Still in Ramallah, Ready For Another Invasion

by Marilyn Robinson

May 8, 2002

I am still in Ramallah and it looks like I will be here for the long haul most likely unless I go to Nablus to nurse at all. It all depends on the incursion we see coming tonight, tomorrow, or the next day. It is most likely to occur since the two suicide bombings happened. Ramallah is most likely to be the site of an attack with Arafat's compound being one of the sites of the attack. Sharon has said he wants to take Arafat out. Does that mean kill or exile?

We here at the Medical Relief offices have been preparing for the emergency needs of the areas of Ramallah. It is sectioned off into A, B, and C areas. I will be accompanying ambulance drivers throughout the streets along with Nik, an international from the UK. I will be able to give some emergency medical care when needed and we will visit those civilians needing medical treatment in their homes. We will also act as shields and protection accompanying medical care teams that must walk in the streets to give care helping to hopefully prevent injury to the medical personnel.

It is 11pm at present. Nik and I along with Hussien and Ahmed, medical relief workers are staying overnight to act as a form of protection also helping to prevent Israeli soldiers from taking the doctors and personnel hostage and vandalizing the offices.

Tomorrow will be another day, hopefully a peaceful day. I expect miracles. So, why not peace?

* Marilyn Robinson 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