David Rolstone's Letters from Palestine

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Saturday, 27 December 2003 - Children and Palestinian flag's

Hi All,

Yesterday was Boxing Day, of course no one here knew that, but it was Friday, which is the one day of the week they don't work and added to that on Christmas day there had been a suicide bomber in Tel-Aviv and the army had closed off the whole area. So it was not looking good for getting to Qalqilya with a group of Italians for a demo against the wall. We arranged to meet at Qalandia and found that there were no service Taxies going directly to Qalqilya. So we first had to go to Huwara, which is very close to Nablus then to Kif Haris and Al Fundug most of the time we were on back roads to avoid the IDF roadblocks. These roads are incredible and I'm amazed that the drivers can get along them at all in a long wheelbase taxi. They are far too rough for rally cars to use; the drivers would complain at the severity! The countryside is so beautiful and the small farming villages so picturesque surrounded by ancient olive trees. After using 4 taxies and walking three times we eventually arrived at the Qalandia checkpoint. This checkpoint is the only way in to the city, which is now sealed up like a bottle by the wall. The soldiers were very suspicious of us, and were not very convinced by our reason for wanting to enter. But eventually let us pass having got confused by the rapid Italian coming from all sides!

We had a very good evening and were royally entertained, I even played a game of pool on a full-size table. Today was the day of the demo, but other internationals arriving in the morning were turned back at the checkpoint, which was very disappointing after such a long journey.

It was a very large demo, well attended by Palestinians with banners and placards. It was at first peaceful but during the speeches explosions could be heard coming from the direction of the wall. When I went to see what was happening I could see that the soldiers were firing tear gas and sound bombs over the wall at the children who were throwing stones at the medieval like gate in the wall. Children had fastened Palestinian flag's on the gate and stuck them in the wall surrounding it. Now as the tear gas descended and rubber bullets began to fly the older children started fires with tires against the wall turning the whole place in to a scene from hell. Most of the tear gas was fired from rifles and came lobbing over the wall to be pounced on by the older children and thrown back over the wall to great cheers. Unfortunately there was soon a steady stream of medical volunteers carrying stretchers to the ambulances. The UPMRC ambulance alone dealt with 10 casualties including two from rubber bullets. We eventually set off back to Ramallah, and had quite a hard time at the checkpoint as we left. I had to totally unpack my bag before reluctantly being allowed through, they were not happy with us. The journey back was uneventful except when an Army jeep drove straight at our taxi, forcing it to stop, this happened when both were driving at normal speed for the open road causing us to brake very hard to avoid a collision. The jeep then just looked through our windows at us and drove off?

More demos are planned up until the new year so will keep you informed as it happens, till then peace and bright moments, Dave.

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