David Rolstone's Letters from Palestine

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Thursday, 8 January 2004 - Magic Tricks

Hi All,

Sharon's magic trick is to present Israel as a victim in the world's media, while gaining time for his draconian strategy on the ground and claiming Israel has no partner for peace while eliminating any such partner. Using this skillful media strategy Sharon is now daring to say out loud what he has been working towards throughout his time in office: the consolidation of Israel's illegal seizure of 58% of land across the West Bank and Gaza Strip and with it the total subjugation of the Palestinian people.

Presenting the Annexation wall together with the assassination policy and the daily humiliation and harassment of the Palestinians, as "preventing terrorism" is really only an excuse for doing nothing to end the occupation. Now the Palestinians find themselves in a unique state of affairs as an occupied people held responsible for the security of their occupiers.

The situation is always presented as very difficult and new peace plans have to be continually found and invented to address the situation. But all the peace plans have one thing in common - Israel has never implemented them. There is a solution; it requires the dismantling of the settlements, withdrawal of the Israeli soldiers and civilians from the occupied territories, creating a viable Palestinian state, and finding a solution for the Palestinian refugees' right of return.

Since 1967, Israel has never given up its claim on the occupied territories and has not dismantled a single settlement, and has never ceased to take Palestinian lands by what ever means it can, the "by-pass roads," the "checkpoints," the "new settlements" the relentless persecution of the Palestinian population culminating in the "annexation wall".

Sharon says Israel will end the Occupation; we will dismantle the "unauthorized" "outposts" and even some settlements but not now. Not before "terrorism" stops, not without negotiations, and not before a final agreement is reached. Not before Arafat is gone, and not before the Road Map fails. Not before the elections in the US, and not before those in Israel, and not before the occupied Palestinians become a true Western democracy. We will end the Occupation; sure just give us a few more years to boost it first.

Meanwhile the torrential rain is falling here in Nablus and it is very cold, people are struggling to repair their damaged houses as the ancient walls turn to mud. The army has left the city and camps today and people are stocking up on food, everyone believes that they will be back in what the army has called operation stagnant water".

Last week during one of the funerals an army jeep was stationed at a road junction. A group of Press cameramen and internationals were observing it and a group of children were taking the opportunity to throw stones. All was quiet until the press left then the soldiers started shooting at the children. Fortunately no one was hurt and the children left. During this clash a hand cart appeared selling home made lemonade! This was Nasser, as well as supplying much wanted sustenance he entertained us with magic tricks, disappearing our coins and pulling them out of our clothing as we paid for our drinks! Last year Nasser would appear at similar times always smiling and in good humour trying to make a living for his family in very trying times. The Palestinians will not be defeated as long as people like Nasser continue to resist.

Dave

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