Why Am I a Palestinian Refugee?!?

Palestinian Children playing in their Refugee Camp

Last night I had an interesting session with a group of Canadian/Israeli/Jewish friends. We met as part of an initiative to have conversations between people who are involved or related or have an interest in the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. Among the interesting talks that we had was the question "Why Am I still a Refugee till today?!?"

The interesting thing is that really, most Israelis and Jews don't really understand it, and they rarely try to dig into answers or facts about it, because the prevailing assumption among them is that it is a political thing, a political issue, maybe even a bit fabricated or so on!!

One from the group last night said: "I believe the problem is that Arab countries are keeping the Palestinians as refugees to keep the fire burning under Israel". This is probably a very common belief among Israelis and Jews. And I have been faced with this question so many times, and had to explain it in so many different contexts. So today I decided to actually explain it here, and keep it as a reference for those who want to understand "Why am I still a Palestinian Refugees?!?

As always, I remind you my friends, this is my explanation, my interpretation, and my analysis, being a Palestinian Refugee, and having lived and read and researched and interacted with so any elements in this regards :-)

First, the basic stuff: Just like Israel does not grant citizenship to anyone born in Israel, the same applies to the majority, if not all, the Arab countries!! So if an American is working in Israel or in Lebanon, and she gives birth to a child there, this child does not get neither the Israeli nor the Lebanese passport. And so, all Palestinian Refugees living in any Arabic country go under this same process!! No citizenship is granted, and the refugee status and documents are passed on to the children. Thus, the refugees keep growing generation after generation... Clear?

The other thing, Palestinians are proud of being Palestinians, and we are so attached to our culture and heritage and land, just like so many others around the world, including the indigenous Jews who lived in Palestine/Israel!! And so, it is only natural to keep the faith, the hope, the resistance, and the fight to go back to Palestine, our Homeland. Why would anyone just give up on Palestine and agree to become a citizen of another country. It has been 65 years, and Palestinians still hold on to this right to return to their homes, and no one can force them to let go. Again, generation after generation, Palestinian refugees continue to grow...

The next point is a bit harsh and complicated!! You see, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and all the remaining Arab countries, are indeed Arab countries, sharing the Arabic language, and the Islamic Arabic history. But, and this is a big BUT, every Arab country is different!! The Arabic language differs in each country, the traditions differ, the clothes, the demographics, the religions & sects, the economy, and the list goes on and on. The sad reality in fact is that there is no real harmony or unity among these Arab countries. And there are so many sensitivities specific to each country. All that adds more to the complex problem of the Palestinian Refugees!! So it is not as simple as you might think for any Arab country to take all those big numbers of refugees, and risk the stability or structure of their own country, for the sake of their Arab neighbors!! Unfortunately this is the reality on the ground, and you have to understand that, and respect this for each country!!

In fact, it is easier for a Palestinian refugee to travel to Western countries than traveling to Arab countries!! Weird right?

And so, for those who think that just because Palestine is an Arabic country and all neighboring countries are Arabic as well, this means those neighbors should solve the Palestinian problem, you are absolutely mistaken!!!

Without a doubt, there are so many more reasons and layers and explanations that outsiders, Israelis, Jews, Westerners, all of you won't understand about the hard, sad, and difficult situation that Palestinian Refugees go through on a daily basis in those host countries, as a consequence of the events of 1948. And because of that we, the descendants of the Palestinians who fled their homes 1948, still live as refugees, and still pass on our refugee status to our children, who knows till when!?!

My final comment, based on an article I read this morning, and based on the conversations last night: Palestinians did not kill Jews before 1948, Palestinians did not hate Jews before 1948, Palestinians are not invented people, and Palestine was not a land with no people!! Don't ask us, but ask the indigenous Jewish population of Palestine in the late 1890s and early 1900s till 1948!!

1948 changed the lives of millions of Palestinians, and created the longest ever Refugees problem in modern history. We have rights as Human Beings, the same way Jews and Israelis have rights as Human Beings. We are both attached to this land, we both have rights to this land... The way to solve this is by treating each other equally, feeling for each other, respecting each other, understanding each other... You survived the Holocaust and came to this land to build a new home, do it, but build next to us, not on top of us!!!

Peace & Love...

The Palestinian Refugee
BISS

Palestine is Our Choice

Last night, I was reading a few articles here and there about Palestine and Israel, I also watched a few videos about the history of Palestine, the history of Israel, and so on...

The interesting point that you get, is that everyone is deciding on behalf of the Palestinians what their fate and future should be!! In none of those articles or videos did I see any consultation or opinion of the people, the Palestinians, the main stakeholders of all of this!! Can't we have a say in what we really want?!?! Weird right?? No it's not weird, it's actually cruel, unjust, tyrannical, savage, ignorant, and inhuman...

Palestinians are supposed to watch others decide their own destiny, get the support of the world, by diplomacy or force, while we,the Palestinians, wait for the mercy of others, wait for the verdict of others on whether we are real or not, whether we deserve a country or not, whether we will live or die!!! What world is that?!?

The world supported Southern Sudan to create a country, because they are different from the rest of Sudan. The world supported the division of Czechoslovakia into different smaller countries that guarantees a secure, safe, and prosperous future for the different ethnic groups of that country. The world supports Taiwan, Armenia, Pakistan, and so many more examples from history and the future... All under the mission of protecting the people, defending human rights, and the right to decide their destiny...

The irony is that it all stops at the doorsteps of Palestine!!! Suddenly the world is silent, tight handed, speechless, unable to move and defend and take action. For 65 years, no one seemed to care much to really solve the issue of the Palestinian People. Instead, we were left to figure it out on our own, facing the only DEMOCRACY of the Middle East!!

In fact, to be fair, there are so many out there who defend the Palestinians and they support the Palestinian struggle and cause. And it was apparent in the recent vote in the UN, when the majority of the world voted in favor of recognizing the State of Palestine. It was a fierce political battle that involved so much lobbying and negotiations and debate. And at the end Palestine prevailed and won it's recognition...

But in that vote, many were driven by a tremendous feeling of guilt!! Because they abandoned Palestinians all those years, because they let generations of Palestinians live as refugees, because they did not stand up to the basic rights of the people of Palestine!!! Nonetheless, thank you for everyone who voted in favor of Palestine. And for those who abstained, well, it's ok this time, maybe next time you should be more bold ;-)

As for the countries who voted against the recognition of the State of Palestine, mainly Israel, Canada, and the United States, it's a shame, a disgrace, and a disappointment for democracy, for human rights, for justice, for humanity... Not because they voted against, nope, it's their right of course, but for the way, the method, the approach, the speeches, the rhetoric, and the aggression they used against Palestinians!! For real, did these guys watch themselves again?? Were they stripped from their human soul? Were they talking about Palestinians or about insects!? Or maybe all of us are stupid, and those elite Trio know it all!!!

As a supporter of Human Rights, I do recognize and acknowledge the right of Israel to exist, and so many Palestinians around the world, and in Palestine, do recognize this, and on top of them is President Mahmoud Abbas. But it cannot be at the expense of the Human Rights, the dignity, and the future of the Palestinian People!! You cannot build and establish Israel by destroying and erasing Palestine!!! And of course, not Israel, not the US, and not anyone else has the right to decide our existence and future...

If the politicians are corrupt, looking for their interests and ignoring those of their people, then it is the duty of every citizen of humanity to seek the truth, seek justice, seek equality, defend the existence of Israel,while defending the existence of Palestine, equally, without prejudice!!

In a recent lecture by an Israeli professor that I attended lately, he was talking about how Israel cannot trust Palestinians to give them their own state, fearing for its security!! Well, what about Palestinians?!?! They can trust Israel, or should I say, they are supposed to trust Israel?!? Will Palestinians be safe at the end?!? Seriously, who should be afraid of who?!?! It's a funny scene, just like that of the elephant (Israel) and the mouse (Palestine)!!! And I only mean this in the military aspect of course :-) 

In the end it doesn't matter. We deserve a country of our own, we have the right for a country of our own!! Israel can have its fear or phobia or paranoia or whatever sentimental feelings from its own borders!! We are not in a marriage counseling here!! We are discussing the future of the People of Palestine...

Stop calling us Arabs instead of Palestinians. Stop calling it the Territories or Judea & Samaria instead of Palestine. Stop claiming we are fake people because we are as real as it gets. Stop calling it terrorism instead of activism (referring to non-violent resistance). Stop calling it AntiSemitism instead of Freedom of Speech or Expression of Opinion (referring to pure, valid, logical criticism of Israel or Jews). Stop claiming Palestine was a land with no people because it was a land full of Palestinians before all this conflict (Muslims, Christians, and Jews)! Stop defending Israel by attacking Palestine. Start defending Israel by defending Palestine! Stop building Israel on the ruins of Palestine. Stop war and begin Peace. Stop Hate and spread Love...

There is no easy path for all of us. But with a strong will everything can be achieved. Palestinians have resisted and struggled and stood proud in front of all tragedies, and we will continue doing so till Palestine is back, a beautiful independent and peaceful place for all Palestinians and everyone who loves Palestine. Israel will exist in peace and prosperity only when Palestine exists in peace and prosperity...

Always keep in mind, Palestine is not anybody's call or decision, Palestine is Our Choice...

To Peace and Love...

BISS

Homeland

Homeland, as per wikipedia, means: the concept of the place (cultural geography) to which an ethnic group holds a long history and a deep cultural association with, the country in which a particular national identity began...

It is pretty simple, unless you are still a child, or you are a fanatic stubborn ignorant person who refuses to understand it, right??

So when it comes to my Homeland, Palestine, I don't understand how the definition of HOMELAND above won't apply to Palestinians and Palestine?!? Yet, there seems to be a lot, and a lot, of research and theories and studies, marvelous discoveries, astonishing findings, lengthy papers and publications, just to say that Palestine, the geographical area we know at least since the 20th century, is the homeland for others, not for Palestinians!!!

As in every post I write, I have to clarify that I am no historian or politician or academic with extensive background and information about the Palestine/Israel conflict... Yet, I am an educated Palestinian, a son of two Palestinian refugees, an open-minded peace activist, a supporter of justice, human rights, and equality for all... And this qualifies me, as it qualifies so many people from around the globe, to comment and share their opinion about this issue...

So, going back, there is this simple question of "Who has the right to call this piece of land their HOMELAND?". Well, the answer is not that simple!! I know thousands, even millions, will say "The answer is simple, this is our HOMELAND!!". You will hear this from both sides, and everyone else. Israelis will say this is our historical homeland, Palestinians will say this is our homeland, period!! Others will choose a side, supporting and defending whoever suits their interests or way of thinking or whatever criteria...

Hmmmmm, so what's the answer? If we want to sit and dig and dissect history, and come up with theories and so on, we will wait another century maybe, or even more, if ever, before we reach an answer...

In fact, I believe this question and its answer is irrelevant!! Who cares after decades of war and deaths and inhumanity and terrorism, who cares about this answer!! Yes there are those who only care about scoring points, demonizing the other, insulting the other, demolishing the other!!! Those my friends are the inhumane group who value nothing but war, death, and destruction, and they care the least for the fate of humanity!! We, the Humane folks, should focus on another question: "How do we make this geographical area the HOMELAND for everyone living there?!?"

Palestinians have been living there, at least since the past century, they grew up there, they developed a culture, a national identity, which is different than the neighboring Arab countries. This is the part, the info, the fact that others do not want to understand, or is difficult to grasp!! We did not come from outer space, we did not come from Fiji, we did not come from Jordan or Lebanon or Syria or Egypt, we did not come from anywhere but Palestine!! We are Palestinians, we speak different, we eat different, we dress different, we think different, even our Kuffiyeh is different!! We are unique, like every other country or ethnic group around the world. So I don't understand, how any person who is not from the region, would come and judge a nation, Palestine, create theories, and act upon it, without understanding who those people are, without asking them or trying to know anything about them even, except for digging books and info from the Internet?!!? Hello, we are here, come talk to us!!!

Moving on, it is also a fact that Israelis lived in this area thousands of years ago. And for some reason, not because of Palestinians, they had to flee their HOMELAND. But this is the same with so many other nations throughout history. Unfortunately, we as Palestinians, have been a victim of this historical claim!!

Imagine this scenario: Mexico comes today to claim back all the southern states from the US, based on the historical tie to the land!! Would that be feasible?

But again, we are beyond history, we are in 2013, where this land has become the HOMELAND for all those Israelis who created the Jewish State 65 years ago. Regardless of how, regardless of the wars, regardless of all the details of the past 65 years, there are generations born and raised in Israel, and so it is their HOMELAND...

Hence we are in a dilemma today, where we have two nations who have every right to name this land their HOMELAND... So what's the solution? How to make both groups live in their HOMELAND??

Although it is so complicated to answer the detailed solution, there is a very simple broad answer: LIVE TOGETHER, acknowledge the other, respect the other, feel for the other, understand the other, work with the other to make this land the HOMELAND for everyone who has a tie to this land...

We all know this quote: The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step...

It is going to take a lot of effort and hard work and transformation, it needs courage and honesty, it needs positivity and determination, it will require compromise and trust... but it is possible. Both sides need to open their minds and hearts, treat each other as humans who want to live happily and peacefully... Remove the hatred and the prejudice, be patient and understanding of the other... Hear the other, compassionately...

No one alone can win this land, BOTH of us can win it, together, with peace and justice and equality, and love...

For starters, if you are an Israeli or a Jew, go make friends with some Palestinians, talk to them, understand the HUMAN Palestinian, not the textbook Palestinian. Know their story, discover their agony, feel their pain, and correct their perceptions about Israel and the Jews as well...

Palestinians, do the same, cross that bridge, break the taboos, and seek a peaceful future in our HOMELAND, for all of us...

If you live in Montreal, I will be more than happy to connect you to some groups that can help you make this connection... Anything for Peace my friends :)

Let's overcome the PAST, let's solve TODAY, and live for a better TOMORROW...

I know I'm being too idealistic, but then again, that's what we all wish for, right?!! I leave the practical details for you to think about & share...

And for those who did not like what I wrote, or got mad because of my opinion, apologies for being ME!!

To Peace and Love...

BISS

She is GOOD... Relatively Speaking!

Yesterday I went to refill some ink cartridges for the office printer. I go to the usual shop, but the usual guy is not there. Instead there is a nice lady, who seemed not too knowledgeable of the printers world! At least this is what I assumed! And so, I gave her the ink cartridges, she checked them out, and it turned out she is more knowledgeable than I thought! Some of the cartridges were expired, meaning they cannot be even refilled (that's a new info for me!). So I have to buy new ones. Only one cartridge can be refilled. And so after checking the pricing and so on, the bill would come out to $110! As I stood there thinking for a few moments, she jumps to my ear and says: "Listen, why pay this much to refill your printer, while actually today you can buy a brand new one for this price, with all the Christmas offers you know!" I looked at her with amazement!! "Of course, I will probably do that". She even told me who has the best offers for printers, and which brands are cheaper when it comes to refilling ink and so on. At the end she said: "Don't tell my boss though", with a nice smile, waving goodbye and wishing me a good day...

"She is GOOD"... This is what I said to myself, as I left the store, happy that I did not find the usual guy, who would have probably given me a bit of discount but let me pay for refilling those cartridges!! Maybe or maybe not!! But this is when I thought to myself, she is GOOD because she did a good deed, she gave me the advice that will save me money, and help me make the right decision, she said what is GOOD for the customer. But was she GOOD as an employee? as a sales person? Her last statement, asking me not to tell her boss, makes you think that she assumed this was a BAD advice, losing a transaction for her boss!! Indeed, probably her boss would get mad and tell her how lousy she is, and how BAD for the business she was!! On the other hand, at least from my stand, I know I would be more loyal to this shop, and when I buy the new printer and I am out of ink, I will not refill anywhere else except there, hopefully with that lady :)

This keeps us thinking, is GOOD so relative?? It cannot be just GOOD?! Is it always subjective? Well, the reality is, GOOD is relative, in every aspect of our lives...

When my daughter cries in front of me asking for chocolate instead of having lunch, I do sometimes give her chocolates (being a chocolate lover myself!), thinking that I did something GOOD, giving her the happiness and joy of eating chocolate. But in fact, this is bad, health wise and behavior wise!

When you give money to a young man begging at the metro entrance, you do so thinking you did a GOOD act, you helped the guy buy food or something. But some will argue that this is bad, because you encourage this young man not to work, and to beg for more! Even he might just buy bear with this money! That's BAD!

When you answer a late night call from a friend, who is in a crisis and needs to talk and let things out, you do so with GOOD intentions, genuinely trying to comfort your friend... But in the head of your partner, sleeping next to you maybe, this is BAD, and it can bring bad consequences and scenarios!!

When you break up with someone, or divorce even, you are looking for the GOOD side of it, moving on, starting over, new chances, new beginnings, but that's for you positive person... On the other side, what you did might look BAD, selfish, childish, stupid, irresponsible, crazy, etc... And they will remind you for the rest of your life how BAD you are!!

If we criticize our leaders about the bad things they are doing, or just voicing concerns and opinions that do not match their views, we want them to learn and know, hoping that they will do something GOOD... Yet some might look at it as something bad, and will accuse us with treason or stupidity!!

When you defend a cause so strongly and so genuinely, like I do defending the Palestinian cause, you genuinely believe you are doing GOOD... But again, for other Palestinians who believe in different ways or different philosophies, you are bad, you are harming the cause...

My best example of all, as Palestinians, if we talk to Jewish or Israeli groups who seek dialogue and peace and equality and justice, we are seeking something GOOD, we are connecting the GOOD aspects of humans together, trying to make a difference, a GOOD difference... Yet, some will just label it as "Speaking with the Enemy", no matter what context or what conditions, and will tell you straight to your face: You are BAD to the Palestinian cause!! This always humors me!! Yet, I remind myself, this is subjective, my GOOD, their BAD... Their GOOD might be my BAD!!

A last example, for the Pro-Israel Anti-Palestinians, we as Palestinians, no more matter who or where, we are BAD, we are the enemy!! Even if we try to make peace, or anything GOOD, you are still BAD because you are Palestinian!! Even if you were an Israeli, who supports Human Rights, something GOOD, and so you defend the Palestinians' rights to live in equality and justice, for the Pro-Israel Anti-Palestinians you are doing BAD things to the state of Israel, you are a BAD traitor to the Jewish religion!!

The list does not end... And if there is anything to learn from this life is that everything these days is RELATIVE and SUBJECTIVE, including the GOOD and the BAD!! Which makes you wonder all the time which GOOD should I do?!?

Will I be judged all the time?? Indeed you will... Should I stop doing GOOD things because it might be BAD for others? Nope... Do what you think is GOOD always...

It's a tough life with tough choices... Yet we are here to enjoy it and live it to the MAX...

Be GOOD folks... Relatively speaking ;)

BISS

Doomsday, The Mayan Calendar, and Palestinians

If you read this, it means that you survived one of the biggest pranks of our days, The Mayan Doomsday Prank!! So congratulations for continuing to live on this beautiful planet, Earth...

Now, I'm not hinting that all those who believed the world would end on the 21st of December 2012 according to the Mayan calendar, are stupid or anything. Everyone has the right to believe in whatever they want to believe. I myself didn't believe the world would end today, simply because the Mayans didn't say that!!! According to all the research done on the Mayans and their famous calendar, there is no mentioning that the Mayans believed the world will end at the end of their calendar. WE assumed it, WE speculated, WE interpreted, and WE decided on behalf of the Mayans that this is what they believed, that Doomsday is at the end of their calendar...

The problem is that the Mayans are not here, and there is no way to ask them directly, "what do you guys believe will happen?", if anything, or whether it was just the end of the their calendar, and it should restart after this date... Come to think of it, even at our days, we run out of numbers in so many things (the car odometer for example), and we do restart numbering. So don't assume a civilization thousands of years ago couldn't get into similar situations :)

Next, what do Palestinians have to do with the Mayans?? Well, it seems a lot of scholars, historians, and politicians these days, deal with the Palestinians as if they existed thousands of years ago, or didn't even exist ever in other extreme views. And in believing so, they are making theories and assumptions and speculations about this group of ancient people!!!

Palestinians, they were X, they come from Y, they looked like Z, their leaders were A, B, C, etc… All those assumptions about the Palestinians can be verified and checked if you ask the Palestinians, it is not that hard. No need to speculate and guess!! We are here all around the globe, just make the effort to connect with a Palestinian, and get all the information that you need…

Recently, here in Montreal, I have been heavily involved in dialogue events and initiatives, where Palestinians sit with Jews and Israelis and talk to each other openly and respectfully... It's no surprise that Palestinians know a lot about the Jews and Israelis in general, while the opposite is not true. I had to explain for instance thousands of times, how come I am Palestinian but have never been and cannot be in Palestine!! I had to explain thousands of times why I am classified as a refugee!!! I had to explain thousands of times that Palestinians are against the Occupation, not against Jews!!! I had to explain thousands of times that we are simply human beings seeking the right to live in dignity and equality and respect...

Unlike the Mayans who do not exist anymore, Palestinians exist today in almost every country around the globe. Go ask Palestinians, and I strongly encourage you to do so, in order to know, to learn, to understand, and feel with this group of people, the Palestinians... You will be surprised what you will discover...

We live on beyond the Mayan calendar, and we as Humans, including Palestinians, we should always strive for Peace, Equality, Respect, and Love...

PEACE folks...

BISS

Today Palestine Won... And Lost...

Today, a big part of Palestinians, as well as Palestinian supporters, were celebrating, celebrating something, celebrating a political win, a moral win, against world powers and the will of Israel and the USA... It was the first time that Palestinians accomplished such a win on the international arena... So people celebrated, applauded, cheered, went crazy on social media, fireworks, you name it... It was a victory for Palestinians and THE STATE OF PALESTINE...

But we live in a partisan world, we live in opposites, differences, disagreements... And that is natural for humans, and so it is natural and expected that this victory was not for everyone, specially for Israel and the US, who actually lost a great deal in this bid, and were cornered in front of the international world...

But besides Israel and the US, there are Palestinians who do not recognize this as a win, and some will go further to consider this defeat... And again, I can understand that and respect this view...

What I do not understand, and do not respect, is for those who consider this VICTORY to be false or defeat or even STUPID, specially the Palestinians, to go attack the other Palestinians, in whatever form...

We are a People who suffered so much for 65 years, and we rarely ever gained anything during those decades... And so we are always looking for this hope, for this feeling of joy and happiness and stability and security, and peace, peace at home... A lot of Palestinians are away from home, in exile, but some are still there, in Palestine, in their homes, but not in their STATE, till today... After today, they officially celebrate being in the STATE OF PALESTINE... and so they celebrate happily and joyfully... Congratulations for all Palestinians who have the privilege and honor to be in THE STATE PALESTINE right now...

As for me, I am one of those men with no land, living in exile, in the diaspora... and yet I celebrated today, I celebrated for those in THE STATE OF PALESTINE, and for everyone who supports them and us, and also for me... I know that I may never go back to my home town Al-Bassa to live there as a Palestinian. To be realistic, there is no town called Al-Bassa anymore, and although I love the memory of it, the name, the feeling of belonging to that town, the stories I hear all the time about it, still, I know me and a lot others who have their feet on the ground, like President Mahmoud Abbas, we know we will never go back to start from scratch, that is if there was a chance for it to happen... And so for us, it is a loss that we accept with sorrow, forced to accept the reality of the world we live in today, 2012...

But there is a bigger loser here: those Palestinians who still refuse to recognize the State of Israel, who refuse to accept that the world changed, who refuse to move on and plan ahead, who think if they wait 500 more years and wait for the next World War that maybe they will have the chance to get all of Palestine back... Or maybe they have other reasoning or strategy... Who knows... Human minds are capable of the impossible, right?

So those fellow Palestinians are one of the biggest losers maybe, although technically, the right of return and the borders are still not final... But I will also be realistic and assume that those Palestinians in the diaspora from villages that are now or were inside the State of Israel, I'll assume that they will eventually lose this right of return, and so they will lose their place of origin... I feel for you, I understand how it feels, and every other Palestinian in this world and every other Palestinian supporter understands that, and it is something to be discussed and addressed in the near future... Remember today was only about recognizing the State of Palestine as a Non Member Observer STATE, without solving or closing all those issues of the borders and right of return and so on... This is just the beginning of something new, the start of a diplomatic chapter in the Palestinian history, where we gained for the first time on the international level, the title and status of being a STATE. That's all...

Now, for this last group of fellow Palestinians, please, for heaven's sake, do not attack the other Palestinians, do not call them names, do not make fun of their joy, do not wipe off this joy and happiness they feel... We are all Palestinians... Hamas and Fatah, though opposed to each other until a few weeks ago, they were mostly united in celebrating this win, because we need this hope, we need this joy, we need this moral and symbolic victory... and so Palestine was ecstatic today, from Gaza to the West Bank, to Palestinians everywhere in the world, and to their supporters... Share this joy, understand that all those people are not stupid, understand that in this real life we live in today, this was a victory... Even if you do not consider it a victory, it was a victory for all your fellow Palestinians who celebrated it... Even if you do not want to share this joy and celebration, don't spoil it for them, don't call them names... It's a shame... It's a shame to call the Palestinians in Gaza, who were under attack and the treat of death a couple of weeks ago, and now they are celebrating joyfully, it's a shame to call them stupid... Really you should be ashamed of yourselves...

At the end, I say it again, I respect everyone's different stand and opinion, I understand and realize that we can have differences and disagreements, but please keep it civil, specially among us, PALESTINIANS... We need all the unity we can get folks... So make the effort, make your best... United we can change the world, one step at a time... Keep the faith, keep the hope...

From my side, I say congratulations to THE STATE OF PALESTINE and to the Palestinians who celebrated this world VICTORY... It is the start, the beginning of a new phase in this long hard road toward FULL STATEHOOD and PEACE and prosperity... Congrats Congrats Congrats...

Palestine: Peace at Home

It has been a packed couple of weeks for Palestinians across the globe, from the 63rd Nakba Anniversary and the launch of the 3rd Intifada, to the Obama Middle East speech and then the AIPAC speech, followed by Natenyahu's visit to the White House and then the AIPAC and Congress Speech, following with all the world reactions to all those events...

When it came to the Nakba and 3rd Intifada, it was Palestinians and friends taking the lead in deciding to go to the streets, PEACEFULLY, to tell the world that we are still here, REFUGEES, after 63 years, still waiting to go back home... Palestinians planned, coordinated, promoted, organized, and took action in PEACEFUL events around the globe... Sadly on May 15th 2011, those PEACEFUL UNARMED protests and demonstrations were met by gunfire, death, and blood... And the world watched silently, no condemnations, no remarks, no words at all... Even the media chose to ignore covering those PEACEFUL events around the world, and instead chose to highlight that Palestinians attacked the Israeli borders, and attacked the Israeli soldiers inside Palestine!! Why? Because when it comes to Israel, maybe every non-Israeli or non-Jewish human has no value, totally and cheaply dispensable... What a shame to see the world reach to this level of humanity...

Moving on, the world was waiting for another major event that concerns Palestinians: The Obama Middle East Speech. It was an event to respond to the Palestinian political movement towards gaining Palestinian Statehood in September when a UN vote will take place. It was also a preparation and an outline for the Peace process that President Obama was laying down ahead of Natenyahu’s visit to the US...

To be fair and square, President Obama did cross the normal lines that a US president would stay behind when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He boldly told Israel what the Palestinian borders should be, which is the 1967 lines “with agreed swappable land” to compensate for the illegal Israeli settlements inside the 1967 lines... Of course there in the speech was emphasis about the unshakable relationship between Israel and the US, as well as a soft wanring about the Hamas-Fatah reconciliation, and above all, sidelining the major two points of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict: the future of Jerusalem, and the Right of Return for the Palestinian Refugees to their homes... Oh and let’s not forget his answer to the Palestinian move to declare a Palestinian State in September: NO WAY...

Although for most Palestinians, this was totally disappointing, it was even a more disappointing and outrageous for the Israeli’s that are not used to being told what to do!! All the attacks on President Obama after his speech, never mind those from Palestinians and Arabs, but those coming from Israeli’s and Jews were so fierce, that eventually Obama had to change and tweak a few words when he gave the AIPAC 2011 speech, gaining a few ovations and applauds here and there in his speech. Politically, as a US President running for re-election, this is what exactly had to be done... But as a Peace moderator, as an advocate for Justice and Equal Human Rights, this was far far from being right!!!

Non the less, the Israeli PM stood firm by his non-compromising attitude, bluntly rejecting Obama’s speech, sticking to his points: No Return to 1967 lines, no partitioning of Jerusalem, no Right of Return for Palestinians, no negotiations with Hamas... He was arrogantly slamming the door infront of any possible Peace negotiations, in a way, telling Palestinians to DROP DEAD as per one article recently published (MJ Rosenberg: Congress to Palestinians: Drop Dead http://huff.to/lgEp0g). And yet, the amount of ovations and support and and cheering that he received from the US Congress surpassed that given to a US figure!!! It was like a political showdown between the US President and the Israeli PM, pure politics and tactics...

It was pathetic, at least for me as a Palestinian, to see this reaction to a guy bluntly killing an hope for relaunching PeaceNegotiations. More pathetic was also the media coverage, which mostly headlined the only few positive yet tricky sentences of Natenyahu about his willingness to give up GENEROUSLY some land to Palestinians in return for Peace!!!

True these days it’s all about politics and money and power and connections, it’s all about playing it right, it’s all about allies and lobbies, it’s about winning your way and not about doing the RIGHT and JUST thing...

But for me as a Palestinian, a simple human being, I don’t care about Politics, I don’t care about Obama’s re-election, I don’t care about speeches and ovations and applauds, I don’t care about a UN recognition of Palestine... As a Palestinian, all I want is a place to call HOME, a place to live PEACEFULLY, a place to have my basic human rights, to live equal to others, to have the same rights as others, to be free to do what the law tells everyone to do...

All we are asking for is for the world to look at the Palestinian people as Humans, as people who are suffering, deprived of their dignity and human rights, deprived of their home...

Look at those people, read the laws, the international laws, the Human Rights laws, read history, and then take a stand, not a side, a stand to defend Israelis and Palestinians alike, to protect the right to exist for both Palestinians and Israelis, to secure PEACE and prosperity to both Israelis and Palestinians, to let both people live in a place they call HOME...

May we all find PEACE at HOME soon, always, and forever...