From Erich Smeaton, July 11

 

We have finally finished our non-violence training in Ramallah with the ISM (two ten hour days in a row). The reluctance I felt going into the training was completely overshadowed by the training itself as well as the relationships and friendships that sprung from the experience. I see now that not only is the training important in developing skills of non-violence tactics in direct actions but also developing solidarity among the same people you will be working with. The 30 of us truly trust one another and this has only enriched my experience in Palestine.

Today the whole group is heading to Tel-Aviv for the afternoon to bear witness and support the Internationals that were arrested last week in Nablus. All are fighting deportation which would consequently entail a ten-year suspension from entering Israel (at least through traditional methods that is!).

Once the hearing is over we all head to Jayus for an action on Monday the details of which I am, at this time, not totally clear of. From Jayus the group splits into affinity groups and heads to their respective regions. Blake, Nick, Paul, Helga (a wonderful older Jewish lady from Canada), Julia (a girl from Latvia), and I are headed for Tulkarem where we will sleep in a peace camp, escort farmers to their fields, engage in youth education programs, and participate in direct actions against the Apartheid Wall (note: Condoleeza Rice just saw a map of the wall and stated that it was "not good" for the peace plan. DUH!).

Other than that everything is going just fine. One of the guys at the training had spent two weeks at Arafat's compound under siege last year and I with a few others were able to tour the compound after dark. It was truly an unbelivable experience. We have pictures from the steps to the entrance to Arafat's living quarters (with the permission of the guards, of course). And no, we did not get to meet Arafat although all of our hopes were riding high.

I will be in touch soon.  

Erich