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ARRIVING IN PALESTINE to volunteer on a project with young people, I have got to witness at first hand a situation that I have read about but, until now, little understood. Having witnessed it, I feel compelled to speak out.
Israel and the Palestinian territories are separated by a massive wall and impenetrable fencing. The reason given for this construction is Israel’s security, but it does not take one long to figure out that there are ulterior motives. The separation wall or barrier has enormous impact on the everyday lives of Palestinians in the occupied territories. On one side of the wall is power, privilege and a high standard of living, while on the other side lies poverty and disadvantage with youth unemployment running at just under 40%.
In 2004 the International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled that the wall was illegal. The court ruled that the wall had nothing to do with security, but was instead part of a land grab. It ordered Israel to take it down and compensate the victims whose lands had been taken. The separation wall still stands today.
The tourism divide
When leaving Israeli-controlled Jerusalem and entering the Palestinian town of Bethlehem, the difference in infrastructure is immediately obvious. Bethlehem is one of the most meaningful sites to Christians the world over. The birthplace of Jesus is marked by The Church of the Nativity, a place of pilgrimage, but it is clear that Bethlehem’s economic potential is not being reached under occupation. This is in stark contrast to Israeli-controlled Jerusalem which is a thriving city, thanks to religious tourism.
Tourism in Bethlehem is controlled mainly by Israeli tour companies who allow for little contact between tourists and locals, lessening the economic benefits to local businesses and opportunities to engage with the Palestinian population. Tour buses stop briefly in Bethlehem before bringing the tourists back into Israel where they stay in hotels, eat meals and spend money on souvenirs.
Palestinians are economically disadvantaged by the occupation. While visiting a Palestinian family whose house overlooks a checkpoint and is literally 10 minute drive into Jerusalem, they pointed out that they are currently not allowed cross the checkpoint as they do not possess the required passes. These passes are issued by the Israeli authorities and are very hard to obtain for Palestinians. It is not hard to imagine the impact this has on people who are denied access to what should be one of their main economic and social hubs.
Settlements
The family’s house also overlooks a large motorway which they are not allowed to drive on. This and other similar roads were built to connect illegal settlements in the Palestinian territories to Jerusalem and are for settler use, along with a small number of Palestinians who hold Israeli citizenship or have Jerusalem residency.
The Oslo accords of 1993 and 1995 were meant to pave the way towards a two-state solution, ensuring the creation of a Palestinian state. After spending a short time in Bethlehem, which is near surrounded by settlements, it is clear that a Palestinian state is currently unviable. It is estimated that there are now 600,000 illegal settlers living in Palestinian territory with the full support of the Israelis state and in contravention to international law. Some of these settlements are now suburbs of Jerusalem. Very strong inducements are offered for people to live in them including subsidised utilities.
A trip to the Palestinian Jalazone Refugee camp requires travel to Ramallah first and this journey is a story in itself. Bethlehem and Ramallah are only separated by 13 miles but the main route runs through Jerusalem. As most Palestinians are denied access to Jerusalem, they have to take an alternative route along backroads weaving in and out of Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank. The trip can take anything from an hour-and-a-half to two hours depending on the scenario at checkpoints along the way.
Refugee camps
The refugees of Jelazone Camp are descendents of people cleared from their land during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Despite their rights under international law to return to the land of their origin, Israel has not permitted this to happen and so they languish in this refugee camp. This has left a bitter taste. The camp’s crowded and poverty-stricken conditions are hard to describe, it is like no place I have ever seen. The community go through a lot and this has bound them together, there is a sense of it being more than just a community but a family.
The day before I arrived at a nearby checkpoint, a 17-year-old boy had been shot dead by Israel military personnel. The massive Beit El settlement lies a mere field’s distance away from Jalazone Camp. A very visible and confrontational military presence – placed there to protect the settlers who at times take pot-shots at people in the camp – invariably leads to tension and, at times, violence.
Second class citizen in your own land
Lessons from all over the world continuously show that when people’s future is uncertain, when they live in nothing short of an open air prison, and when their backs are up against a wall, they will react.
The 17-year-old who was shot and killed had thrown a stone at a military car. People might question why was he hurling stones at soldiers, but it is easy to ask that question when far removed from the situation. For young Palestinians, your chances in life are determined by the ethnic group you are born into. You are a second class citizen in your own land, or worse. And all the while you must witness people living a much higher quality life right beside you on land which may once have belonged to your family, the place your family lived for generations.
Timmy Hammersley is member of Tipperary’s 2010 hurling All-Ireland winning squad. He is currently volunteering with Palestinian youth as part of the Palestine Summer Encounter Project. He is on Twitter @TimmyHammersley
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Very good piece. Why can’t the Israeli just be held to account. They ignore everything and are oppressors of the highest order. Any other country in the world and America would instil some “freedom” on them. Superpowers have to intervene and end this barbarism
Before the wall was built there was one suicide bomb a week in Jewish areas Jews should hang their head in shame for defending themselves After all their neighbours are all peace loving organizations
I think I’m speaking in slightly boarder terms than just the wall. Was there air strikes? I can’t recall
The question that Israelis should be asking is what makes someone so desperate that they choose to blow themselves up? Building a great big wall gives a temporary and false sense of security if the desperation is allowed to linger and fester.
The single biggest factor in the reduction of suicide bombings was the second intafada ending in 2005 with the Sharm ei-Sheik summit, rather than the apartheid wall being built.
In one of the great ironies of humanity. If the holocaust had not happened, while some form of Israel would exist, the international communoty would not allow Israel to get away with what they currently get away with.
My favourite story about the Israel occupation of Palestine is how they warn the local populous of incoming missiles.. With smaller incoming missiles while protected by a giant dome. George Orwell couldnt make that sh*t up.
knock knock bomb, we are about to blow up your house, bomb! arent we decent for telling the mothers and children 5 minutes before we demolish their home?
Remember, the Israelis and Jews worldwide that condemn these actions are also antisemitic
The strange thing is though, almost all Palestinians are actual Semites, whereas a large % of Israeli Jews are of mixed Khazar/Slavic descent (Khazars are a Turkic people that converted to Judaism some centuries ago).
Oppressors in the highest order? Youre clearly not a woman in Saudi Arabia
Whats your point AN other? How does something happening in another country relate to the israeli treatment of the palestinians?
A Tip hurling player analyses the Israel v Arab conflict? Is someone taking the pizz????
There isn’t too many cheerleaders for Saudi Arabia either.
@AN other. Or a member of the Palestinian Authority having their ‘authority taken away from them’ by throwing a 100 or so PA members off the tallest buildings in Gaza and shooting the rest.
@Patrick… Authority taken away by Hamas, that is.
Got a link for that ’100 or so’ figure, from a non-propaganda source ‘patrick’?
Patrick, was that an attempt to write to yourself under a different pseudonym? You’re agreeing with yourself I see. Well done. Saudi Arabia is also another American backed barbaric state. Good comparison
@The TodMaximus. A very good piece of propaganda you mean! Esp. the para. about the Palestinian youth being killed by the IDF. This was only less than 3 wks. ago and all the media reported ‘a gang of Palestinians attacked a lone IDF Jeep driven by an officer who got out of his veheicle and fired warning shots but they kept coming at him and so one youth was unfortunately killed. Many Israelis have been killed by rock-throwing Palestinians. in the past. What would anyone do in such a situation.
I sincerely hope Timmy finds the time to do what he was funded to do instead of writing propaganda for the Muslim Brotherhood. After all he’s only there for the month of July by reports and he seems more motivated for hate-propaganda than
I wonder what NGO funded his propaganda piece!
@Patrick. …than coaching Palestinian youths in sports….
You mean this?
http://972mag.com/video-shows-israeli-officer-not-in-danger-when-he-shot-palestinian-teen/108784/
@c_farrell. No. I mean this,-
—”From NGOmonitor Summary.
—”B’Tselem became very active following the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teens on June 12, and continuing into the renewed Gaza conflict. Activities include numerous statements, media appearances, and campaigns featuring slick graphics. These activities were characterized by repeated false or distorted factual and legal allegations and blatant political bias, which is often repeated at face value by journalists and in media appearances (for example, in this tendentious interview on Sky News, July 10, 2014.)—”http://www.ngo-monitor.org/article/b_tselem_s_expanding_credibility_gap
AND THIS,-
—”Peter Beaumont continues Guardian tradition of callously ignoring Israeli terror victims
BY ADAM LEVICK ON MARCH 27, 2014
–”It would be tempting in critiquing Peter Beaumont’s report on Marwan Barghouti to cite the adage with roots in the Midrash which roughly translates to ‘He Who is Compassionate to the Cruel
Will Ultimately Become Cruel to the Compassionate’, except that there’s no indication that the incoming Guardian Jerusalem correspondent would even acknowledge the malevolence possessed by the arch-terrorist.
Indeed, Beaumont’s report (Palestinians renew calls to free ‘leader-in-waiting’ Marwan Barghouti, March 26) employs all the requisite Guardian methods for covering a story about an imprisoned terrorist whose cause is championed by the Palestinians.—”
—”First, Beaumont highlights the ‘suffering’ of family members of the terrorist:–”Etc.,Etc.,Etc…..”
http://ukmediawatch.org/2014/03/27/peter-beaumont-continues-in-guardian-tradition-of-callously-ignoring-israeli-terro
But thank you for the post. Now I know enough about B’Tselem and Peter Beaument and ‘The Guardian’.
Have a Great Day.
Zionist Israelis( not Jews ) are just as bad as the Nazis they purport to loath, if not worse
Self centered greedy imperialists zionist yahoo’s is all they are
Ireland 4 Israel are all over this article like a rash. Ewww
and you are Ireland 4 Hamas ….. right
Ireland for preservation of human life…close though
plus a million
Todd. …Just out of interest. What’s your take on isis murdering and raping Christians Muslims and destroying vast tracts of the Middle East? ….and the filth at boko garam for that matter? ….Do you have am equal hatred for the perps of those crimes or is your hatred solely reserved for Israel? ….and if so could you explain this double standard to me as I’m very perplexed by such hypocrisy
Except Jewish life’s, eh Todd?
garam = haram
Israel should call it’s next brutal slaughter in Gaza ‘Operation Whataboutery’.
I think that is equally as bad, even though it’s not relevant to this article. Don’t try to paint me as something I’m not. I don’t support the Israeli army. That doesn’t mean I hate Jews. I hate the acts of zionists under the protection of the Israeli state in the mass culling of innocent civilians. Keep your rhetoric, the hypocrisy you’re seeking to condemn isn’t here
But whataboutery boko haram, isis etc? Sure they’re worse so that makes it ok to kill thousands of civilians, whataboutery the fact that if you condemn the slaughter of a couple of thousand of innocent civilians that automatically means you support Islamic extremism, whataboutery that?
Todd.. I Am a friend of Israel. …But within reason. I will always condem acts of savagery or piracy whether it’s by individuals or state sanctioned. What’s going on in Israel is far more complicated that most people will understand. many israelis are against the acts of their government. Do you believe all British people supported the acts of their government here in Ireland, ?.I Didn’t accuse you if anything. …I Was just curious about your take on these other separate but increasingly closer issues
@Dan Waters.
How many Hamasites are here?
……………………………………..HAMAS CHARTER…………………………………………………………………………..
Preamble
—”Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it” (The Martyr, Imam Hassan al-Banna, of blessed memory).—
Chapter 7
—”"The Day of Judgement will not come about until Moslems fight the Jews (killing the Jews), when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Moslems, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.—” (related by al-Bukhari and Moslem).
patrick, the article is about the west bank. Hamas operate almost exclusively out of Gaza.
It’s not Patrick it’s AN other. He doesn’t remember which account he’s logged into
ISIS are bombing Muslims in Gaza they’re an extremist terrorist organisation made up of many young disaffected second generation immigrants from outside the Middle East http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3167516/Gaza-rocked-suspected-ISIS-car-bomb-attacks-Hamas-Islamic-Jihad-officials-jihadis-continue-struggle-power.html
@For Connoly. Almost but not quite. Was it not just last month that Hamas along with ISIS attacked and killed over 80 Egyptian soldiers in the Sinai!
And Hamas is continually appearing in the West Bank as reported below,-
—”Palestinians were surprised to see Hamas and Islamic Jihad militiamen in broad daylight in an area controlled by the Palestinian Authority.
The masked militiamen made their rare appearance in the Jenin refugee camp during a rally to commemorate Islamic Jihad member Nafi Sa’di, killed by the Israel Defense Forces last December.
http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4148/hamas-islamic-jihad-west-bank
What have these extraneous issues got to do with Zionist oppression of non-Jews?
I wouldn’t say it’s a double standard. Isis and boko haram are nothing more than mad dog groups who you would expect nothing less from. Israel however, and its Zionist leaders are held to a higher account as they are part of the ‘international community’. When developed nations like the USA, Russia or Israel start to flex their military muscle is often in their own private interest and inevitably against a weaker opponent, both militarily and economically. Up until the millennium, Christians, Jews and Muslims were living in relative peace (outside of Israel) but the involvement of the U.S. in 2003 has been the catalyst for the instability we see now culminating in the emergence of ISIS. Israel are complicit in this as they are essentially nothing more than a military outpost for US troops and equipment.
The comparison of the Israeli zionist regimes with Nazi Germany is entirely accurate – borne out perfectly by the decades of murder, ethnic cleansing and land theft against the non-Jewish indiginous population.
And for exactly the same reasons…
Israel is run by Psychopaths – clinically incapable of human empathy – just as happened in Nazi Germany.
Israel is doing its best to ensure similarly minded Psychopaths run the US and will support their War Crimes. Running a bribery and propaganda machine that dwarfs any used by any other country.
Of course, Propaganda and Militarism were also the key weapons of Power of the Nazis too…
Boycott Israel.
blah blah blah…..cuddly paleos all good v the big Jewish wolf
For fups sake Marc, are you saying that Israel are to be judged by the same standards as ISIS and Boko Haram?
Those two organisations are degenerate neanderthal groups of savages who are not recognized in any in good light by any other country or organisation.
Israel pride themselves as a functioning democracy in the middle east, they are part of the United Nations, have extremely cordial relationships with all major western powers, yet you seem to think that if someone.
I’m perplexed by your ridiculous lack of understanding the complete difference between the two.
No Calvin. …That’s like comparing bananas and mountains. …No comparison. …Israel has the right to protect its citizens but not by stamping on the rights of others. …I Get the feeling that if things don’t change in that part of the world former sworn enemies may find themselves in bed together
Israel sees themselves as a virtuous democratic country, so they should be judged on those on standards. What they are and have been doing to Palestinians is disgusting disturbingly similar to what was done the jewish people many decades ago( Many israeli authors have also said this)
Asking them to be compared to ISIS, so that they compare better, is disingenuous.
My original post makes absolutely no sense, I must have deleted sentences somehow, my bad.
Which sworn enemies are you on about? I lived in that part f the world for a few years, and Israel and Saudi are very cosy already, despite Saudi being a far worse place than Iran.
Iran also treats Jews infinitely better than Saudi’s, they even reserve seats in parliaments for them to be represented.
Iran and Saudi will obviously never join forces, simply because Iran are principled ( whether we agree with their principles or not) and Saudi are charlatan cowards who will blow wherever the breeze takes them if it involves any kind of gain.
Calvin. …Don’t worry. …We’re used to it
Which sworn enemies were you on about?
NOT asking them to be compared to ISIS is racist. How come you expect less humanity, reason and decency from one side than from the other? If you expect less of any group or race of people, that is racism, pure and simple. Palestinians, Arabs, members of ISIS, Hamas, Fatah are all members of the human race. Many are highly educated and are enormously able to understand and contribute to the betterment of mankind. That they don’t and that YOU don’t hold them to that shows you use double standards when it comes to comparing these diverse groups, and Israel. This is simple, clear and obvious racism.
Well written piece, a very frustrating situation to observe, Israel backed by America, due to the huge equity that the American Jews have, ie Goldman Sachs Bank. Disgrace that they are getting away with such crimes.
Very well written account of what is really happening to the Palestinian people. Israel is an illegitimate occupier of Palestinian land.
Adam there’s no such thing as Palestinian land. Have you ever read a book?
Have you ever read a map showing the land of Palestine?
Yes – it’s a forgery, as is any mention of an ‘ancient’ Palestinian state. It never existed, had no kings, seat of power, coinage, history books.
Concise and well written,we need more articles like this highlighting the terrorist state that is Israel.
why do 2 million Arabs and Palestinians live in the terrorist state then with lots of rights Go there Dave and tell them to leave the terror of Israel and go to Syria or Egypt
Why do 600,000 Jews live on Palestinian land? Israeli blew up those kids on the beach a year ago. Good to see they got the real threat to their security huh
yes Todd there were 600000 in 1948 but all the Arab countries in the meantime drove all of their several million Jews out so there are a few more now in Israel The Jewish intafada
No comment to make on the killing of the four children? Or the 500 or so other kids killed last summer?
wait for the whataboutery tod, here it comes…
Todd, when were 500 killed in the West Bank?
Last summer, it’s estimated 500 Palestinian children were slaughtered
@Toddimus Maximus. No comment about 3 kids deliberately murdered by Hamas to get the war started. Firing rockets wasn’t doing the trick to keep Hamas in the war business so murder most foul would certainly get the desired response,- and it did.
Nonsense on so many levels. Hamas aren’t that stupid. How come it took weeks to find the bodies?
Jews living in Iran have been offered huge amounts of money to emigrate to Israel.
They have refused – not interested in leaving Iran.
Of course, it’s not just Israel desparate for new immigrants (white Jews only tho’ – blacks are being turned away…)… if/when Israel does bomb Iran, they’d rather not have the adverse publicity of blowing up Iranian Jews. (It’s just about the publicity mind, the Psychopaths running Israel don’t care who or how many die for their Zionist dream.)
Mike. ……You’re so full of hatred you can’t see the wood for the trees
Hams released Gilad Shalit, not a hair on his head touched.
Contrast that with Palestinian prisoners being tortured in Israeli dungeons.
Perhaps a visit to Israel might give an additional perspective.
He was in Israel, how do you think he got into Bethlehem?
I was talking about a visit, meaning staying for a period in order to get an unbiased picture of local events.
It’s hard to not be biased after last summers extermination to be honest
Extermination? Why don’t Hamas help it’s people, instead of using them a human shields?
How can the author write a piece in Palestine and not mention Hamas?
Yes extermination. How are Hamas supposed to protect its people from indiscriminate drone strikes exactly?
Israel were slaughtering Palestinians and stealing their land long before Hamas were on the scene, they were telling the same lies then too.
Oh dear another one
They can protect their people by putting down their guns and rockets. If the Palestinians give up their arms, there will be peace. If the Jews give up their arms, there’ll be no more Jews. Arafat got the deal they wanted, he walked away.
Lies, lies and more lies from the hasbara, the usual so.
Seamus he probably went through Egypt …..no can do!
The old Egyptians are building a “buffer zone” at their end of Gaza ( 600 homes gone bang!! and about 3000 “palestinians” moved to accommodate it! ) the most sickening thing is the pure hypoctacy of so many on here.
It’s obviously not the Arabs people care one whit about its the Israelis that people hate above every think else!!!
Those “nasty” Israelis let him in AND out again!
His next trip could be to Syria, there is a little spat going on there and we wait with bated breadth for his report……Perhaps he could help rescue some of ISIS sex slave children, at least his buddies in HAMAS “only” get them to dig tunnells!! and teach them to kill all the Jews!
@Sunshine on a rainy. Your not suggesting that Hamasites go look for a job and make an honest living are you! What heresy!
Bill Madden – don’t hold your breath. I suspect his ‘humanitarianism’, only extends to bashing Israel.
the most one – sided piece I have read in a long time…..i don’t know what r who is right but it makes me sick when people spent a few night somewhere and then give us one -sided BULLSHIT. ….
Give us your take so?
Another one sided biased piece. It’s the 2nd one in as many weeks. Not even any pretence of objectivity. And not one mention of Hamas. Again. Or of the diminishing and inherent lack of respect for women, gays or Christians in Palestine.
if Israel removed the wall and went back to 1967 borders iie the seize of Cork then what do you think would happen it would be bye bye Jews Many Palestinians have been refugees now for 3 generations In no other conflict has the UN supported refugees for 3 generations
Exactly Patrick its like they’re reading from a prepared script?
Hamas are in Gaza, this lad was in the West Bank.
ah know Seamus, don’t be letting the facts get in the way of some good ol israeli whataboutery
the left are just like Hamas they hate freedom and human rights, the Left murdered many Jews and gays in the past in Europe something they don’t like taking about like AAA and others.
this one is crazy
Ah ye, remember hitler the raging socialist. Possibly the worst troll I’ve ever cum across
says someone with a fake profile, move along dear.
todd, even the the most comatose slack jawed yokel knows it was the right that caused the world wars and all it’s shameful acts, but you can’t rule out brain damage in this case…
A fake profile? Directly linked to my personal Twitter. You sir, are a ham
you are in good company then and Hamas. Mr fake profile and anti jew and gay and woman hater what happened to you as a child. oh and please learn to spell, come not cum unless you are thinking of something else maybe you got excited about hamas.
don’t tell me you are Gays for Gaza and Hamas
Hahaha your idiocy knows no bounds. Cum being exactly what you were thinking you beautiful man you
Told you Tod, this one is beyond lala.
I hope De Wit and Toddimus have a good love in Tin hats and all. But one day you will have to pick a side make sure you are not on the wrong side!
What’s the wrong side? Sounds like you could seriously do with getting your head checked to be honest. I’ll be sure to follower you on Twitter anyway. You’re up there with Stephen Fry and the likes, so insightful
I think ‘Dan Waters’ proves my point about the Psychopathic nature of Israel. (A serious mental health point I might add.)
It also attracts Psychopathic supporters (as did the Nazi regime)…. in a few short sentences, ‘Dan’ has managed to talk about ‘one day’ needing to ‘pick a side’.. and deciding all the people presumably not on his side must Hamas supporting Gay Socialists..
…is that ‘sides’ for the big ‘rapture’ event, Dan, where only the Supremacist ideology Zionist Jews go to heaven & the rest of us ‘Goyim’ burn in Hell? …… (a popular theme with the Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, Moshe Feiglin and many Israeli MPs…)
If that isn’t a tile short of roof, I don’t know what is…… (but not really funny, as Israel is a vicious nuclear-weaponed military state…)
‘Dan’, you need help… put the keyboard down.
The right? Like the National SOCIALIST Party?
Lots of insults – not too strong on facts, are you Mike Hall or whoever you really are?
Presumably a member of the keyboard rent-a-mob that seems to infest this website.
Still, I guess its more fun than working in a call centre – you can really let your bigotry run wild.
Mike Hall, just been to your FB page and it seems I owe you an apology. Having seen your posts, it appears that you are an equal opportunity idiot – happy to hit out at anyone to the right of Lenin and never one to pass up on a conspiracy theory.
So sorry to have disbelieved that you are an honest to goodness prat and not just an anonymous, member of a rent a mob set of prats. Carry on please – your ad hominem attacks, devoid of facts, truth or reality will continue to have the same zero effect.
I was in Tel Aviv and the Golan heights a few week ago. In Tel Aviv I saw Christian Churches sitting beside Mosques and Synagogues. I regularly heard the Muslim call to prayer and Christian Church ring out as gay pride flags fluttered from lampposts.
I saw Muslim women walking the streets fully covered while gay men and women strolled holding hands.
In short my experience was of a multi-cultural open minded society where everybody of all persuasions lived cheek by Jowl in peace.
Final observation, I hardly saw a police person in the 3 days I was in Tel Aviv.
you will upset De Wit and Toddimus with that as far as they believe Isreal is an evil nazi state and Hamas and isis are the light of the world.
Well done Kieran for pointing out the contrast, maybe you should watch some videos of Israel day 2014 too see some peace-loving, multi-cultural, open minded settlers attacking Palestinian journalists, the chants of the Iraelis own everything and are superior to everyone etc have no bigotry in them at all…
I’d say Kieran that you are full of faecal material…
Jews and Arabs alike have been brutally beaten in Tel Aviv for supporting any Palestinian rights organisations during protests & at other times.
Jewish children on facebook openly call for murder & torture of arabs and Palestinians.
Israel is dominated by a very nasty Nazi-esque militaristic culture, and their police are totally on board.
(Whilst aknowledging there are many Israelis like ‘Breaking The Silence’ and many other groups fighting for human rights and sanity in their country.)
Unfortunately it is this kind of reply that renders discussion and debate impossible on this thread.
I did not make a political statement, I only recounted my experiences in Tel Aviv a few weeks ago. For sharing my experiences, according to you I am full of faecal material.
I did not express a view that might be contrary to yours, I related what I saw and experienced. Because what I saw and experienced first-hand does not support you views of the world I am full of sh*te.
Your level of arrogance, aggression and narrow mindedness is quite frankly astonishing more than a little scary.
@Kieran O’Sulivan. Illigitimi Nil Carburundum.
@Mike Hall. It seems you’re full of it your self. Esp. when you feed on the type of offal given out by ‘Breaking the Silence’ an organization that’s strictly out to milk itnl. NGO’s,Charities and Govts. by feeding them what they want to hear from anonomous testimonials that were most likely made up by themselves.
–”Israel.
In 2010 BtS published a highly tendentious book titled Occupation of the Territories – Israeli Soldier testimonies 2000-2010, which claimed to provide a counter to the “official Israeli position” on IDF actions in the territories. NGO Monitor analysis has revealed that this book was rife with methodological problems and appeared to tailor the testimonies to predetermined “analyses” that falsely claimed that Israeli actions are not aimed at self-defense but at “terrorizing the civilian population.—”
—”NGO Monitor revealed that following the 2009 Gaza conflict, several BtS donors conditioned the transfer of money to the group on its ability to gather a minimum number of incriminating “testimonies” against the Israeli army.—”
http://www.ngo-monitor.org/article/breaking_the_silence_shovirm_shtika_
Mike Hall – a person makes an observation and you accuse him of being full of faecal material.
It renders the rest of your posts here utterly devoid of credibility, being as you are unable to engage in debate without name calling.
People like Hall are closing down debate everywhere. They have no real arguments to use, only, as you point out, arrogance, aggression and narrow mindedness. Bigoted and hateful, like their heroes.
Utter nonsense Kieran, the presence of militias in tel aviv physically eating any pro palestinian Israelis has been well documented and even admitted on Israeli television.
You seem to think, that due to the fact that you call yourself a primary source, that you are beyond reproach and are not biased.
You are biased/ guilty of selective viewing and there are many other primary sources and documentaries that prove Tel Aviv to be anything other than a multi cultural or cosmopolitan city
physically beating, don’t think they eat them
Once again I have to point out that I am telling you what I saw and experienced during my recent visit. But you are telling me what I saw and experienced was utter nonsense.
So my visit to Tel Aviv was similar to the Nazi Olympics in Berlin in 1936, except the Israeli Government when to far greater lengths to hide their true nature from me then the Nazi’s did to the world in 1936.
For my benefit they build Christian Churches and Mosques. They regularly piped church bells ringing and the call to prayer.
Also for my benefit they held a gay pride march the day before I arrived and flew gay pride flags all over the city.
They strategically placed actors in my general vicinity pretending to be same sex couples holding hands and also dressed Jewish women as Muslim women and placed them in the streets and beaches for my benefit.
And for the three days I was there they massively scaled down the police presence and insured that Police and “militias” were not eating and beating Palestinians.
Like Mike Hall your arrogance is breath-taking, you are either accusing me of lying or been blind because you are only interested in absorbing “facts” that endorse you believe system.
And compared to you I am a primary source for the three days I was there, as unlike you I was there. And for the three days I was there, that is what I saw!
I have found this thread fascinating and very informative, for recounting my 3 day experience I have been accused of been full of faecal material, utter nonsense, bias and selective viewing.
I am telling yo that I believe you are being disingenuous and camouflaging it as an unbiased primary source, and ergo unwilling to engage with those who call you out on it.
Obviously.
You keep refering to your presumed unbiased recanting of your sight as some kind of neutral badge of honour.
You’d swear you were the only one who has ever been in tel aviv, and the rest of us formed our opinions by reading opinions and factual accounts from people in tennesse or alaska.
Your faux outrage and and pretend neutrality is nauseating
@ Calvin
“I am telling yo that I believe you are being disingenuous and camouflaging it as an unbiased primary source, and ergo unwilling to engage with those who call you out on it.
Obviously.”
What are you calling me on?
Lets establish some facts.
In the opening of my original post my 1st point was:
“In Tel Aviv I saw Christian Churches sitting beside Mosques and Synagogues. I regularly heard the Muslim call to prayer and Christian Church ring out as gay pride flags fluttered from lampposts.”
I stayed in The Market House hotel in Jaffa. Within 500 Mts of where I was staying were:
St Michaels Church
St Anthony’s Catholic Church
A Russian Orthodox Church
Al-Bahr Mosque
Immanuel Church, A Protestant Church
Centre of Scientology
Beit Immanuel, A synagogue
So my 1st point proved beyond dispute.
My second point was:
“gay pride flags fluttered from lampposts.”
Attendance at the 2015 Gay pride march held the day before I arrived was estimated at between 100,000 and 180,000, with an estimated up to 30,000 Gay tourists . The theme of the march was Trans Gendered rights.
http://www.gaytlvguide.com/the-guide/pride-parade
http://gaytravel.about.com/od/previewsofpridefestivals/qt/Tel-Aviv-Gay-Pride.htm
Read an quote from gaytlvguide:
“It’s is a well-known fact that Tel Aviv has become one of the main gay metropolitans of the world. Some even say that in certain aspects (probably the craziness and loudness), Tel Aviv is even a competitor to cities like Berlin or New York.”
My 2nd point proven beyond dispute
My 3rd Point
“I saw Muslim women walking the streets fully covered while gay men and women strolled holding hands.”
The Arab population of Tel Aviv is approx.. 20,000 so I fail to see why it is unbelievable that I would see Muslim women walking the streets.
And after a massive gay pride march with an a large number of gay tourists, seeing gay couples walking the streets holding hands is unbelievable???
My 3rd point proven beyond dispute
“You’d swear you were the only one who has ever been in tel aviv, and the rest of us formed our opinions by reading opinions and factual accounts from people in tennesse or alaska.”
You obviously have never been to Tel Aviv, I would suggest you go there before pontificating from your arm chair.
To conclude, your attempt at cyber bullying and you rabid narrow mindedness is what is completely
nauseating.
If you want to believe Tel Aviv is a Nazi hell hole, that is your business, but do not and try and tell me what I say when I was there.
You did not contest any point I made, you just ranted and insulted me.
I would suggest you stop now as you are embarrissing yourself.
Kieran — Your happy clappy description of Jerusalem is embarrassingly off base. lf that’s what you saw you didn’t open your eyes very wide.
Maybe you should have gone to spec savers and avoided embarrassing yourself. I never once mentioned Jerusalem.
I have been talking about Tel Aviv to whole time.
‘your attempt at cyber bullying’
Senator Higgins is that you? When you lie, you will be called up on it, you forget the Internet is great leveller. You expect your word t be taken as gospel and your obvious bias to be ignored simply because you say it must be so, not on my watch sonny, not in my name.
You are right, I have never been to Tel Aviv, Ive been many other places and lived in the middle east for several years. I have learned to look at things objectively and to study things from each side before making a judgement in my own mind let alone sprout nonsense to others.
You are lying, and I am calling you up on it, and you don’t like it, so you resort to petty nonsense
Cyber bullying… for heavens sake.
No my waffling friend, it is you that has been called. You are long on sound bites and none existent on substance. I challenged you in my reply to your last rant to point out where I was lying. You ducked the challenge, did not address any of points and continued to spout your ridiculous bile.
You methodology is to avoid engaging on points and blow smoke.
So I challenge u again, where am I lying?
Perhaps go and spend some time in Israel and talk to some Israelis to get some balance ?
Yes spend some time with David Halpern and he will give an israeli jewish side of the story that paints Isreal in an even worse light. He will show you the extent in which israel are going to demolish palestinian homes displacing local populations and then building new settler homes for emigrant jews. There is only one side to the land grab and only one side to the poverty at the moment when it comes to the West Bank. Gaza may be a different story all together as you have the militants mixed with the local poulation, but the treatment of the palestinians by israel only swells the ranks of these militants. The only solution to any of this situation is when the international community finally treat Isreal in the way it treats other pariah states and thats with sanctions until it no longer violates the human rights of innocent civillians.Israel should be bound by international standards for human rights the same as the rest of the world otherwise be treated like russia, north korea and other countries with apalling human rights records
and another one
@mcbab.@Murray Freedman@Kieran O’Sullivan There’s no money in balanced reporting from the ME. You see the big happy money smile on the author Timmy’s face. That comes from Israeli-bashing NGOs who insist on pro.Pal.propaganda. Note the ‘Lack of Transparency for ‘Palestine Summer Encounter’ which usually means graft of some kind.
—”Palestine Summer Encounter is a program coordinated by Middle East Fellowship and Holy Land Trust, an active supporter of anti-Israel BDS (boycotts, divestment, and sanctions) campaigns. Palestine Summer Encounter describes itself as “a one to three month service learning and cultural immersion program in Bethlehem, Palestine. Participants study Arabic in and outside of the classroom setting, live with a Palestinian host family, volunteer with one of thirty-seven participating nonprofits and organizations and meet with both Israeli and Palestinian peacemakers.” The group, however, presents highly biased and politicized views, based solely on the Palestinian narrative of victimization. Group participants meet with other political advocacy NGOs including B’Tselem, Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD), Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI), Rabbis for Human Rights, Addameer, and Ten of Nations, all of which present distorted views of the conflict and contribute to the international demonization and delegitimization of Israel.
‘Palestine Summer Encounter’ does not publish funding information, reflecting a lack of transparency and accountability. However, according the Middle East Fellowship’s 2013 form 990 (latest available; accessed July 22, 2015), it provided grants worth $73,290 to ‘Palestine Summer Encounter’ and recruited 34 volunteers to join the 2013 program.—”
Lena Bakman | NGO Monitor | The Amuta for NGO Responsibility, R.A.
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How can there be an article on Palestine and the plight of the Palestinians and not a single mention of Hamas, of rocket attacks on Israeli civilians or of the Hamas regimes cleansing of Christians? Not a single mention of Hamas.
I suppose when he goes to Gaza he can write another article for you to moan about.
he went to west bank not Gaza
Hesbollah are a bigger threat to Israel than Hamas, but they’re kinda busy fighting ISIS at the minute. Chaos.
Palestine’s not a threat to Israel, Israel’s a threat to Palestine, When Hamas was shooting rockets at Tel Aviv airport they didn’t even bother closing it. Israel has one of the most advanced militaries in the world
Iran is seen as the major threat. They really couldn’t care less about the Palestinians, it’s just that they really don’t like Israel. Assad is seen as an enemy for the West and an ally of Iran, and therefore needed/needs to go, but with Russian opposition the West couldn’t go in militarily. Up springs ISIL/IS/ISIS whatever, Al-Qaida under a different guise? Hesbollah are fighting these lunatics alongside Assad while the child murderers receive aid from the Saudis, an ally of America. Why don’t France and Britain and America help Assad defeat this IS menace? Instead they hinder him, and in the meantime all the innocents are terrorised and butchered. Irreplaceable historical sites being destroyed too.
Not to forget the Kurds in Iraq and Syria. At least they’ve been getting a bit of air support, but will they get their own (oil-rich) country? The powers-that-be will decide that. It’s all a grand game of chess, with the pawns being sacrificed at will.
David Hogan I read a credible article recently that said the Israelis dropped more armaments on Gaza in that last upsurge than the Americans did in the “conquering” of Iraq.
After reading the article, i am sure everyone will comment against Israel but there are a lot of reasons for Israel’s current stance of Palestine. Violence being main. Proliferative tactics of Hamas and Hamas complete control over the Palestinian land. even after recognising it as a country, it is going to be a regular threat to entire world. it is no different than ISIS. The article here hardly mentions terrorist acts by hamas and price israel had to pay so far because of it.
Hamas “it is no different than ISIS” then why the hell are they shooting the shite out of each other in Gaza then? ISIS having nothing to do with Hamas you clown , that’s just pure Israeli propaganda that you are swallowing.
“Gaza rocked by suspected ISIS car bomb attacks on Hamas and Islamic Jihad officials as jihadis continue to struggle for power”
so nuttyyahoo keeps saying, but no one believes his bull any more…
daily mail is buckload of crap. it does not even say it was ISIS, May be your HAMAS was making the bomb and blew themselves..
5 Hamas bomb makers blew themselves up accidentally in 5 different areas in 15 minutes!
Dear God I have read some stupid comments in my day but that one really reaches for the stars so it does!
watever man, they are still freaking terrorists like ISIS, want of power and land..no clean hands..
yeah, imagine them wanting to live on their own land, the cheek of those pesky Palestinians.
“watever man,” the response of a fool who realizes that they have made an idiotic statement, has shown off their stupidity and their best parting shot is “Whatever man”. Why not just say that at the start and leave the rest of us get on with a bit of intelligent discourse?
‘Whatever’ was for your psychotic pro terrorist rant. ‘Whatever’ crap you say, words do not matter much, Israel’s actions do. ‘Whatever’ foolish concepts and sympathy you have got for terrorist HAMAS, it ain’t working and won.t work. Lastly you feel but i don’t see any logic or intelligent whatsoever in your comment.
Great article. So horrible what is being allowed to happen there. Israel’s reputation is in tatters, I wonder how their young people feel about this?
I recommend watching ‘The Gatekeepers’ documentary if you want to find out. The last 4 leaders of Shin Bet (Israeli secret police and the most extreme security force) tell it how it is, all of them agree that Israel is turning it’s population into blood thirsty bigots and it gets worse with each generation. All of them agree that the Israeli people do not know the extent of the brutality inflicted on the Palestinians on a daily basis, and whenever anyone tries to tell them about it, they refuse to believe it and choose to blame the messenger as antisemitic or ‘leftist’.
Tin foil hat all the way baby lol. Go clean your room and get your mammy to do your washing and stop using the same stock for ……….
I didn’t make the documentary, I didn’t tell the last four leaders of Shin Bet what to say, I just watched the documentary. Are they wearing tin-foil hats too or are you just a very rare type of idiot?
They should make a documentary on Dan, using Morgan Freemans voice: “and here we see an idiot in its natural habitat”. The camera turns to Dan, who is studying a map of Israel while also holding it upside down
it will be a game changer when Isis take over Gaza! how will the tin foil hats and left respond.
it will, because it means israel will have to be taken over by isis first unless they can magic themselves through the illegal siege
What are you talking about?
go back to sleep guys.maybe you should have a love in with your friends Hamas
crazy as a box of frogs
No point talking with the SF/Hamas trolls on here! Also the Journal should be renamed the Hamas/Muslim Journal with all the pro Hamas/Islam articles it publishes. If you want un-biased view on the world don’t bother with the journal.ie
Hamas operate almost exclusively in Gaza. This article relates to a visit to the west bank.
What would you suggest Mac as an alternative? I can see that you have thrown your rattle out because people are not saying nice things about Israel so how about enlightening us with a guide to non biased sites. Actually while you are at it you might also look up where the author of this story was working and the party that run the government there. When you have done that Google Hamas and Gaza and inform yourself a little bit better,
Hamas are actually very popular in the West Bank. Christians in places like Bethlehem voted for them in large numbers. Hamas and ISIS are not the same as some propagandists would have you believe, in fact they are mortal enemies. Any excuse for Israel I believe, any rocket from Gaza, and they will turn the place into a wasteland. And I mean a place where no-one lives.
You can see the Fine Gael folk on here defending the oppressor vilifying the oppressed much like they do in their own country. Israeli Nazi Confederate flag flying Irish flag burning Muppets.
Israel is the most despicable blot on civilisation today. I have just now watched Panarama on BBC and even the Jewish presenter could but agree that it’s an apartheid state. If God ever decides to give earth an enema to purge our sins, He’ll place it in Israel.
Peter. ..Have you even been to Israel?
indeed. the situation is so bad in judea and samaria that only football training will help. jesus wept.
How can anyone support Hamas or Fatah when they abuse the basic principles of human rights against its own citizens never mind Israel. I have always wondered why so many so called socialists align themselves and support right wing extremists who persecute homosexuals, Christians and women and whose main objective in life is to destroy democracy and impose religious dictatorship. David Cameron said yesterday if you say “ that terror in London isn’t justified, but suicide bombs in Israel are a different matter” – then you too are part of the problem.
A Palestinian terrorist who killed two people days ago in Bethlehem, then turned himself into Israel, wants not to be deported to Palestinian Authority. I wonder why the journal don’t report that story?
Wow! Could you get many more lies or half truths into one article? You have a bright future as an international propagandist for Pallywood. You are sheer gold – they need more people like you – so much better to use foreign friends like you to push their lies, especially ones who are only too willing to be persuaded to unthinkingly accept just one point of view.
For those like you who can only think in black and white, carry on – no argument will ever convince you to look between the lines. For those who are able to think in shades of grey, the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs AND the rest of the Arab and Islamic world – don’t forget 56 Muslim states at the UN are involved here – has been ongoing for over a century, ever since the Western powers imposed meaningless borders following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire following WW1.
Israel is not fighting a bunch of rag tag impoverished refugees who only want peace and justice and their ancient family homes returned. It is fighting a sophisticated, very well funded campaign that encompasses the Arab League and has been globalised through covert (and sometimes not so covert) funding of western seats of learning. That same campaign, originally run through the Arab League, refuses Palestinian Arabs passports, citizenship or meaningful employment in ANY Arab country. Even today, Palestinians trapped in the tragedy of Syria, are barred from the Palestinian Territories, BY the Palestinian Authority.
Decent, humane, caring people have been cynically gulled into believing that there is only one side responsible for the suffering of the Palestinian people. This is a lie. The Palestinian Arabs have been used by their so called brothers, as a stick with which to beat Israel.
Anyone reading and believing the article above, has been a victim of the campaign. The reality is very different.
@Murray Freedman.Well said Murray. These types are imprisoned by their own Jew-hatred and will never see the light from their own soul-the light that searches for truth. They are no more than zombies.
And just as you say Israel is up against a vast conspiracy of evil to destroy this only democracy in the ME.I cite below from July 19 below,-
—”Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei went into a conspiracy-laden tirade on Saturday, blaming the “arrogant powers” for getting in the way of the Muslim world’s mission to unite and destroy Israel.—”
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2015/07/irans-supremo-calls-for-muslim-world-to-unite-and-destroy-israel
Ridiculous article.
Pure Pallywood.
Israel is the most despicable blot on civilisation today
Really Peter your demotic hatred of the Jews and Israel is really self evident
Don’t please project your hatred onto God
The Palestinians will never have justice ,a homeland ,and civil rights while U S A refuses to condemn Israel’s
actions . The situation looks hopeless ,and ,unless International communities act against Israel’s aggression
the future looks bleak and hopeless.
Well said Kitty.
But opinion worldwide is changing, maybe not fast enough but it’s happening. With that maniac as pm in Israel, I think he will speed up the change, as he will almost certainly force the issue before his term ends.
Remember that time when Moses led the Jews from Egypt?
Wasn’t that their home?
Didn’t he bring them to the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites?
Does that not count as theft of land?
Also, Google maps tells me that it takes about a day and a half to walk from Cairo to Jerusalem.
Moses had no sense of direction at all.
As for the burning bush, that was either good hallucinogens, or a metaphor for chlamydia.
Your volunteering experience is predicated on a fake narrative-you saw what you were intended to see-Potemkin villages. All based on propaganda bullshit. The Palestinians are the foreign occupiers of this land. They are Arabs who have been eating up land since the 7th century and dominating and destroying the indigenous cultures that lived there before them.
Palestinians have no cultural connection to Palestine-neither language, relgion, archeology, nothing, All fake. If they were in their own land they would be in Egypt or Syria or Saudi Arabia. But they suck you in because you are ignorant of real history-and because the Irish like you have made the mistake of believing the Irish struggle is similar to the Palestinian struggle. So you blindly support them. It isn’t. They are simply Islamists spreading Islam, but you are likely never going to be smart or informed enough to figure all this out. I guess all that about Ireland being an island of saints and scholars is just mythic bullshit. Not very smart in falling for phony Palestinian myths.
Greetings to all from Palestine
There are many volunteer opportunities in different places in Palestine. You can come and see the situation in your own eyes.
Here are some examples of some websites which provide volunteer programs in Palestine.
1. First, I would like to suggest that check for volunteer opportunities on go overseas’s website. Here is the link for this great site: http://www.gooverseas.com/volunteer-abroad/palestine
2. English Pal website provides many opportunities in different cities around Palestine: Here is the link: http://englishpal.ps/jobs/volunteer
3. Excellence Center in Palestine also provides volunteer and learning Arabic programs in Palestine. Here is the link: http://excellencenter.org/
4. You can also check http://www.idealist.org/ for volunteers in Palestine opportunities.
I wish you all the best :)
Greetings from Palestine
The usual far left Hamas supporters on here spouting their anti Semitic shite as always.
have your say