(Arabic text below) 

WE NEED YOU! HELP US BREAK THE SIEGE OF GAZA! OHIOANS AND OTHERS, 
INCLUDING RAGING GRANNIES, CODE PINK DELEGATES AND INTERNATIONALS ARE 
PLANNING NONVIOLENT DIRECT ACTION AT THE RAFAH, EGYPT CROSSING IN JUNE 
'09 AND BEYOND. 

GOALS: 
1. DRAW US AND WORLD ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT GAZA, PALESTINE HAS 
BEEN UNDER SIEGE FOR 2 YEARS. LITTLE FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES ARE 
GETTING IN AND EXPORTS ARE NONEXISTENT. GAZA CANNOT REBUILD AFTER THE 
DEC-JAN ISRAELI ATTACKS THAT DECIMATED THE 360 SQ KM AREA, WHERE 1.5 
MILLION ARE TRYING TO LIVE. 

2. PRESSURE THE US, ISRAELI AND EGYPTIAN GOVTS. TO LIFT THE BLOCKADE 
PERMANENTLY. 

********************* 

Let go to Rafah NOW! 

Dear friends, 

Till now, more 300 organizations and individuals from 26 countries 
have endorsed the call “International Movement to Open the Rafah 
Border” and we thank you 

As you may know, there are always people from all over the world who 
are trying to get into Gaza in order to bring aid to the Palestinian 
people who are living under a desperate situation. 

Thousands of tons of food, medical and emergency shelter aid including 
blankets and mattresses, donated by countries including the United 
States and aid organisations, are denied entry through crossings by 
the Israeli government but also by the egyptian government. 

The United Nations has stated that 900,000 Gazans are now dependent on 
food aid following Israel‘s 22-day assault on the tiny coastal 
territory. 
Only 100 aid trucks are being allowed into Gaza each day - 30 less 
than were being brought in last year and substantially less than 
before Israel’s operation ‘Cast Lead’: an attack that has left over 
1,300 Palestinians dead, the vast majority of them civilians massacred 
in their streets and homes. With over 5,000 injured and 100,000 
homeless, admittance of aid is crucial at this time. 

This is a fraction of the estimated 500-600 trucks deemed necessary to 
sustain the population of Gaza according to the United Nations. 
According to UNRWA, food trucks are delivering enough food to feed 
just 30,000 people per day. 

Hundreds of medical patients, the injured from this war and Israel’s 
previous invasions, are being prohibited from leaving Gaza for 
indispensable medical treatment. Over 300 people have died of 
preventable and treatable conditions, due to the ongoing siege staged 
since 4 years ago. 

In Charm El Cheik, the world leaders promised billions of aid to Gaza, 
but why if the borders remain closed and if aid trucks cannot enter 
into Gaza. 

So we must establish a permanent sit-in at the Rafah border till the 
siege, which is a war crime, will be lift. 

Our main goal is not one people or a group enters into Gaza but our 
goal is to lift the siege and also to help the Palestinians to move 
freely through the crossing, an application of international law and 
the respect for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (December, 
10th 1948).* 
. 
During our sit-in, we will organize coordinated actions on both sides 
of the border with our friends in Gaza. 

So, in order to organize this action, we need to know: 

-          When can you join us at the Rafah border? 
-          Will you come alone or with a group? If you will come as a 
group, how many people are you? 
-          How long can you stay there? 
-          Would you want to help us in coordinating this action? 

As you can guess it, the Egyptian authorities will do their best to 
prevent you to reach the Rafah border, so we will give you all the 
information and contacts in Egypt you need. 

If you cannot come: 

May be you can help a friend, an activist to come (through 
fundraising) 

You can also communicate with media and all your surroundings 

In support of this action, we will launch soon a "mailing protest 
campaign" to embassies (Egypt Embassy in your country, and your own 
embassy in Egypt) and to your Foreign Office 

So if you intend to come soon or in the coming months or if you need 
more details, please contact us at : intm...@googlemail.com and 
gazadelegat...@gmail.com  440-623-0492 

In solidarity 

* Article 13. 
 (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence 
within the borders of each state. 
 (2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, 
and to return to his country. 

حتى الآن ، أكثر من 300 من المنظمات والأفراد من 26 بلدا أيدوا الدعوة 
إلى "الحركة الدولية لفتح معبر رفح الحدودي" ونشكركم . 

وكما تعلمون، هناك دائما أشخاص من جميع أنحاء العالم يحاولون الوصول إلى 
غزة من اجل إيصال المساعدات إلى الشعب الفلسطيني الذي يعيش في ظل وضع 
يائس. 

آلاف الأطنان من المواد الغذائية والطبية والمأوى والمساعدات الطارئة 
الطوارئ بما في ذلك البطاطين والفرشات ، والتي تبرعت بها دول عديدة من 
بينها الولايات المتحدة ومنظمات الإغاثة ، ومنعوا من الدخول عبر المعابر 
من الحكومة الإسرائيلية ، ولكن أيضا من جانب الحكومة المصرية. 

ذكرت الأمم المتحدة أن 900000 من سكان غزة يعتمدون الآن على المساعدات 
الغذائية في أعقاب الاعتداء الإسرائيلي على قطاع غزة والذي استمر لمدة 22 
يوم. 
فقط  100 شاحنة من  المساعدات يتم السماح لهم بدخول قطاع غزة كل يوم –اقل 
ب 30 شاحنة مما  كان مسموح بإدخاله في العام الماضي ، وأقل بكثير مما كان 
قبل العملية الإسرائيلية 'ممثلون الرصاص' :الهجوم الذي خلف ورائه أكثر من 
1300 شهيدا فلسطينيا ، غالبيتهم العظمى من المدنيين الذين ذبحوا في 
الشوارع والمنازل. مع أكثر من 5000 جريح و 100000 بلا مأوى ، وقبول 
المعونة أمر بالغ الأهمية في هذا الوقت. 

 هذا جزء بسيط من ما يقارب 500-600 شاحنة التي تعتبر ضرورية للحفاظ على 
السكان في قطاع غزة وفقا للأمم المتحدة. ووفقا للأونروا ، فان شاحنات 
الغذاء توفر ما يكفي من الغذاء لإطعام 30000 شخص فقط في اليوم الواحد. 

يمنع المئات من المرضى والمصابين, من هذه الحرب والغزو الإسرائيلي 
السابق  من مغادرة غزة لتلقي العلاج الطبي اللازم والضروري. أكثر من 268 
شخص لقوا حتفهم من جراء أحوال صحية ممكن الوقاية منها ومعالجتها  وجاء 
ذلك نتيجة لاستمرار الحصار المستمر منذ أربع سنوات مضت. 

وفي شرم الشيخ،  وعد زعماء العالم مساعدات لقطاع غزة تقدر بالبلايين ، 
ولكن لماذا إذا الحدود لا تزال مغلقة ، وإذا قافلات المساعدات لا تستطيع 
أن تدخل إلى غزة. 

لذا لا بد لنا من تحقيق إقامة دائمة في الاعتصام عند معبر رفح على الحدود 
حتى رفع هذا الحصار والذي يعتبر أصلا جريمة حرب. 

هدفنا الرئيسي هو ليس فقط السماح لشخصا واحدا أو مجموعة بالعبور إلى غزة 
ولكن هدفنا هو رفع الحصار وكذلك لمساعدة الفلسطينيين على التنقل بحرية من 
خلال المعبر، وتطبيق القانون الدولي واحترام الإعلان العالمي لحقوق 
الإنسان) كانون الأول / ديسمبر 10 عام 1948 

وخلال الاعتصام ، فإننا سوف نقوم بتنظيم إجراءات منسقة على جانبي الحدود 
مع أصدقائنا في قطاع غزة. 

لذا ، من أجل تنظيم هذا العمل ، نحن بحاجة إلى معرفة ما يلي : 

-- متى يمكنك الانضمام إلينا في رفح على الحدود؟ 

-- هل ستأتي بمفردك أو مع مجموعة؟ إذا كنت ستأتي مع مجموعة ، كم  عددكم؟ 
-- إلى متى يمكنك البقاء هناك؟ 

-- هل تريد أن تساعدنا في تنسيق هذا العمل؟ 

كما تظنون ، السلطات المصرية ستبذل ما بوسعها لمنعكم من الوصول إلى معبر 
رفح الحدودي ، لذلك سنقدم لكم كل المعلومات والاتصالات التي سوف تحتاجون 
إليها في مصر. 

إذا كنت لا تستطيع أن يأتي : 

قد يكون لك صديق ناشط ممكن أن تساعده على المجيء (من خلال جمع التبرعات) 

يمكنك أيضا التواصل مع وسائل الإعلام وجميع محيطك 

دعما لهذا العمل ، فإننا سوف تبدأ قريبا " حملة الاحتجاج البريدية " 
للسفارات (سفارة مصر في بلدكم ، والسفارة الخاصة بك في مصر) ، وإلى 
مكتبك  الخارجي. 

حتى إذا كنت تنوي المجيء قريبا أو في الأشهر المقبلة، أو إذا كنت تحتاج 
إلى مزيد من التفاصيل، يرجى الاتصال بنا على: 
 intm...@googlemail.com 

مع كل التضامن 

مادة 13 

1- للجميع حق التنقل والإقامة ضمن حدود المنطقة التي يسكن بها. 

 2- للجميع الحق بترك أي بلد من البلاد من ضمنها بلده, وله حق العودة 
إليها متى يشاء. 

_____________________________________________________________

School supplies, Water units, and Soccer balls

Todays trip to the US Embassy in Cairo, Egypt was not totally fruitless - we now have the hours of operation for the consulate 8AM-11AM. We plan on getting there Tuesday, 3/3/09 at 8:30AM to get the required affidavits that we will need to get into Gaza, through the Rafah Crossing also on Tuesday. It is a five hour trip from Cairo - We also plan to get the water purifiers through our contact, Faiza, and the Iraq Water Project (Cleveland, OH contact, Art Dorland w/ Vets for Peace) in the morning before we head to Rafah.

The school supplies collection in Cleveland last week was pretty darn good, considering we just had 3 days to do it- filled one large suitcase and a duffle bag with pecils, pens, folders, glue stick, staplers, etc. ( our luggage was NOT detained like the last time I came to the Middle East).

The Massachusetts team members, Dr. Martha (Marty) Nathan and Paki Wieland brought a bunch a soccar balls and other goodies for the children.

We plan on meeting up with the Code Pink Delegation , including, Rachel Corrie's Parents and author Alice Walker and some 60 others in Gaza.

Baqaa Refugee Camp

One of the most emotional experiences happened today when the Global Exchange delegation visited the Baqaa Palestinian Refugee Camp in Jordan. The camp is not a camp like you would imagine with tents, but more of a seemingly endless inner-city housing project.  The streets were so narrow that our bus had to squeeze its way through the busy streets. An endless stream of refugees were all walking in many directions. The camp now holds 102,000 people in a 1.4 kilometer area.

As we were getting an orientation at the Baqaa administration office, It just happened that the camp elder showed up to speak. He is 96 years old, tall, thin, and brown, wearing a red and white kefiyah with black knit crown. He bore a wisdom that minimized all our fancy notions of our own civility.

He told us that Palestinian people blame the US for their 61-year plight, being massacred and forced to flee form their homes and villages in 1948. The situation s going from bad to worse. "The [Palestinian] refugees will always want to go back to their homes. How would you like it," pointing to one delegate's backpack, "if I took your bag and would not give it back? Or if I told you that you must give to me your home?"

"I have been a refugee for 61 years," the old shekh continued, "all the western nations that have contributed to this crisis are not taking responsibility. Now the United Nations Relief and Works Agency UNRWA must go begging for resources. You as NGOs have the same responsibility. You have to tell them that we wish to have our right to return to Palestine."

The GX delegates left the office and headed for the clinic. I felt a wave of guilt and emotion rise in me as I saw the misplaced people of Palestine blandly existing in this dusty, crowded, place. We saw many goods for sell in the market area, handicrafts and dry-looking fruits for sale. Then laid out on blankets were broken scraps of shriveled pita bread... for sale! "What have we done?" I thought, "in our unwavering blind support for the brutal Occupation of Palestine that causes this unforgivable hardship?"

 I thought of the people in Gaza, under Israeli siege, without food, electricity or any goods going in or out, right now; Gazans, who are making their bread from the throw-away part of the wheat so they can fill their children's bellies with something.

 

The tour took us to a women's empowerment and vocational center. Then the  final stage of our tour was the elementary school. Thank goodness for this. The teachers at this school are miracle workers, keeping the children busy with learning English, math, kindness and songs.

The GX delegation was graced with the innocent joy of these children who have nothing but love. And they insist on giving all of what they have to the visitors from the West.

US Missile Landed in His Bedroom

GLOBAL EXCHANGE; WAR AND DISPLACEMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Status of Forces Agreement is product of bribes and deceit

A missile fired into Miqdad Baghdadi's bedroom one night. In fact, the missile landed right in the bed where he and his wife lay. His leg was burned and he saw his wife's hair on fire. Her chest was burned as well. Fortunately their injuries were not life-threatening.Mr Baghdadi found wire and fragments with the identifying markings of "USA." They did not file an incident report, because to be seen going into the US headquarters, could put a mark on you, as a collaborator.

The US headquarters, AKA the Green Zone, "is half the size of the city of Damascus and sustains 3000 employees." Mr. Baghdadi was finally forced to enter the Green Zone when his nephew was kidnapped in 2006. The abduction was conducted by the Iraqi Ministry of Health. Two police cars and four unmarked Hum V's pulled up to his house and ushered the nephew away. He is still missing. 

Mr. Baghdadi, a prominent member of the community with an established family name in Baghdad, went to to the Green Zone with his niece to speak with President Malaki. They were escorted through many layers of security personnel, the first being contracted soldiers from the Fiji Islands, with guard dogs. "The walls [around the Green Zone] are thirty feet high." Mr. Baghdadi told the Global Exchange delegation. They went through five check points and then were separated and searched. Even their military escorts were searched. After a long wait, they finally met with President Malaki. The dialogue was tense and the two men argued. Bagdadi and his niece left with no hope of finding her husband.

Our GX delegates heard more stories of disrespect towards Iraqis by the US soldiers. President Malaki's number #2 man was seen being knocked down by US soldiers and his head stepped upon. Another time,  a presidential consultant and his wife were forced out there house into the street, the middle of the night, in their pajamas, while soldiers searched their house.

Mr. Baghdadi also had a surprise visit. One night he was on the phone and suddenly felt someone behind him. A US soldier had a gun pointed at him. More soldiers appeared. They had come in through the roof, which was common practice. His wife and daughter were also held at gunpoint while their home was searched. Mr. Baghdadi was asked about any guns in the house. One gun is allowed. He was told to his gun. 

Soldiers customarily confiscate personal  items, i.e. gold, money and cell phones. When Baghdadi went upstairs to retrieve his gun, there was a soldier in his bedroom. He decided to get all of his rings and put them on his fingers so they would not be stolen by the soldiers. When Baghdadi got back downstairs, a soldier intrusively asked him, "why are you wearing so many rings?" 

Mr. Baghdadi replied, "this is my hobby."

Another soldier saw the beautiful family garden and said he did not know that there were gardens in Iraq. Baghdadi replied, "we are not all Bedouins." 

A new Status of Forces agreement that mandates a 2011 pullout of troops has little public support,  GX was informed on numerous occasions that the cosignatories of the SOF were all publicly bribed, received diplomatic passports for themselves and their families, and were given armored cars to ward off assassination attempts.

Miqdad Baghdadi worked in the Iraqi government for 29 years in the Ministry for Mosques and Restoration and the Ministry for Information. He belongs to an international organization for the conservation for museums and heritage. His family is the eldest in Baghdad. 

Jordanian Democratic Popular Party on Palestine

On November 27 Global Exchange (GX) Middle East War and Displacement Delegation met with members of the Jordanian Democratic Popular Party in Amman, Jordan, including journalist, Ahmed Abu Shawar, and General Secretary Ahmed Yusif.

Ahmed Abu Shawar welcomed us, and said, "we are thankful for your presence and interest in Palestine. Solidarity is the tool to solve humanitarian problems in the world."

We learned that 60% of Jordanians are Palestinian. The "right of return" to Old Palestine is of utmost concern to the party, its members and most Jordanian Palestinians.

Ahmed Abu Shawar started his story discussing the Balfour Declaration of 1917. "The British mandate was used to extend influence in this area of the world, [the Middle East]. Palestine was important to Britain, geographically and militarily." Mr. Shawar continued, "The British Empire organized with Zionists to move Jewish people from around the world."

Mr. Shawar indicated that the British government tried to diminish the viability of the Palestinians by manipulating the prices of their crops; when there was a high yield, prices would be driven upwards. When there was a low yield, prices would be lowered. This is the opposite of normal market trends. Palestinians who opposed these policies were punished.

General Secretary Ahmed Yusif explained that there were three revolutions: 1921, 1936, and 1939. These revolutions were crushed by surrounding them with troops.

Palestine was an advanced society and highly productive since the 1920's. They had an active textile industry and leather works. At one time Palestine was the sixth largest producer of citrus fruits.

Palestinians continually support peoples' revolutions against dictators and for international workers' rights, i.e. opposition to Spain's Franco, supporting oilworkers' strikes in Iran in the 1930s-50s, and opposition to the Nazis.

Before 1948 Jews and Palestinians lived side by side in the neighborhoods where Israel now stands. our GX group leader and interpreter, Khalid Jarrar, said his Palestinian grandmother still remembers the songs she learned in Hebrew as a child, playing with her Jewish neighbors.

In 1948, Palestinians called for a multi religious state with Jews, Christians and Muslims. the British stopped this. Instead, something changed, said journalist Shawar, "Zionist gangs, armed by the British Empire, massacred Palestinian civilians."

"British planes and tanks helped Zionists destroy 531 villages. About 800,000 Palestinians were forced to flee. The United Nations resolved to divide Palestine: 47% for Palestinians, 53% for Jews. The Jewish people comprised 6% of the population at this time."

Mr. Shawar and Mr. Yusif cited many examples of massecres on Palestinians in the farm fields during Ramadan, in the mosque, and in their villages. This was a systematic ehtnic cleansing of the Palestinians.

To Be Continued

What happened in Fallujah

Our Global Exchange delegation, now in Damascas Syria met with Mr. Makki Nazzal, a late-middle-aged journalist who spoke openly and passionately about the two battles in Fallujah, Iraq in 2003 and 2004. He lived through the bloody battles in this city of just 9km in diameter.

In April, 2003, US forces began the tactic of stationing themselves on rooftops and spying on the women in their homes. In Fallujah, there was strong objection to this because the women were not properly dressed for the eyes of strangers. Hundreds marched peacefully to the US headquarters in a local schoolhouse to ask US forces to end this obtrusive practice. The US responded with gunfire, killing 17 Fallujans and wounding another 70.

Reistance fighters began to battle US forces. The US seemed to enjoy the challenge because it would legitimized their violence against the people of Fallujah. The US was soon surprised at the huge resistance. Fighting continued through the summer of 2003.

On June 30, a huge explosion at a mosque killed Sheikh Laith Khalil and eight others. The US eventually pulled back forces and totally withdrew by the end of 2003.

The following April '04, two four-wheel drive SUVs entered Fallujah. Mr Nazzal said that the people were surprised because US forces had withdrawn from Fallujah and there was no justification for this intrusion. The vehicles were identified as Blackwater, US military contractors. Unidentified gunman ambushed the vehicles killing four contractors.

US General Paul Bremer vowed vengence. Mr. Nazzal assured us that the killers were outsiders, not Fallujahns. 1,250 people of Fallujah were killed for the deaths of these four soldiers.

In June of 2004 Makki Nazzal was part of a negotiating team with the US. In the agreement the US agreed not to bomb private homes. The agreement was broken the next day by US bombs.

Throughout his experience with soldiers, Mr. Nazzal was surprised by the general lack of respect from the US soldiers even before violence broke out. He would walk by them and greet them in the Arabic word for hello, "Marhaba." The soldiers would reply, "Yeah, Fuck you too." They may have not known he could understand English.

War-related birth defects in Fallujah 
http://www.presstv. com/detail. aspx?id=57875& sectionid= 351020201

Meeting with UN High Commissioner Office on Refugees

The 2003 Invasion of Iraq by the US and UK was well announced, giving the UNCHR time to prepare for the expected outflow of Iraqi refugees into Jordan, Syria, and Turkey. The expected migration into Jordan did not occur in great numbers in the immediate aftermath of the invasion. Jordon saw only a few hundred refugees. The UNHCR scaled back its preparations.

Until 2006, refugees crossed the border into Jordon in an orderly fashion, with proper visas, according to Arafat Jamal, deputy representative of the UNHCR. In 2006, when sectarian violence flared up refugee outflow into Jordan increased dramatically.

It has been estimated that there are one million Iraqi refugees in Jordan, however, Deputy Jamal only referred to those 450,000 who have registered with the nation of Jordan.

Deputy Jamal stated in strong terms that resettlement into Iraq is NOT recommended at this time. Only a few hundred have returned to their homes in Iraq from Jordan.

[blogging is highly restricted from our current location - I will continue this tomorrow, inshaallah]