Dear Allah,

“O Children of Adam! wear your beautiful apparel at every masjid (mosque): eat and drink: But waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not the wasters”.  [Al A’raf 7:31]***

On the day I was traveling to Sheikh Jarrah, I heard the news of the Masjid that was burnt by the Settlers during the night in Yasouf. Though we couldn’t visit Yasouf that day as we were heading in the opposite direction, today we managed to connect with the locals and pay them a visit. The purpose of our visit was to get a better understanding of the situation on the ground in Yasouf, but to also tell the Palestinians about the work we do as an international organization and how we could help.

Yasouf is a neater village in comparison to the one I am living in, and to some of the other villages I have seen so far. The village has an approximate population of 2000 people, mostly young people. To the West of Yasouf you will find a settlement called Tappuah, which is only about 1 km away from the entrance to the village . It was the Settlers in this village who burnt Qurans in Masjid Hasan al Qadr in the early hours of the 11th of December 2009. As I entered the mosque the smell of kerosene and the smoky black walls of the Masjid did not speak of the prayers that might have been held here in the past.

As we entered the Masjid, 8 or so Palestinian men were working on removing the graffiti that had been pasted on the wall. Our contact in the village translated the Hebrew message on the wall as, “We will burn all of you.” This retaliation known as a price tag within the Settler community reminded me of the Nazi’s response to the Jews in the mid 30s and 40s. History is repeating itself in Palestine today. The young Palestinian man who was helpful in narrating the accounts of the night said Settlers are often trolling through the streets of Yasouf at night to terrorize the residents. Often a times the locals have awoken to find their cars burnt or hear of attacks on their neighbors during the night.

This is the first time the Masjid has been attacked in Yasouf. Popular media is reporting the incident to be a response to the settlement freeze by the Israeli government. I thought of how vandalism of Synagogues, Churches and Mosques else where would create an uproar in the multi faith communities around the world. However the people of Yasouf though angry seemed refrained and almost sensitized to the torture they face on a daily basis.

After the visit to the Masjid we attended a majlis with the Mayor of Yasouf, and about 12 local Palestinian men. The men shared stories of difficulties in access to their own lands; how Settlers release snakes and pigs on to their farms to damage the harvest; and how tear gas was recently thrown inside a neighbouring house by the Israeli Army.

The attendees welcomed our visit, and our presence in solidarity with the Palestinian people. However huge emphasis during the meeting was put on how Internationals can be more effective in their own countries by changing foreign policies affecting this region. The men questioned the impact Internationals do have in Palestine, and felt that our foreign passport is not quite a ticket to receiving better treatment according to their experiences.

The visit to Yaouf has left a bitter taste in my throat that is not likely to leave me. Seeing a Holy site and script that means a lot to my faith burnt into tithers enraged me. As my time here progresses, I am learning about the different methodologies being employed by the Occupiers to weaken the Occupied. My feelings are irrelevant though, and my heart breaks at the thought of the suffering people have endured here for years.

I came here to see those labeled as ‘terrorists’ living up to their title. I find that the world is so unaware of who the real terrorists are! So here is my prayer for today ya Allah:

I pray that kindness and compassion is increased in the heart of the Occupiers

I pray that the evil that consumes a person to burn a Masjid or someones Holy scripture is drawn out of them and they are blessed with light

I pray for peace… I pray for a positive future of these faith communities living together – Ameen

There will be a day for the oppressor when he will be crushed like garlic – Palestinian Proverb

Dear Allah,

Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The best friend in the sight of Allah is he who is the well-wisher of his companions, and the best neighbour is one who behaves best towards his neighbours. Transmitted by Tirmidhi. – Al-Tirmidhi, Number 120

Ever since I can remember I have been taught to show kindness towards thy neighbour. However, what do you show your neighbour if they occupy your house? How are you suppose to respond when they abuse you? Are the Palestinians going to win over the Israeli Settlers by smiling at them every time they are spat on?

I attended my first demonstration yesterday, and it was wake up call to the reality of the occupation. As an international part of my role entails supporting demonstrations organized  by the local Palestinians or Israelis that are in favour of ending the occupation of Palestine. Lets just say I joined the demonstration with an image of the rallies and marches I have attended back home, only to realise the demos here are a kick in the stomach.

Sheikh Jarrah is one of the many neighbourhoods where the Israeli government is evicting the local Palestinians and replacing the residencies with Israeli Settlers. The rally yesterday organized by a left wing Israeli group was in support of the Al-Kurd family who were evicted out of the front section of their home via a court order by the Israeli government. The family has since faced harassment and abuse by the Settlers, and the front part of their house is now occupied by a Settler family.

The demonstration was to show support to the Al-Kurd’s and to raise awareness of the rawness of the occupation. Attended by about 60 predominently Israelis and Internationals, the demo started from Mashbir Plaza (West Jerusalem) and ended at the Al -Kurd family home. The anarchists marched with drums and beats around the city of Jerusalem and made ample noise for the locals to hear their messages – “Israel is a fascist state”, and “Sheikh Jarrah is Palestine”. The stroll to our final destination was not a walk in the park however. The protesters faced verbal abuse by other Israelis, eggs were thrown at us from a high rise building apartment, and some demonstrators were also hosed down with water from an apartment building.

As the walk progressed I noticed the number of accompanying police cars increase around us. 4 soldiers were right at the front of the demonstration walking ahead to make sure all was in control and order. Such response by the soldiers and police surprised me for the group believed in non-violent resistance, and in hindsight shows my naïvety of the reality on the ground. All of this however was manageable, it was what came up ahead that will remain in my heart and mind forever.

Upon arrival at the Al-Kurd home the nationalistic fervor of the Settlers sunk in. The Al-Kurd house had been embellished with the Israeli flag. The soldiers had barricaded the front entrance to the door of the house now occupied, to protect those inside. Though all was calm up until that point, all havoc broke loose when a demonstrator pulled down the rope of the Israeli flag from the house. It became chaotic and people started pushing each other out of the courtyard of the house. The soldiers were pushing the protestors savagely, and running after the guy who dared to show such bravery.

Several protesters used themselves as a barrier and tried to convince the soldiers to let this man go. The police pepper sprayed this poor man, to physically control him. However there was no turning back from the violence to come on the part of the Israeli soldiers, and police present on site. As I looked around me I noticed the street now had 8 police cars. There were several more police and soldiers around, and the soldiers had started becoming physically agressive in several bubbles sporadically placed on the street.

I have never seen such a demonstration before. Where the protestors stood in front of the police van to barricade its movement. Though they were unsuccessful, they did manage to hold the vehicle back for 10 minutes. I was experiencing my very first non-violent resistance on the part of civilians who were socially conscious.

After arresting this man, and successfully getting the police van out of the street, the soldiers reconvened in front of the house door with police alongside them. It was then that my colleague whispered, “stay out of the way now, the police are about to make arrests”. I felt useless as my camera battery had died, and I could not record visual accounts of the atrocious behaviour on the part of these fascist people.

The police arrested 24 protestors yesterday, mostly Israeli but a few internationals. They were all abused. A Palestinian man was severely injured and blood surrounded him. I was horrified that it took forever for the ambulance to get there. The shahbaab on the streets were angry, and the darkness of the evening resembled the darkness that was consuming this place.

The court hearing for the Israeli activists arrested will be this evening. I salute the Israelis taking a stance against the occupation. They are willing to put themselves on the line, in hope for change. I commend their bravery. I have witnessed, and I stand against the occupation in solidarity!

Here is the link to the biased reporting of the demo within Israel. The Al Kurd family is still living in a tent in the back part of their house.