Obama's New Envoy, Mitchell, Asked to Talk to Ordinary People in Gaza

Middle East Envoy George Mitchell, photo uploaded on Flickr by mashget

Even though Israel did not allow journalists into Gaza during the recent incursion, the world was watching. Bloggers were posting photos of women and children murdered, schools blown to smitereens, and mayhem in the blood drenched streets.

Child in Gaza awaiting medical treatment, photo uploaded on Flickr by pink turtle 2

The video uploaded on YouTube of the doctor who called the Israeli journalist when his house was attacked put a human face on this war. It allowed people from around the world to see that Palestinians are ordinary people. Not all are extremists with a mission to destroy Israel.

Dr. Abuelaish lost three daughters and a niece asks why, photo uploaded by mashget

This incursion undoubtedly boosted extremists inside Gaza and in the rest of the Arab world. Extreme behavior in any situation is usually born out of feelings of injustice or unfair treatment.

In order to stop the extremists, we must openly discuss why they are angry. It is time to open up dialogue between both sides without fear of being labeled an anti-Semite.

Obama's new order to stop the all powerful stranglehold lobbyists have had on how government is run is an excellent beginning. AIPAC has always had a hold on decision making concerning the question of Palestine. Now, without their influence, maybe, just maybe, we will see real dialogue and possible diplomatic solution to this conflict.

Young woman protests in Paris to end war in Gaza, photo uploaded on Flickr by looking 4 poetry

And again, instead of being labeled an anti-Semite, we will be viewed as people or a government with a genuine concern for fair and just treatment for all people.

George Mitchell negotiated peace in Northern Ireland. Moreover, he worked with the Clinton Administration on issues concerning Palestine and Israel. His experience in the region will help expedite the process for real diplomacy and dialogue.

Here is an excerpt of an article filed by Stephanie Nebehay of Reuters yesterday:

War boosted extremists in Gaza, says U.N. official
By Stephanie Nebehay
GENEVA (Reuters)

John Ging, head of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza, called for new U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell to talk to ordinary people in Gaza as part of a "new track" in diplomacy.

Ging, who is Irish, welcomed Mitchell's appointment.

"An individual of his experience and ability coming now to this conflict gives me cause for more than hope, it actually gives me cause for optimism that we will move on to a new track where we will see real progress," he said.

"What we hope will happen is that the U.S. administration will listen to the people. There has to be a rebalancing of the focus," he said.

(Editing by Jonathan Lynn and Elizabeth Piper)

Obama's First 48 Hours Cause a London Train Station to Erupt in Spontaneous Dance

London train stations are usually crowded with people rushing to work, looking tired and forlorn. However, on this particular morning at 11 o'clock, it was a different story.

News of Obama's plan to close Gitmo and end torture caused this busy Liverpool train station in London to erupt in spontaneous dance.

Just kidding. Although it is a rehearsal for the actual advert, the impromptu crowd reaction and participation are priceless.

I love the old grannies who participate and the guy with the funky mod hairdo.

Former Israeli IDF Captain Denounces Attacks on Gaza

In this BBC News interview, former IDF Captain, Yonatan Schapira. says that the Palestinians have been forced to live in ghetto-like conditions and are treated like animals. Please watch this 3:25 minute interview. At about the 2:00 minute mark he talks about the horrible treatment of the Palestinians at the hands of the Israel government and IDF.

Gazan Doctor and Peace Advocate Attacked Asks Why

Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish in waiting room of hospital, photo uploaded from NY Times by mashget on Flickr

I wanted the world to see what happened to this doctor and my wish is coming true. There is a most excellent article on Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish in the New York Times.

My only complaint with the article is that it did not make the front page which is where this story belongs. Here is an excerpt of the article by Dina Kraft:

TEL HASHOMER, Israel — Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish is a Gazan and a doctor who has devoted his life to medicine and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. But on Saturday, the day after three of his daughters and a niece were killed by Israeli fire in Gaza, Dr. Abuelaish, 53, struggled to hold on to the humane philosophy that has guided his life and work.

As he sat in a waiting room of the Israeli hospital where he works part time, he asked over and over, "Why did they do this?"

And listen to this, Kraft reports in her article that the doctor recently lost his wife to leukemia. One tragedy caused by disease, and another by the disease of war inflicted by man, namely the IDF.

Please read the full article by Kraft in the New York Times. Here is the URL to the article.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/18/world/middleeast/18doctor.html?_r=1&scp=1&

Gaza Doctors and Medics Attacked

Found this on YouTube from Al Jazeera. A doctor's family was attacked just as an Israeli television journalist was about to interview him to discuss casualties and the situation at the hospitals.

It is a moving video. The journalist breaks down not just because he knows this doctor, but as a fellow human being hearing the screams of a man in distress. The journalist does manage through his contacts in Gaza to get an ambulance to the doctor's house. By the time he reaches the doctor, three of his daughters are already dead. One is still alive.

I have seen footage of medics bringing in wounded on foot. One medic said he walked two kilometers because the Israeli soldiers would not allow his ambulance to drive to the hospital. This medic said that their vehicles are clearly marked as ambulances. They also wear vests that show they are medics and they still come under fire while trying to rescue the wounded.

This simply must qualify as war crimes and crimes against humanity. Sadly, I doubt we will ever see any member of the Israeli government standing trial in the Hague.

Please help spread this blog post and video so the world, that is seemingly turning a blind eye to the continued violence and massacres in Gaza, see the reality of this incursion.

Inside Gaza: Ribhi Salem on Radio Program, To the Point , Today

American International School in Gaza, all photos courtesy of Ribhi Salem

Just got an email from Dr. Taatgen. Andrea Brody, the producer, made contact. Yes! Dr. Taatgen gave her the cell phone number for Ribhi Salem, the current director of American International School in Gaza. Please try to tune in today at noon. The whole hour will be on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.


AISG blown to smithereens

I do not know what the plans are for the future of AISG students, but I am guessing they may try to do what they did when Dr. Taatgen was director. In 2005, the Israeli Defense Forces engaged relentlessly in low flying missions over the school, blowing out windows and ear drums, and wreaking havoc on the well being of staff and students. In response, because the international community ignored this psychological warfare, they began teaching the students at the apartment complex where the international teachers lived. A "home school" of sorts.


AISG after bombing

Lastly, I just heard on NPR that the Israeli government has expressed concern about the humanitarian crisis and will help in anyway they can. This reminds me of an interview with the Syrian ambassador in Washington D.C. on CNN shortly after the invasion of Lebanon in 2006. The journalist said, "but Israel has said they are a friend of Lebanon."


AISG after bombing

Ambassador Moustapha responded in a very excited, high pitched voice that I thought was going to break the juice glass I was holding by saying, "this is like a rapist telling a woman after he rapes her that he wants to be her friend."



AISG after bombing


God I loved that and was so glad he was not censored. I sent Ambassador Moustapha an email telling him I saw and loved his interview. He wrote me back and thanked me. Told me that he was glad to know American citizens were paying attention.

If you miss To the Point today, you can listen to it on line. I have the direct link for To the Point on my links "news outlets trying to make the world a better place." Or just go to www.kcrw.com and click on link for news. You will find it there.
AISG playground

Hope Man and Peace Man on NPR Today

Life in Gaza and Sderot, photo uploaded on Flickr by Bert Kommerij

I heard Hope man on NPR today. Wow. So exciting and encouraging. I have mentioned this blog in a previous post and have it listed on my blog roll.

In case you missed it, this blog is written by two men. Hope man writes from Sderot, a border town on the Israeli side, and Peace man writes from inside Gaza. You really have to check out this blog. They describe their experiences from opposite sides of the conflict. Heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time.

Peace man has not posted in several days since this invasion began. The NPR journalist asked Hope man if he had any word on Peace man. Hope man said he had received a text that day. A very short text stating that he was okay. I sighed in relief... and I bet so did all their blog followers.

This blog was written about in the French newspaper Le Monde. Check out the comments left for these two men after every post. This is what I am talking about. Dialogue, not bombs. Here is the blog address and also a link to the NPR report.

Life in Gaza and Sderot Blog:
http://gaza-sderot.blogspot.com

NPR report:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99053041

I found the photo above on Flickr. It is a poster for a series of 2 minute film episodes on Life in Gaza and Sderot. This is not in anyway tied to the blog, however, if you would like some visuals, check it out.

Film episodes for Life in Gaza and Sdeort:
http://gaza-sderot.arte.tv/

One last thing, I have been told I am not linking, but merely putting in URL addresses. Sorry. I can't seem to find out how to link. Please take the time to copy and paste it into your browser until I become more blog savvy. Thank you in advance for your patience.

American School in Gaza Blown to Smithereens

Gaza man carries wounded child, photo posted by Pan-African News Wire on Flickr

The American International School in Gaza was blown to smithereens. The Israelis said it was because Hamas weapons were hidden in the school. A ridiculous claim according to staff. I emailed Dr. Taatgen to see if this news was indeed true. And he confirmed. I will post his email below. So sad.

If you remember from my post of Jan. 2, 2009, End the Siege on Gaza, Dr. Taatgen was the director of the school, had been kidnapped for a day, kept the school open after the IDF relentlessly engaged in low flying misssions over Gaza, causing windows to be blown out, and wreaking havoc on ear drums and the genaeral well-being of staff and students. He kept the school open by having the kids come to the apartment buildings where the teachers lived. A sort of "home school" for lack of a better word.

Just watched BBC News and Newshour on PBS. The BBC journalist interviewed a western doctor. This doctor said he was only one of two doctors and was wondering where the international doctors were and when they were coming.

This doctor said the reports we were getting were untrue. He said 45% of the deaths were women and children. This doctor said he had only seen two Hamass fighters killed. Anyway, I hope the siege ends soon.

One last thing, on Newshour they did a very balanced report with experts on both sides. The expert on Hamas said that leaders of Hamas went to Egypt six months ago asking that the economic hardships and the blockade of supplies entering Gaza that the Israelis were imposing be lifted. Their requests were denied. The press is/was not reporting on how desperate the situation was becoming for the Palestinians.

For those interested, if you scroll down below this post, you will find my original post with Dr. Taatgen's excellent synopsis. And please visit the link Educators for Ending the Siege on Gaza on left under links making the world a better place. Or copy this link into your browser: http://www.endthesiege.org

One more thing, about Dr. Taatgen, a colleague I worked with in Bogota, Colombia told me I would have loved working with him. For those who have not read my post from the other day, I was considering teaching in Gaza. This colleague, who happened to be Palestinian, said Dr. Taatgen was a fascinating man who studied anthropology. I am sorry I missed this opportunity. Here is the email Dr. Taatgen sent after I asked if it was his old school that was blown to smithereens.

Mary,

Yes, this is, or rather was, my old school.

The Israeli justification is that it concealed Hamas weapons.

If this is what they believe, nobody, not even the 200 students of the school and their teachers, are safe.

Everyone in Gaza becomes a target or if they are lucky, collateral damage in a murderous plot, while the world is watching- “helplessly.”

Where have we seen this before? Which occasion elicited similar bitter commentary?

How long will it take before the holocaust of one people has become the fateful destiny of another?

Hendrik

Addendum: I forgot to mention that the school was bombed over the weekend. No students were on campus. However, a security guard was killed. Very sad.

Addendum Two: Just heard on NPR that the IDF bombed the UN school killing 40 kids and others who were seeking refuge. Criminal.

End the Siege of Gaza

Protests against Israeli attacks on Gaza, photo posted by activestills on Flickr

I thinks some of you may remember that while I was teaching in S. Korea in 2005, I made contact, through a friend, with Hendrik Taatgen, the director of a school in Gaza. I was thinking of heading to the ME next.

Anyway, long story short Dr. Taatgen told me there were no positions open. Moreover, he wasn't sure how much longer the school would remain open since the IDF were engaged in low flying missions over Gaza which were causing school windows to be blown out. The sonic booms were wreaking havoc on ear drums and the general well-being of students and staff.

After this recent siege on Gaza, I sent an email to Dr. Taatgen to see how he was doing. To see if the students and staff were surviving. He wrote me back informing me that he left with his wife at the end of that academic school year.

Dr. Taatgen also sent a link to a paper he wrote with his wife and other colleagues in order to attract world wide attention to the plight of the Palestinians along with a succinct history of the Israeli view point.

The story is chilling yet inspiring at the same time. I did not know that Dr. Taatgen had been kidnapped. Nor did I no know the school had been closed down. Students were being "home schooled" in the apartment building where the teachers lived to finish out the school year. Amazing courage and strength from all involved.

I am pasting a synopsis of the paper below. I have the link listed on the left of my blog entries under organizations working to make the world a better place.

Please take a moment to visit the link and sign the petition, Educators for Ending the Siege of Gaza. You do not have to be an educator to sign the petition. Just someone interested in peace and social justice for all.

And if you have time, I strongly encourage you to read this well-written paper which explains the situation in a way that anyone can understand with no prior knowledge of the conflict.

I encourage my educator friends, Stephanie in particular, who is the director of a progressive school, to forward this information on to your staff. You might be able to use it in a lesson plan. Thank you in advance.

One last thing, if interested, check out the blog listed in my blog roll on left, Life Goes on in Gaza and Sderot. it is written by Peace man in Gaza and Hope man in Sderot, a border town in Israel. It is their perspective from both sides of this conflict.


Synopsis of "Siege and Obstruction to the Right of an Education"

Edward Said repeatedly commented that there can be no lasting peace in the Middle East if Israelis and Palestinians do not recognize each others' history and the pain and suffering that are so much a part of it. Said's observations articulate a daunting challenge in the form of a project we believe is within the reach of international school teachers. International education can contribute to peace in the Middle East through the international scope of its curriculum in the humanities, a broad range of subjects, and the efforts of teachers educated in the traditions of humanism and multiculturalism. We were among the last westerners to teach at the American International School in Gaza, who were forced to halt their efforts in June 2005 as a result of the unending siege compounded by unchecked internecine violence.

The intensification of the suffering of the Gazan people in the past years has been striking, at times unimaginable. The mainstream media persist in refusing to make the point that Gaza's losses are nobody's gain. Who wins if an entire population is being deprived of food, medication, and electrical power? Who benefits if a student receives a scholarship to study abroad, but is not permitted to leave? A country that is occupied cannot properly educate its children, but education in a country that is under siege will only produce hatred.

With a growing number of people we demand that Israel lift the siege of Gaza and end the occupation of the Palestine. Innocent children should not be made to suffer from lack of food, medical help, and economic opportunity; they should not have to give up on their aspirations for the future because they happen to live in or near the target zone of Israeli missiles.

We ask that colleagues, all over the world, join us in delivering the message to the governments of Israel and the United States to lift the siege and end the occupation. We ask that by this measure, Israel give ordinary Palestinians a chance to live a decent life and create a future for themselves and their children. This is the moral and humane thing to do. If Israel takes this step, there's a good chance that its people will live in peace because responsible Palestinian leaders can, and will, effectively make the case against extremists that violence does not work. A peaceful future lies in our capacity to recognize and identify with the human being in one another.

To sign the petition, we ask that you type in your first name, last name, educational affiliation, and your email address. After you have submitted this information you will receive an email asking to confirm your signature. Please click on the link provided in the email response to ensure that your signature is counted.


Again, Dr. Taatgen's website is listed on left. You can sign the petition if you click on the link.

Save the Iraqi Shoe Thrower

A Farewell for Bush in Iraq, photo posted by gravitywave on Flickr, Creative Commons


I just heard that the judge had to go to al-Zaidi's cell rather than have him appear in court. This is a strong indication the man has been beaten. Wow. How is that different than the Hussein regime? Please read below and sign the petition that United for Peace and Justice sent me this morning. And if you want to take a step further, contact Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. I sent them both an email this morning asking that they get involved in this case.

I heard yesterday that he may get up to 8 years. What? This is outrageous. Maybe he can be charged with attempted assault. Lets get this guy out of the Iraq prison. I hear he has a facebook page. Lets join his facebook page. Please click on the link below to sign the petition. Here is a passage from the email sent by UPJ:

What has not been so widely reported are the words Muntadar al-Zaidi, a correspondent for Cairo-based al-Baghdadiya TV, shouted out. As the first shoe was thrown at Bush, he said:

"This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, you dog." And with his second shoe, which the president also dodged, al-Zaidi said: "This is for the widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq."

This bold statement also has to be understood in its cultural context. Showing the soles of your shoes to someone, let alone tossing your shoes at them, is a sign of contempt in Arab culture.

After throwing his shoes, al-Zaidi was wrestled to the ground by security personnel and hauled away. According to Democracy Now! this morning, "Muntadar al-Zaidi has been held without charge for over twenty-four hours and has been reportedly beaten in jail. His brother said al-Zaidi has suffered a broken hand, broken ribs and internal bleeding, as well as an eye injury. Earlier today, al-Zaidi was handed over to the Iraqi military command in Baghdad."

Link to sign petition for his release:
IraqsNuclearMirage.com/articles/Zaydi.html

If that doesn't work here is the URL:
http://www.iraqsnuclearmirage.com/articles/Zaydi.html