Testimony of Homes Searched, Trashed, Plants Uprooted, Collaberators

by Ida Audeh in Ramallah

May 8, 2002

Thought I'd jot down a few thoughts--not breaking news, just things you might find interesting.

My mother's home is like grand central station. We have people over nonstop beginning in the early afternoon and lasting until about 8 or 9 p.m. Every single person has stories of having their homes searched, being forced at gunpoint to sit while this goes on, etc.

I've been struck by the number of people who have also reported having trees and plants uprooted. They seem as upset about that as they are about having their homes violated. No one can figure out what offense the plants gave.

Another theme is collaboration. The town seems to be full of collaborators. My uncle says that he was asked for by name, and that a masked man was in the tank that came to him, full of Israeli soldiers. The number of collaborators has been a real nightmare for people.

Another theme (and this was news to me) was that the Israelis are using Lebanese soldiers, specifically Lahad's soldiers. Lahad's troops collaborated with the Israeli occupation army in southern Lebanon, and many such Lebanese were relocated to Israel when Israel withdrew from S. Lebanon. People report hearing Lebanese accents, and they also say that some of them have their faces painted.

And now there is talk of a reinvasion.

Today I visited a friend of a friend at Al-Quds Educational TV. Their offices were completely trashed. He showed me a video of the offices when they first returned; just a lot of deliberate hateful destructiveness. Nasty graffiti, too. They have been rebuilding and cleaning out nonstop since. And somehow people manage to remain focused and positive, and they

find the energy to rebuild.

I hope to go to Janin refugee camp tomorrow---unless we get invaded, in which case I'll stay put.

* Ida Audeh is one of four members of the Colorado Campaign for Middle East Peace who have joined international activists in solidarity with Palestinians nonviolently trying to end Israel's illegal military occupation of Palestine.  More on their trip at: www.ccmep.org/palestine.html