do unto others?

From Eva's blog. I came across this via the People become stories blog... though she is also in my blogroll. I'm working again now, not on holidays, so it is difficult to keep up. Also, I have been exploring more creative aspects at the new blog, but it means the humanitarian concerns suffering in more than one meaning of the word. Really sad, the following story. You might want to check out Di's blog too, because the comments are worth it and her photos are beautiful.

Can anyone categorically state that Israel is looking for peace when they burn crops and farmlands of Palestinians, and they maintain a siege which will not even let in baby milk powder to Gaza?

photo by Eva Bartlett

On the morning of 4 May 2009, Israeli troops set fire to Palestinian crops along Gaza’s eastern border with Israel. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) reported that 200,000 square meters of crops were destroyed, including wheat and barley ready for harvest, as well as vegetables, olive and pomegranate trees.

Local farmers report that the blaze carried over a four-kilometer stretch on the Palestinian side of the eastern border land. Ibrahim Hassan Safadi, 49, from one of the farming families whose crops were destroyed by the blaze, said that the fires were smoldering until early evening, despite efforts by the fire brigades to extinguish them.

Safadi says he was present when Israeli soldiers fired small bombs into his field, which soon after caught ablaze. He explained that “The Israeli soldiers fired from their jeeps, causing a fire to break out on the land. They burned the wheat, burned the pomegranate trees … The fire spread across the valley. We called the fire brigades. They came to the area and put out the fire. But in some places the fire started again.” According to Safadi, he lost 30,000 square meters to the blaze, including 300 pomegranate trees, 150 olive trees, and wheat.

In the border areas it has long since become nearly impossible to work on the land due to almost daily shooting from the Israeli soldiers. The crops that were burned on 4 May were dried and ready to harvest, meaning that they were extremely flammable. Read more.

The unrecognized village of Amra-Tarabin, Israel, 22/5/2009.

The Jewish village of Omer in seen throw a locked Gate that used to connect the unrecognized Bedouin village of Amra-Tarabin to the main road.Photo by: Oren Ziv/ Activestills.org

The main mosque of the unrecognized Bedouin village of Amra-Tarabin is seen throw [sic] a barb wire placed to separate the village from the Jewish village of Omer on the 22/5/2009.Photo by: Oren Ziv/ Activestills.org

The Jewish village of Omer in seen throw [sic] a locked Gate that used to connect the unrecognized Bedouin village of Amra-Tarabin to the main road.Photo by: Oren Ziv/ Activestills.org

I just cannot imagine what it must be like to live like this. Separated from your land and denied access to it, and to services and goods that are readily available to, and controlled by, the neighbouring and occupying area.