Christmas Day in the Holy Land

by Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD

[Letter sent to elected officials using the interface from CFLweb (in slightly modified form) to over 300 media outlets]

This is what happened Christmas Day in the Holy Land using our tax money:

Tulkarem: Israeli occupation forces (IOF) carried an extrajudicial execution of Jamal Yehi, 28 (note extrajudicial executions are considered war crimes by the 4th Geneva convention).

Ramallah: IOF carried an extrajudicial execution of Fanal Shilani and Bassam al-Askar in the process also killing bystander Mahdi Obayad 19. IOF destroyed five sheds in Dir Dibwan area.

East Jerusalem: One house was demolished, IOF also raided several neiborhoods and confiscated property of one non-Governmental organization.

Beitunia: IOF enforced curfews using gunfire but no injuries reported.

Qabatiyah: IOF carried an extrajudicial execution of Hamsa abu Roub, 35

Gaza: IOF killed two Palestinian guerrilla members near an illegal Jewish settlement.

Nablus: IOF carried an extrajudicial execution of two Palestinians. Taleb Abu Hawash (32) was shot in both legs and had bled to death. A 16 year old was also killed with close range shooting by Israeli undercover forces. Civilians trying to defy the continuous curfew were met by IOF gunfire which killed an 18 year old and wounded 20 other civilians.

Bethlehem: Residents in most areas remained in their homes since they received no intructions as to whether curfew was lifted in their areas for Christmas. One house was demolished by the IOF and the curfew reimposed on Thursday morning.

In short, nine Palestinian were killed on Christmas Day. On the day after Christmas (Thursday), seven Palestinians were killed by IOF fire (including one child). Israel maintained its curfews and sieges of Christian and Muslim towns and villages and demolishing of Palestinian homes on Christmas day with a brief respite while the foreign media were there on Christmas (when foreign media focused briefly on the birthplace of Jesus). IOF reimposed the curfew on Bethlehem Thursday morning. IOF also declared its intention to create 300 yard "buffer zones" around the 200+ illegal settlements in the West Bank and Gaza thus controlling more Palestinian land than was already confiscated to build the settlements and their existing large parameters. Some 400,000 illegal Jewish settlers control now over 50% of the West Bank and Gaza while 3,300,000 Palestinians are confined to their homes and built-up areas on some 20% of eth West Bank and Gaza.

We gave Israel $11,000,000 of our taxes on Christmas day (like we do every day 364 days a year).

In short Christmas day was not unlike any other day under the Israeli occupation with continued brutality and deepening Israeli control over the captive Palestinian civilian population. All funded and paid for by US taxpayers.

So far in two years, the IOF had caused: 2100 Palestinians killed (85% civilian), 32000 injured, 9000 arrested and still in Israeli jails, 3000 homes and structures were demolished rendering 20,000 homeless and costing hundreds of milions in damage. In these two years we gave Israel over $10,000,000,000 in direct and indirect aid and shielded it on numerous occasions from scrutiny by the world community. Is it any wonder that our government is despised around the world including among our allies in Europe!

Can you introduce legistlation to stop the aid at least until Israeli occupation forces stop killing and start withdrawing? I look forward to your answer.

Respectfully,

Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD