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News :: Civil & Human Rights |
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Balata Update |
Current rating: 0 |
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by mika and kelly |
06 Jul 2004
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Dear all,
a) Update from Balata Camp
b) Ahmed Walweel's art
c) "Sadness and pain has reached into the stones and rocks of Nablus" by Amin Abu Wardeh, Balata Refugee Camp
d) Resisting computers needed!
a) Israeli Occupation Forces attacking the youth of Balata yesterday killed 18-year-old Mahmoud Alahwani on the streets of the camp. Ten days earlier, the IOF killed Mahmoud's younger brother.
b) Supporting the young artist Ahmed Walweel
The talented 17-year-old artist mentioned in ealier emails would love to have his art published in some format, including small circulation pro-Palestinian magazines, journals etc.
Please see http://balatacamp.net/blogimages/ahmed3smaller.jpg for a particularly beautiful drawing.
If you have ideas or can help with having this piece and others published, please email info (at) balatacamp.net
c) "Sadness and pain has reached into the stones and rocks of Nablus" by Amin Abu Wardeh, Balata Refugee Camp
(Amin Abu Wardeh is a Palestinian journalist from Balata Refugee Camp. The invasion he is referring to took place from June 24th-29th. At least 11 people were killed, including 3 children)
Sadness and pain were not limited to just the people in the Old City of Nablus, but seemed to have reached into the stones and rocks. Debris, from 70 years B.C. until Saturday forming ancient castles, mosques, and churches, now clutters the center of Al Kasba, the ancient heart of Nablus' Old City. The Israeli military attacked the Old City over the weekend, continuing its policy of destroying history, and the reality that the land is Palestine.
After the Israeli withdrawal, thousands of people arrived to see how the ancient neighborhood fared. The smell of soap and kanaffa were missed, replaced by the smell of blood and killing. The Old City is invaluable for the Palestinians of Nablus because it is their history and heritage, and is a source of income for many families.
Neighbors gathered around Al Nasser Mosque to grieve with the families of the ten people killed over the course of the weekend. An elderly man stood in front of the closed Al Aqsa Sweetshop, saying even Nablus' famous Al Nasser Street kanaffa was too sad to exist on this day.
Palestinian departments of archeology reported that Al Kasaba area in Nablus is one of the most important and unique areas in Palestine because houses and some other areas there was built in 70 years B.C., and has buildings from the Romanian, Byzantine, and Islamic eras. They say it is a treasure for all humanity.
The Palestinian Ministry of Culture reported that Israeli forces used brutal weapons to destroy the Palestinian treasures in Al Kasaba area. The Ministry went on to report that the Israeli tanks demolished invaluable religious and historical parts of the Old City that belong to the Turkish Mamalek eras. Many buildings were destroyed over the heads of people inside. The Israelis also destroyed markets and paths that connect the neighborhoods.
Some important places which were attacked are AlKbir Mosque or Al Salahe Mosque that was built for the command of Salah Adiin Alayube, and a Byzantine style restaurant. Also destroyed is Al Khadra’ Mosque in Al Yasmina area, built by Sultan Kalawwn Al Salehe in 1279. It was built within 12 years, and had a unique beauty. And Al Nasser Mosque, located in the middle of the city, built in 1584, was also damaged.
Romanian wells were not safe from the Israeli tanks. The wells connected to the water path reaching Aaen Defna in Nablus were demolished. The Israelis also attacked and destroyed a Christian church built in the time of the Crusades. Old and famous castles were destroyed either completely or partially; like Abdul-hadi Castle and castles around it. Also Israeli occupation forces destroyed newly paved streets that were repaired after the last time they destroyed them.
d) Computers needed!
We are trying to set up a sustainable local film production collective in Balata Camp. This will enable the Balata refugees to present their lives and struggle as they see them, rather than relying on sympathetic outsiders. See balatacamp.net for the project proposal.
This project requires equipment not currently available in the camp. We are progressing in acquiring video cameras, but are still desperately in need of computers. Without computers, we will be able to film but not edit. We won't be able to produce anything to ship out to the world.
Although we'd prefer Mac laptops, currently we could also do with Mac desktops or PC laptops. However, the computers will be used for video editing, so must be relatively powerful.
If you have a computer you no longer use or don't use very much and would like to donate, please get in touch. Also, if you could buy one for Balata Camp, organise a fundraiser, personally contribute to the costs or know somebody else who could help, please email info (at) balatacamp.net
in struggle,
mika & kelly |
This work is in the public domain |
