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Welcome
to a PAIX discussion and promotion !
I
am a Palestinian
How
could I scream out that I am a Palestinian, so the whole
world could hear me ?
I
need to clarify that I am a Palestinian without any
shame, or fear, and without being accused that I am
dangerous to any one.
I
am proud of being a Palestinian, and I want the whole
world to understand that I will not accept to stay under
occupation without any rights, or dignity, thrown with
insults and humiliation every day, and reading nothing
but what is forbidden to me.
We
are forbidden from movement, from organizing ourselves,
from expressing our thoughts or opinions, from drinking
water, etc.
Why?
I
wasn't born a terrorist, or people hater, or violent
lover, and I don't want to be in a conflict with any one.
But at the same time you must recognize my humanity,
identity, and rights; as it is not possible to be born
under occupation, and live under occupation, and die also
while I am still under the occupation.
You
accuse me of all kind of charges, and punish me for all
the work that I've done or haven't done.
I
am accused where ever I go, and I must always prove that
I am not dangerous on any one.
So
when will I be recognized as a member of this world - a
member of humanity ?
- Why
do you accept for me what you don't accept for
yourselves?
- Would
you accept to live under the occupation of
another people or government other than yours?
- Would
you accept to live under emergency laws from the
day you were born until the day you die?
- Would
you accept the prevention of water supply but so
little of it?
I
have read the history just like you did, and learnt that
George Washington had fought the English occupation to
liberate his country; the Vietnamese had also fought the
USA; the South African fought the white; and, the black
Africans fought the prejudice systems.
All
nations struggled for their countries independence and
none of them were considered terrorists.
So
why we are not allowed to demand and struggle to free
ourselves ?
Or
does the world want us to become slaves ?
Believe
me when I say that we have rights less than slaves did.
Some
of my friends told me that they did not leave the city of
Bethlehem for three years.
I
know some of the Palestinians who spend over a year in
prison without a trial, and even without knowing what the
charge is.
I
know and you know that the Palestinian people are being
punished collectively over any action no matter what.
Territories
are being closed; curfew forced over cities with and
without any reason (and sometimes due to what is called
an "intelligence note"); children and old men
suffer; students are forbidden from going to schools; ill
people are forbidden from reaching hospitals etc.
We
are humans, and we are not considered on the law they
call "human rights", or "human needs".
In
addition to that, we are not allowed to complain or feel
pain, or scream, or moan, or write about it.
You
may not believe me when I tell you that I may get
punished for this letter, or forbidden to move, because
what I write here is considered as a provocation, and I
may be considered violating human rights with this
writing and not the occupation, the administration
detention, the collective punishment, and the killing
without a trial etc., which violates human rights.
Believe
me:
- I
don't like violence, all that I seek is to be a
normal human being, moving freely, and treated
with respect.
- I
struggle for peace and justice, but this does not
protect me from being punished collectively and
from all kind of bias in laws, and treatment,
just because I am a Palestinian.
And
no matter what I say they will not believe me.
The
easiest thing for them is generalization, announcing
collective judgments, closing all Palestinian
territories, prohibiting objection, threatening with
jailing, and killing all those who do not agree.
All
this for the sake of security.
Security
to whom, and who provides security ?
Don't
we deserve security too ?
Or
is security for just one kind of human beings, and we do
not deserve security, nor freedom, nor respect, nor work,
or water ? ? ! !
I
wish to know what the Israeli government wants from me.
- They
don't want us as equal citizens with equal rights.
- They
don't want us to get our independence in a
national government.
- They
don't want us to work in Israel, or to have any
connection with Jordan.
- They
want us to stay in a prejudice situation into the
third millennium; citizens without any rights;
under special laws, without the right to object
on any thing; because we live on a land that is
not ours, we've been there just by accident, and
for that we must not demand equality, or
independent, or freedom etc.
In
spite of all that, I promise you that under these
circumstances:
- We
will continue to struggle for freedom, peace,
justice, and equality.
- We
will not accept less than this, no matter of all
the accusations, no matter of the strength of the
occupation tanks, artillery, and F16's.
- We
will not stand quiet or stop demanding and
struggle for the true just peace.
There
will be no security, not for us or them, without peace
and justice; no matter how long we suffer.
There
is no alternative for the just peace, which gives all
people the same rights and duties without discrimination,
due to religion, color, race, ethnicity, nationality, or
whatever.
Is
it a shame to be a Palestinian ?
Again.
I
am proud to be a Palestinian, and I love peace, justice,
love, equality, and all good morals.
I
work and struggle to bring people together in equal
manners and reconcile on the basis of justice and respect
to all.
Yours
in Peace & Reconciliation,
Noah
Salameh
Director
The
Center for Conflict Resolution & Reconciliation (CCRR)
P.O.Box.
861
Bethlehem
- Palestine
Tel.
+972-2-2767745
Fax.
+972-2-2745475
E-mail: ccrr@palnet.com
Take
a minute to check our joint web site (www.ipctnet.org):
<http://www.ipctnet.org/>
To
read our "The Tree of Hope" periodical Magazine:
#1,
November 2003, click http://www.ipctnet.org/2003-11-wifaq.pdf
#2,
January 2004, click http://www.ipctnet.org/2004-1-28_mag.zip
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