Palestine Think Tank

It is a beautiful afternoon here on Dartmoor.  The sunlight has that quality one sees in Russian paintings of birch trees in the crisp snow.  The three lovely grandchildren – girls, are here.  We have been out for a walk on the moor in freedom – not stifled by a 60 year long occupation that started with a terror driven ethnic cleansing.

I phoned my brother in Gaza at noon.  The couple had their fourth child, a baby girl, 7 days ago.  There are now 4 children, so what future?

There has been no electricity for 48 hours.  If the hospital generators fail (they are meant for stand by only), those on ventilators etc might die.  Those on ventilation are having their bronchial trees sucked out using syringes.  1500 need special medical care outside Gaza.  Since June 2007 and the pre-emptive strike by Hamas and the tightening of the noose, there have been 273 Palestinian murders. One can assume at least three times that number have been wounded.  There have been uncounted hundreds dying from want of adequate medical services.  I have seen many 'amputees' and appeared with one – Bashir on Al Aqsa TV.  3,500 factories have shut and the unemployment rate  is about 80%.

The population is braced for a general invasion.  The direction might be multiple.  The CIA trained Palestinian 'quisling' forces might use the sealed Egyptian border.  The sea 'border' might have a US element.

They feel that Ms Livni and her Zionist conspirators have been greatly hurt by the solidarity of the people in Gaza in spite of every effort to cow them.  They were required to kneel for a loaf.  They prefer to die standing than to live on their knees.  I embrace them in this, the 2008th year of our Lord.  That the barbarians should do this is no surprise.  That the well fed but extremely ill educated nations of the west should not lift a finger in disapproval is no cause for surprise either.  The 'stance' of the Arab 'leadership' is beyond words.  It is loathed as much by the Palestinians as by the domestic populations.

I cannot say happy New Year.  The hollowness is even more extreme, rather as the State Broadcaster's lies have become.

David

Gaza (in Spanish, English, Italian, French)

By José Saramago

La sigla ONU, todo el mundo lo sabe, significa Organización de Naciones Unidas, es decir, a la luz de la realidad, nada o muy poco. Que lo digan los palestinos de Gaza a quienes se les están agotando los alimentos, o se les han agotado ya, porque así lo ha impuesto el bloqueo israelí, decidido, por lo vistos, a condenar al hambre a las 750 mil personas registradas allí como refugiados. Ni pan tiene ya, la harina se ha acabado, y el aceite, las lentejas y el azúcar van por el mismo camino. Desde el día 9 de diciembre los camiones de la agencia de Naciones Unidas, cargados de alimentos, aguardan a que el ejército israelí les permita la entrada en la faja de Gaza, una autorización una vez más negada o que será pospuesta hasta la última desesperación y la última exasperación de los palestinos hambrientos. ¿Naciones Unidas? ¿Unidas? Contando con la complicidad o la cobardía internacional, Israel se ríe de recomendaciones, decisiones y protestas, hace lo que viene en gana, cuando le viene en gana y como le viene en gana. Ha llegado hasta el punto de impedir la entrada de libros e instrumentos musicales como si se tratase de productos que iban a poner en riesgo la seguridad de Israel. Si el ridículo matara no quedaría de pie ni un solo político o un solo soldado israelí, esos especialistas en crueldad, esos doctorados en desprecio que miran el mundo desde lo alto de la insolencia que es la base de su educación. Comprendemos mejor a su dios bíblico cuando conocemos a sus seguidores. Jehová, o Yahvé, o como se le diga, es un dios rencoroso y feroz que los israelíes mantienen permanentemente actualizado.

Gazadi José Saramago
 
The letters UN, everyone knows, stand for United Nations Organisation, that is to say, in light of what reality shows us, an organisation of nothing, or far too little. Able to affirm this would be the Palestinians, who are reaching the end of all their reserves of food, where what little food that remained could be had. It is that way because the Israeli siege imposed this upon them, as they evidently decided to condemn the 750 thousand persons registered as refugees to starvation. Bread is already a thing of the past, flour is scarce, oil, lentils and sugar are about to follow the same destiny. Since 9 December, the lorries of the Agency of the United Nations, stocked with food, have been waiting just for the Israeli army to give them the permission to enter into the Gaza Strip, an authorisation that will once again be denied or postponed until the final desperation and final exasperation of the starving Palestinians.

United Nations? United?

Counting upon the complicity or the cowardice of the international community, Israel scoffs at the resolutions, decisions and protests and does exactly as it wants, whenever and however it wants. It has come to the point of prohibiting the entrance of books and musical instruments, as if these are products that will endanger the security of Israel. If it was possible to kill through the ridiculous, there would not be one single politician or one single Israeli soldier alive, soldiers who are specialised in cruelty, hold university degrees in scorn, persons who look at the world from the altar of their insolence which stands as the base of their education. We can better understand their Biblical God now that we know his followers. Jehova or Yahweh, or whatever he’s called, is a vengeful and ferocious god that the Israelis keep permanently modern.

(Translated by Mary Rizzo)

La sigla ONU, lo sanno tutti, significa Organizzazione delle Nazioni Unite, vale a dire, alla luce dei fatti, niente o troppo poco. Possono affermarlo i palestinesi, le cui scorte alimentari stanno finendo, o sono già finite, perché così ha imposto l'assedio israeliano, deciso evidentemente per condannare alla fame le 750 mila persone registrate come rifugiati. Manca già il pane, sta per finire la farina, l'olio, le lenticchie e lo zucchero stanno per seguire lo stesso destino. Dal 9 dicembre i camion dell'agenzia delle Nazioni Unite, carichi di cibo, attendono che l'esercito israeliano permetta loro di entrare nella Striscia di Gaza, autorizzazione che verrà ancora una volta negata o rimandata fino all'ultima disperazione e l'ultima esasperazione dei palestinesi affamati. Nazioni Unite? Unite? Contando sulla complicità o la vigliaccheria internazionali, Israele si prende gioco delle raccomandazioni, delle decisioni e delle proteste e fa ciò che vuole, quando e come vuole. È arrivato al punto di proibire l'ingresso di libri e strumenti musicali, come se si trattasse di prodotti che possono mettere in pericolo la sicurezza di Israele. Se il ridicolo uccidesse, non resterebbero in piedi un solo politico né un solo soldato israeliano, specialisti in crudeltà, addottorati in disprezzo, persone che guardano al mondo dall'alto della insolenza che sta alla base della loro educazione. Comprendiamo meglio il loro dio biblico ora che conosciamo i suoi seguaci. Jehova, o Yahvé, o come lo si chiami, è un dio vendicativo e feroce che gli israeliani mantengono permanentemente attuale.

(Tradotto da Manuela Vittorelli)

Le sigle ONU, tout le monde le sait, signifie Organisation des Nations Unies, c'est-à-dire, à la lumière de la réalité, rien ou très peu. Les palestiniens de Gaza peuvent le dirent, ceux dont le stock d’aliments est presque épuisé, ou ceux dont il est déjà épuisé, car c'est ce que le blocus israélien leur a imposé, décidé apparemment, à condamner à la faim les 750 mille personnes répertoriées, là, comme réfugiés. Il n’y a même déjà plus de pain, la farine vient d’être épuisée, l'huile, les lentilles et le sucre suivent le même chemin. Depuis le 9 décembre les camions de l'agence des Nations Unies, chargés d'aliments, attendent que l'armée israélienne leur permette l'entrée dans la bande de Gaza, une autorisation une fois de plus refusée ou qui sera ajournée jusqu'à l’ultime désespoir et l’ultime exaspération des palestiniens affamés. Nations Unies ? Unies ? En comptant avec la complicité ou la lâcheté internationale, Israël se moque des recommandations, des décisions et des protestations, il fait ce qu’il veut, quand il veut et comme il veut. Il en est arrivé jusqu'au point d'empêcher l'entrée de livres et d’instruments de musique comme s'il s'agissait de produits qui allaient mettre en péril la sécurité d’Israël. Si le ridicule tuait, aucun politicien ni même un seul soldat israélien ne resterait debout, ces spécialistes en cruauté, ces doctoraux en dédain qui regardent le monde du haut de leur insolence, est la base de leur éducation. Nous comprenons mieux leur dieu biblique lorsque nous connaissons leurs partisans. Jehova, ou Yahvé, peu importe comme on le dise, c’est un dieu rancunier et féroce que les israéliens maintiennent actualisé en permanence.
(Traduit par Esteban Garcia)

http://cuaderno.josesaramago.org/2008/12/22/gaza/