My friend Skip Schiel sends many messages from his difficult journey in the Middle East, but this is one I am recommending to all. Skip has been working with the AFSC in Gaza for the same two weeks that have been so much in the news and is scheduled to leave today, borders permitting. If you are in Boston, tune in to Sounds of Dissent at 90.3 and you may hear him interviewed live from there by John Grebe.

With deep wishes for peace, at least in our hearts

Louise

——– Original Message ——–
Subject: Bombs, rockets and drone—life in gaza
Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2008 06:20:19 +0100
From: skip schiel

/In the summer of 2007 after roughly a year of fighting, Hamas prevailed over Fatah, taking full control of the strip. So on my current trip, January 2008, the kidnapping risk has diminished because of strict Hamas controls over all factions. However, the Israeli attacks have increased to a high level, the highest number killed in one day in years, 18 on January 16. Driving in a taxi to Beit Hanoun in the north, walking in the morning around my neighborhood, even working in the Quaker Youth Program office is now charged with danger. Drones hover overhead, armed with cameras and missiles, helicopters and F-16 pummel cars and buildings, often killing bystanders. One of them could be me. I feel more at risk than ever before, and I believe I share that feeling with many of my colleagues and neighbors and friends—none of them advocating violence, all of them sorrowful and perplexed.

/*read more:*

http://skipschiel.wordpress.com/2008/01/18/gaza-changes%e2%80%942005-%e2%80%93-2008/

friends,

if you’ve been following the international news you’ll realize gaza is on the edge–yet again–of catastrophe. increasing rocket attacks by palestinians onto israeli civilians, increasing air attacks on gazans, often killing and injuring the innocent. truth to tell, i could become one of those innocents. riding to beit hanoun yesterday, working at home in my flat, walking in the early morning under israeli drones, visiting sites of killing, hearing stories of suffering, photographing faces of witnesses all makes real to me what is occurring in this land of many fanatics.

yesterday morning on my early walk i noticed a drone–by sound only, much like model airplanes i flew as a boy–flying overhead. they carry cameras _and_ missiles. i suspect one of their purposes is harassment, like the sonic booms which i’ve heard infrequently.

imagine: you go for a walk in your beloved neighborhood and high above you, out of visual range but emitting a penetrating terrifying sound, and you can’t drift into reverie or expect you’ll survive this walk. i stayed near walls and under trees, vowing to not curtail my stroll.

the drone continued thru most of the day. then late afternoon yesterday my home shook—big bang nearby, one bone jarring clap of thunder. using an american made f-16 fighter jet, israel destroyed an unused government building less than 2 km from me. a wedding was ensuing nearby. they contributed to the list of killed and injured.

what can you do? join the international campaign to end the siege.

http://www.end-gaza-siege.ps/IndexEn.htm

please read my blog for a further meditation on what gazans prefer to the call “the situation.”

fondly, and with love from gaza,

-skip

i’m currently in gaza for a photo project but also taking several “leaves” from louise’s experience teaching writing. looking for examples of good story writing, i think her page is one useful offering to my class of 6 struggling writers-struggling in more ways than one. i wish there were online excerpts from her book that could be used in cases like this where book purchases are impossible.

fondly and willing to support louise and new village press in any way i can,

from gaza,

–skip