Sunday,the 5th of November 2006 was one of the worst days ever. I’ve been deeply depressed last night, I’ve never been depressed this way since the year 2001. Very cold rainy night. Cloudy morning, it’s probably one of the coldest days of the year in Irbid city. I just went to university, without talking to anybody. My mind was paralyzed, as well as my body. I was like a dead blue body, giving a yellow smile to anybody that bother saying good morning.
I was thinking about the curse of being a Palestinian. Usually people at our age are depressed due to breaking up with their girl friends or because they didn’t get the latest fancy iPod. But being a Palestinian, means that you should always be stressed, watching the news, wishing that one day you will be able to see your cousins that have been thrown in the Israeli jails for the next 500 yrs for no reason or wondering about how could it be if your x relative is still alive.
You can’t meet any Palestinian family that haven’t lost one or two of its children. Not to mention living in the possibility of hearing that your uncle got shot because was buying bread.
What really hit me last night is the post of my dear friend Sharifo (Click Here for Sharifo’s post in Arabic) who worte about his friend that got shot in Gaza in the recent brutal, coward, immoral, scandalous, hopeless attack against Gaza. For god sake, more than 40 56 people got killed, more than 250 wounded, many children and women got shot for no reason! worse yet, It doesn’t seem to end anysoon, and this attack is approved by the fucked up super powers.
Sharifo’s friend, Hamza Al-Attar has been shamelessly shot by a coward terrorist Israeli soldier, he is in comma right now. Hamza is journalist works for a local news agency. Yes, a young journalist who has been in business for two months only. As Sharifo described him, he is a young, ambitious guy who works hard to make his dreams come true. But this is obviously a crime. It’s a crime to be journalist and let the world know the truth. It’s a crime to have dreams and to be Palestinian. It’s a crime to be a human being and live in Gaza. It’s a big a crime. It’s a crime to be Palestinian and live decently.
This unfortunate crime reminded me of people I’ve lost years ago, and I know how this situation feels, being shocked and numb. You’re extremely sad, but you shouldn’t let your enemy see you sad, you shouldn’t let your enemy know that his plans are affecting you. All that your enemy should see is strength, faith, and endless tolerance. Tears are forbidden, and sadness is something should be depicted by a smile. You should be the source of hope for everybody else even if you need hope more than anything else.
For Sharifo, I wouldn’t say much. I know this guy through blogs only, but I could sense his “Palestinianness”, and hence he will be the one who give everybody support even when he’s the one who need it the most.
=== Update : Video of Journalist Hamza getting shot, uploaded by Sharifo ===
=== Update ===
Sharifo said that Hamza woke up from his comma, but has serious damages in his lungs, please pray for him, and the other 250 victims at the hospitals of Gaza!
on 08 Nov 2006 at 4:39 pm # I love Munich
Abed - I am hurting as much as you are, rest assured of that! I feel a mixture of deep pain combined with ANGER … how something horrible can happen in the 21st century - and nobody even moves a finger!!
You have all the reason to be PROUD of being a Palestinian … your people are GREAT folks!!
About the reporter … I will pray for him to be alright!
Hang in there great friend - you’re NOT alone!! We’re supporting you all the way and will keep on doing our best to spread the truth …
on 08 Nov 2006 at 5:56 pm # Robin
Dear Abed,
I am trying to reach down into my throat to form the words for you and they are choking me. But as your American friend dear Abed, I would be proud to stand by your side now and always. There is pain in my heart for the pain in your heart and the pain in all of the hearts of your people. I cannot fully understand dear one, but I am with you in my thoughts as is our creator who I am praying will reach down and hold you gently in his arms so that you and your loved ones, all of them, will be granted peace.
on 08 Nov 2006 at 11:33 pm # Abed. Hamdan
David H:
Actually I didn’t dehumanize the other side, but I have dehumanized the “attack” done by their armies. Even If I didn’t say anything, those kind of massacres are dehumanizing their armies and governments. I never dehumanized their people, rather I share the same opinion with many Israeli people that this attack is as I described it above.
Seeing the thing through their eyes, they are difinetly haven’t learned that their attacks are the ones that created the resistance and WILL NEVER EVER stop the resistance. War and violence will never stop war, right ? they have tried that before, can’t they learn !
I can’t have double faces and say something I don’t think is right, and again i never dehumanized the people or describe them as pure evil, but the attack is for sure unfair. The moderate Israelis understand this, and they know that these are irresponsible actions done by their war governments! giving the Palestinians the simplest forms of life would stop the resistance, because we’re tired and exhasuted and war was never our goal.
on 08 Nov 2006 at 11:37 pm # Abed. Hamdan
Assalmo 3alaikom:
of course we’re proud, we’ve always been, and will always be! we should keep praying for them.
Nana:
I’m very sorry to hear about your brother, I totally understand how you feel, and let’s hope that things wouldn’t get worse! Im sorry for living too!
Izzi:
thanks for stopping by, and thanks for your nice words.
jewish boy:
thank you !
on 08 Nov 2006 at 11:42 pm # Abed. Hamdan
Sadiki:
From my one year experience in the blogsphere, I’ve noticed that the fanatics from the west and the middle east are the popular ones! and this is a problem and one reason why I started blogging. Yes, they are obviously affecting a large portion of ignorants!
Actually I tried, with some people from america and europe, to start a blog to discuss the differences and bridge the gaps, this is the link: http://PeaceRoot.blogspot.com and it was active for sometimes, but I don’t know, it just never got the attention, maybe we should re-activate it!
There’s no easy way to stop those who provoke for hate through the media.
on 08 Nov 2006 at 11:45 pm # Abed. Hamdan
I Love Munich:
thanks dear, I know you’re always standing with peace and justice, I know you’re always there.
Robin:
Thank you dear Robin, you understand when most of the people never paid any attention, thanks for this compassion and worm feelings.
on 09 Nov 2006 at 3:15 am # Walid Zebda
i am really speachless..
i don’t know what to say in this situations.. i wish if tears could talk then they would really express my real feelings…
on 09 Nov 2006 at 5:48 am # 7ala
Abed , mbrook for being accepted in Jordan Planet , am glad you joined us
on 09 Nov 2006 at 2:27 pm # Sadiki
I saw this blog from which was trying to address similar issues
http://www.humanityundertheveil.blogspot.com
I will tell them about your blog!
on 09 Nov 2006 at 2:43 pm # Hala
Allah ykoon ma3hom
on 09 Nov 2006 at 3:18 pm # Ola
Yomhel wala yohmel ya Abed…
I feel queasy
on 10 Nov 2006 at 11:01 am # Karen Mc Cullagh
Hi Abed,
I’m glad to read that your dear friend Sharifo is now out of a come. I hope that he will recover from his lung problems.
on 10 Nov 2006 at 11:02 am # Karen Mc Cullagh
Hi Abed,
I’m conducting an online survey to explore the privacy attitudes and expectations of bloggers.
Please click to take part in the survey: http://www.ccsr.ac.uk/privacysurvey/
If you participate you will be asked to answer questions anonymously about your blogging practices and your expectations of privacy when publishing online. All answers will be stored and analysed on a confidential basis.
The responses will be used to inform academic and policy discussions on blogging practices and attitudes towards privacy.
Finally, could you please encourage other bloggers to participate in the study.
It takes less than 5 minutes to complete the survey!
For further information on my research please visit
http://www.ccsr.ac.uk/staff/km.htm or, email:
Karen.mccullagh@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk
I am a PhD researcher at CCSR, University of Manchester, England. I am sponsored by the ESRC and Office of the Information Commissioner, UK.
Many thanks,
Karen
on 10 Nov 2006 at 1:24 pm # Abed. Hamdan
Sadiki:
thanks
Karin:
done
on 10 Nov 2006 at 2:35 pm # Abed. Hamdan
Walid Zebda:
I know what you’re talking about dude
7ala:
allah eybarek feeki, thanks
Hala:
Ameen
Ola:
so do I !
on 12 Nov 2006 at 4:20 am # Rana
Abed , i have been following this news ever shaifo posted it in his blog then you followed him and each time i wld comment, i find my self speechless really.
what to say to such brutality? to such 7aywanih?
7asbi allah w ni3ma el wakeel..:(
on 12 Nov 2006 at 5:04 pm # Abed. Hamdan
Rana:
nothing to say or to do…
on 13 Nov 2006 at 4:59 pm # David H
Even If I didn’t say anything, those kind of massacres are dehumanizing their armies and governments.
The problem with using the word “massacre” there is that it leaves little room for escalation. For example, if a missed artillery shell that kills 19 is a “massacre”, then what do you call a death gang in Iraq that round of 50 people, puts them against a wall, and kills them all one at the time?
Or, what do you call a situation where Israel walks into Gaza, and sprays bullets everywhere, killing 100 civilians. Just another massacre?
I never dehumanized their people
After rereading your post, I wanted to apologize, you did not in fact dehumanize Israel directly, and I was wrong to make that accusation, sorry. I still think that the bombastic language was a little excessive given the situation, but my own response was a little overbord.
War and violence will never stop war, right ?
Tell that to the WW2 Germans, or the 1967 Egyptians. Violence may not always stop wars, but it certainly can stop wars every now and then.
Now, I’m not saying that violence is the right thing here, but it is not completely irrational to think that enough violence might solve a situation.
Of course, I don’t want this violence!. I think it is terrible. However, to blithely claim that violence never solved anything is just spouting cliches. We need to understand why violence solved things in the past, and why we think it won’t help solve things here. What makes this situation different?
giving the Palestinians the simplest forms of life would stop the resistance, because we’re tired and exhasuted and war was never our goal.
So, if the Palestinians got all that they asked for, except for the right of return, would that stop the violence?
on 13 Nov 2006 at 5:43 pm # Abed. Hamdan
David H:
About the Massacre thing, obviously what happened in Gaza was a Massacre, more than 80 people got killed, and aircrafts killed people at their homes. go to http://Sabbah.biz and see the pics, but be careful, some of the pics are horrible.
About the violence thing, I beleive if it was a war between two armies then we could say that one party will win and impose its rules. But in the case of Palestinians and Israelis, the situation is very different. It’s about people struggling against army, and these kinds of conflicts are known to cause much blood and unless the poeple are given their rights, then no solution would come.
The first intifada (revolution) by palestinians in the late 80s which was by just throwing rocks to tanks, and protests. No rights were given, and hence come the birth of Hamas. More and more killings yielded to the birth of bombs and the elementary home-made messiles. What im talking about, regardless of the army or the measurements taken, when there’s a whole nation suffering, they can’t be stopped by killing and weapons. They tried everything so far (expect the nuclear weapons, it can’t be used in Palestine, it would kill them as well), and the only thing they got is more resistance, so it’s not working.
Many Israelis are aware of this fact now, and they are working against their government, because they understand that this is not the right way, and they don’t want to pay for the mistakes of their governments.
When you kill man’s children infront of his eyes, what do you expect from him?
Now giving the palestinians their rights, means etablishing a Palestinian State, and there should be solutions to the main problems: right of return, prisoners, and Jerusalem. Through negotiations these issues should be resolved. you can’t ignore the millions who have been uprooted, and thrown in refugees camps.
Im not the one who’s going to make these negotiations, politicians would do. As a Palestinian, I know that the only way to make peace possible is by giving the people their rights.
I would like you to watch this video by George Galloway, It’s a little bit outdated, it’s about the latest war in Lebanon. but I want you to listen to his points of views, they are explaning what Im talking about.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=bNiNS8TnJnI
on 15 Nov 2006 at 7:24 am # M. Simon
Defeat is just around the corner.
Keep fighting the Israelis.
You Giys Are So Jewish
on 15 Nov 2006 at 7:28 am # M. Simon
a. hamdan,
Do the Sudeten Germas have a right of return?
The so called “right of return” is a Palestinian invention. And a very good invention it is. In fact I support it.
Since the Jews were driven out of Israel by the Romans I think their right of return takes precedence.
on 15 Nov 2006 at 7:31 am # M. Simon
weddo,
Yes there is something you can do. It fact it has been done often in the past.
Surrender.
Of course there is the keep fighting option.
Really though. Have you considered non-violent resistance? Arafat had it right. A million martyrs marching on Jerusalem. Unarmed if you have the courage.
on 15 Nov 2006 at 9:48 am # Abed. Hamdan
M.Simon:
Jews have been living in the Arab world and still living as an Arab citizens. If you know the Arab world well, then you would know that there are many arab jews. Many jew ghettos exist in Egypt, Yemen, Morroco,Iraq and Palestine.
They considered Araft #1 terrorist in their policy.
on 15 Nov 2006 at 11:00 am # tcdrtw
I have enjoyed your blog.
It ws asked what can we do? Well, you can keep blogging, get your friends and family and everyone to blog about the situations they deal with in Israeli Occupation. If you have video footage or pictures or a story associated with the an Israeli injustice or murder, send it to CNN, BBC, NPR FOX, and other American news outlets. If they don’t bite, keep at it. Shine the light on what the US and Israel would like to keep dark. Try American newspapers too. I’ve been writing Senators and other Washington officials and ocasionally newspapers. It looks like I’m not influencing Washington too much, but if I keep at it and get everyone to join in, who knows what can happen.
While I do not know how you feel, I do feel for you. My husband is 1/2 Palestinian and we have heard of at least one relative being disappeared and he doesn’t even know many of his relatives overseas so I can understand in some small way through he and my father in law.
on 17 Nov 2006 at 7:01 am # Abed. Hamdan
tcdrtw:
Thanks for feeling for me, I’ll really I appreciate it.
I don’t think that blogs are as infleuntial as you mentioned, yes they can have some sort of contribution, however, It’s useless most of the time. Sorry if I sound pessimistic, but I’m just trying to be a little bit realistic. The situation is very complicated, the CNN, BBC, Fox, and others have videos more than everybody do. It’s just the way they show it is misleading.
Let’s keep on hoping and praying! things will be better, god willing.
on 09 Jul 2008 at 4:12 pm # Hamza M. El Attar
Dear All,
May be my reply is too late but actually i was searching on the net for cares about killing the Palestinian journalists.
I’m okay now however it was 3 bullets 25MM but Bullets never killed a man as i consider any palestinian Journalsit.
Thank you all,
Hamza M. EL Attar