arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

Kristalnacht in Palestine
by Mazim Qumsiyeh Tuesday April 02, 2002 at 12:02 PM

The messages below are from a) the municipality of my ancient home town of Beit Sahour (the Shepherd's field, a mostly Christian town), b) Ramallah-based network on NGO's (non-governmental organizations), and c) from the director of the Sakakini center.

I think they speak for themselves about the seriousness of what is happening. I will add that Israel has closed the West Bank and demanded international observers and journalists leave (they shot five peaceful internationals just yesterday). The execution of captured Palestinians is a portend of worse things to come.

As Israel commits war crimes and the occupation continues to claim both Israeli and Palestinian civilians, it is worth some reflection on Germany between 1933 and 1939 when the world stood silent as Nazis slowly escalated their war on their Jewish citizens. After you read the messages below you will see that comparison with those early stages of Nazi evolution is not exagerrated. We can stop this before deportation and more genocide commences.

Over the weekend, hundreds of demonstrations were held throughout the world to demand an end to the occupation. It is inexcusable that the media is complying with Israeli wishes and threats (40 journalists over the past 1.5 years were shot by Israeli forces) and are covering atrocities only when directed at Israelis. But it is even more inexcusable to spend more time telling us what Sharon and Bush are saying and not even covering the growing movement against Israeli apartheid (in Italy alone, tens of thousands demonstrated, the Belgian Parliament voted to sanction Israel etc.). You can find pictures from the demonstration in Washington DC as one example of "unreported" news at this site: http://www.via-dolorosa.net/ (link)

Emails are no longer sufficeint. Please call the whitehouse now at 202-456-1414
Tell them firmly but politely that the atrocities being committed must be stopped immediately.

Please act now to stop this.

Sincerely,

Mazin Qumsiyeh, Ph.D.