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[HANASHIR:11260] I had to send this on. Please read -re peace?
- From: FAVNI <FAVNI...>
- Subject: [HANASHIR:11260] I had to send this on. Please read -re peace?
- Date: Tue 09 Apr 2002 17.26 (GMT)
In a message dated 4/9/02 5:11:53 AM, bertzpoet (at) yahoo(dot)com writes:
<<
These reports are entirely credible, coming from a friend, a public health
professor, a peace activist. The destruction of Palestinian civil society,
what there was of it, that could be the basis for a just co-existence is
lunacy compounded by revenge. Please circulate.
Norbert
giacaman (at) baraka(dot)org wrote: From: giacaman (at) baraka(dot)org
To: Norbert Hirschhorn
Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2002 23:47:46 +0200
Subject: Re:
On April 8th, 2002 at 1p.m., the curfew was lifted in Ramallah for
the second time in 11 days, and for a period of 4 hours. It gave
some a chance to hunt for bread and eggs, and others to quickly
survey the damage to their institutions, since in the previous lifting
of the curfew people could barely concentrate on hunting for but not
finding bread. But once locked up again, a slow realization came about...
wonder what they did inside the buildings they broke into.
With gradual reports of plunder, stealing and breaking emerging,
you can imagine that many began to worry, then fear a much
worse realization: destruction of the institutional and cultural
infrastructure of Palestinian life. This realization, alas, is now being
confirmed. For many, much of their laborious work in institution building
has been ruined.
Although we do not know the level and extent of this type of
destruction, eyewitness reports indicate that it is all-
encompassing. No doubt, it will take months to assess the extent
of this damage, once we emerge out of the current circumstances.
And clearly, being under curfew and with mere phone contacts, we
only know of some cases, those that we happen to have access to
or pertain to people we know. Here is what we know so far:
1. Radio and television stations: Not only did the Israeli army
occupy most of the local radio and television stations early on, but
they used one of the stations at least, WATAN, to air pornographic
films. That day, probably on the second day of this onslaught, I turned
on the television to see Watan Television Station's couragous reporting
of what is happening around us. I was shocked by a pornographic film
instead. Called everybody and everyone, as did everybody else who saw
that. And it took I think two days for this to stop...just think of children
watching in the midst of all that is happening around them.
And then we began to hear reports of what has taken place at al-Quds
University's Educational Television, which normally broadcasts
educational materials, but since the beginning of this state of affairs, had
begun airing cartoons for children and short films on first aid and trauma
management, as well as phone numbers and addresses to use for
emergency purposes in these trying times.
According to the technical director of this station and another
filmmaker friend, the army occupied the station and held two
staff operators for many hours before they were released. When the
curfew was lifted on April 5th, he tried his best to get into
the station, but was not allowed in by the army. On the way back,
his worst fears were magnified: al-Nasr TV, Manara, Ajyal, and
Angham radio station owners all reported the same horror. They
were able to get into their stations and found all the equipment on the
floor, totally and irreparably damaged. Microphones, tapes, CD's,
monitors, mixers etc. all spread and smashed into shambles. Even Radio
Love and Peace studios, ironically, were found totally destroyed,
apparently using highly effective sledgehammers or something of this
sort!
2. Non-governmental organizations working on economic and social
development research, policy and human rights
a. Al-Haq, HDIP and MATTIN: these are three non-governmental
organizations specializing in human rights, health research and
policy and economic research development respectively. They are
situated in one building. The first report I received was from al-Haq,
indicating that they had stormed their office as well as that of HDIP, and
that they had arrested one of their workers. Later on, we realized via
MATTIN researchers that all three institutions were opened up, forming
a big dormitory, and that the army was using the entire area as a
barracks. On the second curfew lifting I went downtown and peeped
through streets and building to see, as you cannot get close, only to
realize that the building is surrounded with barbed wires and tanks,
totally inaccessible even for people to inspect the damage in there, and
leaving you with a horrific imagination of what could have happened
inside, as the Israeli army is still using the offices as a downtown station.
We suspect that the damage must be great, or total, based on reports of
what happened in radio and television stations as well as people's homes
when they are stormed.
b. UPMRC . First, the Youth Center, housing a computer
laboratory as well as other equipment and materials that are
intended to help youth in these trying times. On Sunday the 31st of
March the Israeli army stormed the center. They detonated the
door and went in. They broke all the internal doors, and destroyed
some of the computers, we do not know how many. We have no
idea to date if they stole anything or not.
Then, the UPMRC Optometry Center: the centre was stormed probably
also on the same day. Again the door was detonated, and even the
internal walls were destroyed, and everything was broken,
computers, microscopes, and all of the diagnostic equipment was
smashed and on the floor. The Israeli army also took with them the
main records computer. There is nothing there that is operational.
And, the UPMRC Technical Aids for the Disabled Centre: stormed on
the first of April. Stormed by exploding one of the walls, as they could
not open the main door, tried to detonate the door but did not succeed.
All computers were broken and down on the floor, glass broken, even
parts of walls were down.
And finally, UPMRC'c main emergency medical center, first shelled
by tanks, with shells landing inside one of rooms, carving out the
first wall into the second room, and then again the second wall into the
third room. Then they stormed the building and destroyed all the
equipment there, computers, photocopier etc. The Israeli army also
detonated the doors of other NGO's located in the building, such as the
Mandela Institute, as well a private dental clinic and computer company
located in the same building. One office, belonging to a private lawyer
was partially burned down. All equipment in these offices were
destroyed.
c. Al-Mawrid Teacher Development Center in the Arizona Building in the
heart of downtown Ramallah: this center was directly hit by a missile or
bomb, which landed in through the window and caused a fire, which has
led to the total destruction of the premises.
d. Muwatin, the Palestinian Institute for the Study of Democracy,
located on Irsal Street, was not spared either. Apparently, the neighbor
first reported that the army stormed into these
offices and stayed there for about three hours. One door was completely
blown off, and the other badly damaged. By the second curfew lifting, on
April 9th, a quick visit revealed destruction, and paper everywhere on
floors, books on floors. There was no time however to assess whether
anything was stolen nor the extent of the damage.
We also hear that PARC ( Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee) and
the Hydrology Group offices were also stormed but I do not yet know
the details.
3. Public Institutions: we have not begun to realize the extent of the
damage in this sector , but some reports are indicative. On April 4th, the
Ministry of Education issued an appeal to the world
community indicating that on April 3rd, more than 30 Israeli tanks made a
forceful entry into the Ministry headquarters in Ramallah , demolishing
the main gate and the main doors, although employees there were willing
to give them the keys to open the doors instead. The employees were
then captured and forced to sit under heavy rain for six hours, then
released. When the soldiers left at around 9 p.m that evening, the
employees went back to horrifying damage: the Ministry's computer net
servers were stolen, along with many floppy disks, CD's, files, dossiers,
and all sorts of other documents. In the finance office, the main coffer
lock was detonated, damaging all papers, including vouchers,
promissory notes, cash and check box. The general examination central
office doors were all detonated and destroyed, all iron cupboards as well,
many of which containing very important educational documents. All
records were taken or destroyed, even records
of official transcripts that have been laboriously developed over years,
and making it impossible now to issue or certify student documents and
transcripts. Even the storage rooms were invaded, with computers,
televisions and video sets and other valuable teaching aids taken away,
all with worth estimated as in millions of dollars. Apparently, the piles of
rubble on the floor made for a terrifying scene.
This list is by no means exhaustive, and has been compiled from reports I
have received from friends and colleagues in the institutions concerned.
The whole truth will take some time to emerge.
This unbelievable destruction can only indicate that this unilateral war is
not merely about security, but is mainly directed against annihilating
everything Palestinian.
Rita
Please circulate
Norbert Hirschhorn MD
1044 Chapel Street
Apartment 502
New Haven CT 06510
USA
1-203-777-8688
---------------------------------
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Yahoo! Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax
These reports are entirely credible, coming from a friend, a public health
professor, a peace activist. The destruction of Palestinian civil society,
what there was of it, that could be the basis for a just co-existence is
lunacy compounded by revenge. Please circulate.
Norbert
giacaman (at) baraka(dot)org wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff
2px solid">From: giacaman (at) baraka(dot)org
To: Norbert Hirschhorn <BERTZPOET (at) YAHOO(dot)COM>
Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2002 23:47:46 +0200
Subject: Re:
On April 8th, 2002 at 1p.m., the curfew was lifted in Ramallah for
the second time in 11 days, and for a period of 4 hours. It gave
some a chance to hunt for bread and eggs, and others to quickly
survey the damage to their institutions, since in the previous lifting
of the curfew people could barely concentrate on hunting for but not
finding bread. But once locked up again, a slow realization came about...
wonder what they did inside the buildings they broke into.
With gradual reports of plunder, stealing and breaking emerging,
you can imagine that many began to worry, then fear a much
worse realization: destruction of the institutional and cultural
infrastructure of Palestinian life. This realization, alas, is now being
confirmed. For many, much of their laborious work in institution building
has been ruined.
Although we do not know the level and extent of this type of
destruction, eyewitness reports indicate that it is all-
encompassing. No doubt, it will take months to assess the extent
of this damage, once we emerge out of the current circumstances.
And clearly, being under curfew and with mere phone contacts, we
only know of some cases, those that we happen to have access to
or pertain to people we know. Here is what we know so far:
1. Radio and television stations: Not only did the Israeli army
occupy most of the local radio and television stations early on, but
they used one of the stations at least, WATAN, to air pornographic
films. That day, probably on the second day of this onslaught, I turned
on the television to see Watan Television Station's couragous reporting
of what is happening around us. I was shocked by a pornographic film
instead. Called everybody and everyone, as did everybody else who saw
that. And it took I think two days for this to stop...just think of children
watching in the midst of all that is happening around them.
And then we began to hear reports of what has taken place at al-Quds
University's Educational Television, which normally broadcasts
educational materials, but since the beginning of this state of affairs, had
begun airing cartoons for children and short films on first aid and trauma
management, as well as phone numbers and addresses to use for
emergency purposes in these trying times.
According to the technical director of this station and another
filmmaker friend, the army occupied the station and held two
staff operators for many hours before they were released. When the
curfew was lifted on April 5th, he tried his best to get into
the station, but was not allowed in by the army. On the way back,
his worst fears were magnified: al-Nasr TV, Manara, Ajyal, and
Angham radio station owners all reported the same horror. They
were able to get into their stations and found all the equipment on the
floor, totally and irreparably damaged. Microphones, tapes, CD's,
monitors, mixers etc. all spread and smashed into shambles. Even Radio
Love and Peace studios, ironically, were found totally destroyed,
apparently using highly effective sledgehammers or something of this
sort!
2. Non-governmental organizations working on economic and social
development research, policy and human rights
a. Al-Haq, HDIP and MATTIN: these are three non-governmental
organizations specializing in human rights, health research and
policy and economic research development respectively. They are
situated in one building. The first report I received was from al-Haq,
indicating that they had stormed their office as well as that of HDIP, and
that they had arrested one of their workers. Later on, we realized via
MATTIN researchers that all three institutions were opened up, forming
a big dormitory, and that the army was using the entire area as a
barracks. On the second curfew lifting I went downtown and peeped
through streets and building to see, as you cannot get close, only to
realize that the building is surrounded with barbed wires and tanks,
totally inaccessible even for people to inspect the damage in there, and
leaving you with a horrific imagination of what could have happened
inside, as the Israeli army is still using the offices as a downtown station.
We suspect that the damage must be great, or total, based on reports of
what happened in radio and television stations as well as people's homes
when they are stormed.
b. UPMRC . First, the Youth Center, housing a computer
laboratory as well as other equipment and materials that are
intended to help youth in these trying times. On Sunday the 31st of
March the Israeli army stormed the center. They detonated the
door and went in. They broke all the internal doors, and destroyed
some of the computers, we do not know how many. We have no
idea to date if they stole anything or not.
Then, the UPMRC Optometry Center: the centre was stormed probably
also on the same day. Again the door was detonated, and even the
internal walls were destroyed, and everything was broken,
computers, microscopes, and all of the diagnostic equipment was
smashed and on the floor. The Israeli army also took with them the
main records computer. There is nothing there that is operational.
And, the UPMRC Technical Aids for the Disabled Centre: stormed on
the first of April. Stormed by exploding one of the walls, as they could
not open the main door, tried to detonate the door but did not succeed.
All computers were broken and down on the floor, glass broken, even
parts of walls were down.
And finally, UPMRC'c main emergency medical center, first shelled
by tanks, with shells landing inside one of rooms, carving out the
first wall into the second room, and then again the second wall into the
third room. Then they stormed the building and destroyed all the
equipment there, computers, photocopier etc. The Israeli army also
detonated the doors of other NGO's located in the building, such as the
Mandela Institute, as well a private dental clinic and computer company
located in the same building. One office, belonging to a private lawyer
was partially burned down. All equipment in these offices were
destroyed.
c. Al-Mawrid Teacher Development Center in the Arizona Building in the
heart of downtown Ramallah: this center was directly hit by a missile or
bomb, which landed in through the window and caused a fire, which has
led to the total destruction of the premises.
d. Muwatin, the Palestinian Institute for the Study of Democracy,
located on Irsal Street, was not spared either. Apparently, the neighbor
first reported that the army stormed into these
offices and stayed there for about three hours. One door was completely
blown off, and the other badly damaged. By the second curfew lifting, on
April 9th, a quick visit revealed destruction, and paper everywhere on
floors, books on floors. There was no time however to assess whether
anything was stolen nor the extent of the damage.
We also hear that PARC ( Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee) and
the Hydrology Group offices were also stormed but I do not yet know
the details.
3. Public Institutions: we have not begun to realize the extent of the
damage in this sector , but some reports are indicative. On April 4th, the
Ministry of Education issued an appeal to the world
community indicating that on April 3rd, more than 30 Israeli tanks made a
forceful entry into the Ministry headquarters in Ramallah , demolishing
the main gate and the main doors, although employees there were willing
to give them the keys to open the doors instead. The employees were
then captured and forced to sit under heavy rain for six hours, then
released. When the soldiers left at around 9 p.m that evening, the
employees went back to horrifying damage: the Ministry's computer net
servers were stolen, along with many floppy disks, CD's, files, dossiers,
and all sorts of other documents. In the finance office, the main coffer
lock was detonated, damaging all papers, including vouchers,
promissory notes, cash and check box. The general examination central
office doors were all detonated and destroyed, all iron cupboards as well,
many of which containing very important educational documents. All
records were taken or destroyed, even records
of official transcripts that have been laboriously developed over years,
and making it impossible now to issue or certify student documents and
transcripts. Even the storage rooms were invaded, with computers,
televisions and video sets and other valuable teaching aids taken away,
all with worth estimated as in millions of dollars. Apparently, the piles of
rubble on the floor made for a terrifying scene.
This list is by no means exhaustive, and has been compiled from reports I
have received from friends and colleagues in the institutions concerned.
The whole truth will take some time to emerge.
This unbelievable destruction can only indicate that this unilateral war is
not merely about security, but is mainly directed against annihilating
everything Palestinian.
Rita
Please circulate
</BLOCKQUOTE>
Norbert Hirschhorn MD
1044 Chapel Street
Apartment 502
New Haven CT 06510
USA
1-203-777-8688
Dear colleagues and friends - I received this email this morning and felt I
had to pass it on Though we are trying to be non-political and are all
praying for peace, there is a lot of information that we really do not have -
and should have so that we can truly understand what is going on. Hard to
accept the we Jews too, abuse and oppress, and disregard . The idealistic
army of yesteryear, with respect for land and personhood no longer exists. I
konw war is war - but the blazing and razing is inhumane.
It is scary and depressing. My brother and his kids and grandchildren are in
Nazareth, my ex-husband in S'de Chemed near Kfar Saba, most of my friends in
Jerusalem and my ex-in-laws, still my 'family' in Tel Aviv. My heart has
always been in Israel though I now only write/sing about it safely from
Canada or California. This is so depressing that I had to share. Please
forgive - but please read it.
Fran Avni
Dr. Norbert Hirschhorn, Linda's eldest brother has been awarded a citation
from the White house for his humanitarian work as a physician, he has saved
millions of children from starvation in third world countries and has worked
all over the world in diverse conditions. Now retired, he is an advisor to
World Health organizations. With family and friends in Israel, his request
to pass this on is one I take with great seriousness.
------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org -----------------------+
- [HANASHIR:11260] I had to send this on. Please read -re peace?,
FAVNI