Deaths as Israeli forces storm Gaza aid ship

[estesbob]

As near as I can tell, Rachel Corrie was a sacrifice to the Islamic cause. The poor woman was part of a group trying to stop Israeli bulldozers. Due to her position and the shielding of the driver, the driver didn’t see her and ran over her. She was put in harm’s way by those who were handling the protest. A totally senseless death, and for what? Doubtless, out of an excess of the kind of romanticism the left often engenders in the young and naive, she thought she was doing some kind of good. Her handlers probably didn’t directly intend her death at that particular moment, though their actions were certainly careless of her life and that of others. But her handlers certainly seized on the result of their own wrong in order to make a “martyr” out of her. She could rightly be described as a martyr in a way; a martyr to the ambitions of Hamas.

It is totally disgusting to me that her tragic, but absolutely senseless death is used by these thugs to further their cause. It shows how little human life and human decency mean to them, in reality.

I believe the Israei’s were bulldozing tunnels used by the Palestininas to smuggle arms. she was definately used -the Plalestinian leadership is very good about making others Martyr’s for their cause

 

[Ridgerunner]

Firstly - Jews do not equal the Israeli state. You have been told this time and time again, but you continue to ignore it. There were several Jewish members of this convoy, and more Jewish passengers (including an 85-year-old Holocaust survivor) are on their way from Malta in the Irish-flagged MV Rachel Corrie as we speak. The Palestinians are aware of this - indeed, I mentioned earlier a Hamas elected representative who wanted to emphasise this to the Palestinian youth as much as possible. The so-called ‘Hamas Charter’ has been described by a leading British diplomat as out of use. ** Oh? When did Hamas disavow its charter? A Brit diplomat can say it’s “out of use” all he wants, but it has not been disavowed by Hamas, and every action of Hamas clearly indicates that the intent has never been abandoned. This argument is like saying “the American Constitution is “out of use” because the Obama administration didn’t adopt it again upon taking office”. I see where Hamas shot rocket bombs at an Israeli town today again. That reaffirms their adherence to the Hamas Charter more dramatically than words could.**

In the 1940s, the SS Exodus, a ship full of European Jewish immigrants, attempted to break the British blockade of Palestine, and was forcibly boarded by British soldiers off the Palestinian coast. When the immigrants realised they were to be deported back to France, they staged a hunger strike at the port of Marseille, refusing to leave the ship. If the passengers aboard the Challenger 1 or the Mavi Marmara had done this to the IDF, they would have been dragged off kicking and screaming. I’m sure we all would have supported the right to self-defence of Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto - what we dispute is the use of deadly force against civilians armed with sticks who posed no real threat to any of the Israeli commandos. I am just flabbergasted that anyone would compare the resistance of Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto to this Hamas provocation. Hamas and its allies deliberately caused this, and to what end? To save the lives of Jews as in the Warsaw Ghetto uprising? No, not at all. The ultimate purpose is to further Hamas’ cause of killing Jews. Witness the fact that Hamas tried, with its rocket bomb attack as mentioned above, to indiscriminately kill Israeli civilians again today. And what did those civilians do to provoke that attack? Why, they were alive, that’s all. And that’s enough “provocation” for Hamas to try to kill them.

For the fellow that mentioned statements made on various TV stations, I’m sure he’s familiar with Fox News in his own country. Fox News is owned by a great supporter of the Republican Party there, and a supporter of the Conservative Party here. Yet the anti-Islamic views held by some on that channel clearly don’t represent the majority of these parties. The Tories is Britain have several members in Parliament who’re practising Muslims, and William Hague made an excellent condemnation of Israel’s ‘deplorable’ actions. The BBC is owned by the British Government, and its editorial line usually reflects that of the Government in power. Yet it allowed the fascist leader Nick Griffin to speak on Question Time - does that mean Nick Griffin represents the British Government?** As with most Americans, I’m not very familiar with Brit personalities. Maybe this Nick Griffin really is a fascist. But since leftists call everybody to the right of Mao Zedong “fascists”, one is not automatically persuaded that he is one. **

 

[unafraid]

That is the crux of the issue here. Israel has been fighting for its existence for decades. If Hamas and Hezbollah stopped trying to wipe out the Jews, then we might have some peace. But trying to wipe out the Jews is what they’re all about - their raison d’etre. Israel has the will to fight for its existence. The question I have is why does the left in Europe and America hate Israel?

Ishii

That misrepresents hatred and bigotry as being proprietary of only those in opposition to the modern state of Israel. I suggest you read the Talmud. As a “goyim”, I resent being deemed subhuman, or having my wife and daughters being viewed as “cattle”. The Jews are no strangers to the darker elements of human nature. They know how to hate.

You want to know what the difference between a jack-booted Nazi SS soldier and an Israeli border guard is? Nothing. There is no difference. Each represents a hate-filled ideology that views themselves and their cause as superior entities, which, in their minds, justifies their violence. Murder sanctioned by a sense of superiority.

The goal of the current Israeli regime is to erode the Palestinian people until they are no longer a viable remnant. It is a more subtle form of genocide. But it is no less grotesque.

 

[EmperorNapoleon]

As near as I can tell, Rachel Corrie was a sacrifice to the Islamic cause. The poor woman was part of a group trying to stop Israeli bulldozers.
Due to her position and the shielding of the driver, the driver didn’t see her and ran over her…

Hogwash. She was 50 feet ahead of the bulldozer and wearing an orange flourescent jacket with reflective stripes and when the Israeli driver kept coming she climbed on top of a pile of rubble which put her above the top blade. They saw her and they kept going anyway. It was murder.

 

[estesbob]

Hogwash. She was 50 feet ahead of the bulldozer and wearing an orange flourescent jacket with reflective stripes and when the Israeli driver kept coming she climbed on top of a pile of rubble which put her above the top blade. They saw her and they kept going anyway. It was murder.

All she had to do was step out of the way. She was used-in fact she is still being used even after her death. Her handlers are probably very proud ofthemsleves

 

[jman507]

That misrepresents hatred and bigotry as being proprietary of only those in opposition to the modern state of Israel. I suggest you read the Talmud. As a “goyim”, I resent being deemed subhuman, or having my wife and daughters being viewed as “cattle”. The Jews are no strangers to the darker elements of human nature. They know how to hate.

You want to know what the difference between a jack-booted Nazi SS soldier and an Israeli border guard is? Nothing. There is no difference. Each represents a hate-filled ideology that views themselves and their cause as superior entities, which, in their minds, justifies their violence. Murder sanctioned by a sense of superiority.

The goal of the current Israeli regime is to erode the Palestinian people until they are no longer a viable remnant. It is a more subtle form of genocide. But it is no less grotesque.

When you strip away the whole thing and get to the heart of the matter, they all hate each other. Or rather they’ve at least had it set up in away that the opposition group is standing in the way of what they want and love. These groups have been living in darkness for so long, so long. No peace and no security for generations. They all can go back to an ideology that gives them the justification for do what is right, but for that and the security means the destruction of the other.

 

[gnjsdad]

Ridgerunner:

She was put in harm’s way

Her handlers probably didn’t directly intend her death

Of course, questioning the intelligence of someone you might not agree with (Rachel Corrie) is one of the oldest of rhetorical fallacies. She was “put in harm’s way”…“her handlers”…

These not very subtle references imply that Rachel Corrie was some kind of dupe, of very limited intelligence. She didn’t have a mind of her own? Of course not. How could she? She died trying to stop an Israeli buldozer.

One of the most disturbing rhetorical techniques employed by Israel’s apologists is that no matter how egregious the crime committed by the Israeli gov’t, even in the case of killing Rachel Corrie, a young American Jewish girl trying in her own way to rectify an injustice, it’s ALWAYS the victim’s fault.

It doesn’t matter that some of the people on that Turkish ship were Jewish, or that the Likud gov’t of Israel continues to detain it’s own citizens who are Arab. Nothing the Israeli govt does merits any criticism.

 

[Ridgerunner]

And any time you have to leave a bar with a broken bottle in one hand and a knife in the other, you can have my back; I’ll be holding the same.

I had to get tickled at this. Thanks, by the way. For some reason it reminded me of the only time I was ever challenged to a duel. Fellow thought I insulted his wife. I didn’t actually, but he thought I did. Words, even an apology, would not mollify him, so there I was with a duel on my hands. I don’t know, he was former military and might have been expert at some kind of combat or other and figured he would wipe me out.

As the person challenged, though, I had the choice of weapons, so I chose “bullwhips and longhorn cattle”. Each of us would get a bullwhip and, in an 80 acre field, attempt, on foot, to drive the longhorns at the other. Whoever got trampled or gored first would be the loser. I named the time and place, (the ranch of a friend who likes longhorns) but he didn’t show. Of course, what my challenger did not know is that cattle, including longhorns, are almost impossible to drive coherently in an open field by one person on foot, (cattle head for the edges, and scatter when someone tries to drive them in an open space) and certainly not against a standing human, and even more certainly not one who is cracking a bullwhip. My actual plan was to just go to the middle of the field, keep the cattle away from me in the very unlikely event he could ever get a significant number of them to the middle of the field and let the fellow exhaust both his anger and himself by running around trying to get the cattle organized. I, myself, would have been as safe as Nancy Pelosi at an executive meeting of Planned Parenthood.

But, as I said, he didn’t show, so I guess I won. I never heard anything from him again, either.

So, Rich, if ever you are formally challenged to a duel, you now know what to do. Might want to practice cracking a bullwhip a little, though. :

 

[Splinker]

They certainly did pose a threat to the Israeli commandos. If you are outnumberd by a crowd attacking you with bare fists, pipes and knives, it doesn’t matter if you are Rambo, your life is in danger.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Of course, questioning the intelligence of someone you might not agree with (Rachel Corrie) is one of the oldest of rhetorical fallacies. She was “put in harm’s way”…“her handlers”…

These not very subtle references imply that Rachel Corrie was some kind of dupe, of very limited intelligence. She didn’t have a mind of her own? Of course not. How could she? She died trying to stop an Israeli buldozer.

One of the most disturbing rhetorical techniques employed by Israel’s apologists is that no matter how egregious the crime committed by the Israeli gov’t, even in the case of killing Rachel Corrie, a young American Jewish girl trying in her own way to rectify an injustice, it’s ALWAYS the victim’s fault.

It doesn’t matter that some of the people on that Turkish ship were Jewish, or that the Likud gov’t of Israel continues to detain it’s own citizens who are Arab. Nothing the Israeli govt does merits any criticism.

Did I say it was Rachel Corrie’s fault? No, I did not. Nor did I say she was stupid. That’s your spin on it. I’m sure she had the best of intentions, but was mistakenly promoting one of the world’s worst causes. The ones to blame are those whose cause it is and the various “Miss Jean Brodies” in her life who got her into this kind of mindset.

 

[Ridgerunner]

That misrepresents hatred and bigotry as being proprietary of only those in opposition to the modern state of Israel. I suggest you read the Talmud. As a “goyim”, I resent being deemed subhuman, or having my wife and daughters being viewed as “cattle”. The Jews are no strangers to the darker elements of human nature. They know how to hate.** No doubt everyone knows how to hate. But how many Americans have been murdered by Jews in the last few decades? How many planes have been blown up by them? How many Jews have flown airliners into buildings in DC? How many Americans have been beheaded on film by Jews? There is no equivalency here at all. Do you not know that Jews and Palestinians do business with each other all the time? Do you not know that Israel shares intelligence with some Arab states, for their mutual protection against the gangs of thugs in the Middle East? Are you not aware that far and away the most numerous victims of Arab terrorists are Arab Muslims? Do you not remember when the wedding party was blown to bits in Amman (actually two. Two weddings were going on) Do you know how many Jews were killed in that? The answer is “none”. They were all Arab Palestinians. **

You want to know what the difference between a jack-booted Nazi SS soldier and an Israeli border guard is? Nothing. There is no difference. Each represents a hate-filled ideology that views themselves and their cause as superior entities, which, in their minds, justifies their violence. Murder sanctioned by a sense of superiority. Unworthy of further comment.

The goal of the current Israeli regime is to erode the Palestinian people until they are no longer a viable remnant. It is a more subtle form of genocide. But it is no less grotesque. **And yet, the Arab Palestinian citizens of Israel have more civil rights and freedom from terror than any other Arabs, anywhere. **

 

[Ridgerunner]

When you strip away the whole thing and get to the heart of the matter, they all hate each other. Or rather they’ve at least had it set up in away that the opposition group is standing in the way of what they want and love. These groups have been living in darkness for so long, so long. No peace and no security for generations. They all can go back to an ideology that gives them the justification for do what is right, but for that and the security means the destruction of the other.

I am not persuaded of this. At one time, Arab Palestinians were free to work in Israel, and did. It was a big benefit to an otherwise impoverished existence. But as the terrorists techniques grew more refined, and terror groups blew up buses full of civilians, murdered teenagers at Bar Mitzvah parties and such (which they did and bragged about it) Israel shut off that flow.

Those in the M.E. (and I do know some of them) who actually want to make something of the place, deal with Israelis all the time. There are many who want peace; a peace that could turn that whole area into a real center of prosperity. But there are those who cannot stand the thought of a Jewish state (or Jews, or Christians, for that matter). There are also those who would like to own the prime real estate in Tel Aviv, and the orchards and the farms, and would gladly kill millions of people to get them.

I remember the former mayor of Nablus; the only freely elected mayor the West Bank ever had. He worked out a “free trade” agreement with the Israelis which also involved allowing Palestinians to work in Israel. He was extremely popular with the Palestinian people, and was a member of one of the biggest Arab “tribes” in the Levant. But the terror groups couldn’t have that. So they murdered him, and destroyed everything he had done.

 

[TechieJustin]

They certainly did pose a threat to the Israeli commandos. If you are outnumberd by a crowd attacking you with bare fists, pipes and knives, it doesn’t matter if you are Rambo, your life is in danger.

Those kids at Kent State (1970) might disagree.

 

[O_Duirnin]

I remember the former mayor of Nablus; the only freely elected mayor the West Bank ever had. He worked out a “free trade” agreement with the Israelis which also involved allowing Palestinians to work in Israel. He was extremely popular with the Palestinian people, and was a member of one of the biggest Arab “tribes” in the Levant. But the terror groups couldn’t have that. So they murdered him, and destroyed everything he had done.

I must admit I have never heard of this Mayor of whom you speak. Despite spending lots of time in Nablus, especially around its Univeristy and Christian communities, this man was never mentioned to me - can you perhaps give me his name?

Only freely elected Mayor the West Bank ever had? Isn’t it rather strange that earlier this year I was sitting in the Nablus Municipality Building, meeting a Mayor who had been elected democratically with the approval of European Union observers. The reward the Israelis gave him was to imprison him in ‘administrative detention’ without trial for a year and a half.

Bassam Shaka’a, another former Mayor of Nablus, had his legs blown off after being taken in by the Israeli authorities and being threatened with ‘consequences’ if he didn’t tone down his rhetoric. Moshe Zer, leader of the group who carried out the attack as well as several others, served only a few months in prison - and now lives comfortably on an Israeli Government pension. Thankfully, Mr Shaka’a received first class medical treatment in Scotland - thus paving the way for strong relations between this part of Scotland and Nablus, which still endure to this day, and allowed me to experience the wonderful hospitality of this city first hand.

 

[estesbob]

I must admit I have never heard of this Mayor of whom you speak. Despite spending lots of time in Nablus, especially around its Univeristy and Christian communities, this man was never mentioned to me - can you perhaps give me his name?

Only freely elected Mayor the West Bank ever had? Isn’t it rather strange that earlier this year I was sitting in the Nablus Municipality Building, meeting a Mayor who had been elected democratically with the approval of European Union observers. The reward the Israelis gave him was to imprison him in ‘administrative detention’ without trial for a year and a half.

Bassam Shaka’a, another former Mayor of Nablus, had his legs blown off after being taken in by the Israeli authorities and being threatened with ‘consequences’ if he didn’t tone down his rhetoric. Moshe Zer, leader of the group who carried out the attack as well as several others, served only a few months in prison - and now lives comfortably on an Israeli Government pension. Thankfully, Mr Shaka’a received first class medical treatment in Scotland - thus paving the way for strong relations between this part of Scotland and Nablus, which still endure to this day, and allowed me to experience the wonderful hospitality of this city first hand.

I suspect he is referering to Mayor Zafer el-Masri:

nytimes.com/1986/03/16/opinion/l-mayor-of-nablus-301986.html

He was appointed by the Israeli’s.

 

[O_Duirnin]

I suspect he is referering to Mayor Zafer el-Masri:

nytimes.com/1986/03/16/opinion/l-mayor-of-nablus-301986.html

He was appointed by the Israeli’s.

Ah, I see. El-Masri only assumed the position of Mayor briefly in a caretaker role between 1985 and 1986 when the PLO attempted to restore the urban government which had been dissolved when Bassam Shaka’a was forced to resign in 1982. He was never elected to the position and was assassinated by a very obscure Syrian-based splinter group of the Communist PFLP. However, the Municipality at this stage wielded very little power, and was eventually forced to dissolve again in 1988, not being restored until the Oslo Agreement.

Contrary to what you’ve said there, he wasn’t Israeli appointed, he was PLO-appointed after a proposal by Khalil Al-Wasir. As he was in office for a few months he had very little time to build anything, and certainly was no Israeli collaborator. I had heard his name in the past, but didn’t know he had briefly held the position of Mayor in a formal capacity.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I must admit I have never heard of this Mayor of whom you speak. Despite spending lots of time in Nablus, especially around its Univeristy and Christian communities, this man was never mentioned to me - can you perhaps give me his name?

Only freely elected Mayor the West Bank ever had? Isn’t it rather strange that earlier this year I was sitting in the Nablus Municipality Building, meeting a Mayor who had been elected democratically with the approval of European Union observers. The reward the Israelis gave him was to imprison him in ‘administrative detention’ without trial for a year and a half.

Bassam Shaka’a, another former Mayor of Nablus, had his legs blown off after being taken in by the Israeli authorities and being threatened with ‘consequences’ if he didn’t tone down his rhetoric. Moshe Zer, leader of the group who carried out the attack as well as several others, served only a few months in prison - and now lives comfortably on an Israeli Government pension. Thankfully, Mr Shaka’a received first class medical treatment in Scotland - thus paving the way for strong relations between this part of Scotland and Nablus, which still endure to this day, and allowed me to experience the wonderful hospitality of this city first hand.

This guy. webgaza.net/palestine/people_profiles/Masri_Zafer.htm. His story was told to me by a West Bank al-Masri. Your Hamas friends probably didn’t care for him, particularly, as it seems he was a Fatah guy. Regarding the relative freedom of the various elections, I would have to ask one of my Palestinian friends. I understand that another al-Masri is trying to effect a reconciliation among PA, Jordan (where most Palestinians live anyway) and Hamas. That will be an undertaking. One can wonder how anyone who tries to do anything constructive over there can survive, particularly if he doesn’t quite subscribe to the Hamas, Syrian, Iranian vision of things. But it must be admitted that it did come close once, back during Clinton’s administration.

Kind of looks to me like Shakkaa was a predecessor of al-Masri’s. Also looks like Moshe Zer was NOT an Israelis government person.

Also, it appears Nablus is now under Hamas military control, so one could wonder what PA is free to do there, since it can’t do anything in Gaza now.

How did Shakkaa being in Scotland allow you to experience the city first hand? Are you now Hamas yourself? All things considered, one could not be blamed overmuch for supposing it.

 

[iamrefreshed]

It is totally disgusting to me that her tragic, but absolutely senseless death is used by these thugs to further their cause. It shows how little human life and human decency mean to them, in reality.

We’re talking about a people who send their own children to their deaths in suicide bombings. I don’t think some senseless American girl means anything to them except a photo op!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Ah, I see. El-Masri only assumed the position of Mayor briefly in a caretaker role between 1985 and 1986 when the PLO attempted to restore the urban government which had been dissolved when Bassam Shaka’a was forced to resign in 1982. He was never elected to the position and was assassinated by a very obscure Syrian-based splinter group of the Communist PFLP. However, the Municipality at this stage wielded very little power, and was eventually forced to dissolve again in 1988, not being restored until the Oslo Agreement.

Contrary to what you’ve said there, he wasn’t Israeli appointed, he was PLO-appointed after a proposal by Khalil Al-Wasir. As he was in office for a few months he had very little time to build anything, and certainly was no Israeli collaborator. I had heard his name in the past, but didn’t know he had briefly held the position of Mayor in a formal capacity.

As I mentioned, my understanding of the story comes from al-Masri’s tribe. In any event, he was more than a caretaker, as he had serious political and financial backing. Possibly he was stabbed in the back, so to speak, by a PLO offshoot. Maybe not. Arafat himself was certainly not above such treachery. As I understand it from the source, al-Masri was nowhere near being an Israeli collaborator. But he wasn’t afraid to do business with them either, and was quite willing to do it.

As I mentioned, I don’t know whether somebody like Munib al-Masri can somehow help turn that “wild west show” into a real country. But the destruction of Israel does not seem to be on his agenda. I’ll find out the real story on that, unless i miss my guess.

I do not purport to be an expert on Middle Eastern affairs, and I’ll readily admit most of what I know comes from one tribe only. But I am persuaded by them that the area over there could be an economic powerhouse, but Israel has to be a partner in the venture, as it almost was pursuant to the Gaza deal Clinton tried to broker between Fatah and Israel. It doesn’t mean they even have to like each other. (“Often arrogant, but true to their word” is the description I get) But it does mean it can’t happen with rocket bombs being fired into Israel on almost a daily basis. Reality is reality. Prosperity is prosperity. And prosperity isn’t well served by romantic gestures, 7th Century notions about Dar al Islam, or threats of new holocausts. And the interests of Palestine are most definitely not served by Iran.

Wish I could tell more, but I had better not.

One thing is for sure. Never, ever, ever have I heard one of the Palestinians I know say a good thing about Iran or its inserting itself into the area. There are those, unfortunately, who would differ.

 

[O_Duirnin]

This guy. webgaza.net/palestine/people_profiles/Masri_Zafer.htm. His story was told to me by a West Bank al-Masri. Your Hamas friends probably didn’t care for him, particularly, as it seems he was a Fatah guy. Regarding the relative freedom of the various elections, I would have to ask one of my Palestinian friends. I understand that another al-Masri is trying to effect a reconciliation among PA, Jordan (where most Palestinians live anyway) and Hamas. That will be an undertaking. One can wonder how anyone who tries to do anything constructive over there can survive, particularly if he doesn’t quite subscribe to the Hamas, Syrian, Iranian vision of things. But it must be admitted that it did come close once, back during Clinton’s administration.

Kind of looks to me like Shakkaa was a predecessor of al-Masri’s. Also looks like Moshe Zer was NOT an Israelis government person.

Also, it appears Nablus is now under Hamas military control, so one could wonder what PA is free to do there, since it can’t do anything in Gaza now.

How did Shakkaa being in Scotland allow you to experience the city first hand? Are you now Hamas yourself? All things considered, one could not be blamed overmuch for supposing it.

Just to clarify, I was part of Scottish delegation which visited Nablus this April. The friendship between ourselves and Nablus has been ongoing for over thirty years (our City Hall was the first building in the Western world to fly the Palestinian flag on an official basis), and I wasn’t involved when Mr Shaka’a (a PLO supporter) originally visited Scotland, although I met with him in Nablus. He is now very old and frail, and preferred not to comment on the current situation, although I believe he opposed the Oslo Agreement.

I dined alongside Munib Al-Masri in Nablus - I think this the man you’re talking about undertaking reconciliation efforts. He certainly seemed on good terms the Nablus’s pro-Hamas Mayor - they were sitting at the same table, alongside the pro-Fatah head of the Nablus Governorate. There was another dinner being held at Munib Al-Masri’s house which we were unable to attend, but I believe the Mayor was present at that too. Just doing a bit of research on him here, it seems Al-Masri is head of a small organisation called the ‘Palestine Forum’ which calls itself an alternative to Fatah and Hamas, but has yet to run for election. As for Nablus being under Hamas military control, that isn’t the case. Abbas’s Security Forces certainly were present, although rarely within the city centre, apart from at the offices of the Nablus Governorate. Nablus seems to be about the last place in Palestine where there is some kind of Fatah/Hamas co-operation, albeit limited. Nablus managed to gain exemption from the PA’s dissolution of some elected municipal governments, and I think it is quite possible that al-Masri have had a role in this.

As far as is known, Moshe Zer had no formal connection Israel Security Forces, but it seems very co-incidental that the attack on Mr Shaka’a occured very soon after he had been threatened with ‘consequences’ when briefly interned by the Israelis. Zer also served very little prison time, and is now living on an Israeli pension. His son is the leader of one of the illegal Israeli settlements in the Nablus Governorate.

No - I have no affiliation to any Palestinian faction. My opinions are the result of what I heard and saw on the ground in Palestine, what I’ve been told by Palestinians and those with knowledge on the subject in this country, and what I’ve learnt myself from researching the subject in the media and online - all of this guided by my belief in justice for all peoples.