11-4-06 Arrived Ramallah 10.15 am. Via Amman, Allenby/King Hussein Bridge, Jerusalem. From the shared taxi, to Jerusalem, I didn't see the wall.
In this stretch of the West Bank, from the Jordan to Jerusalem, the Israelis have annexed all the land. The next difference, from last year, was that the taxi from Jerusalem goes all the way to Ramallah.
This is because of the development of the wall. Almost completed, Qualandia, is what can only be described as a border crossing. They are creating a Palestine defined by Israel and annexing all of East Jerusalem.
The roads, in "Israel" are still good, and then on the way to Ramallah, potholes. All the taxes collected by the Israelis from the Palestinians, are being kept by them. So the Palestinians are paying for the Apartheid wall.
The obvious political change is that the stopping of aid by the EU, and the US, means that they are joining with the Israelis, in applying illegal "collective punishment"
The Palestinian economy has been systematically destroyed by the Israelis, using the control of all boraers given to lem by lne Oslo accords. The EU acknowledge this and yet immediately fall in behind the US and apply sanctions, because of the election of Hamas. 1.30 pm Al Manara Square
Demonstrators, trom the mosque. Hamas flags, arrive in the square. The music played included praise of martyrs, and calls for a violent response to the situation. This music has not been heard for some time, but the mood amongst Palestinians is changing.
The decision by the European Union to cut off aid is making people angry. This aid only existed because the EU did nothing to stop the Israeli destruction ot the Palestinian economy.
People told me about the effects of sanctions: medicine - most of which came via EU funds - is now running out, the situation is getting to crisis point.
The Israelis are refusing to take some serious cases into their hospitals. Sanctions mean death. They fear that fuel and wheat all of which come from Israel could be
The sanctions could create another Iraq, who knows what people will do when Then families go
When all the demonstrators were together, with the women mainly at the back, they held a short march around the centre of town. and returned to the square for speeches.
A Hamas member of the legislature chaired the rally. Leaders of all the main political parties were on the platform, except Mustafa Barghouti. The main speaker said they were launching a campaign to show that all the political parties were united against the sanctions.
The Bishop of Jerusalem he made a speech over the phone, because the Israelis would not let him come.
A representative of the prisoners mothers, (her daughter is in an Israeli prison) held a small girl, eating sweet corn, In ner arms, wno was nanaca to the chair, who said that the Israelis were taking the food out of her mouth.
The slogan on the banner said: "Starve yes, surrender no."
This must be the first time that an occupied country has had sanctions applied against it. Meanwhile the occupiers reign thousands of shells on to Gaza, killing Palestinians almost dallv. The Israelis con. tinue to steal Palestinian land, in defiance of UN resolutions, and yet they receive special trade terms from the EU. Wednesday 12-04
Set off for Bethlehem. Bus stops at Gilo, so called checkDOlll. which looks like another border. First sign says you are entering a military zone, then there is a huge painted sign, that says peace, and "Welcome Bethlehem", signed "The Israeli Tourist Board".
The wall is now complete here. and is monstrous
Discussions reveal that the prisoners aid organisation is out of money. The British tried to go around the PA who distribute the funds, but no organisation wants to undermine their elected government. So now there is no money for the families of the prisoners or for the lawyers and the workers have had their pay stopped. This is the same for all such organisations, making the situation desperate. Thursday 13-04
Twinning Conference starts at 10am. About 120 present, maybe 25 from UK.
The mayor of Bethlehem welcomes us and like the other main speakers concentrates on the EU sanctions.
The conference is much bigger than expected. More groups are being set up all the time and the demand from Palestine is also growing. The point is repeatedly made that the issue is solidarity not finance.
One idea was to make hospital workers in Britain aware of which drugs were running out because of Britain's involvement in sanctions.
This conference was a step forward, but in a desperate situation. Our government is carrying out sanctions against an occupied country, and killing Palestinian children. 14-04
Went back out through Gilo checkpoint. Baggage goes through machine, just like a border. The wall is completed here, but there is a special entrance for Jews to visit Rachel's Tomb, Bethlehem.
In the Old City Jerusalem there are thousands of Christians, in a huge religious demonstration, along the Via Dolorosa. Lining the demonstration are heavily armed Israelis, displaying the power or me Israel stale and saying you are only allowed to worship because we let you.
The Israelis are demanding that the new Palestinian government follow the same path as their defeated predecessors. But everyone knows that Fateh got nothing from the Israelis.
And how can you say you will only deal with governments that you agree with? Ramallah 15-04
This afternoon discussed with Birmingham group, who are also linking WITN Ramallah. Agreed to work together, they would work with a different refugee camp than us, and we would both look to get others to link with surrounding villages.
Went together Democracy anar Workers rights centre (DWRC). Sat in on workshop of about thirty unionised bank workers. Discussed everyday union problems like getting annual contract negoulations.
Learnt from the paper that the Israeli government has instructed banks to stop dealing with Palestinian businesses. Considering that most goods, food and other essentials come from Israel this is a disaster. Even Israeli businesses are complaining.
It is clear that there is a
decision starve Palestine.
Went to SCO runoun Dance group rehearse - a top class renowned group. They are looking lo get tour Britain.
Then met the recently elected Mayor of Ramallah, Janet Michael. She was fully behind the linking idea, and said that it was a particularly good time, because of the sanctions. She hoped to be able to help us about finding premises in Ramallah. Then returned to Jerusalem
It is particularly worrying that any condemnation of Israeli shelling of Gaza is not just blocked by US, but by the majority of Security Council. The huge condemnation of Prodi in Italy for just saying they should consider talking to Hamas shows the problem. Of course Israel is now crowing about this support, at a time when they are firing 150 shells a day into Gaza. Fourteen people were killed in a week including 3 children and une oorders are cosed. Where are those who thought that the new government's policy would be more progressive in terms of disengagement? 17-04 Ramallah
Went for meal last night, with friends, whose flat overlooks Surda, on the way to Bir Zeit University. At about 7pm we are told the Israelis have sTarted a checkpoint Ramallah, up the road. Then we look out the window and see that there is an armoured car on the road below. vehicles come down the road, it blocks them and then goes nose-to-nose torcing back up the road.
Another vehicle is doing the same to traffic coming the other way, into Ramallah. Between the two vehicles is a road between two settlements. They have done this so that settlers can Cross. Earlier these same settlers had stoned Palestinian houses.
We don't even see any settlers, but the traffic is held up for about half an hour. There is a huge jam of shared taxis, taking people back to villages. This supposed to be Palestinian territory, as walked to the flatshad passed an armed Palestinian checkpoint, but they had to clear off when the Israelis came.
And it is the Palestinians who have the sanctions against them!
Do tourist bit, first time have seen Palestinians on bikes, all over the place. Although surrounded by mountains, it is almost flat, ana lamously below sea level, my ears popped as we came down to it.
Headed back to Ramallah, this time I noticed how comolete the wall between Ramallah, and Jerusalem, is becoming. It is all over the horizon.
un relurning to Kamallan people are telling me that the Israelis have brought in extra checkpoints, in response to the bombing in Tel Aviv.
Was this bombing unexpected, when you see what is going on in Gaza, and when the West works to the further collective punisnment of tne