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4/29/2002 (8:08) |
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http://www.gush-shalom.org/actions/27demo_eng.html The Diary
Wednesday, October 3
Thursday, October 4
Friday, October 5
saturday, October 6
Sunday, October 7
Monday, October 8
Tuesday, Wednesday, October 9-10
Just added photographs
friday, October 12
Saturday, October 13
Tuesday, October 16
16/10/01added first sound recording
wednesday, October 17
17/10/01 More sound recordings
18/10/01 Some more sound recordings
Friday, October 19
Saturday, October 20
tuesday, October 23
Sunday, October 28
Monday, October 29
Tuesday, October 30
Wednesday, October 31
added photographs
Thursday, November 01
Friday, November 02
Monday, March 04Last days in Dublin
Tuesday, March 12
Friday, March 15
Tuesday, March 19
Wednesday, March 20
Friday, March 22
Saturday, March 23A letter to Ms. Mary Robinson
Sunday, March 24
Thursday, March 28
Monday, April 01
Friday, April 05
wednesday, April 10
Saturday, April 13
Monday, April 15
Tuesday, April 16
Thursday, April 18
Friday, April 19
Sunday, April 21
Today, October 3, 2001,
I came back from Israel to my apartment in Hebron.
I found his soldiers blocking my way. They prevented me from entering this apartment, calling me 'Dana International; witch, bitch, ugly woman! Get out of here!' After a long argument, I entered my apartment, but the officer threatened me and said 'Today you enter your apartment, but I'm not going to listen to your complaints if my soldiers harass you on the roof.' After I opened the door, I found the floor in front of my kitchen covered in glass, and five Coca-Cola bottles full of urine. A box of chocolates were also scattered across the floor. I found stones and more than 30 live bullets, two military knives, the floor covered with sand and military garbage. All of these damages happened while I was on vacation for 3 days in Israel. Until know, I remain without water, without electricity, without phone, living in the middle of the garbage. This is the military commander of Hebron's instructions, and cold war against me. I am wondering whether this is part of Israel's security, or not.
today, the 4th. October 2001
I decided to escape from the I.D.F soldiers noises.
I spent the night with my neighbors. This is also where I have
a shower, since the soldiers cut my water supply.
At 7:00 AM in the morning I returned to my apartment.
The soldiers took off the peace stickers I hanged the day before.
When they heard my keys in the doors, they started shouting:
'Machshefa'! (Whitch), 'Mechoeret'! (Ugly) 'Are you here?'
I did not answer them.
The soldiers then communicated by radio with another post, and shouted:
'four, five, the witch is back!'. The other post answered with barking
voices, like dogs and donkeys.
They continued to stare and shout at me from the roof, and throw sand at me.
7Th. October 2001
It's Difficult for me to express my feelings after I became a refugee
from my apartment in Hebron as a result of the destructive behavior
and abuse made by the IDF soldiers stationed on the roof of my apartment.
And it is more difficult for me now that I see the difference between the
behaviors of the Israeli Soldiers and the behaviors of my Israeli friends,
who give me security and confidence in their homes.
since a couple of days I live with my Israeli friends, with one family.
we eat, drink, make fun, discuss serious matters, go to the sea, clean
the House, meet friends - I am part of their daily life.
I sleep in Romi's bed, amongst her toys. She asked me to stay in their house.
(Perhaps because she can enjoy sleeping with her parents while I sleep in her
bed). I feel the Israeli soldiers cause trouble in Tel Aviv as well, because my friends
worry about me.
I know the military law under occupation is very bad. without moral values
and human consideration - but the military commander 'Dror Weinberg' is the
worst one I know since I became a journalist because he allows his soldier
to behave like animals in the middle of innocent civilians and Palestinians
under his authority (Is he not to to be blamed if one of his soldiers in
Hebron wore glove, collected horse shit from the street and smeared it on the
faces of Palestinians men who were commanded before to go out of their cars and
sit on the pavement).
8Th. October 2001
Today I received many calls from Hebronaite people wondering were I am?
My editor from the Journal called me and said that I should return back very soon.
Since couple of days the Palestinians don't hear my T.V news program.
The Hebronite citizens informed me about the daily suffer and trouble made by
the Israeli soldiers in the era H2 of the city Hebron under the Israeli control.
They asked me to fulfil my promises to lead women peace demonstration against the
I.D.F soldiers practices - the verbal sexuall harasment and the violence against
them under curfew - they said they are waiting for my return back.
I understand there is 35,000 Hebronite citizens live under harsh condition,
deeply effected by psychological and physical pressures caused by the collective punishment since 297 days.
570 extremely poor families live in the old market in Hebron face by the
starvation made by the military commander Dror Wainberg for political reasons:
The military commander Wainberg ordered that charitable organization of Islamic 'Wakff' to stop supplying these poor families with the daily free meals they were depended on for their life.
The Palestinians, when I informed them about my preparation to join a program
in a university outside the country - were shocked. From their point of view
I should continue my journalistic work in Hebron under the Intifada.
I understand what is the meaning of leaving my country and my people now days but I understand
too that it's impossible for me to continue living under 'enlighted' occupation.
As a journalist I don't only suffer, like all the other citizens the daily 'small'
hoross but also suffer from being aware to the sufferings of many many people of my kind.
9th.& 10th. October 2001
I am writing this on behalf of Kawther Salam, because since the IDF re-occupied Abu-Sneine
They might have cut off more telephone lines. Maybe it is the 'Shabac', Kawther does not know.
I promised her to write this paragraph for her diary, as she dictated to me over the phone:
'When I arrived yesterday to Hebron. I was asked to open my bags and spread my belongings on the
pavement. I refused, and the soldiers said they will blow my bags up, so I took everything
out and spread it on the pavement. There were toys I brought to my neighbors, so the soldiers
started playing with them and also using my perfume.
After the usual cursing, they let me go.
The evening brought a pleasant surprise. Two gentle soldiers who acted politely and even said
they were ashamed of their friends. but at night the regular soldiers came back with the usual
banging, cursing and harassment.
In the morning, the IDF has lifted the curfew that was on Hebron for many days, but they divided
Hebron into small 'Ghetto''s, so we could not pass from one 'Ghetto' to another,
so you could see elderly men and women climbing fences, and small walls, and walking through backyards in order to move from one place to another.
This is how Hebron looked this morning. Many people climbing fences and walking through yards
with baskets and boxes.
I only want to leave Hebron. Leave this place as soon as possible.
Friday, October 12, 2001
How could I teach the military commanders serving in Hebron, Colonel DrorWineburg,
Colonel Amon Cohen, and Lieutenant Hartzel to overcome racism,
discrimination, and intolerance?
Few people in the world today openly deny that human beings are born with human rights.
These officers are still victimized because they belong to a particular group which
believes they have more rights because of their religion or ethnic decent.
Yoav, an Israeli friend of mine said 'Wineberg is a very religious Jewish soldier.
I still remember him when we were serving together in the army 15 years ago.
He always put a kippa on his head, and expressed himself with a radical point of view.'
I am extremely concerned about the rapid deterioration of the condition for the Palestinian
people in Hebron (curfew, closed schools, starvation and suffering of poor people in the old
city, suffering of patients who couldn't reach the hospital, the transfer of people from their
homes for use of military posts, etc.). All of this because of the presence of 400 Jewish settlers in Hebron,
200 of which study in the Yeshiva here, but do not live in the settlements.
I consider the Israeli settlers and soldiers' behaviour in the city of Hebron to be an ongoing
act of aggression and sexual harassment against the women and the Palestinian people.
Let us remember that no one is born to be racist, or to be inhumane.
Soldiers learn racism and poor behaviours from the Commanders, from the government,
and from the 'occupation'. The government corrupts the soldiers today, and corrupts
the Israeli civil society for the future, just for political reasons. It is a pity.
I still remember the Lieutenant Hartzel teaching his soldiers how to curse and make violence
against me as a journalist, even in my private apartment. I am sure that the military
commanders, Colonel Wineburg and Colonel Cohen, enjoy my suffering as a result of the soldiers
stationed on my roof top. Humiliation made by the soldiers gets support from both of these Commanders.
I feel disgust about this policy, and the poor behaviour of my neighbours from the IDF and the settlers. Lieutenant Hartzel is a good neighbour for my family in Haifa,
but he is a bad neighbour as my enemy in Hebron.
Yesterday, Oct.11, my friend Desmond came from Madrid to visit me in my apartment.
He felt disgust about the bad foul of the IDF soldiers' urine spread in my apartment.
He said 'It is a horrible situation, Kawther'. He wondered how I live in the middle of the
garbage without water, electricity, telephone. He said, 'You should spend tonight in the hotel'.
I left my apartment with my friend Desmond at 3:00pm. It was a nice night outside my apartment.
Today, Oct.12, I returned back to my apartment. It was 10:30am.
I tried to open the door.
The door would not open. Somebody had entered this apartment, and blocked the door from the
inside, denying me the ability to enter my apartment again. There were five soldiers in
front of my apartment, watching me, smiling and happy. I ignored them. I asked an old
Palestinian man to come and help me to open the door. He came with metal equipment.
It took him 15 minutes until he could open the door.
The soldiers continued to watch the man open the door.
I entered my apartment. There was a lot of new garbage thrown by the soldiers.
I guess it was a noisy night. Black spray-paint covered the floor. A lot of bread and other
garbage was also strewn about. I stayed for a few hours. I received a call from a journalist
from the United States. He asked me for further information about my case, and the situation in Hebron.
He said he is seriously considering reading my daily diary on the internet. He said it will be spread in the newspaper in the United States.
Saturday, October 13, 2001
It is my fate to be a Palestinian, a journalist, and a woman, living in a house occupied by the Israeli army.
It is enough to be a Palestinian, to be guilty. Being a journalist and a woman, triples my guilt in their eyes.
I live near the Rabbi Moshe Levinger. Yesterday at 8:30pm, the settlers came to my roof,
helping the soldiers to exercise their 'security duties' of throwing garbage and making disturbance for me.
They threw a lot of sand and garbage, made a lot of noise, but I did not respond with even one word.
My night goes too long and not like other nights. I count the moments until the dark will be over.
Sometimes I count the stars in the sky.
But now I am in trouble with the settlers and the soldiers, that the government brings them to the roof of my apartment.
I know Colonel Amnon Cohen. He is the president of the civil administration in Hebron.
He hates me because of something I wrote about one of his officers.
But Cohen should divide between his anger over what I wrote,
and about my terrible situation in my apartment. His spokesperson, Peter Lerner, involves his officer Chevie,
to come and visit my apartment, and to fix my water tanks which was damaged by the army since September 1, 2001. Chevie came.
He saw all the damages, but he didn't do anything because Cohen said that he didn't want to hear anymore about 'this woman'.
For what reason should I suffer by the noise made by the soldiers and the settlers.
If someone deserves to live in the middle of the garbage, the urine, without water, it should be the leaders of the occupation,
and not me. I am a peace activist, fighting for human rights, and they give me daily material of the violations of human rights in my apartment.
I tried to leave my apartment today at 4:30pm, but the soldiers threw things at me.
I called the Christian Peacemaker Team to come to my apartment to help me.
They came very soon, and also heard the noises of the soldiers. I tried to get out with my luggage with them, but a CPT member said that there were settlers and soldiers outside my apartment.
I closed the door and looked through a crack. I identified the settler women. Always they are throwing stones at me.
So I prefered to call the police, to come to the front of my apartment until we pass.
They came within minutes. We got out. I'm leaving this apartment for several days.
when I return , Nazeeha Abu Daoud, whose husband was killed as a result of the army stationed on the roof,
will come back and live in her apartment with me.
Tuesday, 16th of October 2001
My lawyer handed me a copy of the response of Eliakem Robenstain- the government legal advisor - concernig my situation with I.D.F soldiers.
In his short letter he noted that he transmitted my complain to the general military attorny.
I guess that the general military atorny will transmit my complain to the military commander of Hebron who will transmit it the commander of the soldiers (Herzel)
who used to harassed me who will say that I am a provocator wearing mini skirts and night clothes in front of his soldiers(in my house).
Wednesday, 17th of October 2001
I got the news of murdering the Israeli minister Rehavam Zeevi.
It was a bad news like all other bad news I received about murdering Palestinians.
Both of us, Palestinians and israelis, are living a big 'drama' of daily killing in a close, bloody reveange circle.
Looking at this circle it might be difficult to trace the the first acts that cause revange that caused revange...
but I understand that occupation itself is morally and politically wrong and the most devastating violence and terror is the occupation. The resistane of 'non violent' Intifada is Legitimate.
But killing of innocent Israeli should not be acceptable in this struggle.
Friday, 19th of October 2001
8.30 am I walked up and started to prepare a dinner after I invited some friends to join us this evening. 2.30 pm I receive a call from Hebronite friend who informed me that the I.D.F soldiers broke to my apartment. I guess the soldies were authorized by the military commander Dror Wainberg to enter my apartment to clean the garbage, collect the urine bottels, the send and to choose the colour of paintig of my apartment walls ?! Maybe the military commander decided to fix the water pipes and wire T.V which were damaged by his soldiers. I hope Wainberg understood finally the differnce between the presence of his sldeirs on my roof top for security reason and the violation of human rights.
20th of October 2001
6.00 p.m - I share with my Israeli friends from Taayosh - a group of arab and jewish people working together - a memorial evening of the masacre that happened on the 29th 0f October in Kfar kasem.
It was a horrible masacare. I watched a film that brought testmonies of the survivers from the event. Over 49 people were killed, including kids, young girl, women and youth.
What attracted my attention was that the president of the local counsil in kfar kasem, mentioned in his speach that this film was not presented in order to arose revange feelings but to enable, bote jews and arabs to learn together from the past.
What he said made me happy and sing in the car on my way to 'Arsof'. 8.30 p.m we reached Arsof. Nobody is allowed to enter this era were few Israeli rich people are living. The security checked the visitors before they enter the erea.
My friend has there a beautifull house on the beach and she has a charming child named 'elay'. I love my Israeli friends and really enjoyed the time together. We have the same dreams 'just, peace and love' But...
after few days in Israel with my good friends, the sea and the fun, i feel that I miss 'MY SOLDIERS' who remainde me always my duity to proclaim how bad is the occupation.
23rd of October 2001
This is the 10th day since I run away from the I.D.F noise made on the roof top of my apartment in Hebron.
I can not forget that day, October 4th 2001 when I was stopped in my balcony gave silent thanks for my terrible life when compare to the lives of other people with more serious problems in Hebron.
'Sharmota, Beach' the voice of the I.D.F soldiers on my roof interrupted my thoughts. I have to be patient, facing this amazing, unbelievable scene and considering the obviously childish feelings buried inside the consciences of this soldiers who they get support from the military commander.
Always I see the face of the colonel Dror Wainberg in the faces of these soldiers on my roof.
The same Israeli commander that instruced these soldiers to stand on my roof top in the name of 'security' being used as a pawn in a much bigger game
instructs them to harrsed me as a revange of my duties as a millitary and political journalis.
These soldiers and this commander are not responsible to be in the security duties.
They are children who do not know better and so are forced to humilate these over whom they feel they have control.
And action like calling me with sexuall name clearly displays the sick nature of the occupation and deep psycholgical tensions therein.
Under the hell made in Israel in my daily life and while I feel disgust of the I.D.F soldiers behaviours I also feel victorious and powerfull with my Israeli friends. Many friends.
I love Romi, the youg child i share living in her home. She looks like a real child of mine. Human feelings alawys clean the borders between human beings.
i feel Romi will be my teacher of Hebrew language in the future and I will be her Arabic language as well. While I was writing this Dairy, the owner of my apartemnt in Hebron,
informed me that she came back from Jordan. I advised her to be quiet ant to take care about the soldiers on the roof top of her house.
Maybe I should go and visit her one day before I flay abroad.
October 28, 2001
At 1:00 p.m. I met the director of the Israeli Government Press Office, 'Daniel Simon'.
I gave him a copy of my diary. He got onto the Internet and heard the voices of the IDF cursing me.
He apologized and said that he was a commander of the IDF in South Lebanon and he never humiliated anybody or punished a man in front of his child. Even in Ramadan he would respect Muslims and never eat in the street in front of them.
He was very influenced by my diary.
I cried in front of him. He said that he wants to follow my case not because I am a journalist, but because he refuses any kind of sexual harassment or humiliation against me as a woman.
He wondered if I could give him a copy of the video cassette which clearly shows the IDF making noise for me.
I promised to give him one and have already prepared this cassette for him.
In the next few days, I will contact him and give him this copy.
During this meeting I spoke with Simon about renewing my press card.
He said that the government made a decision to stop renewing the Palestinian's press cards who work for Palestinian newspapers.
But he is ready to renew for some Palestinians who are working as a correspondent in Israel.
He wasn't talking about my press card personally, but I understood that he is ready to renew my card if I work as a correspondent in Israel for other newspapers.
I said that it was a political decision, and he agreed with me.
October 29, 2001
Today at 10:00 a.m. I returned back to Hebron to collect my winter clothes, my cassettes, my videos, my papers, and to prepare myself for travelling abroad next week. The soldiers welcomed me back to Hebron, calling me 'witch' near Beit Romano settlement. One of them spat at me.
I noticed that the soldiers detained a Palestinian man. They made him stand with his hands behind his back and his head tilted back up against the wall.
The Palestinian man said he had been there for two hours. I asked the soldier why he had to put his head back like this.
One of the soldiers said that he is a terrorist. He is walking in the street without I.D.
The man swore that he is not a terrorist and that he just forgot his I.D., and is ready to send anyone to bring it for the soldiers.
The officer came with another five soldiers. He said to me, 'Hi! Welcome, witch.' I said 'Thank you very much. You give me a favour to put an end to my experience with soldiers in Hebron, and write a research paper about it in the university in Dublin.'
Now the officer understood that I stopped there because of the Palestinian man, and he gave instructions to his soldiers to allow the man to stand normally.
I continued on my way to my apartment in the old city. The officer and several of his soldiers followed me to this place.
I filmed him, and the officer asked to see what I had filmed. I showed him.
He was very nice talking to me, and asked if he is handsome or not. I responded, 'yes, you are a very handsome man, but you behave badly.'
He said, 'Do you know why.' I said, 'why?' He said 'because my sister was injured in a terrorist action.' I responded, 'Bad things are no reason to make you treat others in a bad way.
I have faced a lot of trouble with soldiers, but I am not ready to behave bad with Jewish people because of that.' He asked me many questions; am a Muslim or Christian; about my beliefs;
and about wearing a mini-skirt in Hebron.
He said, 'Are you coming back to your apartment in Hebron?' I responded, 'yes, for three days.'
So one of his soldiers went and brought barbed-wire and closed the entrance to my apartment. The officer said to me, 'see you later', and they walked away.
My apartment is completely full of garbage. More than before. But I should be patient before I leave this area.
From outside, I have the opportunity to make lectures and to show the world about what is going on behind the Intifada, and which is not related to terrorist actions or throwing stones.
Tuesday, October 30, 2001
At 8:30 p.m. I received a call from the owner of my apartment, Nazeeha Abu Daoud.
She asked me if it would be possible to spend the night with her because the soldiers start making trouble for her.
I tried to apologize because I have already decided to stay in another place. 9:30 p.m. she phoned me again. She said 'you should come very soon'.
She was crying and weeping. I know Nazeeha Abu Daoud.
She is affected by a nervous case since she was harassed sexually by one of the IDF soldiers who entered her bedroom and exposed himself in 1997.
If she cries, I know she is still suffering from this case, and I decided to return to the apartment to be with her.
I reached the apartment at 10:00 p.m. and I blocked my ears. I decided to sleep in the first flat with Nazeeha.
The soldiers were banging on the roof, calling us 'maniac, sharmoota, get out!' the whole night, continuing yelling like this and banging and stomping on the rooftop.
Wednesday, October 31, 2001
At 6:30 a.m. I left the apartment to visit a friend of mine. I left my luggage with him. At 9:00 a.m., Nazeeha called me again.
'You should come very soon! The soldiers are harassing me with sexual names and my neighbors called the police.'
I ran very quickly to Nazeeha's and my apartment. The soldiers yelled at me before I entered the apartment. I continued to go ahead, but one of the soldiers ran after me.
He caught me at the entrance of the stairs and pointing his gun to shoot at me. He said 'You should return back!
You are not allowed to enter this house!' He was very nervous and his eyes looked like he wanted to shoot.
I screamed loudly. I used my cell phone to call the Christian Peacemaker Team. The soldier noticed that some people came out onto their rooftops to watch.
Nazeeha also came out, but he yelled at all of them not to come to the street. He used his radio phone and called the soldiers on my roof.
He said 'the witch came back', and he called other soldiers as well. In one moment I found myself in the middle of ten soldiers.
One of them was yelling at me and said 'I reach your website on the Internet. I read everything. You are 'shermoota'.
But I don't find on your website one photo against us!' He continued yelling until the officer came.
This officer is the soldier I met yesterday in the outside of my apartment and had a long discussion together.
He is the same soldier who asked me if I was coming back to my apartment or not, and I said that I would be back just for 3 days, and so one of the soldiers brought barbed wire and blocked the entrance to my apartment.
This officer asked me 'what do you film today? Do you film what my soldiers said to you? Show me the camera.'
I said to him that I didn't film anything yet. Your soldiers wanted to kill me.
He said 'What's happened!?' I said, 'ask your soldiers! I wanted to enter my apartment, and the barbed wire had fallen down.' 'Are you sure you don't film?' he asked. 'Yes, I don't film', I replied.
I told him, 'Look, I need an ambulance now.' My heart started trembling quickly and I sat on the floor. He said, 'okay, go to your apartment very quickly.'
I entered my apartment. I start trembling. I hear the CPT come. I was just sitting with them telling them what happened with me, and someone else knocked at the door.
I decided not to go answer the door. I was scared. The members of CPT decided to go and look from the window.
I followed them. Nazeeha also looked and saw that it was soldiers. I saw that it was the officer who had spoke with me on the street and allowed me to enter my apartment.
He was smiling, and took off his military hat. He asked if I was okay, and how I felt now, and if I still needed an ambulance or any help. He asked me to open the door.
I opened for him and we started talking together.
He said to me many things. I was blaming him for what happened with me outside my apartment because he is the soldier who put the barbed wire at the entrance.
I started to cry. He told me to sit on the floor and relax. Then he started talking with CPT.
He told them that they are not allowed to come through the entrance to the apartment.
It was a long discussion between them.
I felt more relaxed and invited him to come to my apartment to see and hear what the soldiers on the roof are doing. He came inside. We started talking calmly with each other.
He said that he also had seen my website on the Internet, and told me that the officer Hertzel has left this area one week ago as a result of my complaints against him and the poster that I hung on the walls of my apartment which clearly show soldier's sexual harassment against me.
He said 'because of you, he left this area.' I replied, 'so because of that you are making revenge on me? I wasn't fighting Hertzel personally.
I wrote against him in order to protect myself from the violation of my rights as a journalist. All the time he was giving instructions against me, and I asked him to send Hertzel my regards.'
The officer said, 'I am glad that you are leaving tomorrow. I will come at 6:00 to be sure that you left.
I hope that you will not come back to this place anymore.' With that, he left.
Today I have noticed that the soldiers on the street are carrying video cameras and tape recorders.
They were yelling at me with bad words and waiting for my response to record my voice.
I want to finish by saying that I have recieved an email from Larry Snider, and American Jew.
He said that he sent my diary to the MidEast Citizen Diplomacy in the U.S., and begged my forgiveness for the soldier's harassment.
I want to say how much I felt comfortable when I read this email.
I know that most Israeli citizens are good people and they are victimized of this political situation.
I never charge Israelis as a result of my problems with the IDF soldiers. I am living now with a family in Tel Aviv, and I feel like I'm part of this family.
Even the soldiers who harassed me, I am always forgiving them because I don't have any reason to hate other people.
My father taught me forgiveness when I could, and he gave me the name Salaam, 'peace' and Kawther, 'pure water'.
Thursday, November 1, 2001
Today I'm going to leave my apartment. I'm getting out of the hell, Made in Israel, in the city of Hebron.
I'm running away from death. I'm not ready to die, or to kill, or to make revenge.
I'm prepared to make peace and to be a journalist. The IDF soldiers are professional killers.
The government prepared them for this, to be an occupier of the West Bank. For how long will I continue suffering all that the IDF soldiers caused for me as a journalist and a woman?
For how long will I continue lecturing and talking about my bad experiences with these soldiers?
I don't know if it's possible for me to forget what happened to me or not in the future.
The pain, suffering, injury, detention, broken cameras, sexual harassment.
What nice soldiers they are! I have daily nightmares about what the soldiers have done to me.
Maybe some readers of my diary thought that my stories are unbelievable, that I made them up myself.
But anyone who has been in the occupied territories for a few days and has dealt with the soldiers knows that I am speaking the truth and write honestly in my diary.
Nowadays, the soldiers are very angry with me. After their officer, Lieutenant Herzl,
left Hebron, they blame me and hold me responsible for causing transfer for him because of my critical signs and reports I wrote against him.
Finally, Colonel Weinberg decided to transfer Lt. Herzl but he kept on his nice soldiers in Hebron to continue in his path,
harassing me and avenging the transfer of their officer.
What a nice commander is Col. Dror Weinberg!
He takes care for the innocent citizens of Hebron under his authority.
He takes care to make their life comfortable, secure, and like a small Paradiseas I live in my apartment with his soldiers.
No electricity, no water, no TV. No telephone. In the middle of the garbage and empty Coke bottles full of IDF-issued urine.
He blocked both entrances to my apartment. Maybe Weinberg decided to send me a helicopter to pick me up from my apartment or to return.
He knows how many serious settlers live in my neighborhood. Always they attack me.
So once he decided to block the way to my house, to transfer me from my place to another.
He succeeded. But at the same time, he granted me a favor, the opportunity to be abroad, and write on my experiences with these soldiers,
at the university in Dublin. Really, I should thank him for this opportunity, and excuse what happened to me by his soldiers.
I should excuse Officer Herzl, too, because he already left Hebron.
And I hope the occupation will be stopped and transferred very soon from the West Bank.
I'm willing to have peace, life for everybody, in this region, including my nice soldiers who harassed me and caused psychological pain for me.
These cute soldiers should return back to their families and live their life; they should enjoy it instead of shooting and killing the people in the occupied territories.
For noone deserves to continue killing each other. We have enough land for everybody to live.
Our real enemies are cancer, pollution, nuclear weapons, earthquake, these are our real enemies and the government should understand this.
Palestinians and Israelis will have one future in this area, and they should be neighbors.
The government should prepare the situation for this and not for war and hate and revenge.
They should stop the war and stop using our blood for propaganda and political reasons. It's enough.
These are my words for both of them, Israelis and Palestinians. This is my appeal.
Enough is enough. This war should stop very soon. I'm leaving this area very soon.
And I hope the occupation will get out from the West Bank very soon too.
Friday, 2nd November 2001.
I don't know if I can express my feelings about what happened between me and the IDF soldiers during the last moments before I left Hebron.
Sometime it is difficult for anyone to move deeply inside himself and talk about the avoided and hidden ereas inside his heart.
Maybe it is easy for us to admit something internal for ourselves than to talk about it in front of others.
Especialy if this matter conserning a Palastinian women and the Israeli soldiers.
It was noon time when I finished my tour in Hebron. I had already said good-buy to the kids and Hebronite people.
I was still near my apartement on my way to leave Hebron when the soldiers staioned in the millitary post '4-5' asked me politely to stop.
I asked them what's the matter and one of the soldiers said: please wait a moment, the officer wants to see you and one of the soldier started tallking on radio telphone with his officers.
I walked few meters and I stopped in front of my appartement behaind the blocked entrance with the barbed wire.
I was looking at the small peace slogans I lefted behaind me with two flags, Israeli and Palestinians.
I turned back my face to identify the officer who visited me in my appartement the 31st of October.
He came with other soldiers. He looked different than before. he smiled like a child. I tried to turn my face to the other side. But the officer walked and approached me.
He came to say to me good-buy. He decided to make reconciliation with me before I leave.
We talked together about nice things that nobody is intersted to know about it.
We were talking like friends. Other soldiers were serounding us very quietly.
It was amazing meeting. The same soldiers who used to harasse me im my appartement and the street came to say to 'L'hitrot' (good-buy). There was a sade expression on their faces. Even on the face of the officer who said to me the day before that he will be very galde if I will leave Hebron.
I asked myself what happened. He was sade and not happy. I decided to cut this love and hate, attractive and rejecting meeting. I left them.
The officer was confused and he continued to stand in the same place until I left.
I left Hebron while the last scenes from Hebron contined to accompany me during my way to Tel-Aviv.
I understood that we are human beings that need love instead of hate and occupation.
The Daily Life of Kawther Salam
Hell made in Israel
Monday, March 04
On 4th March 2002 I arrived at Ben Gurion airport.
It was 6:45am. I spend wonderful time in Ireland, It's enough to feel that you are a human being, to enjoy your life, but living under the occupation you feel such disappointment.
I was thinking about my life when the airhostess asked me which I prefer to drink 'Vodka' or 'Wine'?
I decided to be drunk, why not? 'This is the only way to stop thinking about what's going to happen for me in the airport, I say to myself'. I said 'Please, a glass of 'Vodka'. I asked her to sell me big bottle of Wine too.
I found a lot of problems with security in Ben Gurion airport. They took me to a special dirty room, which was full of garbage. They ordered me to enter a small 'Cell' and started to assault my body. I shouted at them when they hurt me.
All of the security men and women came when I shouted. I fell on the floor. I was completely damaged. The security women started threatening me, telling me to stand up or they would call the police to arrest me. One of them helped me to stand up while the others started again to assault my body.
I got out of the 'Cell' and stopped in the middle of the security. I was confused. I asked them, 'How long you will continue living in this abnormal situation?
If you are scared about what you are doing to my people, so please stop the occupation.'
The security was astonished. They were looking at me. One of them continued threatening me that they would call the police. I said 'I don't care. Please stop, and call who you want. I opened my bag which was covered with the sign of the International Declaration of Human Rights. I offered to give it to the security officer as a present and to hang it in the airport.
Maybe it will help them to understand that they are dealing with human beings. The officer was polite.
He kept silent. Then he talked to me.
I told him that I'm not against a security search, but I'm not happy with the way they are treating me, because I'm not under arrest or detention. I arrived the airport in a legitimate way, and all nationalities must be respected in the airport.
I asked to have my bags searched just by security women. The officer gave his instructions. All the men left and the women started to search my things.
It took them four hours while I was talking most of time with the officer. He was listening to me carefully with respect.
I told him why I decided to arrive the airport drunk. Because I'm not fond of alcohol and I never got drunk before. The officer said, nothing was against me and he shook hands with me and apologized with respect.
The daily Life of Kawther Salsm
Hell made in Israel
Tuesday, 12th, march 2002
After I spent a couple of days with my Israeli friend in Tel- Aviv,
I decided to return to my work and home in Hebron, but the Israeli soldiers wouldn't allowed me to enter my home.
The city has been under curfew for a couple of weeks.
For 325 days the Palestinian people have lived under curfew since the beginning of the 'Intifadah'.
I tried to reach my home by using roads in the old market. I entered my house which was full off garbage.
It's a terrible situation. Everything was damaged in my house.
I left my home to live with friends until the International observer arrives and lives with me in my house.
The Daily Life of Kawther Salam
Hell made in Israel
Friday, 15th March 2002
It was 12:30pm when the Israeli officer threw my International press card in the street and ordered me to stop filming or he would shoot at me.
He said that I'm not allowed to practice my job as a journalist without carrying the 'GPO' Israeli press card .
The Israeli government refused to renew press cards for Palestinian journalists for political reasons,
but they did not refuse to my press card yet.
I filled out the form to renew my card two weeks ago. They said they are going to send it for security checking. They haven't come back to me.
Maybe they need more time so that one of the Israeli soldiers will shoot at me and the 'IDF' spokesperson can say that he couldn't identify me as a journalist?!
The Daily Life of Kawther Salam
Hell made in Israel
Tuesday, 19th March 2002
Today I broke the curfew and the Israeli orders not to exercise my job as a journalist.
I opened the barbed wire in 'Alshallaleh' Street and I entered while one of the soldiers was ready to shoot. He shouted and asked me to stop where I was.
I stopped and I told that I'm not a terrorist. I'm a journalist.
In the old market, while I was walking with my Irish friend, one of the Israeli soldiers who was hiding in the corner, pointed his gun at us. His finger was ready to shoot. He shouted and we stopped, we were frightened but we continued walking.
We did not want an argument with the soldier.
The Daily Life of Kawther Salam
Hell made in Israel
20th,March.2002
I have strong headache as a result of what was happened to me during my professional tour in the area H2 under the military occupation.
At 11:30 I crossed Al-shalllalleh Al-Jadeed Street on my way to the old city,
while two Israeli soldiers took notice and follow up me in the street.
I stopped for a while, and the officer said to me, 'you should go to the Palestinian area to reach the Old Shallaleh Street!!
I said 'I should walk one Km, instead of three meters, that's not logical'!!
The Israeli military had blocked Al-Shalllaleh Street behind Beit Hadasah settlement for two months, and over 100 shops closed on this street. The Palestinians are not allowed to walk on Al-Shuhada Street in front of the settlement or behind the settlement, either!
The old Shallaleh Street behind Al-Shallaleh Al-Jadeed is blocked by barbed wire and by the military too.
All the roads to area H2 were blocked by the military.
The Palestinians' homes became 'Isolated Cells' under this division. They have lived under curfew for 325 days. It's very dangerous for any one to move about in the old city.
Its very dangerous to cross the military barbed wire. The soldiers are always ready to shoot.
I kept going on my tour.
It's 'Hell made in Israel'. The streets were smelly. The bad stench spread in the old market.
Big rats and cats cross along the market and my path. The children called to me from the windows with sad impressions .
It is an insufferable situation.
Six soldiers, four men and two women were walking in the market proceeded by a wild dog.
I heard them yelling and ordering the children to stop looking through the windows.
They said, 'Close the windows; it's curfew.' The soldiers heard my steps and prepared themselves to exercise their military duties. Their fingers were fixed and they were read to shoot! The officer identified me. He said, 'You were in London, why did you return?'
On of the women said 'MAKHASHEFAH!', which means 'Witch'. All of them laughed loudly. I said, 'Yes honey, how are you? I really missed you!!'
The soldiers continue with their small talk, and I kept going on my way.
At the market entrance, near the Beit Romano Yeshiva school, 10 soldiers were breaking into a tunnel chasing an eight year old child.
As I took some photos the soldiers asked me,' Who are you?' I said, 'I'm a journalist'. They asked, 'what are you doing here?'
I said 'I'm taking some documentary pictures of 'peaceful' soldiers.'
I was talking with soldiers when a loud voice was interrupted us. I turned my face to identify the officer who threatened to shoot and kill me on Friday 15th March 2002.
He said, 'What are you doing here?'
I said, ' I'm filming your 'nice' soldiers.'
He said, 'Show me your ID'.
I opened my bag to take out my ID but the soldier in front of me stopped me and said,
'You are beautiful. ' I answered, 'What did you say?'
He repeated to me, 'You are beautiful.'
I said, 'You are,too. Thank you. Here is my ID.'
The officer said, 'You are dressed well.' He got several steps closer to me. I asked him if what he told me is part of his security work or not and I stepped away from him. He asked me,
'Why are you running away from me?'
He stopped right in front of my face and said,
'I love talking with you. Please stay with me and talk for five minutes.'
I was angry. I told him, 'You threatened to kill me last Friday!'
The soldier said, 'No, I was just kidding. I love talking with you. I want peace like you do. I want to live with my family in peace.'
This officer who looked like he was at least 22 years old started to ask me private questions.
I told him that we are not in the pub having a drink.
We are in Hebron and I should leave. I reminded him that his commander will punish him if he hear about his talking with me.
The Daily Life of Kawther Salam
Hell made in Israel
22nd March 2002
I still live with friends in Hebron in area 'H2' as a result of the IDF occupying the roof top of my home and the restriction which imposes on my free movement.
The soldier asked me 'show me your Press Card??',
he said 'International Press Card, its disgusting!', and then he asked me 'How many bad reporters do we have in Israel?'
I said 'no one, I think you are not allowed to ask me silly questions'.
The soldier said 'but you are very bad, Fuck the World' and he cut my Press Card in two pieces and threw them on the street.
The other soldier nearby shouted 'no' at the one who cut the card and picked the Press Card off the street.
The two soldiers start fighting each others, I heard them saying bad curses like 'Koss Immak Shelkha' which means 'Mother Fucker', I watched them for a while and tried to call the Police.
The soldier walked over towards me and said 'I'm sorry I don't mean it' and then asked me not to file a complaint against him.
I asked him 'Why did you cut my Press Card?',
the soldier said 'I don't know you, but I see your picture hanged in our camp, my officer said you return from 'London' to write bad stories about the soldiers.'
It was very clear that the soldiers were harassing me as a result of their commanders instructions.
A Palestinian construction laborer working in 'Beit Romano' settlement
had told me that he saw my picture hanging in 'Al-Shuhada' military camp in the commanders' office with writing underneath my picture stating 'Hostile Journalist'.
The Daily Life of Kawther Salam
Hell Made In Israel
March 23, 2002
A letter to Ms. Mary robinson
To: Ms. Mary Robinson.
High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Dear Commissioner,
I am seeking your assistance in taking steps towards sending a United Nation reporter to Hebron in the West Bank for the specific purpose on investigating Journalists rights abuses Committed by Israeli Soldiers and Commanders in the Israeli-Controlled Section in Hebron,
commonly known as area 'H2'.
After the Israeli Government refused to renew the Palestinian Journalists Press Cards all the Palestinian Journalists who work in area 'H2' in Hebron were affected and there is now a persistently high incidence of direct,
indirect and unprovoked intimidation inflicted on Palestinian Journalists and a visible lack of physical and legal protection.
We seek your urgent support for an investigation that will undoubtedly find that these abuses occur both during and outside the times of collective curfew that is regularly and arbitrarily imposed on Hebronite Palestinian in 'H2' area where journalists must be allowed to work if the right to freedom of speech is to be upheld .
I have much verifiable documentation of the Israeli Soldiers harassment against journalists that I would like to offer to such an investigation.
All previous efforts to promote awareness to such abuses have been ineffectual and an official UN investigation may be or only hope in being able to report what is happening in Hebron.
Thanking you in advance for your consideration.
Documentaion of Abuses I have Experienced as a Journalist
On 20th March 2002, the Israeli Soldiers killed the Palestinian journalist Amjad Bahjat Al-Alami from Beit Ommar after killing an Italian journalist.
On 15th March 2002, an Israeli officer aimed his gun at my face and threatened to shoot me if I took any pictures while the soldiers entered into Palestinian area 'H1'.
On 22nd March 2002, an Israeli soldier cut my International Press Card and threw it in the street. The soldier said 'Fuck the World' and claimed that I and his commanding officer think that I am a bad reporter.
On 22nd March, Five soldiers pointed their rifles at my chest and they asked me to show them my Press Card, after they searched my bag they threatened to shoot me if I continue working in Hebron.
Hell Made in Israel
The Daily Life of Kawther Salam
24th,March.2002
The Israeli Parliament member 'Abou Vilan' who followed the issue of renewing my 'Press Card' said that he got an official response through requesting the government about my press card,
they informed him that they will not renew my press card, they claimed that I made campaign against Israel when I was in Ireland.
In Irlenad I helped through organized the conference 'The Defenders of Human Rights' which held in Dublin Castle between 17th-19th,Jan.2002.
The conference was opened by the Prime Minister of Dublin and over 80 countries were share in it.
In Dublin I talked in the 'ERT' radio and 'Trinty College' about the violation of hunan rights through my daily life with the 'IDF' soldiers in Hebron.I was honest in all what I said.
I don't maid a campaign against Israel.
The Israeli Press Office director Mr Daniel Seeaman said,'The Jewish community in Hebron they dont like to recognize me!!'
So that I dont deserve to be a journalist!!
Mr Daniel Seaman meant by the Jewish community in Hebron 'The settlers', Like Barouch Marzel, Noam Fedirman, Mosheh Levinger, and other extreme settlers.
Mr Daniel Semean didn't gave me his final response about renewing my press card,
but he mention through our talking by the teltphone that he took in his consideration the 'settlers point of view toward me as a journalist!!!
The Daily Life of Kawther Salam
Hell made in Israel
Thursday, 28th,March.2002
27th,March 2002 I drove to 'Haifa' with an Israeli friend,
It took me one hour to held a meeting with 'Al-Ittihad' Newspaper Editor Mr. 'Ahmed S'ad'.
The main subject through our meeting was renewing my Israeli Government Press Card, 'GPO'.
I return very quickly because of the 'Besah'.
The Israeli family that I lived with them since couple months befor I went to Ireland, said,
'You should share us the 'Besah' preparation and the celebration today'.
All the family were paid me a special attention through the 'Pesah'.
They gave me a brief, and they translated the 'Torah'.
They didn't forgot to laugh and made me laugh when they said, 'What do you think the settlers are going to do if they knows about us?.
'They will kill all of us', and they laughed loudly!!
The family were traying to make me happy all the time and to let me forget
that I am a refuge in Israel after the Israeli soldiers
drove me out of house my house to the street in Hebron.
Next day the family went to 'Senay', but I prefered to stay home with
'Zahave', I have alot of things to do, I'm writting daily reports to
Al-Ittihad newspaper in 'Haifa', and the 'Sunday Tribune' in Ireland,
I promised to join the family another trip.
Today 28th, March I recieved an e-mail from the 'Front Line Defenders of the Human Rights' where I was worked in Ireland for a while,
Miss 'Mary Lawlor' the head of this organization informed me that she contacted the
'Irish Foreighn Affairs' to follow the issue of remewing my press card 'GPO'. She contacted Mr.
'Ronan Brady' the member of the International Union of Journalists 'NUJ' too. The International Federation of Journalists,
'IFJ', send me another e-mail, 'sarah de Jong',
said that the 'IFJ' recieved my message about the Israeli soldier who cut my international Press Card,
'IFJ' and said, 'Fuck the World'. She said, 'That is absolutly outragous'!
The Daily Life of Kawther Salam
Hell made in Israel
monday, 1st.April,2002
My 'visa' card that's available to work in all over the world,
is not available to work in Israel.
The Israeli goverenament imposed siege on the Palestinian Banks and visas cards. My Israeli friends helped me always to survive, and 'DINA LEE' is still responsible about all of my expenses.
It's enough to be a Palestinian to live in a 'HELL'.
I'm not allowed to live in my house, because the Israeli soldiers occupied it,
I'm not allowed to renew my press card, because the Jewish settlers dont like to recognize me!!
I'm not allowed to work and move freely in Hebron, because of the Israelis are not satisfied from my work as a journalist!!
I'm not allowed to work out of Hebron, because of the Israeli military blocked siege!
I'm not allowed to live in Israel because I'm a Palestinian.
Do you have an advice thats may help me to live, work and move? Please tell me.
Do you have an advice to builed a 'Paradise' in the middle of the Israeli 'Hell'? Pleas advice me.
what shall I do in order to live and work normaly like all of the Human Biengs?.
The Daily Life of Kawther Salam
Hell made in Israel
Friday, 5th April .2002
Today, the French T.V representative approached me to work from the territories,
when I told him that I dont recieved the 'GPO' Israeli government press card,
he called Mr. Daniel Seaman and he asked him about it. Mr. Seaman was very angry when he heard my name,
he said that we dont want this journalist to approach us and if she approach our office to aske about her card I will kick her out of Israel!! (he meant arrest).
Mr. Seaman confirmed to the Israeli French T.V representative
that he will through me out of Israel insted of helping me to exercise my professional duties
like all other journalists who work in the democratic countries in the world!!
The Israeli government press office nowadays, is chasing the PAlestinians journalists.
The press officeis is playing the roll of the Israeli Police,
maybe becuase the Israeli policemen are very busy under the policy of
chasing and arresting the Israeli Peace denostratores in the streets!!
The Daily Life of Kawther Salam
Hell made in Israel
Wednesday, 10th,April 2002
The US radio program which is heard on radio station coast-to-coast and also
Worldwide over the internet posted my dairy on it's website www.rense.com
Mr. Jeff Rense who was interviewed me
on the US radio alive programon on Monday April 8,
at 9pm pacific time in Israel Tuesday morning said, that it is very important to hear voices like yours in such difficult times,
because of that I posted your recent report on the news services at rense.com
On 10th, April 2002, I recieved many International calls from the State,
California, Germany and Viana.
The people said, they heard my intrview on the US radio program and they were encoureging me to continue writting my diary on Gush Shalom website.
Professor Dr. Arick from the US University toled me that he send my diary on Gush Shalom website to the Observer newspaper for publishing,
he said that many journalists are interesting in publishing my diary after the US radio world wide internet posted it on it's website program.
The daily life of kawther salam
Hell made in Israel
Saturday-Sunday, 13th-14th, April 2002
The Israeli soldiers shot on our car on the road 60 at the entrance of Halhol, we were 9 persons, a small child was injured in his right arm,
all the passengers were screaming.
The soldiers continued the shooting while the driver tried to rescue our life,
he returned to Jerusalem to search the way incase he find another road that help us to reach our homes in the city of Hebron.
An Israeli officer from the civil administration said,
'the soldiers were shot on road 60 in order to prevent the moving target after the Palestinian woman from Biet Fajjar was exploded her self in Ben Yahoda street in Jerusalem yesterday!!'
I asked the officer, is it fair to shoot on the moving targets on the road and causing injury and death for the innocent civilians??
The officer hanged up the telephone!!
On 14th, April 2002 I was walked in Al-Shallaleh Street under the Israeli
control area H2 in Hebron I realized 5 Israeli soldiers were stopped 10 Palestinians youth on the wall in the corner of a narrow road,
all of them were naked and under body assaulted search.
I stopped to take some documentary pictures while one of the soldiers noticed me and he informed his friends about that,
the soldiers asked the youth to put there clothes on, while the other soldiers stopped in front of the camera!!
I continued on my way, I reached Biet Romano settlement when the barber asked me to stop, he was complained against the IDF soldiers practices.
He said that the soldiers prevented the Palestinians to open their shops after the curfew was left for awhile!!
I was listening to the barber when the Israeli soldiers were yelling at me, one of them was pointed his gun at me, he ordered me to show him my ID and not to move one step!!
the other soldiers on the roof top were pointed there guns at me too. I showed him my ID, but the soldier asked the barber to took it and give it to him!!
The soldier said, she is a terrorist,
I asked him what did you say? he said you are a terrorist!!
I asked him why? He said because you are a Palestinian!!
I told the soldier that it's very clear that I'm a journalist and this is my camera.
The soldier said no it's not a camera. it is a gun!!
The officer said you are a 'Fascist' and you deserved to die!! the other soldiers were pointed there guns at me!!
they ordered me to return, they said no body is allowed to talk and answer the army and every body should listen!!
The people are not allowed to walk and talk to gather in the area H2 under the Israeli control in Hebron, and every one should walk alone for security reasons the Israeli officer said!!
The Palestinians are not allowed to live normally like all the human beings in Hebron,
they are not allowed to send there children to the schools,or to drive in there cars, to marry or celebrate ...etc.
they just allowed to leave there houses in city. this is the main strategic policy of the occupation...
The daily life of kawther Salam
Hell made in Israel
15th,April 2002
The soldier's were calling me 'Fatimah, Fatimah, givaret, givaret'
what are you doing? They continued yelling on me while I ignored them,
I was filming the mass that left in my house by the IDF soldier's.
The soldier's were inside my private room,
my clothes on the floor full of dust, my papers spread out of my room.
The Israeli-Palestinian interim agreement on the West Bank and Gaza strip book and other political books were cut to small pieces, some papers were with shit on it!!
The sands spread in my rooms covering all the electricity equipments,
the soldier's made every thing upside down in my house, they made a clear revenge on me.
I was shocked in front of this terrible mass, while the soldier's continued yelling on me. I decided to ignored them,
I was very angry about what they did in my house, they damaged every thing, they took my cassettes,
necklace, all the silver and gold things. They left for me two words on the wall, 'Fuck you'.
The night came very quickly, I found myself alone in the middle of the IDF soldier's mass without light,
the soldiers were cut the electricity and the telephone wire.
I didn't have glass of water to drink, I didn't have any thing to eat, the bad foul spread,
O God, I had really terrible feeling, fear mixed with anger and humiliation.
I said to my self, how I will sleep in my house, It's not a house,
this is a military occupation mass, I remembered the Jewish family I lived with them in Tel-Aviv.
and the small child I left him there, I should be with 'Romi' instead to be in the middle of the garbage.
I was upset while the soldiers continued made a lot of noise on my roof,
bangining on the water tanks and stomping on the metal under neath the roof.
They were calling me all the time, throwing stones, and opening the radio wire loudly.
At 10pm, 20 soldier's were on my roof,
the soldier's were calling each other's, they started singing, they offered me to sing with them and two soldier's invited me to share them happiness, they said we want you!!
I didn't answer, and I left my house at 10:30pm to sleep with my neighbors.
The Daily Life Of Kawther Salam
Hell Made In Israel
16th, April 2002
Today, I send a letter to the IDF commander in Hebron Colonel Dror Wienberg concerning his soldiers practices toward me on the streets and on the roof top of my house.
The letter enclosed copies of my diary from 13th-15th, April 2002.
I wrote to Wienberg, '... I think you can stop this game if you want.
I'm not interesting in writing any more about your soldiers if they stopped harassing and bothering me sexually in the streets. Thank you for your consideration'.
7:30pm yesterday, I was walking In Al-Shallaleh Street under the Israeli control in Hebron on my way to stay in a hotel.
The street was completely empty,
I realized a military jeep stopped near the border between the area H1 under the Palestinian authority and the are H2 under the Israeli authority.
One of the Israeli soldier's was shooting toward the Palestinian area, 'the center of the city', while there is no clashes.
I took a picture and I kept going on. The military jeep drove very quickly and stopped in front of me,
the soldier open the door and said, 'Kawtaw how are you'? He was the same soldier who was shooting toward the Palestinian area.
I identified the soldier, o God he is the killer officer who I was met before twice, once he threat to shoot on,
and the other he told me that he loved to talk with me!! I was scared, when he asked to stop and have a talk with him, he was confused, maybe because I filmed him shooting!!
The officer asked,'where are you? I didn't see you since three weeks!!
I said I wasn't here, and I continued going on. The officer said,
please stop for awhile I'm talking with you, I missed you, I want ...
!! I said, no, I couldn't, I should leave now.
The Palestinians were watching us though the windows!! I crossed the street to another one,
The military post near Bet Hadasah settlement called me, come here.
I approached the soldier's, they asked who are you? I said I'm a journalist, the soldiers asked,
what are you doing? I said I'm on my way back to the hotel.
The soldier's said, It was shooting here just three minuets before you pass.
did you see any one in the street? I said, yes,
I saw a military jeep was shooting toward the Palestinian area. The soldier's said, so go away from here very quickly and take care about your self!!
Today 16th, April 12pm, It's a miracle!!
The Israeli soldier's talked to me very polite when they were stopped a woman near Al-Shuhada street border, the soldiers asked me, who are you? I said I'm a Palestinian.
The soldiers said, no, you are kidding. I said, yes I am a Palestinian.
The soldiers asked me about my political point of view, we talked together like human being, I respect all what they told me,
I understand that there are many soldiers carrying the same point of view, but they didn't have influence to make any changes!!
I kept going on, the soldier near Bet Romano settlement asked me if I need a help when I passed next to them!! It's a miracle!!
Near the vegetable market, the soldier's asked me, who are you,
and after I left the area, I met five soldiers getting dropped off at Abu Sineneh.
The officer spat at me when he became very closed to me, he is the same officer who told me two days ago that I'm a 'Terrorist'!!
The Daily Life of Kawther Salam
Hell made in Israel
Thursday, 18th. April 2002
My father taught me to say the truth 'salt' or 'sweet'.
How I do this today? It's just one way to be witnesses for the truth,
witnesses against wrong and injustice.
In this way I contribute toward the injustice and healing required for the preservation of life and the holding back of evil and death.
I want to bear witness today to what I have seen in Hebron.
What I'm reporting to you is not imaginary.
It is simply a record of the event taking place today in the empty streets in Hebron under the curfew.
The streets were empty when I made my tour in the city, the cats,
the rats and the dogs were running along my way acting the play of the city of the ghosts!!
I was looking right and left all the time, the bullets passed over my head, all the military posts where shooting.
I should walk on the safety side I said to my self turning my face to the left side to identified an old man 35 years was naked and masturbating!!.
As I decided to take some pictures and I shouted, the man ran away,
five Israeli soldiers approached me, they asked, 'what happened'?
When I told them the story, they drove quickly to search the area!!
The daily life of Kawther Salam
Hell made in Israel
Friday, 19th April 2002
I didn't know how to survive as a woman and a journalist under the daily
psychological pressure made by the IDF soldiers.
In the streets, the soldiers calling me with bad names and
sexual remarks, at home they continue throwing the garbage as well they
call me with bad names. I guess the military commanders are playing a
political game with me as journalists.
Two days ago I send a letter to colonel Dror Wienberg, the IDF commander in
Hebron, concerning the soldiers practices toward me in the streets and on
my roof. Today my house entrance was damaged and blocked. I asked the
soldiers stationed in the street in front of my house 'point,4:5' to come
and help me to open the door, I called Mark from the 'CPT' too.
Five soldier came, and Mark tried and tried until he open the door, the
hand was damaged. The soldiers came to have a look inside my house, they
were polite, one of them said he saw me in Al-Shallaleh Street one month
ago, the soldiers saw the military mass in my balcony, garbage,sand,
stones, bottles of coca cola, urine, broken glass ...etc.
The officer said, he is going to report his seen to the officer!! I was
reported to his commander two days ago, maybe he was busy in shelling the
Palestinians homes in 'Dora' west of Hebron!!
Near to Bet Romano settlement, the soldiers asked me to stop, they were
yelling 'witch witch Makashefa, Dana International, how are you'? The
soldiers asked me not to record them, they threat to shoot at me!!
The Daily Life of Kawther Salam
Hell made in Israel
sunday, 21 April 2002
When I arrived at the Beit Romano Jewish settlement (the Yeshiva School)
in the city of Hebron (area H2) under the Israeli control, it was 11:30am.
I heard voices calling loudly:'Kawther Salam the Makhashifa (witch) is coming!'
I turned my face to the right and as I identified the IDF soldiers who were called me,
I saw a crowd of Palestinians, Israeli Police and soldiers stopped in front of the
Palestinian gold shop for Mr. Khalel Abu Shekhedim.
Mr. Abu Shekhedim said that the settlers had broken into his shop from the back
side which faces the settlement of Bet Romano. They opened his shop and stole between
$50,000-60,000 in gold jewelry and money.
He said yesterday, when the curfew was lifted, 'I came to open my shop,
but the IDF soldier's didn't allow me. I realized the light switch was on inside the shop,
so I tried to open the door, but it was closed from inside. I called the Israeli Police,
they came, and they went inside the settlement to check. They came after awhile and they said,
we didn't find any thing wrong in your shop.'
The Israeli Police told Abu Shekhedim they couldn't take his complaint now because of the
Jewish festival, and because many settlers were crowding the area.
They advised him to call them tomorrow if he found something had happened in his shop.
Abu Shekhedim came with a torch-cutter worker to help him to open his shop today,
and he found everything inside was stolen!! His shop was opened from the back,
inside the settlement, and the settlers left the equipment they were using inside his shop.
He called the Israeli Police, they came but they didn't allow him to enter his shop.
I saw the Israeli Police officer from the investigation unit, and he went inside the settlement.
After he came out and he advised Mr. Abu Shekhedim to visit them on the next day,
tomorrow morning, 10 o'clock to file his complaint.
Abu Shekhedim said, 'I expect that the settlers did the same to the other gold shops in
the market,' which is called the 'Gold Market' in Hebron. He added that the Israeli
army didn't allowed his neighbor shopkeepers to open their shops,
even after the curfew was lifted.
In a different incident, Mr. Shawkat Al Fakhouri found his shop,
located in front of the Israeli Police station in the area of the Abraham cave,
broken into and all his goods were stolen. When he went to the police station to
file a complaint, the police refused, and told him, 'We don't take complaints during the war!!'
The officer said, 'We don't work as observers here. We are busy in our offices.'
After the curfew, which was imposed on Hebron last week,
the Palestinians found all the shops along Al-Shohada, Al-Shallaleh Streets and the
vegetable market were opened and stolen!!
The Israeli Police officer said they will accept the Palestinians complaint,
andthat they would try to catch the settlers who did this damage to the Palestinians shops.
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