information collecting

thought you might like to know about this 'internet cafe'. it's a pool hall in Beit Sahour, a small town very close to Bethlehem (where our hotel is). there are six computers at the back which are mainly used by young boys who want to play computer games. the noise is incredible so if I sometimes talk nonsense or my grammar needs correcting, blame it on the surroundings!

what I haven't mentioned so far is that each day we've been given a tour or talk or presentation on different aspects of life under Israeli occupation. on day 2 we had a tour of Bethlehem, not the tourist parts, and saw THE WALL. my photos when I finally get to post them will say more than my feeble words. what you will see though is the amazing wit and spunk and sheer defiance in the grafitti. then on to Dahaisha refugee camp. Israelis take more and more land and build more and more settlements. space is not a problem (for them anyway). Palestinians on the other hand are more likely than not refused permission to build on their own land so you'll find most Palestinians build upwards when they need more space. this is also the case in Dahaisha where people are now into their third generation. I can't now remember the number of people living there but it's thousands. until not so long ago there was a gate into the camp which refugees had to get permission to use.

having seen parts of Dahaisha, the following day we had a presentation at BADIL, Resource Centre for Palestinian Residency & Refugees on Israeli apartheid and the ongoing displacement of the Palestinians. suffice to say, treatment of Palestinian refugees contravenes international law but guess what, Israel sticks two fingers up and get away with it. the aim is the maximum amount of land with the minimum number of Palestinians. and it's being carried out in a frighteningly efficient way. another thing which no one seems to realise is that it's the oppressor/invader's financial responsibility to look after refugees but Israel manages to get the UN to fund it. someone asked whether this information was given to British MPs. the guy said it's available but few MPs come to find out. (St Tony who was in Hebron that day didn't bother to come and listen). they're also under no illusions about the Israeli lobby and says it takes a brave MP to speak out. he urged us to do so on our return.

day four we went to Jerusalem and had a talk and tour with an Israeli from ICAHD - Israeli Committee Against House Demolition. Israel is surrounding East Jerusalem with settlements and the wall will encircle them. Palestinians who live in East Jerusalem live in poor to squalid conditions (you can tell a Palestinian house because it has a black water tank on the roof). there's limited water for them so the tanks are to increase the pressure. there's an ongoing process of house demolition and the decision's a random one. there's always the threat of demolition if someone fails to toe the line. Palestinians in E J make up about 35% of the population. however they have to pay higher taxes than their Israeli neighbours. so 40% of municipal taxes come from 35% of the population and they get 7% of services. the roads are crap, there's crap everywhere because there's no rubbish collection, no mains sewerage just septic tanks which leak and sewerage gets into the water system. I forgot to say that if your house is demolished, you have to pay the cost of demolition and you have to pay to have the stuff removed.

day five a presentation on the geopolitical situation under occupation. they use satellite maps and can monitor on an ongoing basis the spread of settlements and outposts. it's scary stuff. and this wall we're told is there for security? that's crap. the wall encircles the settlements and the settlements are about taking the maximum amount of land. Bethlehem, East Jerusalem and Hebron are all surrounded by settlements. I've got website links which I'll post when I get home so you can see the picture.

I think I've already mentioned that during our visit to Hebron we heard about the work of the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee.

sometimes it's difficult to take in all the facts. I've taken lots of phots which I'll make available. I've also bought a copy of two amazing films - Jerusalem East Side Story and The Iron Wall so will be finding ways to show them when I get home.

tomorrow is a free day and N and I are going to spend it in Jerusalem. will try to give you my impressions before I leave which is Monday.