Opportunity Knocks

Formal talks between Palestinian President Mahmood Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon were put on hold last week. Sharon AbbasThe first face to face dialogue between the two since the “disengagement” of the Gaza Strip was sidelined for a second time because of a difference in “objectives.” Israel essentially intends on acting as the High Court, examining Palestinian requests, while Palestinians—trying to break Israel’s cycle of unilateral procedure—demand action and fundamental change. This postponement symbolizes the Palestinian people’s unending struggle in their efforts to achieve justice.

It is not a coincidence that Israeli forces have already invaded the Gaza Strip in the post-disengagement era, reserving the “right” to reinvade in the future. The power and the decision to exert it rests firmly in Sharon’s hands as it has since the start of US President George Bush’s “war on terror.” The world witnessed the onslaught of Israel’s Operation First Rain two weeks ago. According to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), the invasion left 8 Palestinian civilians dead, 35 civilians injured, and over 300 arrested. By taking on the role of a strict warden, Sharon will show mercy on the Palestinian prisoners, so long as they exhibit their ability to fall in line and follow his orders. Until then, it is lights out in the Occupied Territories.

Regrettably, President Abbas sits silently in the background, without political or military ammunition. Palestinian web portal, The Electronic Intifada, quoted a Palestinian police officer stating, “At least give us enough bullets to protect people and protect our stations.” The evolution of competent and equipped security forces in the Occupied Territories is exactly what Sharon is trying to avoid. Sharon’s minions cleverly proclaim that they cannot give the Palestinian Authority (PA) weapons, ammunition, military vehicles and other security equipment until Abbas and the PA have earned Israel’s trust. Both parties know, however, that the PA cannot combat militant groups, or better yet, create a firm presence and authority, without first having the proper equipment.

Sharon’s credo is to maximize the lawlessness of the conflict. This furthers the greater agenda: the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and the appropriation of Palestinian land by way of extension of the Apartheid Wall. The infighting in Palestinian society has emboldened Sharon’s modus operandi and exemplifies the lack of rule in Gaza. All the while, Sharon plays the part of the “peacemaker” who is just waiting for the Palestinians to get their act together.

Since the “disengagement” of the Gaza Strip little has been mentioned of the 30 Palestinians killed, the many more wounded, the houses destroyed, or the continual restriction of movement. While Abbas has called for the release of the 7000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, next to nothing has been said of the torture of Palestinian prisoners, or the objectivity of the Israeli courts sentencing the Palestinians apprehended.

According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the Israeli Occupation Force (IOF) will recommend that the Israeli government “release additional Palestinian prisoners” in a move to strengthen the position of President Abbas. Any concession from Israel is welcome. One must look, however, at what is being conceded. In the last month, Israeli forces have detained nearly 600 Palestinians. If the IOF continues its mass arrest campaign, then releases 400 prisoners as it had in June of this year, the magnitude of the release will be quite small. The Palestinian Prisoners Committee and the Red Cross Committee told Al Jazeera that “most of the [Palestinians] released [in June] were prisoners whose sentences were due to end or had already ended.” Israel is using smoke and mirror maneuvers to appease the international community while the situation on the ground remains the same or worsens. The Bethlehem based Ma’an news agency reported this week that Walid Khaled, held already for 51 months without being charged, will be detained for a twelfth consecutive term under a renewed Israeli order. This “administrative detention,” is in stark contrast to international law, which according to human rights group B’Tselem, “prohibits the transfer of detainees outside of occupied territory.” Based on IOF numbers (which are believed to be much higher), B’Tselem found that 596 Palestinians were held in “administrative detention” as of August of this year.

The occupation presses forward, suffocating the will of the majority of the Palestinian people who want an end to the conflict and violence. It is not enough to throw the Palestinians a bone once in a while. The Palestinian leadership must straighten its spine and demand that the international community pressure Israel to make fundamental concessions. The issues concerning the control of the borders, water, airspace, ports and goods coming in and out of Gaza remains unresolved. The deteriorating conditions of poverty, malnutrition and unemployment in the Occupied Territories, as the world witnessed prior to the second Intifada, wane on Palestinian public opinion. Those in Israel who support peace must not forgo this opportunity to initiate calm and bring justice to a besieged people. A “window of opportunity,” is only meaningful if Israeli society takes advantage of situation and demands cooperation from its leadership. It would be a shame if the state of Israel became known for, “never missing an opportunity to miss an opportunity.”

FREE THE P! Palestine Takes NYC's East Village by Storm

As I walk down the darkened staircase into a muggy basement in this lower eastside dive bar, a scruffily bearded supporter smiles and waves a four-foot wide Palestinian flag. The chatter begins as the room fills with anxious people awaiting the show. The young crowd came out to support Free the P, the new CD compilation of "hip-hop and spoken word, dedicated to the youth of Palestine." The proceeds will go to Slingshot Hip-hop, "a documentary film that focuses on the daily life of Palestinian rappers living in Gaza, the West Bank and inside Israel." Within moments, our hostess, Arab-American comedienne Maysoon Zayid, takes the ground level, makeshift stage and gets the crowd going with her dry, political humor.

Shortly afterward, La Bruja hops on the mike, entertaining the crowd with her multitalented combination of poetry, song, rap and Reggaeton. This Bronx born artist's songs are infused with a mix of politics, humor, and raunchy jokes. Appreciative of La Brjua's performance, DJ Kuttin Kandi grins and spins in the background.

Next is Akil Dassan, a half-black, half-Jewish, freestyling rapper, singer, and guitarist. Sweat rolls down his face while he converses on the heat and the ghetto nature of the basement. Packed into the space, 200 spirited fans groove to his guitar rhythms and words of unity and justice. Dassan finishes his segment by verbally serenading his Filipino love in her native tongue.

Driving twelve hours from Detroit to support her collaborators and peers on Free the P, Invincible takes the stage, representing the woman's rap movement in Detroit and NYC.With lyrics promoting the Palestinian cause, Invincible impresses the crowd with her track "No Compromises," featured on Free the P.

The track "George Bush Doesn't Care About Black People," lays the base for the next rapper, Chosan. He reflects how the basement is like Africa when the lights go down then comments on the pervasive injustice in Sierra Leone, Sudan and Palestine.

Other highlights of the night were Anthony Morales, who opened the evening with spoken word focusing on Puerto Rican and minority pride.

Special guest and phenomenal rapper Immortal Technique stimulated the audience with a one-song performance. "The government laughs at you," he declares. He breaks down the reality: many drove down to the show in their cars guzzling the gas the government fed them, eating McDonalds and fueling the corporate sponsorship. "Boycott!" he exclaims. The only way to defeat the injustice sustaining Palestinian misery is to boycott the legs they stand on.

Met with an explosion of cheers and roars reminiscent of opening day at Yankee stadium, DAM, the Lidd-based Palestinian rap trio closed the show. They performed several songs, including "Stranger in My Own Country," a song which articulates the struggles of being Palestinian living in Israel. DAM gave a brief English synopsis of each song before cutting back to rap in Arabic. They made jokes about the occupation and how Arab companies won't pick up their record because they are Palestinians who happened to be born in Israel. Video recorders documented this group's charged American debut as cameras flashed and the crowd waved their fists in solidarity.

After playing two songs, Tamer Nafar, DAM's most vocal member, looked to the supporter waving the Palestinian flag and spoke his mind, "It's not that I don't love the flag. I do." He went on to explain that the flag bore the picture of the Al Aqsa Mosque as its centerpiece. "I love the Al Aqsa Mosque." he remarked. Yet, Nafar doesn't want the Palestinian flag to be altered with a symbol of exclusion, like the Israeli flag, which focuses on the Star of David. Nafar noted that "Muslims, Christians and Jews" made up Palestine before Zionist gangs pillaged the state, and emphasised that the injustice and racism which has enveloped the Israeli state cannot suffocate or hinder the Palestinian cause, which seeks justice, unity, and peace for all Palestinians. The audience of Muslim, Christians, and Jews erupted as the beat rolled on in the background.

This was more than a show in some east village dive bar. As a Palestinian seeking resolve in the struggle for justice, it made me feel hopeful. Free the P, support the cause and struggle at www.freethep.com. Let Slingshot Hip-hop be heard straight from the lyrical voices of Palestinians living occupied in Palestine and Israel at www.slingshothiphop.com. Your actions, like these groups can take the world by storm. Free Palestine!

A Soldier in Doubt

I put below a link to my audio poem A Soldier in Doubt. The poem is about a soldier I know who served in Iraq. After being putting put into a precarious situation outside of Baghdad his line of thinking started to change. He is due to go back again this summer.

Just click on the word *listen*

A Soldier in Doubt

Friday Night Lights: Game Time in Gaza

Israel, a Member State of the United Nations since May 11, 1949, is not exempt from the rule of international law. On September 25, however, Israel invaded the Gaza Strip, and fired missiles at a vehicle carrying two purported “terrorists.” This aggressive and extrajudicial act is clearly against international law—i.e. The Geneva Convention (ratified by Israel in 1951), which characterizes willful killings as “grave breaches.” Article 1 of the Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of
Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions states,

"Governments shall prohibit by law all extra-legal, arbitrary and summary executions and shall ensure that any such executions are recognized as offences under their criminal laws, and are punishable by appropriate penalties which take into account the seriousness of such offences. Exceptional circumstances including a state of war or threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency may not be invoked as a justification of such executions."


The unarmed “terrorists” in question posed no immediate threat to the state of Israel, yet Israeli forces have assassinated many such individuals in this type of scenario. This is tantamount to an illegal assassination of an unarmed Palestinian—a civilian.

Suppose one was to believe Israel in each instance in which it claims the “terrorists” were armed in ground combat. How can Israeli forces possibly know whether a militant is armed or not when firing 3 missiles from 300 yards away into the streets of Khan Yunis? They simply can’t—clearly disregarding the lives of civilians that are in close proximity to the “target.” Shamefully, the American government applauds the pugnacity of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his “iron fist against terrorism,” rather than condemning Sharon’s firework display to show his competitor, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, that he can hang with the most savage of beasts.

On March 22, 2004 Hamas’ spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was assassinated when an Israeli helicopter gunship fired Hellfire missiles at his wheelchair. Yassin, a quadriplegic since the age of twelve, and his two bodyguards were leaving a mosque after morning prayers when they were “liquidated.” Six other civilians were killed in the assassination plot and many were wounded, including Yassin’s two sons, who saw their father murdered in front of them. The only remnants left behind were Yassin’s charred wheelchair and the brown blanket that had once cloaked his shoulders.

Sheikh Yassin was an unarmed civilian, who was peacefully leaving a mosque, but Israel refuses to acknowledge the brutality of the matter. The extrajudicial killing of Yassin was a high profile case which garnered international attention. The majority of Palestinian assassinations go unreported. According to MIFTAH, The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy, from September 2000 to June 3, 2003 Israel extrajudicially assassinated 243 Palestinians. More than 100 of those killed were innocent bystanders and 31 were children. Prominent Israelis have openly admitted to using this illegal policy, while some have gone further to include innocent bystanders. Amnesty International (AI) documented the comments of Israeli Air Force Commander Major General Dan Halutz on Army radio about the assassination of Hamas activist Salah Shehadeh, “we fired knowing his wife would be near him.” AI revealed additional statements Halutz made in a press briefing a year prior, “from time to time, non-combatants are hit in our raids. This comes with the layout of the operations. It is also sometimes the result of errors in our estimations despite the precision of our weapons.” In the last 18 months Israel has continued to violate international law and the Geneva Convention.

During the week long offensive, entitled Operation First Rain, Israeli Occupation Forces fired missiles into the Gaza Strip killing four Palestinians and wounding many more. The injured included 31 civilians, and infrastructure, including schools, bridges, roads and houses were targeted and destroyed. While Israel claims it “disengaged” from Gaza, Israeli security sources stated that Israel intends to, “take advantage of the momentum” and further attack Hamas. The new situation Israel refers to when firing missiles at Khan Yunis and Beit Hanoun is “post disengagement,” in other words reengagement.

In the beginning moments of the Israeli offensive, Hamas, in accordance to the Sharm Al-Sheikh cease-fire, vowed to stop launching attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip. In a press conference Senior Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Zahar stated, “Under our commitment to the national agreement, made in Cairo, to a cooling down period until the end of 2005, the movement announces it has stopped its operations from the Gaza Strip against the Zionist occupation.” The Sharon administration, however, isn’t looking for concessions or assimilation from Hamas, but rather its containment as a political entity.

Democracy without Hamas?

In the past, many believed the rise of a political Hamas would work in the favor of Israel. The perception: the radical Hamas would become the political mainstream for Palestinians, increasing the ease of Israeli attacks on the “belligerent” Palestinian population, while achieving the Israeli desire to further annex Palestinian land. Sharon’s administration quickly figured out that the integration of a political Hamas could lead to international legitimacy and force Israel to deal with an entity seeking far greater concessions than the Palestinian Authority’s ruling Fatah party. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported,


“according to political sources the fight against Hamas' participation in the elections now tops Israel's agenda in its international relations. The Foreign Ministry has reportedly instructed all its representatives abroad to make it clear to foreign governments that Jerusalem is opposed to Hamas' playing a part in the Palestinian political process.”


These moves, however, fly in the face of the democratic process and the will of the Palestinian people to elect their own government. The remarks made by Sharon contradict his claim that Israel is “not getting involved in Palestinian politics.” Israel defines itself as a “democracy,” and further asserts that the state promotes democracy regionally—i.e. for the independence of Lebanon from Syrian occupation. Yet, one cannot support democracy only when it is convenient, and oppose it when hardship is imminent. Palestinian Journalist Khalid Amayreh, forthrightly declared, “If Israel is allowed to choose Palestinian candidates, then the American vision of democracy in the Arab and Muslim world would be called into question.”

After a week of Israeli bombardment and on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, Israel decided to halt air raids and extrajudicial executions in the Gaza Strip “until further notice.” Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s office stated on Sunday, October 1, “We have decided to suspend the offensive operations that we launched last week in response to rocket fire from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel.” It is comforting to know that Israel can “turn off and on” the switch to terror when it deems appropriate. The Palestinian people have undeservingly dealt with aerial assaults, assassinations, destruction of infrastructure, and economic instability due to whims of the Sharon administration, and its quest for “security.” Yet, the Sharon administration doesn’t seem apologetic for the loss of life and the oppression the Palestinian people faced due to the onslaught; hardly a justifiable or humane approach in dealing with an occupied people.

The Future of Gaza

What will Palestinians have to build upon if they are subjected to worsening third world conditions? According to a B’Tselem report in March 2005, 77 percent of Gazans live below the poverty line (1,003,000 people), while 23 percent are in “deep poverty, meaning, that they do not reach the subsistence poverty line even after receiving aid from international agencies.” By the end of 2004 the unemployment rate reached 39.4 percent. The level of poverty and unemployment will continue to rise as the siege of Gaza intensifies.

The continuing brutality of the occupation pushes Palestinians away from peace, and reminds them of the seven years of failure that led to the second Intifada. While Israel forgoes their responsibility to take care of the Occupied Territories under international law, they cannot forgo the reality of the conflict. Hamas will continue to integrate into Palestinian politics, and assassinations and aggression against “targets” in Gaza will only infuse more hatred and tension. For now, terror’s light switch is turned off, but it is only a matter of time before Israel decides to turn it back on. Meanwhile, Palestinian life remains on edge and inconsistent. Those in Israel must come forward and denounce the decisions of Ariel Sharon, if not the switch to peace will remain off indefinitely.

Tom DeLayed?

I woke up this morning, looked outside and smiled, thinking this was going to be a great birthday. As soon as I turned on the television, I received my first present. House Majority Leader Tom Delay was indicted on one count of criminal conspiracy by a Texas grand jury in relation to a campaign finance scheme with two political associates. CNN stated, “In accordance to the rules of the House,” Delay has stepped aside as House Majority leader while an investigation into his actions is conducted. Delay stepping aside is welcome; I’m just surprised that “The Hammer” wasn’t hiding out somewhere hoping for divine intervention. I guess God or even Delay’s cronies couldn’t change the rules for him this time around.

While this “skunk stinks to high heaven,” as so eloquently stated by Delay’s attorney Bill White, this can only be viewed as karma. Tom Delay is also known for his compassion and timing. When Delay was visiting a shelter in Reliant Park after Hurricane Katrina he jokingly remarked to some of the young boys sitting on a cot, “Now tell me the truth boys, is this kind of fun?” He followed up with, “You are becoming famous all over this country and even the world.” Yeah Tom. It’s like Marti Gras all over again.

I’m not sure what “The Hammer” is going to do now that he is absolved of real responsibility in the House. He must be feeling quite impotent since his heyday when he proclaimed, “A woman can take care of the family. It takes a man to provide structure, to provide stability.” Delay will be riding a political roller coaster—indefinitely. Hopefully his wife won’t be joining him, because it can’t be healthy if she’s barefoot, pregnant, and breast feeding. Besides, who’s going to scrub the toilet when he’s out defending his great name?

Delay needs to relax and take in a deep breath of Washington’s fresh air. He is a firm believer, no pun intended, that "It has never been proven that air toxics are hazardous to people," but maybe he’d be better off holding his breathe for a while considering he thinks his right wing Christian convictions and shady dealings are good for the nation.

The White House has come out and stated that Delay is “a good ally” but that “the president's view is that we need to let the legal process work.” As if the President has ever valued the rule of law! Yet there is a glimmer of hope since President Bush floundered on Katrina, “the first female suicide bomber struck in Iraq,” and gas prices are over 3 dollars a gallon. The President may not be able to handle the political firestorm and consequently withdraw support for Delay. We’ll see in the coming months if Delay fades off into the sunset like former strongman Newt Gingrich, or if he can ride out this hurricane.

Today is a great birthday indeed. It finally looks like I’ll be able to have my cake and eat it too.

Shattering Democracy: Sharon's Plan for Palestine

Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, showed his true colors earlier this week as his normative praise of “democratic values” subsided. "I announced as clearly as I could that we formally oppose Hamas participation in the election as long as it is not disarmed and has not cancelled the Hamas charter, which is a horrible document," Sharon stated on Wednesday. On Saturday, he went further in an interview with reporters in New York, rejecting calls for democratic elections in the Occupied Territories, "We will make every effort not to help the Palestinians. I don't think they can have elections without our help."

Hamas plans to engage in the Palestinian political process, as it has in previous municipal elections, so why hinder the charged peace process after the successful “disengagement” of Gaza? Sharon realizes that Hamas is gaining momentum in the Occupied Territories and understands how much political power it can attain through sweeping parliamentary elections, which will likely occur in January if Israel doesn’t interfere. Keeping a balance of power between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas effectively destabilizes a unified Palestinian voice and further advantages a politically savvy Israel. Israel supported Hamas in the 1980’s as a counterweight to the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) — the de facto representative of the Palestinians people — because the PLO was gaining political ground on the international front.

Sharon is trying to politically deligitimize Hamas by keeping it out of the elections, while demonizing Abu Mazen for not cracking down on “terror” and using the excuse of having “no partner for peace” as a ploy to further expand settlements, the Apartheid Wall, and to impose greater restrictions on Palestinian life in the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. Just this week as half the world was sleeping and the other half was still dazed by the effects of Hurricane Katrina, Sharon stated on Israeli radio referencing the controversial Maale Adumim settlement, "They {Maale Adumim and East Jerusalem} will be connected, and I don't think that this will become a problem."

The militaristic mind of Ariel Sharon cannot forget the irony and hypocrisy in demanding Hamas to disarm. The three major Jewish militant—many claim terrorist—groups, the Haganagh, Irgun, and Lehi were not disarmed before the creation of Israel. On the contrary, they went on the offensive under the instruction of Haganagh leader David Ben Gurion on March 10, 1948 when the groups implemented Plan Dalet (Plan D). The effects of Plan D led to the dispossession of hundreds of thousands of indigenous Palestinians and the massacre of nearly 120 Palestinians at Deir Yassin. There was no attempt by these Jewish groups to put their faith in the political process and live with the indigenous population in peace; rather they coveted the land on which the Palestinians lived, and sought to expel them to create a Jewish homeland. Hamas is doing something the founders of Israel never thought to do: assimilate into the political process in the land on which they live, and substantiate their voice by positive means. If the founders of Israel and people like Ariel Sharon had done this, armed groups such as Hamas wouldn’t be fighting against the injustices that have plagued Palestinian society for the last 58 years.

Light and Darkness: America's Reaction to 9/11

On September 11th, 4:30 am, the commemoration of America’s loss was just hours away in Manhattan as I stared at the lot where the twin towers had once been. Dozens of camera vans waited roadside for the morning coverage. Just to the right I saw the “tribute in light,” two blue shafts beaming stories high into the sky—the representative of the strength and magnificence of the twin towers. As I imagined the old skyline of my city, I realized something. America hasn’t learned a thing in the last fours years.

How have we commemorated those fallen heroes of four years ago? We have used their names and awful tragedy to unleash a war on the world and ourselves. Our president told us we were going to fight for the greater good, but what good has come out of the fight we embarked on?

Today 138,000 US troops illegally occupy Iraq. 1896 Americans have died in vain, for a war against a dictator we once supported, in a fight to destroy weapons of mass destruction he never had. No Al Qaeda connection was found, and while it has infuriated the Middle East and ruined our standing in the eyes of the world, we continue to “stay the course.” Tens of thousands of Iraqi men, women, and children have died due to the blindness and the brutality of our “war on terror.” According to the Red Cross, an estimated 6,000 Iraqis were killed and 16,000 were injured during a three week US led onslaught on Fallujah. Estimates claim over 200,000 residents were displaced due to the siege, while 70 percent of the buildings were destroyed, and the remaining 30 percent were at least damaged. The city was obliterated—or democratized. This type of destruction doesn’t exemplify our compassion, humanity, and value for life above all.

I look back into the sky and think of the squandered opportunities after 9/11. It was a chance for a new start, to unify the world, to fundamentally change our foreign policy, our treatment of the Middle East and the Muslim community. It was our chance to realize that “interests” can’t overtake human life; the safety of our children and their future depended on it.

On 9/11, a tape supposedly released by half Jewish, half catholic Adam Gadahn referenced intended attacks on Los Angles and Melbourne Australia. Gadahn was a white American citizen believed to be recruited by Al Qaeda in California. Al Qaeda uses the atrocities of the “war on terror” as a reason to fight. If the war in Iraq, the occupation of Afghanistan, Palestine, and the support of corrupt regimes throughout the Middle East weren’t taking place, recruitment for new blood in Al Qaeda wouldn’t be so easy. Al Qaeda is using the injustices caused by America as a recruitment tool.

In response to “defeat” terrorism, America is causing more injustice. The war on terror cannot be won by the destruction of land, it will only incense the violence and further isolate the 1.2 billion Muslims in the world—it’s a lesson we should have learned after 9/11. Those two beams of light that shine so high in the sky don’t represent the fallen towers; they illuminate our incompetent leadership.