President Obama:<br /><br />Dear President Obama,<br /><br />After promsing a better relationship with the Arab World, I am astonished and bewildered by your cowardly response to the Resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories as an obstacle to peace.<br /><br />All fourteen other members of the security council (including the UK) backed the resolution while you ceded to Israeli pressure groups. Israel has had problems with its neighbours since its formation and it is now time for a tougher stance from the US if a peaceful solution is to be found.<br /><br />I urge you to lead the way to two-State solution. I urge you to change your position and back the resolution.<br /><br />Your sincerely,</span>Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-40166585646303341272011-02-14T16:50:00.000-08:002011-02-14T16:51:43.363-08:00Invitation of Humanity<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37d6Ys1L_ZjxWwW4uV-C2KM5zP4qviRk_U3Ei-9laDCE-VGf5pfdKbiyVd2sAgL3yu0pvLPsD8ADJ6Z0Pw9t2HG5zvVbHiKpM7bVUz3HIuTrGk4t_zK-MmoeaDs753BDaee8wKNHyM4o/s1600/IMG_9365.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37d6Ys1L_ZjxWwW4uV-C2KM5zP4qviRk_U3Ei-9laDCE-VGf5pfdKbiyVd2sAgL3yu0pvLPsD8ADJ6Z0Pw9t2HG5zvVbHiKpM7bVUz3HIuTrGk4t_zK-MmoeaDs753BDaee8wKNHyM4o/s320/IMG_9365.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573712521228143522" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; ">Peace students from over 40 countries around the world gathered in the name of humanity and justice. Leaving behind other identities, students came together today February 14 to send a message of love and humanity to children of Gaza that you are not alone. The message is this: "Our hearts and minds are with you. Humanity cannot be divided whether in Gaza or any part of the world”. Students and others present pledged their support to the children of Gaza during the hard times you are enduring under the Israeli system of injustices and inequalities, represented through on-going Israeli blockade imposed on you, depriving you from adequate drinkable water. </span></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; ">Peace students gathered at University of Jaume 1 to send out a message of solidarity and humanity to children in Gaza in through an outstanding event called Comidas del mundo, “Food of the World”. The event aimed at raising awareness about the current water crisis in the Gaza Strip that has profound negative impact on the heath of Gaza children. The event proved that humanity has no borders when it comes to children; the participants stressed that their assistance must reach children of Gaza despite the fact that Gaza is currently is under blockade and borders are shut down. </span></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; "><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvx6WdTFSfo&feature=player_embedded" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "></span></a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvx6WdTFSfo&feature=player_embedded" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvx6WdTFSfo&feature=player_embedded</a></div>Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-32393976397247146642011-02-10T16:23:00.000-08:002011-02-10T16:24:16.865-08:00EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH AYMAN QWAIDER<h1 style="text-align: justify;" class="title">EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH AYMAN QWAIDER</h1><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="post-meta"> <img src="http://www.intifada-palestine.com/wp-content/themes/headlines/images/ico-time.png" alt="" />10. Feb, 2011<a href="http://www.intifada-palestine.com/2011/02/exclusive-interview-with-ayman-qwaider/print/" title="Print This Article!" rel="nofollow"><img class="WP-PrintIcon" src="http://www.intifada-palestine.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-print/images/printer_famfamfam.gif" alt="Print This Article!" title="Print This Article!" style="border: 0px none;" /></a> <a href="http://www.intifada-palestine.com/2011/02/exclusive-interview-with-ayman-qwaider/print/" title="Print This Article!" rel="nofollow">Print This Article!</a> <span class="comments"><img src="http://www.intifada-palestine.com/wp-content/themes/headlines/images/ico-comment.png" alt="" /><a href="http://www.intifada-palestine.com/2011/02/exclusive-interview-with-ayman-qwaider/#respond" title="Comment on EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH AYMAN QWAIDER">0 Comments</a></span> </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div id="fb_share_1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-top: 10px; text-align: justify;"><a style="text-decoration: none;" name="fb_share" type="box_count" href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.intifada-palestine.com%2F2011%2F02%2Fexclusive-interview-with-ayman-qwaider%2F&t=EXCLUSIVE%20INTERVIEW%20WITH%20AYMAN%20QWAIDER%20%7C%20Intifada%20Palestine&src=sp"><span class="fb_share_size_Small fb_share_count_wrapper"><span></span><span class="fb_share_count_nub_top fb_share_no_count"></span><span class="fb_share_count fb_share_no_count fb_share_count_top"><span class="fb_share_count_inner"> </span></span><span class="FBConnectButton FBConnectButton_Small" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="FBConnectButton_Text">Share</span></span></span></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.intifada-palestine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_7870.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-25366" style="margin: 5px 10px;" title="IMG_7870" src="http://www.intifada-palestine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_7870-191x300.jpg" alt="" width="191" height="300" /></a></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Ayman Qwaider, is a 24 years old humanitarian activist who has a bachelor’s degree in the English language and General Education. He was born in Nuserate Refugee camp which is located in the middle of the Gaza strip . He has worked in different fields for 4 years prior and after terminating his universtiy studies.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">During his university studies, he<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> has </span> volunteered in different local humanitarian organizations, where he developed social activism skills. He organized a series of projects for refugee camp children who have endured devastating conditions due to the Israeli military activities and its Assault on Gaza , and the on-going blockade. Part of that work included active participating in practical community initiatives carried out by young people.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Two years prior to leaving Gaza to complete is master’s in Spain , he has also participated in the Palestinian International Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza. Throughout his time working for this campaign, he took part in organizing many non-violent activities that enjoyed the support of many international civil societies, Israeli human rights organizations and other solidarity groups from across the world. The main objective of this campaign has been peaceful and non-violent struggle, coupled with international media campaigns to unmask the Israeli siege over the Gaza Strip.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">___________________________</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Exclusive Interview with Ayman Qwaider</strong></h3><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong><em>Please describe what life is like for Palestinian from Nuseirat, a refugee camp situated in the middle of the Gaza Strip?</em></strong></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Ayman Qwaider:</strong></span> The living conditions in a Palestinian refugee camp have been the same ugly picture since 1948, when the indigenous peoples of that area were forced out of their homes by well-armed and funded non-indigenous Jewish immigrants just arriving from Europe intending to create an exclusively-Jewish state known as Israel. It would be pretty hard to describe what life for such a refugee is like in only a few sentences, and even with that, it truly is something that unless you experience it you will more than likely not understand.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Part of the painful history endured by these refugees is that their situation is very harsh. Without assistance agencies such as UNRWA–the United Nations Relief and Work Agency–and other humanitarian agencies to keep their life sustainable they would simply cease to exist. The overall awareness amongst the 1.5 million people living in Gaza is the feeling of insecurity and uncertainty. It is difficult for a human being to live in an unstable and insecure environment such as the Gaza Strip where people are constantly exposed to all colors of human rights violations. Every day the mother sends her children to school to receive an education, but she is not assured of having lunch for them or not…The farmer takes care and cultivates his land, but he is not sure that he will eat what his hands have created. The Gazan fisherman goes every day to fish but is not certain he will make it back alive to feed his family. Students spend 12 years in their studies but are not sure they will be able to pursue higher education. In the rare case students are allowed to exit Gaza to study they are unable to visit their families on holidays. The only EU-funded Gaza international airport that is supposed to connect 1.5 million Gazans with the outside world has been totally destroyed by our Israeli occupiers. This a brief overview about the current unstable and insecure existence in the Gaza Strip due to the four-decade Zionist occupation of our lands.<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong><em>What was your education in Gaza like?</em></strong></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Ayman Qwaider:</strong></span> I received my overall education in UNRWS School (United Nation Relief and Working Agency) in Nuserate Refugee Camp. Despite the unstable drastic conditions that dominate in the Gaza Strip, I had a regular education. I finished my degree at the Islamic University of Gaza in January 2008 where I studied English and Education. As “normal” as all this may sound, the truth is that the situation for students in Gaza is completely different from those studying outside of Palestine. Most students here never get the chance to prove their true potential. I am 100 percent certain that they have the desire and energy to do so, but they are simply not given the space to demonstrate their abilities. Of course, the students are seriously affected by the on-going siege of the Gaza Strip; we cannot get the materials we need, such as books, stationary and even paper. In the most recent one-sided war, several of my university buildings were partially (or in some cases COMPLETELY) destroyed. With the borders closed by Israel, no raw materials are being allowed into Gaza, so those buildings that were destroyed a year ago are still lying in piles of rubble.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">I can still remember the time I was still in secondary school before the withdrawal of Israeli settlers from Gaza in 2005, when the Israeli army would block the road that ran from where I lived to where my school was. So, from an early age I learned the education of occupation.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong><em>You were 14 years old when the 2nd intifada started. Did you take part in it? What did you do at this time?</em></strong></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Ayman Qwaider: </strong></span>Great question. I was 14 years old when the second Intifada erupted in 2000. Needless to say that second Intifada was dominated by the sense of violence and destruction carried out by the Israeli aggressive occupation. It was pretty hard for me to get engaged in the Intifada in the sense of using violence as I do not believe in it. Therefore I (alongside my friends) helped in organizing regular demonstrations to challenge the occupation and raise up our voice to the entire world concerning the system of injustices Palestinian are forced to endure. Though the occupation has been brutal, I have built my capacity in learning how to challenge occupation with peaceful means. I joined a set of programs to educate people on how to endure life under occupation during the Intifada.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong><em>During the winter of 2008-2009 Operation Cast Lead was waged by Israel against the Palestinians of Gaza. What did you and your family experience during such hard times?</em></strong></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Ayman Qwaider:</strong></span> It would be hard to express our feelings during the time of this one-sided war. I do not prefer to refer to the war as a Cast lead, because it’s hard for a rational human being to give such name for a military operation that dehumanizes human beings the way it did. In short, it was 3 weeks of uninterrupted terror. 23 sleepless nights hearing the continuous noise of gunfire…All sectors of life had been paralyzed, from education to health care. Each and every minute during this brutal massacre you are sure you are the next victim. Part of ongoing occupation, Palestinians in Gaza felt totally insecure at that time. Many times my family thought of leaving our home to look for refuge where we might be safer. But glumly we found ourselves fleeing from death to death even at the UN office which is responsible for supplying Palestinian refugees with food and the other basic needs for survival. Even this, the UN compound was targeted, leaving the people in absolute insecurity. I still remember how my mother was afraid during the war due to the constant shootings and regular Israeli F16 fighter jets flying overhead. I was devastating to me to see how my mother was not able to even offer tranquility and security for my younger brothers and sisters because of the fact she herself was not safe. Each minute we hear tragic news of dozens of people being killed, others injured, of homes being destroyed and other public institutions. Directly when the war ended, all that was left was tragedy–not by an act of God, such as an earthquake or tsunami, but rather by the hands of evil men and through their war, violence, and ongoing siege.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Personally it has been hard to me to understand how human beings can do this to others, this systematic dehumanization. According to the mainstream media and Israeli and international human rights organizations, we lost 1450 people, most of them innocent men, women and children. More disappointing to me however was to see that the great part of victims were children under the age of 18. It has been so hard for me when I think about how those children were systematically targeted in this inhuman way. We often hear that man is a rational creature, but I have a very hard time understanding how such rational creatures could do something like this to their fellow human beings and especially innocent children.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong><em>When and why did you decided to come to Spain to study a Peace Master?</em></strong></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Ayman Qwaider:</strong></span> I was accepted to pursue my post-graduate studies by November 2009 as a scholarship granted student. I chose to study masters of peace because I totally believe in peace. As a Palestinian living in an impoverished environment deprived of peace in all its aspects, I therefore value peace and believe in its significant role in transforming society. I believe in peace that is based on justice, equality and human respect. I chose this study so as to be able to offer alternatives in viewing the Palestinian conflict on one hand while on the other contributing to the restructuring of peace for those who have lost their sense of it. I am studying peace to transform people’s negative mind-set that for a long time has been associated with losing land and compromising with the opponent. My master program is actually examining three main fields of studies, Peace, Conflict and Development. It draws the great interlink between these three fields of studies, in terms that you do not initiate healthy peace framework without deep understanding of the conflict and that there can be no progress or development without first accomplishing peace. I chose peace studies to widen my knowledge and to be prepared to address the issues of injustices and inequalities in proper ways. I chose peace because my people back home in Palestine have been deprived of that very thing for decades.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong><em>What happened when you wanted to come for the first time to Castellón? How did you manage to get out of Gaza?</em></strong></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Ayman Qwaider:</strong></span> It was almost impossible for any students to leave the Gaza Strip by February 2010, the time I left Gaza with little to no change today. In my own case, even though I had obtained the visa to Spain and all needed documents to leave the country, the greatest obstacle for me was something called the Rafah border with Egypt. Like some country behind the Iron Curtain where citizens were not allowed to leave under penalty of death, so too are we Palestinians prevented even from leaving.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">After working tirelessly in contacting anyone who would listen to my story and I launched a comprehensive media campaign in the local and Spanish press, including the Facebook group and an online petition. Without going into the painful details, I received my longed-for transit permit from Israel in order to exit the Gaza Strip to University of Jaume in Spain to pursue a graduate degree in Peace, Conflict and Development Studies. My efforts ultimately bore fruit and ended happily but at that time there were about 600 young people waiting with permits to exit Gaza.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong><em>Did you receive international help and support at this time?</em></strong></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Ayman Qwaider:</strong></span> I would not have done it–meaning getting out from the Gaza Strip–without the international support which supported my right to education. When I was stuck in Gaza and within almost one month, I was receiving supporting e-emails and international calls supporting me in my cause. I also admit that some Israeli human rights organization supported me very much when I was denied access to start my education.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>What is your experience as a Peace Master Student here in Spain?</em></strong></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Ayman Qwaider:</strong></span> It has been a deeply-enriching experience to have been doing my peace masters in Spain. Meetings students from different part of the world and sharing experiences have been a wonderful opportunity for me personally. I learn that there is not only one way to understand peace but rather many ways, as there are different people, cultures and ideas. Throughout this masters program I have gained proper knowledge of issues of conflict transformation, human rights discourses, theories of humanitarian aid, action and other courses. Through my studies I have developed intimate relationships with many people from diverse backgrounds. More importantly, this program has assisted me in academically framing my experience that I acquired first hand living in a conflicting zone like Gaza and it has given me the opportunity to share this experience with my peers. Given the chance to do this master has actually given me the sense of strength and security to pursue my studies as the educational environment here is much better that in the Gaza Strip.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong><em>Do you have any grant from any international organization to help you pay for this master?</em></strong></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Ayman Qwaider: </strong></span>I am currently a scholarship student pursuing my Masters, depending mainly on my scholarship payment assistance.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Which kind of social and economic actions are being taken to help the Palestinian people?</strong></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Ayman Qwaider:</strong></span> As a Palestinian from the Gaza Strip, I have found alarming and disturbing the level of pessimism about the state of economy and future of the peace process. The mainstream of the Palestinians have been not satisfied with the peace process result carried out with Israel. The estimated number of Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip is 1.5 million inhabitants and of those, almost 1.2 million are totally dependent on humanitarian aid and assistance delivered from UNRWA and other international humanitarian organizations. In light of the ongoing Israeli blockade followed by the devastating war, the entire economic and social system has severely deteriorated, with the level of unemployment at 80% and over 90% of people living below the line of poverty.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">The absolute control of Israel over the Gaza Strip and restrictions on movement have devastated the economic system in the Strip and in just letting the basic necessities enter the Strip. This has had profound negative consequences for Palestinian society in all sectors. My concern is that the rapid population growth will only add to these already-terrible problems and make finding a solution all the more difficult.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong><em>As a peace master student, do you hold out hope for a viable solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?</em></strong></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Ayman Qwaider</strong></span>: Before being a peace student but rather as human, I do believe that there is still great opportunity for true peace. Peace is always possible but it absolutory requires strength and commitment, and particularly during difficult times. Peace must be based on justice and in cultivating understanding in the face of misconception and conflict. Indeed, it has been 63 years now since the eruption of conflict, and if we have learned anything, it is that recent history has proved that peace can never be accomplished through direct negotiations between Palestinian-Israeli leadership since Israel has always and will always put great obstacles in front of any peace process. This is the orchestrated scenario since the agreement of the Oslo Accords of 1993, as Israel never shows deals in good faith. Humanity has been dehumanized for so long in Palestine, with the ongoing system of injustices represented through an apartheid system, a blockade over the Gaza Strip, the killing of the innocent and the outright theft of land. The only solution to bring about peace and justice in the entire region and to create a fair solution for the conflict is the power of the people. By cultivating a civil, non violent society between Palestinians and Israelis is the only solution to break down the Israeli apartheid system that separates people from people.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">We all know how the world would welcome such a development. The power of civil society that helped bring about the end of the apartheid system in South Africa in 1980s can perfectly work in the context of Palestine. South Africans would not have done it without the assistance of the international civil society.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong><em>Please sketch for me the future you are working to achieve.</em></strong></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Ayman Qwaider:</strong></span> Since my childhood, I have dedicated my life to assisting my fellow man through education and to help as much as my ability permits me. The life in Palestine always puts a person in daily resistance due to the hardship of life. Therefore I would like to contribute to the process of bringing about peace and justice, a human right for all people.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><em><strong>Y</strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>ou fight every day for the rights of your people. For them, you could be described as a hero. What do you think about this?</strong></span></em></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Ayman Qwaider: </strong></span>What is a hero? From my perspective several thoughts emerge in my mind when I think of a hero, specifically in a very broad sense. The word hero applies dynamically to individuals in different contexts of culture, history, gender, etc. The term hero might generally be associated with that man who is brave, generous and courageous. Considering yourself a hero, you would intimately reflect your own identity, culture, conflict and history.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">For me, it had been actually wonderful when I discovered that my personality is motivated toward many interests. I finished my studies from the Islamic University of Gaza and was well-prepared to be a teacher of English language. Through my early life, people around me never stopped telling me that I have got a smiley face. I always enjoyed being close with children. There is one prime characteristic I really admire about the life of the refugee camp, in that its small roads are always crowded with young children where they have fun and enjoy their time, even in such a dire environment. Accordingly, my attitudes had changed from being a teacher of the English language for children to being very close to them through another dimension of work, which is the humanitarian aid and relief work.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.intifada-palestine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Gaza1-e1290315450536.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-25357 alignright" style="margin: 10px;" title="Gaza1-e1290315450536" src="http://www.intifada-palestine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Gaza1-e1290315450536-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Personally, it would be simple to identify the concept of hero according to my perception and my experience in Palestine. For me, the hero is the Palestinian child who grows up and builds his life despite living in such terrible conflict. This perspective is due to the fact that I lived in this situation of conflict my entire life as well as being close to children though my previous work. In this regard, I shift my thoughts dramatically to recognize the smiling child as the truly heroic figure. </p>Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46705514300581076.post-68118765693515913012011-02-03T14:53:00.000-08:002011-02-03T14:56:29.229-08:00Mind the Strip a Documentary to highlight the story of Ayman Qwaider<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFo7zjigWUfnVoypXgu8L7OgZ4LsuPXl86moDkt3k51IiTHeF2TATOMjbzw_9aZrjTxemImR9XOzuLBaGNuamhTOBU7RbsaNrahGeZ6EOD2AKDOIwkYSq3JBot2Sck6jhIzmGseRvmyhk/s1600/168616_10150094977920897_663595896_6044681_1392663_n.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmunxT__5SmVEt9ROkjXwPzOkVbbaGatudR4vsRYAeIC5qDOF5LagBTK8mm-dAs8GzCgnC_IBiB8ayyNprhi3PRwZqrrAIVHvslXLqQV-3yxEK57nrtSvhYFFRylHU-JRSUCs4EWruRI/s1600/Presentation1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmunxT__5SmVEt9ROkjXwPzOkVbbaGatudR4vsRYAeIC5qDOF5LagBTK8mm-dAs8GzCgnC_IBiB8ayyNprhi3PRwZqrrAIVHvslXLqQV-3yxEK57nrtSvhYFFRylHU-JRSUCs4EWruRI/s320/Presentation1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569600664340040546" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Mind The Strip….. First Show</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" ><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; ">Mind the Strip is a documentary to highlight a story of Ayman Qwaider, Gazan student who had difficulties to access the closing borders of Gaza to pursue his studies in Spain. It does not often happen that students can easily get out from the blockade in Gaza Strip pursuing their further studies abroad. Ayman had numerous obstacles to reach his goal in Spain and pursue his masters’ studies. Aft</span></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; ">er working tirelessly and contacting anyone who would listen to his story, comprehensive media campaign, he received his longed-for transit permit from Israel in order to exit the Gaza Strip and travel to University of Jaume I in Spain, to pursue a graduate degree in Peace, Conflict & Development Studies (how appropriate!). </span></span></div></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; "><div style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; "><div style="text-align: justify;">Spanish</div></span><div style="text-align: justify; "><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; "><div style="text-align: justify;">Mind the strip … Estreno en la Casa de Cultura de Castelló (C. Antoni Maura, 4), el sábado 12 de febrero a las 12h..</div></span><div style="text-align: justify; "><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; "><div style="text-align: justify;">Mind the strip es un documental realizado para dar a conocer la historia de Ayman Qwaider −estudiante palestino de Gaza− y las dificultades que encontró para traspasar el bloqueo de las fronteras de Gaza con el fin de cursar sus estudios en España. No es nada habitual que el estudiantado pueda salir de la sitiada Franja de Gaza para realizar estudios superiores en el extranjero. Ayman se encontró con múltiples obstáculos para alcanzar su objetivo y estudiar un máster en España. Después de un incansable trabajo, de haber contactado a toda aquella persona que escuchara su historia y de una exhaustiva campaña mediática, obtuvo el anhelado permiso de tránsito de Israel para poder salir de la Franja y viajar hasta Castelló, donde en la Universitat Jaume I ha realizado el Máster Internacional en Estudios de Paz, Conflictos y Desarrollo (¡elección muy apropiada!).</div></span><div style="text-align: justify; "><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; "><div style="text-align: justify;">CATALAN VERSION!!</div></span><div style="text-align: justify; "><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; "><div style="text-align: justify;">Mind the Strip... Estrena a la Casa de la Cultura de Castelló (C. Antoni Maura, 5), el dissabte 12 de febrer a les 12h.</div></span><div style="text-align: justify; "><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; "><div style="text-align: justify;">Mind the Strip és un documental realitzat per tal de donar a conèixer la història d’Ayman Qwaider –estudiant palestí de Gaza− i les dificultats que es va trobar superar el bloqueig de les fronteres de Gaza a fi de cursar els seus estudis a Espanya. No és gens comú que l’estudiantat aconsegueixi sortir de l’assetjada Franja de Gaza per realitzar estudis superiors a l’estranger. Ayman es va trobar amb nombrosos obstacles per aconseguir el seu objectiu i estudiar un màster a Espanya. Després d’un esgotador treball, d’haver contactat amb tota aquella persona que escoltés la seva història i d’una exhaustiva campanya mediàtica, obtingué l’anhelat permís de trànsit d’Israel per poder eixir de la Franja i viatjar fins Castelló, on ha realitzat a la Universitat Jaume I el Màster Internacional en Estudis de Pau, Conflictes i Desenvolupament (¡una elecció molt apropiada!)</div></span><div style="text-align: justify; "><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; "><div style="text-align: justify;">FRENCH VERSION!!</div></span><div style="text-align: justify; "><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; "><div style="text-align: justify;">Mind the strip … Première dans la Casa de la Cultura de Castelló (C. Antoni Maura), samedi 12 de février à 12h.</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; "><div style="text-align: justify; ">Mind the strip est un documentaire réalisé pour montrer l’histoire d’Ayman Qwaider, un étudiant de Gaza qui a subi des difficultés pour franchir les bloquées frontières de Gaza pour faire des études en Espagne. Ce n’est pas usuel que des étudiants peuvent dépasser le blocus de la Bande de Gaza pour faire des études à l’étranger. Ayman a connu des nombreux obstacles pour atteindre son but et étudier un master en Espagne. Après d’un infatigable travail, de contacter tout personne qui a voulu écouter son histoire et d’une exhaustif campagne dans les médias, il a obtenu le permis du transit d’Israël afin de quitter la Bande de Gaza et voyager à Castelló, où il a réalisé dans l’Université Jaume I les études du Master International en Paix, Conflits et Développement (très approprié !)</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFo7zjigWUfnVoypXgu8L7OgZ4LsuPXl86moDkt3k51IiTHeF2TATOMjbzw_9aZrjTxemImR9XOzuLBaGNuamhTOBU7RbsaNrahGeZ6EOD2AKDOIwkYSq3JBot2Sck6jhIzmGseRvmyhk/s320/168616_10150094977920897_663595896_6044681_1392663_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569600914294834098" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br /></div></span></span></span>Ayman Qwaiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250598923390291954noreply@blogger.com1