Cloak and dagger antics outside a campus in central London, Tuesday night. As, the University of Westminster, caved into threats of disturbance, from UK based Zionists. Why? Because, Gilad Atzmon, world renowned saxophonist, author and anti Zionist racconteur had put together a panel to debate the following; ‘Jewishness and Israeli criminality.’
To a packed venue just round the corner from the campus the discussion, began with breathtakingly robust opening statements.
Consider, as you read, the immense pressure not to take part placed on each panellist. The threats against the university of Westminster of disturbance or even violence if the talk took place. And, should you read a hackneyed report (in the Jewish Chronicle or some such useless organ). Return to this page to revisit the precise nature of the debate.
Alongside Gilad Atzmon, the panel consisted of Alan Hart, author, former Middle East Chief Correspondent for Independent Television News and former BBC Panorama presenter, specialising in the Middle East. And Karl Sabbagh, author, TV producer and publisher.
Gilad began his talk by reminding the audience that causing Zionists to feel outraged; ‘Makes me cheerful’. He has not struggled with his own identity he says accepting with a shrug of his irascible shoulders titles such as ‘proud self-hating Jew.’ His first riff, for that is how he talks, in dramatic sequences, was on the nitty question ‘What is Judaism?’
This, in literal terms is the religion of the Jews. Although, this cannot aptly define the large number of secular Jews. What is Zionism then? Zionism, Atzmon contends is NOT a colonial enterprise. It is a tribal setting.
It has nothing whatever to do with Jewish traditions nor Judaism. It is a political cause which cynically uses faith for its ends. Thus Zionism dupes followers of Judaism and secular 'Jews' who identify with these traditions, by getting them to emotionally invest into a violent expansionist project, which they would otherwise find repugnant.
Atzmon plunged headlong into a question that few others would consider anything but career suicide.
‘Is Zionism what it is. Because ‘Jews’ are what they are?’ Gilad Atzmon, comes from a secular Jewish family. He was born and raised in Israel. Until his late teens his big dream was to have a shining career in Israeli Defence Force. What he saw in his time in the army as a teenager serving in Lebanon, was enough, he has said, to make him 'change sides completely.' He is uniquely placed to ask the unaskable and to say the unsayable.
‘Judaism,’ he said ‘I don’t deal with this as religion. ‘It’ (Judaism) doesn't kill. People kill in the name of religions'.
'But what is Jewishness? It is a supremacy. A Chosenness.'
A decade ago, Gilad remembers being something of a ‘darling’ of the UK anti Zionist movement. But he refused to play what he calls ‘the good Jew’. Namely, to become an anti Zionist ‘lite’; A Jewish person willing to condemn certain acts of the Israeli state. Whilst contradictorily arguing the right of ‘Jews’ to have a homeland. On Palestinian land. Such activists often avoid making or worse still retract, important, statements due to social pressure on their families. This works in Israel's favour and to the detriment of the anti Zionist movement as a whole.
Think Goldstone.
As Gilad continued to insist on his right, as a former Israeli, an academic and a member of a democracy, to look into the darker psychological recesses of the Israeli Jewish mindset, he went from darling to demon. For going on ten years, a number of Jewish anti Zionist (softly, softly) types, have been campaigning hard to black ball Atzmon from events and debates. Atzmon puts this effort squarely down to the topic of this evening, his contention, his amuse bouche; that Jewishness itself means a presumption of superiority that can only inevitably lead to violent tribal expansionism. And Apartheid.
A member of a Palestinian solidarity group made an interesting point telling the hall that,
'Jews For Justice for Palestinians, wanted to be called; Jews for Justice for Palestine. They binned that idea when members found the word Palestine ‘too difficult’.
Atzmon vehemently denies the accusation that he is an anti-semite. In no small part because he denies the existence of anti-semitism. In 2003, he wrote in an essay; ‘There is no anti-Semitism any more. In the devastating reality created by the Jewish state, anti-Semitism has been replaced by political reaction’. This is a point he returns to this evening.
‘How do you become and anti Semite? Easy upset a Jew. They don't even need to tell you how you upset them. ‘Anti semitism’ what does it mean? The dictionary tells us its a loathing of Jews, just because they are Jews.’
In all his years, speaking on the subject of Jewishness, Israeli war crimes, Zionism, he has, he has ‘Never met an anti-semite.’ How is this possible you may ask? Atzmon seeks to put clear intellectual water between the actions of ‘race’ hatred (Jews are not a race), and an oppostion to Israeli Apratheid policies that lead to frustrated acts of say, grafitti.
Atzmon continues; ‘ Yes I have met those who object to Israeli policy. To those who objected to Lord (cashpoint) Levi and his role. But this is not anti- semitism.’
What is it then?
“It is an objection to political lobbying.’
Recent figures seem to bare this stance out. Tel Aviv University researchers has released some startling new figures. These reveal that 2010 saw a 46 percent drop in the number of violent incidents targeting Jews relative to 2009 — from 1,129 to 614. Clearly, attacks on Jewish property or persons in 2009 can be seen, not as actions related solely to followers of an Abrahamic faith. But, in response to the violence of Israeli Zionism; A frustrated backlash against a criminal, political movement. Such findings, instead of reassuring Jewish communities, act as an unsettling factor to the pro Israel lobby within them. For without Jewish victimhood, how can the human rights violations of the Jewish State be justified?
On the question of identity for secular Jews, Atmon had this to say;
‘Ask a secular Jew what (does) it mean to be Jewish. They will list what they aren't. It leads to strange ideas that all come down to chicken soup!’ The audiences laughs.
Some academics, find Gilad's playfulness troubling. Audiences like the one this evening, enjoy his cerebral shadow boxing.
He continues.
'Like the Muslims, who have ‘salam’ as a greeting, the Jews greet one another with Shalom - also a greeting of peace.
Says Atzmon
‘Shalom doesn't mean peace though. It means security. For Jews’. That peace, (it means) peace for them only’.
“Jewishness tends towards segregation. Living in a ghetto. Look at the (Israeli Apartheid) wall. Is it really for security? No it's to keep Jew and gentile separate’.
‘If you are not Jewish, you are not due the same treatment. You are lesser.’
Atzmon moves onto the controversial 'hate crime' of talking of a Jewish world wide conspiracy. So does one exist? Gilad is semi serious when he says;
"No Jews do not run the world. They get others to do it for them.'
As for who stops the media from fully exploring the real situation for the Palestinian people. From revealing crimes against humanity such as the massacre in Deir Yassin. Gilad rejects the idea of media executives refusing to engage with news from Middle East- to a degree.
‘The world' he says, 'self-censors. ‘Jews’ are not forcing the end of debate. We (the rest of the world) do it ourselves!” Goyim tolerance is seen as weakness. As stupidity yes!’
This argument is not without example. In 2001 Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, made unguarded comments, about relations with the United States and the peace process.
"I know what America is," he told a group of terror victims, apparently not knowing his words were being recorded. "America is a thing you can move very easily, move it in the right direction. They won't get in their way."
The Israeli leader went on to boast about how he undercut the peace process when he was prime minister during the Clinton administration. "They asked me before the election if I'd honour [the Oslo accords]," he said. "I said I would, but ... I'm going to interpret the accords in such a way that would allow me to put an end to this galloping forward to the '67 borders. How did we do it? Nobody said what defined military zones were. Defined military zones are security zones; as far as I'm concerned, the entire Jordan Valley is a defined military zone. Go argue!' This is a fine example, Gilad would contend, in which, Israeli negotiators, playing political games, find the ‘Goys’ in the White House, easily tricked and manipulated.
Alan Hart doesn't blame Zionism for having global power either. He blames America for being intellectually weak at its heart (land) and easily financially manipulated in its political terrain.
Whilst Atzmon sums up the entire multi billion dollar Christian Zionist movement, in his usual pithy way.
‘Goys are stupid’.
Can Atzmon have his Kosher cake and eat it too? He began the evening by stating squarely that Israel was a state NOT built on Jewish principles, but on the expansionist lusts of a secular movement from Eastern Europe. Why, then in relation to what is going on, say in Gaza, does he return time and again to the question of ‘Jewishness’?
‘Because the bombs that fall on Gaza night after night, are all decorated with Jewish symbols.’
The concept of ‘Jewish’ labelled, pro Palestinian groups, really gets under Atzmon’s skin. Why again, he argues, this need to be ‘special’ or ‘separate’ from other solidarity groups. The idea has been, he contends that words of condemnation against Israel, are stronger coming from ‘Jews.’ That Jewish outrage holds more weight than any other. Isn’t this itself a supremacist concept, elevating Jewish suffering and understanding of pain above all others? The irony, which Atzmon relishes sharing, is that a Palestinian wishing to protest against Israeli policies in his homeland, would be excluded from joining Jews for Justice for Palestinians, on racial or ethnic grounds.
Alan Hart, author of an epic trilogy on the nature and history of Zionism, finds a pause in which to interject; ‘Nakba denial is as offensive as Holocaust denial.’ This is the comment of the evening which is met with a unanimous cheer.
Karl Sabbagh has a deep knowledge of modern Palestinian history upto and including the Nakba of 1948. He has come to the debate to discuss such tetchy issues as who ‘owns’ the land of Historic Palestine
Sabbagh prefers historical facts to rhetoric.
However, he too relates his frustration, as a historian, when he has made efforts to talk facts with Jewish colleagues and friends.
'You cannot argue with people from a position of logic when they come from a position of no logic.' For an example he describes the old lie that the Nakba was in fact the time, in 1948, when a small group of brave Jewish Holocaust survivors, fought against the might, cruelty and brutality of the surrounding Arabs. In fact, Sabbagh who specialises in this era of history reports that when the British mandate ended in ignominy;
'Ninety thousand well-armed, highly trained Jews, went against, twenty thousand, poorly motivated, badly trained ill equipped Arabs! You tell them this (British Jews who support Israel) and they say it didn't happen'.
The hall then heard from Sameh Habeeb. A young man from Gaza in his twenties. The founder and editor of the online newspaper the Palestine Telegraph, says he finds it hard to cope with the way his efforts to share his first hand experience of life under Israeli occupation has been met with attempts to frighten him from speaking out.
'I Come from the Middle East' he says, 'A region which has been authoritarian. I looked forward to living In a democracy. But once you discuss Israel you are called an anti semite and you no longer can enjoy democracy and free speech'.
The Palestine Telegraph published articles apparently linking Israeli groups with organ theft. Some of these sources were taken from the Israeli Ha aretz newspaper. Yet he was targeted by aggressive UK Zionist groups, he and his family threatened with violence and court cases.
'I was immediately accused of being an anti Semite. Although I am very semite' he says. of his Palestinian semitic, roots.
Gilad ends the night with his trade mark frippery.
'The real genius of the Jews' he says 'Is that they made God into an estate agent and the Bible into a land registry'.
The debate about whether or not this sort of language constitutes anti-Jewishness should continue. What must also continue, freely and without hindrance are debates into the British Jewish communities role in funding the ethnic cleansing of the West Bank and East Jerusalem via such bodies as the Jewish National Fund (patron, one D.Cameron).
The question hanging in the air for the British Jewish community at the end of the event, was this ' Do you know what is really being done by the Jewish State in the name of the ‘Jewish People’. And do you care?'
ENDS
Showing posts with label Israel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Israel. Show all posts
Thursday, 5 May 2011
Monday, 14 March 2011
Palestinian prisoners and their rights
GENEVA 12 MARCH 2011:
The First International Conference on the Rights of Palestinain Prisoners and Detainees.
By: Lauren Booth
After six decades, the illegal detention, torture and prison abuse of Palestinians by the Israeli regime, is being seriously addressed on the international stage. Just days after the UN heard testimonies from former Palestinian prisoners at a special meeting in Vienna, a comprehensive conference has taken place on the same issue, in Geneva.
The session was organised by an Oslo-based network for defending Palestinian prisoner rights, 'UFree' alongside the NGO 'Droit Pour Tous' (Right For All).
In his opening remarks the head of UFree, Mr. Mohammad Hamdan, asked why the mainstream media beyond the Middle East had remained mute, on the suffering of Palestinian men and women detained by the Israeli forces. The conditions in prisons and detention centres, he made asserted, in no way meets international minimum standards.
More than 80 delegates, including Palestinian wives and children of male prisoners, were then shown excerpts from a documentary 'Imprisoned Flowers'. A film which focuses on specific cases of suffering, in Israeli detention centres and prisons.
One such case was Nilly Safadi. A young woman, who fell in love with a blind colleague. In 2003, 14 days after the wedding, Israeli occupation forces arrested her unseeing husband without explanation. For the next seven years she was not permitted to see him. Not even once.
On the 11th of November 2009, Nilly went to visit her sister in Ramallah. She was snatched by Israeli forces and taken to a detention centre near Jerusalem. Without any official charges being brought and without explanation, she was the subjected to 100 days of interrogation, undergoing physical and emotional torture.
The couple were tragically re united, for the first time, in an Israeli courtroom. There, they were forbidden from talking to one another. Unable to help herself, Nilly spoke to her husband. An emotional outburst which earnt her three days in solidarity confinement on return to the prison. On 5 December 2010 she was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment.
The story of Kefah was shown to the conference.
Kefah means ˜struggle' in Arabic. From the West Bank, this mother has two children aged 16 and 17 year old. Children she calls ˜the flowers of her life'.
Kefah suffers from the rare condition Raynauds synrdrome. It has been gradually eroding her limbs for some years. This condition leads to eventual amputation. It is spreading through her body. Kefah,also suffers from asthma and reheumatoid arthritis.
The mother of two, was arrested some years ago. She was not charged with any crime by the arresting officers. However, she was tortured; hung up by her wrists in a cell, then placed in solitary confinement. To this day she has not appeared before a court.
Under pressure from rights groups Kefah’s deteriorating health, meant she was eventually sent to a clinic in Israel from prison. Here against a series of legal appeals, her hands were cuffed at all times, causing her further injuries.
No one knows when she wil be released.
The most moving speech of the day, was given by the daughter of Ayman Kfisha; Saira
Saira was born not long after her father was imprisoned, by Israel. She is now fourteen. Her father has not been home since her birth.
She told delegates; '˜This night has been too long. I don't see the end of it'. She expressed her solidarity with the prisoners and their families suffering like her own, saluting their strength.
To the Zionist regime, 1,000 days is nothing, but to a family missing a loved one, unable to carry on with their lives, or visit their relative, it is an painful emotional torture. Saira talked of her sadness.
"I feel sadness. How long must we suffer this? Until when will the mothers continue to cry for their detainees and the wives continue to worry for their husbands? How long will children be denied fathers? I appeal to the international conscience. Humanity should not have accepted this reality. To speak about detainees is to speak about a great wound in my heart. You can ask my mother how can she spend her hours. How can she meet the loneliness? Ask my grandmother- can she still cry for her son? She has cried too much."
Saira gave delegates a clear view of what it is like for children visiting fathers held in detention by Israel. The security barriers, the inspections, the use of "every method" to break the womens dignity. The cruelty of even these rare visits is something that tens of thousands of Palestinian families have been familiar with. since 1967 almost three quarters of a million Palestinians have been subjected to Israeli detention, often without charge. Only 3 per cent of those incarcerated were convicted of acts of resistance.
Saira movingly described the agony of the women and children who after months, even years of waiting to see a loved one, after hours of humiliations to reach the prison entrance, that, (in an inexplicably callous manner) an Israeli soldier will often tear up the wives precious permission slip. Throwing it onto the ground, reports this child, ' because they are in a bad mood'.
'In this way they manage even to remove the pleasure of seeing a father again. Replacing even this moment of hope, with anxiety and fear'.
What is daily life like for Palestinians in Israeli 'security' prisons? The conference heard Saira recount her father Ayman's experience in some detail. Newspapers are banned for the father as they are other detainees in Beer Sheva prison. Interestingly, you will find it hard to get any information on these facilities on the internet. Those held in Beer Sheva, are routinely denied pens and rulers. Listening to Al Jazeera has been banned. Books are banned for many. Access to external news was briefly given (then removed again) after several prisoners went on hunger strike.
Saira, went on to describe her father's experience of solitary confinement. These cells are just 1m by 1m and are Medieval in other ways. No light enters them. Some prisoners are reported to have spent 25 years in these conditions.
Here is a report into the most recent attack on prisoners in Beer Sheva ;
http://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2011/03/04/soldiers-break-into-eshil-be%E2%80%99er-sheva-prison-attack-detainees-search-their-rooms/
As the young girl spoke, some Palestinian men in the hall - former prisoners - cried. No doubt reliving their own experiences. One man sobbed, his chest heaving.
The next speaker to address this ground-breaking conference was Mrs Nurhayaty. She is leader of the co ordinating committe of women parliamentarians of IRP and an Indonesian parliamentarian. Mrs Nurhayaty spoke of the need for an international 'conscience' and to applause, told delegates:
'There will be no world peace without peace in Palestine'.
Mr Ueli Leuenberger, Leader of Green Party, expressed sympathy for all those suffering the 'failure of the international community in giving them their land and their freedom'.
He called on Switzerland to end trading arms to Israel and to end all and any military co operation with the regime. His colleagues in he Green Party intend to place before the Swiss parliament a call for an end to the trade in settlement produce in Switzerland.
He spoke of the a changing world, in which, in light of the uprisings sweeping the Middle East and North Africa, there are renewed hopes for solidarity, justice and freedom. Beginning, he emphasized, with the liberation of all Palestinian 'political prisoners'.
Jeremy Corbyn UK MP and long term activist for Palestinian rights, came up with the first solid recommendation of the day. One that can be easily implemented by human rights groups, NGO's and even individuals worldwide.
'Geneva, the home of so many hopes. And the reality of so many disappointments, in relation to Palestinian rights' he began.
Then he listed the abuses of human rights Israel practices on the Palestinian civilians, including children and women, it kidnaps from the West Bank and Gaza, week in, week out;
'Administrative detention. Solitary confinement. Lack of medical support. No visitors associations. Perhaps worst of all, the torture of not knowing. Nothing is worse than a state that takes people from the street, then forces them into wasting their lives (in a cell) not knowing when they will be free. Each prisoner has their families put in prison too. Because, their hopes and their dreams are all put on hold as well.
Corbyn proposes that the files of individual prisoners now be sent to solidarity groups internationally so that the faces, ages and names of these prisoners can be more widely known and one to one campaigns for their release. And compensation for their suffering. Can begin in earnest. It is of the upmost importance to children, to family members, like Saira, to the Palestinian detainees themselves, that Corbyn's call is heard and acted upon.
Mr Husam Kader, himself a former detainee in an Israeli 'security prison' is also a member of the Palestinian legislative council.
He told the conference that there are legal teams globally, ready, today to use 'all possible means to extablish justice in Palestine beginning with violations against the prisoners'. Mr Kader, expressed confidence in the abilty of these lawyers to act as soon as the prisoners files on these cases, arrive at their offices.
The use of detention without any given cause, particularly in the case of aged persons, women and children are abuses that fall under the remit of the international court. He calls for Arab and European lawyers to deal in an organized way, in co operation, so that prisoners and that justice, be served.
The vehicle firm Volvo was indicted for it's involvement in Israeli crimes regarding the illegal transportation of Palestinians from their home towns and villages to prisons and detention centres in Israel. Volvo has created a specialized bus for the sole purpose of transporting Palestinian detainees, from their land - to Israel. Volvo must now be make the top twenty in the list of firms to be targeted by the BDS campaign.
Leader of the policy committee of the Swiss Socialist party, Mr Carlo Summaruga, made an impassioned call on the citizens of the world to take a reminder of our duties to one another from the Arab and North African uprisings. Our duty - to one another.
'We, the Swiss people,' he said 'demand the immediate release of the Palestinian prisoners. An end to all econmic co operation and miliatary co operation with Israel. And that the international community banish Israel from all future meetings, until they meet their (human rights) obligations'.
The gently charismatic, former Guantanemo prisoner, Sami al-Haj addressed the conference. I first interviewed Sami just after his release from Guantanemo in 2008. He was frail and had just met his son, a boy who had not seen his father, for six years. Here is a man of dignity and bravery, whose mission now in life is to see the release of those men and women detained by corrupt systems and governments, where ever they are. He told me in 2008, he would never leave his 'brothers' behind without a voice and of his intense emotional sensitivity to the suffering of all prisoners in dire conditions. His presence at this, ground breaking conference, again shows his commitment to that cause.
Mr Al Haj began by offering the conference the Islamic greetings of peace. Then began
'I feel now... I can feel the pains of the detainees and the pains of their families.. their wives their children.' He pointed at the mass media's silence on the denial of basic rights to Palestinians and detainees.
He called upon the secretary general of the UN, 'and all international societies who could intervene' to ensure that father's, like Sair's father (the young girl who spoke earlier) to return home.' He went on to tell of a man he had met whilst in Guantanemo, like Saira's father a Palestinian called Ayman.
' Ayman the Palestininian, in Saudi Arabi, kidnapped by the Americans. He is still detained (in Guantanemo) after seven years. Yet four years ago he was proven innocent. Why was he not released? Because the US authorities say he has nowhere to go!'
He ended with a crie to coeur that touched all our hearts.
'They will come home Saira. Your father Ayman and Ayman in Guantanemo. The winds of change have come, starting in Tunisia and spreading. Your father will be released and your father will take you to school!'
The hi light of the conference for many was the appearance and speech given by Sheikh Raid Salah. The humble, emotionally strong, Sheikh, has spent more of his time in Israeli 'security prisons' in the past decade, than he has with his family in the north of historic Palestine (Israel). A poet, scolar and father of eight, he is also the leader of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel.
On a personal note, he is also one of the reasons that I found Islam. But that's another story. His 'crimes' according to the Israeli regime include; raising funds for 'terror' of which he was eventually fully acquitted. He is outspoken in his support for the rights of Palestinians under occupation to mount a physical resistance (as outlined under international law) against the occupying force and power.
He addressed the conference; 'So long as there is an occupation then it is expected that Palestinians, resist the occupation As long as the occupation imposes this bloody violence on the Palestinian people, it is to be expected that some elements of the occupation will be killed .
Why do I speak like this? Because the claim by the israeli occupation regime, is that freedom fighters have blood on their hands. This is wrong. It is the Israeli occupation, which is the terrorist. We have to say the truth when we speak about pure human justice. Then we should not make it easy for the authorities. If they are angry - let them be...Therefore I have to say this; I have to state what I believe. I am ready to pay the price. It must be said that we are going to win the freedom of the prisoners and we are not afraid of prisons! We are seeking victory for justice and humanity. I say without any hesitation..if the choice is relinquhsing freedom and the Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. Then I tell them (Israeli occupation regime), we will go to prison, as we will not give up our rights! There is a state of war between this resistance. And this occupation. This means that the Palestinian prisoner (found guilty of armed struggle) in prison, is a war prisoner. And must be treated as such in keeping with all treaties and conventions."
It is Israel's responsibility, as an occupying Power, to comply fully with its legal obligations, including the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The United Nations, opposes measures of forcible transfer .
The First International Conference on the Rights of Palestinain Prisoners and Detainees.
By: Lauren Booth
After six decades, the illegal detention, torture and prison abuse of Palestinians by the Israeli regime, is being seriously addressed on the international stage. Just days after the UN heard testimonies from former Palestinian prisoners at a special meeting in Vienna, a comprehensive conference has taken place on the same issue, in Geneva.
The session was organised by an Oslo-based network for defending Palestinian prisoner rights, 'UFree' alongside the NGO 'Droit Pour Tous' (Right For All).
In his opening remarks the head of UFree, Mr. Mohammad Hamdan, asked why the mainstream media beyond the Middle East had remained mute, on the suffering of Palestinian men and women detained by the Israeli forces. The conditions in prisons and detention centres, he made asserted, in no way meets international minimum standards.
More than 80 delegates, including Palestinian wives and children of male prisoners, were then shown excerpts from a documentary 'Imprisoned Flowers'. A film which focuses on specific cases of suffering, in Israeli detention centres and prisons.
One such case was Nilly Safadi. A young woman, who fell in love with a blind colleague. In 2003, 14 days after the wedding, Israeli occupation forces arrested her unseeing husband without explanation. For the next seven years she was not permitted to see him. Not even once.
On the 11th of November 2009, Nilly went to visit her sister in Ramallah. She was snatched by Israeli forces and taken to a detention centre near Jerusalem. Without any official charges being brought and without explanation, she was the subjected to 100 days of interrogation, undergoing physical and emotional torture.
The couple were tragically re united, for the first time, in an Israeli courtroom. There, they were forbidden from talking to one another. Unable to help herself, Nilly spoke to her husband. An emotional outburst which earnt her three days in solidarity confinement on return to the prison. On 5 December 2010 she was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment.
The story of Kefah was shown to the conference.
Kefah means ˜struggle' in Arabic. From the West Bank, this mother has two children aged 16 and 17 year old. Children she calls ˜the flowers of her life'.
Kefah suffers from the rare condition Raynauds synrdrome. It has been gradually eroding her limbs for some years. This condition leads to eventual amputation. It is spreading through her body. Kefah,also suffers from asthma and reheumatoid arthritis.
The mother of two, was arrested some years ago. She was not charged with any crime by the arresting officers. However, she was tortured; hung up by her wrists in a cell, then placed in solitary confinement. To this day she has not appeared before a court.
Under pressure from rights groups Kefah’s deteriorating health, meant she was eventually sent to a clinic in Israel from prison. Here against a series of legal appeals, her hands were cuffed at all times, causing her further injuries.
No one knows when she wil be released.
The most moving speech of the day, was given by the daughter of Ayman Kfisha; Saira
Saira was born not long after her father was imprisoned, by Israel. She is now fourteen. Her father has not been home since her birth.
She told delegates; '˜This night has been too long. I don't see the end of it'. She expressed her solidarity with the prisoners and their families suffering like her own, saluting their strength.
To the Zionist regime, 1,000 days is nothing, but to a family missing a loved one, unable to carry on with their lives, or visit their relative, it is an painful emotional torture. Saira talked of her sadness.
"I feel sadness. How long must we suffer this? Until when will the mothers continue to cry for their detainees and the wives continue to worry for their husbands? How long will children be denied fathers? I appeal to the international conscience. Humanity should not have accepted this reality. To speak about detainees is to speak about a great wound in my heart. You can ask my mother how can she spend her hours. How can she meet the loneliness? Ask my grandmother- can she still cry for her son? She has cried too much."
Saira gave delegates a clear view of what it is like for children visiting fathers held in detention by Israel. The security barriers, the inspections, the use of "every method" to break the womens dignity. The cruelty of even these rare visits is something that tens of thousands of Palestinian families have been familiar with. since 1967 almost three quarters of a million Palestinians have been subjected to Israeli detention, often without charge. Only 3 per cent of those incarcerated were convicted of acts of resistance.
Saira movingly described the agony of the women and children who after months, even years of waiting to see a loved one, after hours of humiliations to reach the prison entrance, that, (in an inexplicably callous manner) an Israeli soldier will often tear up the wives precious permission slip. Throwing it onto the ground, reports this child, ' because they are in a bad mood'.
'In this way they manage even to remove the pleasure of seeing a father again. Replacing even this moment of hope, with anxiety and fear'.
What is daily life like for Palestinians in Israeli 'security' prisons? The conference heard Saira recount her father Ayman's experience in some detail. Newspapers are banned for the father as they are other detainees in Beer Sheva prison. Interestingly, you will find it hard to get any information on these facilities on the internet. Those held in Beer Sheva, are routinely denied pens and rulers. Listening to Al Jazeera has been banned. Books are banned for many. Access to external news was briefly given (then removed again) after several prisoners went on hunger strike.
Saira, went on to describe her father's experience of solitary confinement. These cells are just 1m by 1m and are Medieval in other ways. No light enters them. Some prisoners are reported to have spent 25 years in these conditions.
Here is a report into the most recent attack on prisoners in Beer Sheva ;
http://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2011/03/04/soldiers-break-into-eshil-be%E2%80%99er-sheva-prison-attack-detainees-search-their-rooms/
As the young girl spoke, some Palestinian men in the hall - former prisoners - cried. No doubt reliving their own experiences. One man sobbed, his chest heaving.
The next speaker to address this ground-breaking conference was Mrs Nurhayaty. She is leader of the co ordinating committe of women parliamentarians of IRP and an Indonesian parliamentarian. Mrs Nurhayaty spoke of the need for an international 'conscience' and to applause, told delegates:
'There will be no world peace without peace in Palestine'.
Mr Ueli Leuenberger, Leader of Green Party, expressed sympathy for all those suffering the 'failure of the international community in giving them their land and their freedom'.
He called on Switzerland to end trading arms to Israel and to end all and any military co operation with the regime. His colleagues in he Green Party intend to place before the Swiss parliament a call for an end to the trade in settlement produce in Switzerland.
He spoke of the a changing world, in which, in light of the uprisings sweeping the Middle East and North Africa, there are renewed hopes for solidarity, justice and freedom. Beginning, he emphasized, with the liberation of all Palestinian 'political prisoners'.
Jeremy Corbyn UK MP and long term activist for Palestinian rights, came up with the first solid recommendation of the day. One that can be easily implemented by human rights groups, NGO's and even individuals worldwide.
'Geneva, the home of so many hopes. And the reality of so many disappointments, in relation to Palestinian rights' he began.
Then he listed the abuses of human rights Israel practices on the Palestinian civilians, including children and women, it kidnaps from the West Bank and Gaza, week in, week out;
'Administrative detention. Solitary confinement. Lack of medical support. No visitors associations. Perhaps worst of all, the torture of not knowing. Nothing is worse than a state that takes people from the street, then forces them into wasting their lives (in a cell) not knowing when they will be free. Each prisoner has their families put in prison too. Because, their hopes and their dreams are all put on hold as well.
Corbyn proposes that the files of individual prisoners now be sent to solidarity groups internationally so that the faces, ages and names of these prisoners can be more widely known and one to one campaigns for their release. And compensation for their suffering. Can begin in earnest. It is of the upmost importance to children, to family members, like Saira, to the Palestinian detainees themselves, that Corbyn's call is heard and acted upon.
Mr Husam Kader, himself a former detainee in an Israeli 'security prison' is also a member of the Palestinian legislative council.
He told the conference that there are legal teams globally, ready, today to use 'all possible means to extablish justice in Palestine beginning with violations against the prisoners'. Mr Kader, expressed confidence in the abilty of these lawyers to act as soon as the prisoners files on these cases, arrive at their offices.
The use of detention without any given cause, particularly in the case of aged persons, women and children are abuses that fall under the remit of the international court. He calls for Arab and European lawyers to deal in an organized way, in co operation, so that prisoners and that justice, be served.
The vehicle firm Volvo was indicted for it's involvement in Israeli crimes regarding the illegal transportation of Palestinians from their home towns and villages to prisons and detention centres in Israel. Volvo has created a specialized bus for the sole purpose of transporting Palestinian detainees, from their land - to Israel. Volvo must now be make the top twenty in the list of firms to be targeted by the BDS campaign.
Leader of the policy committee of the Swiss Socialist party, Mr Carlo Summaruga, made an impassioned call on the citizens of the world to take a reminder of our duties to one another from the Arab and North African uprisings. Our duty - to one another.
'We, the Swiss people,' he said 'demand the immediate release of the Palestinian prisoners. An end to all econmic co operation and miliatary co operation with Israel. And that the international community banish Israel from all future meetings, until they meet their (human rights) obligations'.
The gently charismatic, former Guantanemo prisoner, Sami al-Haj addressed the conference. I first interviewed Sami just after his release from Guantanemo in 2008. He was frail and had just met his son, a boy who had not seen his father, for six years. Here is a man of dignity and bravery, whose mission now in life is to see the release of those men and women detained by corrupt systems and governments, where ever they are. He told me in 2008, he would never leave his 'brothers' behind without a voice and of his intense emotional sensitivity to the suffering of all prisoners in dire conditions. His presence at this, ground breaking conference, again shows his commitment to that cause.
Mr Al Haj began by offering the conference the Islamic greetings of peace. Then began
'I feel now... I can feel the pains of the detainees and the pains of their families.. their wives their children.' He pointed at the mass media's silence on the denial of basic rights to Palestinians and detainees.
He called upon the secretary general of the UN, 'and all international societies who could intervene' to ensure that father's, like Sair's father (the young girl who spoke earlier) to return home.' He went on to tell of a man he had met whilst in Guantanemo, like Saira's father a Palestinian called Ayman.
' Ayman the Palestininian, in Saudi Arabi, kidnapped by the Americans. He is still detained (in Guantanemo) after seven years. Yet four years ago he was proven innocent. Why was he not released? Because the US authorities say he has nowhere to go!'
He ended with a crie to coeur that touched all our hearts.
'They will come home Saira. Your father Ayman and Ayman in Guantanemo. The winds of change have come, starting in Tunisia and spreading. Your father will be released and your father will take you to school!'
The hi light of the conference for many was the appearance and speech given by Sheikh Raid Salah. The humble, emotionally strong, Sheikh, has spent more of his time in Israeli 'security prisons' in the past decade, than he has with his family in the north of historic Palestine (Israel). A poet, scolar and father of eight, he is also the leader of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel.
On a personal note, he is also one of the reasons that I found Islam. But that's another story. His 'crimes' according to the Israeli regime include; raising funds for 'terror' of which he was eventually fully acquitted. He is outspoken in his support for the rights of Palestinians under occupation to mount a physical resistance (as outlined under international law) against the occupying force and power.
He addressed the conference; 'So long as there is an occupation then it is expected that Palestinians, resist the occupation As long as the occupation imposes this bloody violence on the Palestinian people, it is to be expected that some elements of the occupation will be killed .
Why do I speak like this? Because the claim by the israeli occupation regime, is that freedom fighters have blood on their hands. This is wrong. It is the Israeli occupation, which is the terrorist. We have to say the truth when we speak about pure human justice. Then we should not make it easy for the authorities. If they are angry - let them be...Therefore I have to say this; I have to state what I believe. I am ready to pay the price. It must be said that we are going to win the freedom of the prisoners and we are not afraid of prisons! We are seeking victory for justice and humanity. I say without any hesitation..if the choice is relinquhsing freedom and the Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. Then I tell them (Israeli occupation regime), we will go to prison, as we will not give up our rights! There is a state of war between this resistance. And this occupation. This means that the Palestinian prisoner (found guilty of armed struggle) in prison, is a war prisoner. And must be treated as such in keeping with all treaties and conventions."
It is Israel's responsibility, as an occupying Power, to comply fully with its legal obligations, including the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The United Nations, opposes measures of forcible transfer .
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