Delusional Myth
by Samar Abdul-Hadi
NOT only is it beyond amazing and astonishing that the power of Media
within the Israeli strings has managed to completely create a false image,
a case for justifying the brutal invasion, aggression and occupation of an
entire neighborhood in Palestinian East Jerusalem on the night of August
9th 2001, but it also managed to escape the headlines and front pages, and
create a form of delusion and myth of what is constantly referred to as
ISRAELI SECURITY measures.
What is flagrantly apparent is how the illegal act of aggression,
harassment, brutality, and occupation of Palestinian homes and
neighborhoods have managed to disguise as lawful and surpass as legal act
of security arrangement and protection
Recapping on the collective attack on the night of August 9 2001, the
media, press, politicians, and spokespersons have limited their reports to
the political inclinations and Israeli attempts to erase Palestinian
national identity in Jerusalem and have failed to recognize the basic
human right desecration behind this attack. With the overwhelming
POLITICAL dimensions, statements and threats, many have failed to realize
that since the night of the Great Warriors' invasion of the Orient House,
families, men women children orphans at the School of Dar El-Tifil were
subjected to house arrest, humiliations, abuse, harassment and terror,
simply because they live in a neighborhood that seemed like an easy target
for Ariel Sharon to practice security arrangements for were he believed
"the Palestinian terror" has emerged.
The attack included the subjugation of an entire family of a mother,
father, a 14-year-old daughter, and 21-year-old son to the horrors and
brutality of a military wage, invading their home and dragging them to the
street at gunshot. Awakened by his son, Taher Husseiny sprang out of bed
at 1:45 am on Friday August 9, "I think it is the settlers baba, they are
attacking our home." Seconds later they were all in, hundreds just marched
in as if they knew exactly were and what their target was. There it was
Taher Husseiny, the son of one of the owners of the Orient House, his wife
May Sara, 14-year-old daughter Hind, and 21-year-old son Firas and his
sister Ruwayda. Behind further doors, were files, computers, and
traditional furniture, and upstairs were yet further terrorizing threats
to the National security of Israeli, more files, computers, traditional
floor rugs, and some photos!
The search lasted till dawn. By then, they were well positioned all over
the premises. You could see them on rooftops, inside offices, outside the
front gates, and all over the garden. Outside were 13 police cars, and 3
buses that must have carried 400-500 soldiers. All along the street in
front of Dar Al-Tifil, Policemen were scattered some taking naps inside
their cars, others standing under the shade, others carrying their food
and many just standing clueless waiting for higher orders to release them
from a night, dawn and cracking morning that just seemed endless.
At the main door stood three policemen, who were guarding the door
fiercely. Inside, you can see them on the grass laying down, on the
rooftops, on the main stairs, around the building and on top of the cars
that belonged to residents and employees of the Orient House who had
parked outside since the night of the great warriors. All the photos of
Abu Al-Abed were torn down as if his face reminded them of their unjust
presence and historical crimes.
In lucid terms, there was nothing threatening there that required this
massive war-like operation entailing hundreds of a combination of
soldiers, policemen, and boarder police, mere Palestinian civilians and
families.
Putting the political arguments and dimensions aside, ONE must remember on
August 9, 2001 at 1:45am the private property of AL-Husseiny family, not
the property of the PNA, PLO or the renting parties, was invaded illegally
and occupied by 300-400 Israeli soldiers and police, an entire family was
terrorized and an entire neighborhood was shut down and remains to be
surrounded and bordered by the GREAT protectors of Israeli national
security. A Distinction must be drawn between the closures of the Arab
Studies Society, Orient House and the seizure of the Private property of
the Husseiny Family. It is from that point that the real first battle
starts, the battle of Palestinian ownership, rights, and PRESENCE in
occupied East Jerusalem.
Somehow being consumed and absorbed by the larger political battle that is
so widely publicized, we tend to overlook the meaningful battles, on the
smaller and gradual scale, those that are more powerful at hand. These
battles by which Israeli's exercise potent ethnic cleansing in Jerusalem,
confiscating property and eradicating Palestinian Jerusalemite identity
and rebuffing their right to ownership and residency. This ethnic
cleansing is substantial tactic to carry out their full-fledged
uncontested crimes against Palestinians.
Quoting from the Jerusalem Post, " One week after Israel took control of
Orient HOUSE, and shut down PA offices operating there, Internal security
Minister Uzi Landau said yesterday that Israel does not intend to hold the
building indefinitely."
Landau claims that Israel is temporarily holding the place until the
owners, and authorities reach an agreement that "there will be no more
political activities in the building."
How could this be the case if the Authorities are not even communicating
with the owners, are violating their basic rights, desecrating the
sanctity of their homes, are invading their private property and are
holding them hostage to house arrest, and leave and re-entry is through
special permissions only and not allowing anyone to visit them including
their own personal lawyers.
Samar Abdul-Hadi
Orient House, Jerusalem
August 16 2001
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