Apache Helicopters and Tomatoes.
By Gary Anderson in Jerusalem
April 9, 2002
I spent the day with people from Palestinian Water Authority documenting the systematic ways in which the Israeli occupation has excavated, dug up, shot at, destroyed water systems all over the West Bank.
I’ll give you a more detailed report soon, but let’s just say it’s just heinous.
It’s important to compare what American support has been given to Israel with support for Palestine.
U.S. support has brought Apache helicopter gunships firing machine gun bullets and missiles into civilian communities. US support has given Israel F-16 and F-15 fighter jets that rain down bombs and missiles on Palestinian refugee camps. US support has meant the tank shells and bullets that have killed over 1,500 Palestinians and injured over 30,000. The US support is translated in the giant military bulldozers supplied by Caterpiller, Inc…that have demolished the Jenin Refugee Camp.
And US support for Palestine?
Earlier today I took a walk from 4 to 4:30 this afternoon, we had worked all day, and skipped lunch. I went for a walk and came by this vendor, this Palestinian fruit vendor, vegetable vendor. And I saw a tomato. I thought, “Oh, I’ll get something, I’ll eat a tomato at least.”
And I walked up and I wanted to buy a tomato. He made some kind of a gesture like, just take it. And it was a kindly gesture, it wasn’t disdainful. So I stood there I was asking, “Well, how much would this be?” And then another man there asked me, “Well, do you speak English?” And I said, “Yes.” He says, “Well, he wants to give it to you” So I just said thank you.
I was really appreciative and walked away. And when has anybody ever given you—when in American have you ever walked up to a store and somebody has just given you something? These people don’t have any economy here. They have no customers, no tourists, no business. They’re impoverished. And this tomato vendor -- this tomato might have been 10% of his sales for the day. And I’m an American and my country is responsible for much of the carnage surrounding him, and--he gives me this tomato.
Gary Anderson is one of five members of the Colorado Campaign for Middle East Peace who have joined hundreds of other internationals in coming to Palestine to protest and end the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine. More information on their trip at www.ccmep.org/palestine.html