Arna’s Children

A Study Guide Compiled by Roberta McNair for the California Film Institute A Place in the World Table of Contents Children and terrorism ...... 3 Objective ...... 3 An allegory for the Israeli-Palestinian question ...... 3 About the Film ...... 4 Arna’s Children: How the children of a Palestinian theater group got involved in the Intifadah ...... 4 Subjects for Discussion and Research ...... 4 About the Directors ...... 6 Subjects for Discussion and Research ...... 7 Background on ...... 8 Subjects for Discussion and Research ...... 11 The “” ...... 12 The Battle ...... 12 The Aftermath ...... 13 One More Aftermath ...... 14 Subjects for Discussion and Research ...... 15 Arna and Her School ...... 16 Subjects for Discussion and Research ...... 17 The Children of the Theater ...... 19 Subjects for Discussion and Research ...... 21 Additional Resources ...... 22 Relevant films ...... 22 Relevant reading ...... 23 Relevant Websites ...... 24 and Palestine: Historical Background ...... 25 A Chronicle of Empty Graves ...... 37

The material in this guide is intended for educational use only, and reproduction for commercial purposes is forbidden.

2 Children and terrorism The study guide provides comprehension, analysis, and discussion questions, as well as class and individual activities and suggested research resources. Objective This study guide aims to provide a framework for students to analyze and understand the documentary film genre, this documentary film in particular, the Israeli- Palestinian conflict in general, the “Battle of Jenin,” and the effects of these conflicts on children. Through analysis, discussion, and comprehension of these topics, students will achieve a greater understanding not only of their place in this world but also the place of those children born into a conflict not of their making.

Children in Jenin An allegory for the Israeli-Palestinian question Suppose your family has a house. One day bad guys kick you out of the house. Then it’s sold, and it’s sold again. Then finally you come back to the house and say, “I’m home!” Whose house is it? (Thanks for this allegory go to Rabbi Mark Glickman, Woodinville, Washington.)

3 About the Film Jenin’s theater. With his camera, he filmed the children during rehearsal periods from 1989 to 1996. He went back to see what happened to them in 2002. Shifting back and forth in time, the film reveals the tragedy and horror of lives trapped by the circumstances of the Israeli occupation.

Children in the audience at the 1994 performance Arna’s Children: How the children of a Palestinian theater group got

involved in the Intifadah After the “Battle of Jenin” in 2002 A film by Juliano Mer Khamis Subjects for Discussion and Writers and directors—Juliano Mer Research Khamis and Danniel Danniel 1. The subject of Israel and Palestine Producers—Osnat Trabelsi and Pieter might be the most divisive one in much van Huystee of the modern world. The Broadcasting company—IKON has long been a supporter of Israel and Television its right to claim the territory it won in International sales—First Hand Films, the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict. Since the Esther van Messel rise of what is called Islamic Extremism and the bombing of the World Trade Length—85 minutes Center on September 11, 2001, many The film tells the story of a theater Americans have felt vindicated in their group that was established by Arna Mer support of Israel and condemnation of Khamis. Arna came from a Zionist family the Palestinian fight against Israel. and in the 1950s married a Palestinian Others in the world, including Arab, Saliba Khamis. On the , Americans, have long felt sympathy, if she opened an alternative education not support, for who had to system for children whose regular life leave their homes in what became Israel was disrupted by the Israeli occupation. in 1949. After Israel claimed the West The theater group that she started Bank and at the end of the engaged children from Jenin, helping Six-Day War in 1967, some of Israel’s them to express their everyday righteousness tarnished, especially frustrations, anger, bitterness, and fear. when Jewish settlements were Arna’s son Juliano, the codirector of this established. What Israel claimed was a film, was also one of the directors of defense of their security was argued by

4 others to be a disenfranchisement and occupation of the Palestinian people. Those who express support for the Palestinians may face accusations of anti-Semitism, while those who maintain support for Israel may be faced with questions about the morality of Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians. Arna’s Children gives little history or background on the conflict. The filmmakers assume the audience knows the context and choose to present the situation in very personal terms. Juliano Mer Khamis met the young men of 2002 when they were little boys, and he clearly sympathizes with the children and people of Jenin. Yet he unflinchingly shows the choices each boy makes in the conflict and their consequences. Yussef and Nidal especially, Juliano tells the audience, killed who were not soldiers in their . Did you feel sympathy, or even empathy, for the children/young men in the film, knowing how some of them died? Did it make a difference how they died? If the story had been told by a traditional documentary filmmaker—so that what appeared on the screen was objective reporting, with no narrative voice—would you have felt sympathy for the children/young men?

5 About the Directors and European films, as well as Israeli stage productions. Mer Khamis is also the founder of the Freedom Theater, the offshoot of Arna’s school in Jenin. The original theater group, which was the subject of his documentary with co-writer and co- director Danniel Danniel, closed after Arna’s death in 1995. Mer Khamis established the Freedom Theater in February of 2006. He was inspired to do so after learning that Zakaria Zubaidi, leader of the Jenin branch of al-Asqa Martyrs Brigades and one of Arna’s former theater pupils, said he wanted to re- establish ties with the Jewish peace movement. Mer Khamis’ professional acting career in Israel came to an abrupt end at the onset of the . When one of Arna’s former pupils carried out a suicide attack in Israel, Mer Khamis dedicated a poetry reading to his dear friend, Yussef. Mer Khamis was vilified in the Israeli press. Mer Khamis also wrote an article about Ashraf Abu-Alheji’s death, which can be found in the appendix to this study guide. Mer Khamis used the footage from his first encounters with the children in Arna’s theater, rehearsal and Juliano Mer Khamis, top, performances, and his return to Jenin in Danniel Danniel, bottom 2002 to create Arna’s Children. Juliano Mer Khamis is the son of Danniel Danniel is an Israeli-born Arna Mer Khamis and Saliba Khamis. He writer and director. He lives in and is an Israeli actor with numerous works primarily in The Netherlands. He performance credits in American, Israeli, collaborated with Juliano Mer Khamis to write and direct Arna’s Children.

6 Subjects for Discussion and Research 2. Juliano Mer Khamis enjoyed a vital career as an actor in Israel until he expressed his support for the children he knew in Jenin at a poetry reading and in published articles (see http://cosmos.ucc.ie/cs1064/jabowen/I PSC/php/authors.php?auid=2249, http://cosmos.ucc.ie/cs1064/jabowen/I PSC/php/cs.php?byauid=2249, www.imdb.com/name/nm1637576/, and www.imdb.com/name/nm0451131/). After this, he did not act in another film until 2006. Do you feel that Juliano knew what the fallout from his open support of Palestinians could do to his career? If he knew, why do you think he chose to speak out anyway? If there were a situation in which your future career and livelihood could be crippled, could you act publicly as a matter of conscience or out of love?

7 Background on Jenin Jenin is located in the northern part of the West Bank, an area bordered by Israel, , and the northwest quarter of the Dead Sea. The West Bank is a small area of land, by American standards, comparing roughly to the area of the state of Delaware, the second smallest of the United States. It has a temperate climate, with cool-to- mild winters and warm-to-hot summers.

West Bank beyond the (in green) Jenin is one of 19 refugee camps in the West Bank. It was established in 1953 and is the third-largest camp. Most of the families in the camp originally lived in villages in only a few miles away, from which they fled after Israel’s victory in the Arab-Israeli conflict of 1948. Many of these villages

Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip are visible from Jenin, but they are across the “Green Line” in Israel. The While 17 percent of the land in the term Green Line is used to refer to the West Bank is suitable for farming 1949 Armistice lines established (arable), the availability of fresh water is between Israel and its opponents, , a long-term concern for its inhabitants. Jordan, and Egypt, at the end of the Drought is common, and the aquifers in 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict. The Green the West Bank’s highlands, located Line separates Israel from these mostly in the West Bank’s central-to- countries as well as from territories southern areas, near , are a Israel annexed after the 1967 Six-Day major source of water for Israel. War, including the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

8 While some residents of the camp Jenin to establish an alternative source work in the agricultural sector, many of education for the children there. rely on employment in Israel, across the In 1995, with West Bank border. However, there is a 50-percent unemployment rates at 20 percent, the unemployment rate in the West Bank, a came under the Palestinian huge increase from under five percent Authority for self-rule, after the in the 1980s. This change coincided with redeployment of Israel’s troops. Israeli border closures starting between Previously, the area was administered 1992 and 1996. by the Israeli military. The years 1995 to About two-and-a-half million people 1998 saw the beginnings of an live in the West Bank, and the registered economic recovery. It was short-lived, refugee population of the Jenin camp however, with the outbreak of violence was 15,496 in 2005. Of that population, toward the end of 2000, which triggered 2205 families received emergency food tight Israeli closures of Palestinian self- rations and 392 families were declared rule areas, severely affecting work and special hardship cases by the United employment. In 2001, and even more Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA), strongly in 2002, Israeli military which provides education, social measures in Palestinian Authority areas services, healthcare, and emergency aid resulted in the destruction of the to refugees in the Middle East. economic infrastructure, widespread Almost 44 percent of the population business closures, and a sharp drop in in the West Bank is under the age of 14. incomes. The median age is 18, making this a very Jenin has felt a large impact from young population. However, of the the barrier—a security wall—built approximately 6,800 children in Jenin, between Israel and the West Bank. In the UNRWA puts the number of early 1995, Israeli Prime Minister students in school in 2005 at only about began discussions on how 2,800. Sixty percent of the people in to implement a barrier separating Jenin live below the poverty line, due in Israelis and Palestinians in the West part to a decline in income and an Bank. In June 2001 a grassroots increase in birth rate. organization called “Fence for Life—The Schools in the West Bank were Public Movement for The Security closed after the inception of the First Fence” began the effort for the Intifada, in 1993, which saw a general construction of a continuous security uprising of Palestinians against Israeli fence. “Fence for Life” urged the rule. What distinguished this government to build a continuous fence movement, which lasted until 1993, was as speedily as possible, and without any the participation of young men a boys— connection to the political future of the many of whom attended schools and areas it separates, with a goal of universities—in the protests, throwing hermetically sealing off the Palestinian stones at the Israeli forces and civilians. territories from Israeli population center It was because of these school closures to prevent the terrorist acts by that Arna Mer Khamis originally came to

9 Palestinians against the people living in fence was completed, but they resulted Israel. in no deaths or injuries. In contrast Parts of the barrier are built on land during the preceding 12 months, from confiscated from Palestinians. Early September 2002 to August 2003, 73 drafts for the fence put construction attacks were successfully carried out into the West Bank, rather than along from these areas, in which 293 Israelis the Green Line, but later barrier routes were killed and 1,950 were wounded. allocate more segments to be built on The decrease in casualties was not due the Green Line itself. As of November to a decrease in attempted terrorist 2003, the barrier extended inside most attacks; from August 2003 to July 2004 of the northwestern and western edges Israeli security forces prevented dozens of the West Bank, sometimes close to of planned attacks in the final stages of the Green Line, and sometimes running their implementation and uncovered 24 further east. In some places there are explosive belts and charges intended for also secondary barriers, creating a use these attacks, due to restricted number of completely enclosed access into Israeli areas. enclaves. In some areas of the West Bank, the fence has caused great economic hardship. The Israeli Human Rights center B’Tselem noted, for example, that “thousands of Palestinians have difficulty going to their fields and marketing their produce in other areas of the West Bank. Farming is a primary source of income in the Palestinian communities situated along the Barrier’s route, an area that constitutes one of the most fertile areas in the West Bank. The harm to the farming sector is liable to have drastic economic effects on the residents—whose economic situation is already very difficult—and drive many families into poverty.” Security is the stated reason for constructing a barrier along the Green Line. The statistics on the success of suicide attacks across the Green Line Security barrier between Israel before and after its construction and the West Bank support the security argument. During On October 25, 2004, in a letter the 12-month period from August 2003 from the Israeli mission to , to July 2004, three suicide bombers Secretary General of the UN, Israel’s launched attacks from areas where the

10 government stated that a number of very hard situation for children. Discuss restrictions east of the barrier have what life might be like in the Bay Area been lifted as a result of the barrier’s with such a high percentage of children, success, including a reduction in especially children who live in poverty. checkpoints from 71 to 47 and 4. Read the article “Palestinian Children roadblocks from 197 to 111. The Bear the Brunt of Violence and Jerusalem Post reported in the same Occupation” at period that for some Palestinians who http://www.counterpunch.org/pmcnam are Israeli citizens living in the Israeli ara1.html. Note the statement: “Of the Arab town of Umm El-Fahm (pop. 826 Palestinians killed by the Israeli 42,000) near Jenin, the barrier has Defense Forces in the current intifada “significantly improved their lives” [the al-Aqsa Intifada, begun in because, on one hand, it prevents September 2000] approximately 26 would-be thieves or terrorists from percent were children under age 18.” As coming to their town and, on the other McNamara describes the situation, hand, it has increased the flow of Palestinian children suffer from poverty, customers from other parts of Israel lack of adequate medical care, and who would normally have gone to the constant violence. Put yourself in the West Bank, resulting in an economic place of a child who has never known boon for them. On the other hand, the peace and who has been taught since barrier has divided families and birth that he is the subject of an adversely affected business and occupying force in his land. Could you, commerce within the West Bank’s wall. at your age, join a fight like the Intifada? Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_We st_Bank_barrier http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenin www.un.org/unrwa/refugees/westbank /jenin.html http://lexicorient.com/e.o/intifada.htm Subjects for Discussion and Research 3. The proportion of inhabitants in Jenin who are children is much greater than in American cities and towns. In Oakland, for example, 25 percent of the population is under the age of 18, compared to 44 percent of the West Bank’s population being under age 14. Add to this Jenin’s poverty and unemployment rates, and this creates a

11 The “Battle of Jenin” A Palestinian child, who sees all this with his eyes, becomes the suicide bomber of tomorrow. Thus Sharon and his chief of staff, , create the terrorist infrastructure. —Uri Avnery, April 16, 2002 The Battle The Battle of Jenin took place in April 2002 in Jenin’s Palestinian refugee Area of Jenin razed by Israeli tanks and camp as part of Operation Defensive bulldozers Shield, a large-scale military operation Armed Palestinian fighters staged an conducted by the ambush on the IDF on April 9. After the (IDF), the largest conducted in the West ambush, the IDF changed tactics, Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War. presumably in order to continue the On April 3, 2002, Israeli troops, operation without risking more Israeli tanks, and helicopters surrounded the deaths, and began operating the heavily area of Jenin in the northern West Bank armored IDF bulldozers. as part of Israel’s Operation Defensive Before April 9, bulldozers were mainly Shield that followed a series of deadly used to clear booby traps and open bombings against civilians in Israel. The routes to armored fighting vehicles. IDF determined that many Palestinian After April 9, the bulldozers demolished suicide bombers had come from the each house that was allegedly used by at Jenin, and the Israeli the militants to attack Israeli soldiers, army was determined to “smoke out the and other houses in order to widen terrorist nest.” According to the IDF, alleyways or to secure locations for IDF Israel chose not to bomb the spots of troops. Some Palestinians claim that resistance using aircraft as it entered, there were cases when the IDF but rather to take hold of the city using bulldozed houses while there were infantry, although there appears to have people inside. been a limited use of helicopters. The The introduction of the heavily IDF entered the city of Jenin and the armored bulldozers, which shrugged off refugee camp adjacent to it, declared explosives and rocket-propelled them a closed military area, prevented grenades alike, and the threat of being all access, and imposed a round-the- buried alive, caused the Palestinian clock curfew. militants to surrender. Later, IDF forces withdrew gradually from the refugee camp under international pressure. By the time of the IDF withdrawal and the lifting of the curfew on April 18,

12 at least 52 Palestinians, of whom up to would be given access to the affected half may have been civilians, and 23 population. However, such access did Israeli soldiers were dead. Many more not materialize on the ground, and were injured. Bulldozers had destroyed several more days of negotiations with about 150 buildings, with many others senior IDF officials and personnel of the rendered structurally unsound. Around Israeli Ministry of Defense did not 435 families were left homeless. After produce the necessary access, despite the conflict, Israeli reports claimed that repeated assurances. On April 18, senior eight to nine percent of the houses officials criticized Israel within the refugee camp were for its handling of humanitarian access destroyed, largely within an area of in the aftermath of the battle and, in intense house-to-house fighting of particular, its refusal to facilitate full and approximately 100 meters by 100 safe access to the affected populations meters. in violation of its obligations under The IDF countered that it took great international humanitarian law. care to avoid civilian casualties, the The UNRWA mounted a large opposite of Palestinian claims, and took operation to deliver food and medical higher Israeli casualties as a result. supplies to needy refugees who had fled Rather than implementing a massive air the camp and to Jenin’s hospital, but attack to flatten the area, the IDF representatives were not allowed to engaged Palestinians in house-to-house enter the camp until April 15, 12 days fighting that spared civilians as much as after the start of the military operation. possible. Their reports concluded that UNRWA relief teams immediately began noncombatant casualties would have distributing water, food, blankets, and been even lower if the Palestinian kitchen kits to the needy. With terrorists had not used civilians as assistance from the Government of shields and decoys. Sweden, the UNRWA set about making The Aftermath the camp population safe from the many hundreds of items of unexploded As the fighting began to subside, the ordnance, both Palestinian and Israeli, IDF prevented ambulances and medical littering the camp. The Agency also personnel from reaching the wounded distributed cash assistance to those who within the camp, despite repeated had lost their homes and needed to rent requests to the IDF to facilitate access temporary accommodation. for ambulances and humanitarian delegates, including those of the United In July of 2002, the UNRWA and the Nations. From April 11 to April 15, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Red United Nations and other humanitarian Crescent Society signed an agreement in agencies petitioned and negotiated for which the UAE would donate $27 access to the camp with IDF and made million for the UNRWA to rebuild the many attempts to send in convoys, with center of the camp and re-house all of no success. At IDF headquarters on Apr those made homeless. With this 12, United Nations officials were told donation the Jenin Rehabilitation that United Nations humanitarian staff Project was created to build 435 new

13 homes, repair around 1,500 that had UNRWA, because of their oversight at been damaged, and rebuild community the Jenin refugee camp, to determine infrastructure in the camp, including a the degree of terrorist recruitment and school. activity in Jenin. The Jenin Rehabilitation Project One More Aftermath suffered a number of major difficulties On December 11, 2002, the because of the extremely tense Israeli board of censors banned the situation in Jenin. There were regular documentary Jenin, Jenin by director, Israeli military incursions into the camp, Mohammed Bakri, an Arab Israeli. The including one in November of 2002, film is about the battle in Jenin, it was when Iain Hook, the project’s British the first film banned in Israel for 15 manager, was shot and killed by an years. Israeli while in the UNRWA compound in the camp. Repeated Israel’s film ratings board said the curfews prevented work from taking documentary “distorted presentation of place and closures to the camp events in the guise of democratic truth repeatedly halted the transport of which could mislead the public.” It building supplies. Threats to the security declared that the public could be misled of the project team by armed into thinking that Israeli soldiers had Palestinian groups also stopped work. committed war crimes. The board judged the documentary to be a “one- The Project decided not to rebuild sided propaganda film.” under the same crowded conditions that existed before the area was Both Israeli and Arab commentators destroyed. New land was purchased by saw the decision by the ratings board as the UAE outside of the existing camp for unnecessary and misguided. Raanan some of the new shelters and to enable Shaked, a commentator in the Israeli wider streets and more space to be daily Yedioth Ahronoth, wrote, “The created in the camp. Immediately ratings board—and the cable companies following the fighting, Israeli authorities which also decided to pull the plug on prevented the international press from the film—consider the Israeli public ... entering the refugee camp for two to be complete idiots incapable of weeks, which potentially delayed the judging a cinematic work for ability of the world community to assess themselves.” the damage. This contributed to early The documentary was filmed in the reports of a “massacre” in Jenin, which weeks immediately after the Israeli were not supported by the events. offensive in Jenin. The Palestinian Initially the United Nations called for leadership claimed there had been a an investigation of Israel’s actions in massacre—an allegation now Jenin, but dropped the probe when it discredited—while Israeli army insisted did not find evidence of massacres by there had been no massacre but only Israeli forces in Jenin. American intensive fighting between Israeli congressmen and others, however, soldiers and Palestinian militants. called for an investigation of the

14 Most Jenin residents, unlike the most of these bombings and attacks. Palestinian leadership, did not claim Does knowing this affect your opinion of there had been a massacre, but they did these kinds of actions? How and why? claim there had been war crimes, with 6. Jenin’s children and their parents Palestinian civilians buried alive by learned from Arna and Juliano that all Israeli bulldozers. The film reflects these Jews are not their enemies. If someone claims. It also shows the destruction of a like Arna had established schools and large part of the Jenin refugee camp and theaters all over the occupied areas, interviews with residents claiming that with the same kind of consistent contact there had been war crimes. and breaking of stereotypes, do you Sonya David-Elmalea, a think it would have made a difference to spokeswoman for the board, said the those children as they grew older. Do body banned the film because it falsely you think some of them would have depicts fictional events as truth. She chosen not to fight and kill Israelis? stated that the film was “propaganda 7. Israel maintains that its actions in that represents a biased view of the 2002, as well as constructing the barrier, group with whom Israel finds itself at are in the name of security to Israel. war.” Some Israelis argue that without these Sources: efforts, Israel’s very existence is in jeopardy. Based on what you’ve learned www.palestinehistory.com/issues/mass about life in Jenin from this source and acre/mass10.htm from Arna’s Children, do you agree with www.palestinefacts.org/pf_1991to_no Israel’s position? Why or why not? w_jenin_2002.php www.commondreams.org/headlines02/ 1212-06.htm www.un.org/unrwa/refugees/westbank /jenin.html www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/P eace/ciawb.html (with data cited from the CIA World Factbook) www.guardian.co.uk/israel/comment/0, 10551,685169,00.html Subjects for Discussion and Research 5. Operation Defensive Shield was precipitated by an escalation of Palestinian suicide bombings and attacks, such as the one by Yussef and Nidal. Young men like them—born and raised in refugee camps in the West Bank and Gaza Strip—were involved in

15 Arna and Her School Care and Learning’s first target was the prisons where hundreds of Arna Mer was born in 1929 to Palestinian children were held in Jewish parents in what was then called overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. Palestine. In 1948 at the age of 18, Arna Arna mobilized Israeli lawyers to joined the Jewish Brigade, participating intercede on the children’s behalf, and, actively in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Soon together with volunteers, regularly after the founding of the state of Israel visited prisons, talked with parents in 1948, she began a lifetime of outside the gates, and provided campaigning for peace, justice, and support. human rights in her homeland—which most often meant acting and speaking All schools in the Occupied out uncompromisingly for the rights of Palestinian Territories (OPT) were the Palestinian people. closed from 1988 to 1990 by the Israeli authorities. To supplement the informal, Arna joined the Communist Party, home-based “popular learning” and she became Arna Mer-Khamis when developed by Palestinian women’s she married a Palestinian, Saliba committees in this period, Care and Khamis, who was the secretary of Learning sent volunteers to the Jenin Israel’s Communist Party. After the Six- area regularly on weekends, armed with Day Arab-Israeli war of 1967, she was paper, crayons, and paints, to give the imprisoned several times for protests children a chance to express themselves and demonstrations against the Israeli creatively. These sessions were occupation of the West Bank. organized in the streets, with at many as It was at the time of the Palestinian 200 to 300 children taking part. uprising, or Intifada, in 1987 that Arna Arna was a teacher, with a degree in saw the need to establish centers for Special Education and Art Therapy, and children affected by the violence around she developed a graded series of them. She founded the organization booklets designed to stimulate learning Care and Learning to respond to their in creative, nonconventional ways. needs. Being fluent in Arabic, she could teach Palestinian women who were not teachers how to use her materials. After the schools reopened, many children aged eight to 10 were illiterate, and a survey by Care and Learning of 1,000 children in the Jenin area revealed that 47 per cent had been involved in physical clashes with soldiers, which included shootings, beatings, and gassing.

Arna Mer Khamis and Saliba Khamis In response to this situation, Care and Learning opened four Children’s

16 Houses in Jenin and the neighboring making allowances for some refugee camp—educational and cultural irregularities in the transcription, centers designed to give the children an please). Her message is one of peace, oasis of quietness, learning, and but she is clear in her condemnation of creativity to offset the frightening and how the Palestinian people—especially confusing influences of life under children—have suffered under what she military occupation. The theater was terms the “Israeli occupation.” Yet Arna built with a grant that Arna received was Jewish, born in what was then when she was awarded an Alternative Palestine. She fought for establishing a Nobel Prize in Stockholm for her activity Jewish state in 1948, when she was only in the Jenin refugee camp. By 1993, the 18. Children’s Houses had over 1,500 Can you understand from what the children enrolled in their activities and film presents why Arna changed staff consisting of 15 paid para- direction and worked to achieve professionals and 25 volunteers. independence for the Palestinian The theater closed in 1995, after people? If not, does learning more Arna’s death from cancer. She is about the history of the Israeli and survived by her children Spartak Mer Palestinian peoples since 1949 make it Khamis and Juliano Mer Khamis. The clearer? building that housed Arna’s theater was 9. Arna was born to a Jewish family in destroyed in Apr 2002, during the Palestine and grew up in what she “Battle of Jenin.” called a “Jewish ‘Moshava.’” She spoke of that time in an interview (www.arna.info/Arna/articles.php?id=5) , saying, “Before 1948, Arabs and Jews were living together in harmony and fraternity. However, in a span of a few months the creation of the state of Israel caused racism and contempt towards the ‘Arab,’ an attitude that did not exist before. Arabs and Jews should live together. This is possible, as not only is there no other alternative, but it occurred in the past.”

Arna Mer Khamis Based on the material in the Sources: Appendix Israel and Palestine: www.arna.info/Arna/herstory.php Historical Background, and what you have learned about Arab-Israeli Subjects for Discussion and relations from the film and the material Research in this guide, is Arna’s statement a view 8. Read the entire text of Arna’s speech of something that can be achieved or an in Stockholm impossible dream? Why? (www.arna.info/Arna/herstory.php,

17 10. On their way to Jenin for a last visit before she died, Arna told Juliano about her time in the Jewish Brigade in 1948. She is blunt is describing her activities at the time, including chasing people into the streets in Tel Aviv. At the time, Arna reveled in the “courage, beauty, and power,” and acknowledges that it was because she was young and wild. How do you think age is relevant as Arna recounts the events? Does age mitigate her actions then, and if so, does age mitigate the actions of the young men in Jenin?

18 The Children of the Theater Israeli policies. Inability to access medical care, poverty levels that affect nutritional intake and interruptions in some immunization programs have all lead to an overall decrease in the status of children’s health and an increase in malnutrition and anemia rates. Spiraling poverty, curfews and closures, the devastation of basic infrastructure, the ever-present Actors in rehearsal in Jenin threat of violence, and the deliberate destruction of homes and Defense of Children International schools have provoked a serious issued a report in 2004 on the status of decline in the quality of education the rights of Palestinian children. It is and the loss of school days. entitled, “Israel’s violations of the right to life and security and the rights of School closures in the West Bank children deprived of their liberty during coincided with the in 1987. the second Intifada.” What follows are Arna Mer Khamis established her some of the determinations from the educational efforts in Jenin because of report. these closures. In her speech at the ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden, where Israeli restrictions on Palestinian she accepted “The Right Livelihood” freedom of movement since award, Arna stated: September 2000, along with Israeli military actions in the OPT, has An entire nation stands before caused a dramatic downturn of the us deprived of human rights, where Palestinian economy and a children grow up surrounded by significant decline in the Palestinian imagery of soldiers, stones, and standard of living. An estimated 60– guns. They are scarred, they are 70% of the Palestinian workforce is threatened, and they are vulnerable. unemployed and over half the Their cries of suffering are drowned population is reliant upon direct by loud speakers, screaming about food aid. Pre-existing conditions law, order, security, and progress. have been exacerbated in many The refugee camp was erected 45 parts of the West Bank since 2002 years ago, and its children and due to Israel’s ongoing construction grandchildren were born facing of the West Bank Segregation Wall. Israeli occupation to this very day. Constituting over half the Their wounds are deep although population, and as the most they are not bleeding, their souls vulnerable and dependent sector of and spirits are wounded, their society, Palestinian children are development handicapped. They are disproportionately affected by children beaten and shocked, who have witnessed their parents and

19 siblings being humiliated by soldiers. like throwing a Molotov cocktail.” It was They are children who have a way to keep himself and other experienced long interrogation in Palestinians out of the gutter. He felt prison. Children who have been “strong and alive” onstage, and he prevented from studying, when their wanted to become a famous actor, “the schools, kindergartens were closed Palestinian Romeo.” down. These children who know the Jew, the Israeli, only as a soldier shooting to kill and who beats and humiliates. It was into this atmosphere and life that the children of Arna’s school were born and raised. Ashraf and Ala lived next door to one another, but both of their homes were destroyed in 1992, when they were only nine years old. Ala’s home was bombed by the Israeli army, but the damage was not isolated. 1994 performance Yussef—the one who could always These boys developed a close make everyone laugh—was Ashraf’s relationship to Juliano, as a teacher, best friend. Along with his younger director, and friend. Yet when they first brother, Nidal, Yussef and many other met Juliano, some of them admit seven children found a refuge at Arna’s school. years later, they thought Juliano was Zakaria and his brother Daud, Majdi, spying for the occupation. Yussef had and Mahmoud attended Arna’s school wondered why an Arab wouldn’t do as well. Each of these children shared what Arna and Juliano had done for the the rage felt by Ashraf and Ala, because children. they had experienced their own losses We learn in the film that the and humiliation. children who found an oasis away from When these children met Arna, she care and oppression in the school and was most likely the first Jew any of them theater could not avoid the realities of had met who was not a soldier in the day-to-day life in a refugee camp in the IDF or other Israeli authority. As some of West Bank. Five years after the play, the children express in the film, before Yussef and Nidal became suicide Arna, every Jew was assumed to be an attackers in Israel. Ashraf died fighting enemy and an oppressor. in the “Battle of Jenin.” Ala, who All of these children participated in survived the battle but was wanted by the play directed by Arna’s son Juliano. the IDF for his participation and They laughed and played, dressing up in suspected terrorist activities, was later costumes and performing in front of killed by the IDF. appreciative audiences. Ashraf, who had Four of the young men we met as a lead role in the play, said, “Acting is children died only a few years after

20 Arna. Of the others, we learn that Daud, 12. Juliano Mer Khamis returned to Zakaria’s brother, is in jail. Zakaria is Jenin to establish the Freedom Theater actively involved in the al Aqsa Intifada in 2006. He had been contacted by a as a soldier. Majdi is alive, and states nurse in the West Bank, Jonatan that he was at home with his family and Stanczak, whom Zakaria Zubaidi, the not armed during the battle. leader of the al Aqsa Intifada in Jenin, Mahmoud evades directly answering had approached regarding Juliano’s questions, when Juliano reestablishing ties to the Jewish peace interviews him in 2002. Juliano asks movement. It was Zakaria’s family that Mahmoud about Yussef and Nidal’s had originally provided a space for the suicide attack, but Mahmoud only theater, donating the top floor of their replies, “People are under pressure.” house. It was also Zakaria of whom Ala Mahmoud’s mother is more implied cowardice, when Zakaria forthcoming with her feelings. Noting remained in hiding under the ruins of a that one of her sons is dead, another house for five days during the battle has run away, and a third is in prison, while Ala continued fighting. Is the she asks if it wouldn’t be better if Zakaria who inspired the Freedom Mahmoud’s destiny was the same as Theater in 2006 consistent with the Yussef and Nidal’s. She has already Zakaria we see as a young adult in 2002? If yes, why, and if not, why not? reminded them that Mahmoud is alone because all of his friends are dead. She 13. In 2000, following reports that more remembers, however, that “in Arna’s than 40 Palestinian children were killed day” they had the theater and each by Israeli forces, with allegations that other and that Arna loved them. the soldiers targeted the children, other reports surfaced that Palestinian Sources: children were being taught to hate and www.arna.info/Arna/speach.php kill Jews in a “Sesame Street”-like www.dci- program called the “Children’s Club” pal.org/english/display.cfm?DocId=287 (see &CategoryId=2 www.teachkidspeace.org/doc146.php and Subjects for Discussion and www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.a Research sp?ARTICLE_ID=17707, and watch 11. Read the articles at www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAHHjfUxE www.counterpunch.org/sunil1.html and RY). Discuss the effects of teaching www.jcpa.org/jl/vp441.htm, which give children to hate before they arguably vastly different perspectives on children can understand the concept. Even if the and their role in the conflicts between children in Arna’s Children were not the Israeli army and Palestinian exposed to the “Children’s Club,” how militants. Do you find one argument likely is it that they could have grown up more persuasive than the other? Why? without learning hatred toward Jews What are the strengths and weaknesses and Israel? in each of the articles.

21 Additional Resources under occupation in a refugee camp. The video also chronicles a unique visit taken by Relevant films the children to visit their grandparents’ Another Road Home, US 2002 villages in present day Israel. (documentary). The Making of a Martyr, Canada 2006 Shortly after the Six-Day War in 1967, (documentary). Danae Elon’s highly educated parents, On Mar 24, 2004, 15-year-old Hussam noted Israeli author Amos Elon, and former Abdu was apprehended at an Israeli correspondent and literary agent Beth Elon, checkpoint with bombs strapped around his hired a Palestinian man named Musa, the waist. Instead of detonating the bomb, father of eleven children, to take care of Hussam voluntarily surrendered and is now their six month old daughter on a daily serving time in prison. Since the start of the basis. It was a job he would continue for the Palestinian intifada, an alarming number of next twenty years until she was grown and suicide bombers have been children aged he was able to save enough money to send 18 and under. Through a series of candid all eight of his sons to America for and thought provoking interviews, “The education and career opportunities. The Making of a Martyr” brings the audience last time Danae saw Musa, in 1991, he into a part of Palestinian culture previously proudly showed her the house he ignored, by uncovering those who are constructed in the Palestinian village of facilitating children to take their own lives. Battir. Then, against the mounting tensions The film features interviews with leaders of of the Israeli occupation and the Palestinian the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, families of Intifada, the two families lost track of each suicide bombers, Palestinian children other. During that time Danae began to imprisoned for participating in suicide realize how much of an influence Musa had missions, a Palestinian child psychologist, on her life and sought to reconnect with and more. The film gives its audience a him. Her quest led her from her home in troubling insight into the concept of New York to Paterson, New Jersey, then to martyrdom as it is being taught to Battir in the occupied territories, and back Palestinian children. to her birthplace in Jerusalem. As they Stealing Innocence, US 2003 (drama). carefully break the silence, the encounters between Danae and Musa’s sons, and Two girls—one Israeli and one eventually Musa himself, bring to the Palestinian—share a special friendship surface an emotionally complex story that is despite their cultural differences and the ultimately heartwarming and optimistic. war raging around them in this gripping portrayal of the ongoing hostilities in the The Children of Ibdaa, US 2002 Middle East, seen through the eyes of the (documentary). girls. They are best friends even though one The Children of Ibdaa: To Create is Israeli and one is Palestinian. Events spin Something Out of Nothing is about a out of their control, testing their friendship Palestinian children’s dance troupe from a to destruction. The tragedy leaves its West Bank refugee camp. The children use victims without dignity or hope, giving a their performance to express the history, human dimension to the violence in the struggle, and aspirations of the Palestinian Middle East. people. The video intertwines the vibrant Palestine Is Still the Issue, US 2002 and sometimes somber stage performance (documentary) with images and interviews depicting life

22 In 1977, the award-winning journalist Lauren Holliday. 1999. and filmmaker, John Pilger, made a This non-fiction choice contains documentary called Palestine Is the Issue abridged versions of several books that give (1977). He told how almost a million insight to various conflicts going on Palestinians had been forced off their land worldwide, and how these impact young in 1948, and again in 1967. In this in-depth people. documentary, he has returned to the West Bank, Gaza, and Israel to ask why the Children of Israel, Children of Palestine: Our Palestinians, whose right of return was Own True Stories affirmed by the United Nations more than Lauren Holliday. 1998 half a century ago, are still caught in a terrible limbo, refugees in their own land, What is it like to grow up in the war controlled by Israel in the longest military zone of the Middle East? That is the subject occupation in modern times. In a series of of this disturbing collection, which begins extraordinary interviews with both with memories about childhood before the Palestinians and Israelis, John Pilger weaves 1948 war and ends with accounts of young together the issue of Palestine. He speaks Palestinians and Israelis growing up now. to the families of suicide bombers and their Some remember the rage for revenge (“I victims; he sees the humiliation of dreamed of killing each and every one of Palestinians imposed on them at myriad them”); many are overwhelmingly sad checkpoints and with a permit system not (“How painful to be a visitor in one’s own dissimilar to apartheid South Africa’s country”). What connects them is a longing infamous pass laws. He goes into the for peace; the question is, At what price? refugee camps and meets children who, he Holliday says in her eloquent introduction says, “no longer dream like other children, that there is no sweet upbeat solution of or if they do, it is about death.” easy neutrality, no call “to kiss and make up,” but there is hope in their agreeing to Frontiers of Dreams and Fears, Palestine tell their stories in a book together. They 2001 (documentary) are listening to each other, and they make Offering a rare glimpse into one side of us hear all sides. the Middle East conflict, this film explores The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the the lives of a group of Palestinian children Heart of the Middle East growing up in refugee camps. The film Sandy Tolan. 2006 focuses on two teenage girls, Mona and Manar. Although living in refugee camps The title of this moving, well-crafted miles apart, the girls manage to book refers to a tree in the backyard of a communicate and become friends with home in Ramla, Israel. The home is each other despite the overwhelming currently owned by Dalia, a Jewish woman barriers separating them. The film reveals whose family of Holocaust survivors their lives and dreams and their growing emigrated from Bulgaria. But before Israel relationship, at first through email, then gained its independence in 1948, the house culminating in their dramatic meeting at the was owned by the Palestinian family of fence that separates them at the Bashir, who meets Dalia when he returns to Lebanese/Israeli border. see his family home after the Six-Day War of 1967. Journalist Tolan (Me & Hank) Relevant reading traces the history of the Israeli-Palestinian Why Do They Hate Me: Young Lives Caught conflict through the parallel personal in War and Conflict histories of Dalia and Bashir and their

23 families—all refugees seeking a home. As Issawi family of Palestinian guerrillas, Tolan takes the story forward, Dalia Christian politician Hanna Siniora, and Rabbi struggles with her Israeli identity, and Shlomo Riskin. The authors aim to show the Bashir struggles with decades in Israeli reasons for each person’s belief in the prisons for suspected terrorist activities. righteousness of his or her own cause. Those looking for even a symbolic magical Relevant Websites solution to that conflict won’t find it here: the lemon tree dies in 1998, just as the Peace Child Israel, which promotes dialog Israeli-Palestinian peace process stagnates. and teaches conflict resolution between But as they follow Dalia and Bashir’s Israeli and Palestinian students through difficult friendship, readers will experience drama. one of the world’s most stubborn conflicts http://www.mideastweb.org/peacechild/ firsthand. Seeds of Peace, which works to secure Strangers in the House: Coming of Age in lasting peace in the Middle East by bringing Occupied Palestine together Arab and Israeli teenagers, aged 13 to 15. http://www.mpdn.org/seeds.htm Raja Shehadeh. 2002. Opinion piece by Marianne Albina, a In this autobiography of a Palestinian Palestinian activist, entitled “Palestinian living in Israel, Shehadeh, a lawyer and children are not terrorists.” founder of Al-Haq, an affiliate of the http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/195 International Commission of Jurists, 275_palestinian15.html reminisces about growing up “in the shadow of home” and coming to terms with Article by Juan Cole entitled “How Israel’s the political situation in which he was born. occupation affects Palestinian children.” It wasn’t until he was an adult that he http://hnn.us/articles/987.html finally understood the work of his father, Information about Uri Avnery and Gush Aziz, an early advocate of the two-state Shalom, a peace movement for Israel and solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Palestine. who was murdered in 1985. In a strong http://www.rightlivelihood.org/recip/gush. voice that is without diatribe, melodrama, htm or anger, Shehadeh describes the Article by Uri Avnery entitled, “In Jenin I uncertainties of life during a period of founded …” on the seeds of the “Battle of national difficulty. Readers will get a Jenin.” http://www.gush- glimpse into the emotional and political shalom.org/archives/article190.html turmoil of the region and possibly form a Biographical information on Amos Oz, better understanding of the troubles in the Israeli-Palestinian peace activist, novelist, Middle East. This book also shares the and participant in the Geneva Accord for insight of one man’s journey and the Middle East peace. maturity that allowed him to see his life in http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource context. /biography/oz.html Still Small Voices Text of the Geneva Accord, Oct 19, 2003, John and Janet Wallace. 1989. which proposes a blueprint for peace in the Profiles of twelve Palestinians and Middle East. Israelis. Among them are Jewish http//www.informationclearinghouse.info/ fundamentalist Miriam Levinger, Islamic article5019.htm fundamentalist Sheikh Bassam Jarrar, the

24 Israel and Palestine: Historical began an extensive restoration of the Background temple about 20 BC. 4 BCE Probable year of birth of Jesus. The timeline below is adapted from Jesus was crucified between 31 and 33 CE. MidEast Web.org, the Website of the MidEastWeb for Coexistence R.A., whose 66-73 CE First Jewish revolt. Fall of goal is to provide Middle East goals, facts, the Jewish Second Temple to Romans in 70 and views. CE. 133-135 Second Jewish revolt under 1300? BCE Migration and conquest of Bar Kochba crushed. Judea renamed Canaan by the Philistines and Israelite Palestina. Jews are banned from Jerusalem tribes. Map of Canaan. by Hadrianus Caesar. 1000? BCE Jewish conquest of 313 Roman Emperor Constantine Jerusalem; reign of David; After the death legalizes Christianity. of David’s son, Solomon, the kingdom split into two: Israel in the north, Judea in 614 Persians conquer Judea and Jerusalem and the south. Jerusalem. 721 BCE Fall of Israel (Northern 622 Hegira of Mohammed. Islam is Kingdom) to Assyria. founded. 586 BCE Fall of Judea (Southern 628 Emperor Heraclius defeats Sassanid Kingdom) to Babylon and destruction of the Persians, reconquers Jerusalem. first temple. About 638 Arab conquest of About 539 BCE Fall of Babylon. Jews Jerusalem. (slightly earlier or later according allowed to return to Judea. Tradition has it to different sources). Caliph Omar provides that Ezra and Nehemia led this return, and the Christians of Jerusalem with the later rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, but the Covenant of Umar guaranteeing their walls were apparently not built until 100 protection. Land divided into the Jund of years later. Filastin, in the south (capital in Al-Lod and later in Ramlah), and the Jund of Urdunn in About 519 BCE Rebuilding of the Second the north, with capital in Tiberias Temple under Persian rule. (Tabariyeh). 331 BCE Alexander the Great 641 Arab conquest of Egypt. conquers Persia. The land was subject to Egyptian rule after his death, followed by 705 Dome of the Rock (Omar) mosque is Seleucid Syrian rule. completed by Caliph Abd’ al Malik ibn Marwan, who rules from Jerusalem. 313 BCE Ptolemy of Egypt rules Jerusalem and Judea. 715 The Al-Aqsa Mosque is completed by the Caliph Walid. 170 BCE Antiochus Epiphanes rules Judea. 717 Caliph Suleiman builds Ramlah. 166 BCE Revolt of Judah Maccabeus 750 Rise of the Abbasids in Baghdad, full against Syrian Hellenic dynasty. of the Umayyad dynasty in Damascus. About 61 BCE Roman conquest of 969 Fatimid conquest. Churches and Jerusalem by Pompeii. Land is divided into synagogues of Jerusalem destroyed. various provinces. 1071 Battle of Manzikert. The Byzantine 40 BCE Reign of Herod the Great; Herod emperor Romanus IV Diogenes is defeated conquered Jerusalem in 37 BCE. Herod by the Seljuk Turks, opening Asia Minor to

25 Turkish invasion. Seljuks devastate 1856 Ottoman reforms (Tanzimat)— Jerusalem. including requirement to register ownership 1099 Crusaders conquer Jerusalem, of land and pay taxes on it. slaughter most Jewish and Moslem 1860 First Jewish settlement (Mishkenot inhabitants, expel Jews. Sha’ananim) outside Jerusalem walls. 1187 Salah-ed-din (Saladin) reconquers 1878 First Zionist Settlement—Petah Jerusalem. Tikwa. 1229 Jerusalem briefly held by Crusaders. 1892 Railroad from to Jerusalem. 1244 Rise of Mamlukes. Jerusalem taken 1897 First Zionist Congress in Basle, by Muslims. Switzerland. 1260 Battle of Ayn Jalut (Nazereth)— 1906 Beginnings of Zionist socialist Holagu (Mongols) defeated. movements. First Congress of Poalei Tziyon 1291 Crusaders defeated at Acre and in Poltava, under the leadership of Ber evicted from Palestine. Borochov. 1453 Constantinople falls to Ottoman Jul 3, 1908 The Young Turks revolt Sultan Mehmed. breaks out in the Ottoman empire, and is eventually led by Enver Pasha; Sultan ‘Abd 1517 Ottoman Turkish conquest of al-Hamid II is forced to restore the Palestine. constitution of 1876, entailing the creation 1537–41 Muslim walls built around of a new parliament, and indirect Jerusalem by Suleiman the Magnificent. representative elections. ‘Abd al-Hamid is 1799 Napoleon conquers Jaffa but then deposed (27 Apr 1909), and his retreats before Acco (Acre); Napoleon’s brother Mehmet V installed. Policies for the Proclamation of a Jewish State was ‘Turkification’ of the Ottoman territories stillborn, and his declaration of equal rights promulgated through 1909, resulting in the for Jews was repealed in part in 1806. creation of societies promoting pan–Arab ideas. 1831 Egyptian Conquest of Palestine area by Mehmed Ali of Egypt, who rebelled 1908 First Arabic newspaper in , al- against the Ottomans. He was forced to Karmil, popularizes opposition to selling withdraw in 1840 under pressure by land to Zionists. European allies. 1909 Foundation of Tel Aviv by Zionists 1834 Jerusalem families including the (called Ahuzat Bayit) near Jaffa; foundation Abu Ghosh clan revolt against Egyptian rule. of first Kibbutz—Degania. The rebellion is eventually crushed. 1911 Filastin, large Arabic newspaper, 1839 Tanzimat—reorganization program- launched in Jaffa. is proclaimed in the Ottoman empire. Jun 15, 1914 Anglo French agreement on 1840 Blood libel (accusation that Jews kill Baghdad railroad and Mesopotamia. Christian children to use their blood for Aug 1914 Start of WW I. Passover Matzoth) against Damascus Jewry. Nov 1914 Allies at war with Turkey. 1843 First Zionist writings of Rabbi Dec 17, 1914 British protectorate in Emuna Alcalay and of Rabbi Kalischer, Egypt; Prince Husein Kemal becomes Yeshara . Khedive. 1844 First census in Jerusalem shows Apr 25, 1915 Anglo-French landing at 7120 Jews, 5760 Muslims, 3390 Christians. Gallipoli.

26 Jul 1915 Husayn-McMahon according to some sources, mostly by Correspondence—Britain promises British. Several hundred Jews were killed by independence for Arabia. Arabs. Husseini fled to Iraq and then to Nazi Jan 6–8, 1916 Allies evacuate Gallipoli. Germany. Apr 29, 1916 British surrender to Turks at Nov 29, 1947 UN Partition Resolution (GA Kut, in Mesopotamia. 181)—Palestine was to be divided into a Jewish State and an Arab State; Jerusalem May 1916 Sykes-Picot Agreement was to be internationalized. The resolution divides up Fertile Crescent between France is supported by both the US and USSR. Arab and Britain into zones of influence, countries and refuse to recognizing Arab independence in part of recognize the resolution. the land. Dec 1, 1947 Arab riots in Jerusalem. Jun 1916 Husayn of Arabia proclaims Beginning of Arab blockade of Jerusalem. revolt against the Turks urged on by British The period to May 1948 is characterized by promises of independence and with support numerous skirmishes, road ambushes, riots, of T.E. Lawrence for military operations. In bombings, and massacres, whether Oct or Nov he was proclaimed king of Saudi organized by one or the other side or Arabia, but the British supported Saud, who spontaneous. had been in control of Riyadh since 1902, and who made a pact with the British in Jan 1948 Arab Salvation Army (also 1915. called Arab Liberation Army—ALA) admitted to Palestine by the British, Jan 1, 1917 Britain, France and Italy following a promise not to attack Jewish recognize Husayn as king of the Hejaz. settlements. Their leader, Fauzi Al-Kaukji Nov 2, 1917 British issued the Balfour may have entered Palestine only in Mar. Declaration, viewed by Jews and Arabs as Jewish Agency concludes arms deal with promising a “National Home” for the Jews Czechoslovakia, but most arms do not arrive in Palestine. until Jun 1948, after the British have left. Dec 1917 Gen. Sir Edmund Allenby The UN, including the US, had placed an captures Jerusalem from Ottomans for the arms embargo on Palestine. British. Col. Reginald Storrs is appointed Jan 16, 1948 Jewish convoy to Gush military governor. Etzion intercepted. Apr 1918 Zionist commission arrives Feb 1948 Anti-British riots in Baghdad in Palestine. against new British-Iraq treaty bring down Jun 1918 Emir Feisal and Dr. pro-British government. Weizmann meet near Aqaba. Mar 1948 Provisional Jewish Oct 1918 British and Arabs occupy government formed in Tel-Aviv. Convoy to Damascus; French occupy Beirut and Gush Etzion ambushed in Nebi Daniel. Alexandretta. Arabs begin to flee Haifa. Nov 1918 First Muslim–Christian Apr 6–8, 1948 Arab blockade of Jerusalem association formed in Jaffa to oppose the is broken temporarily by operation creation of a Jewish homeland. Another was Nachshon. Death of Abd-El-Qader Al- formed in Jerusalem soon after. Armistice Husseini at Kastel—the foremost between Allies and Germany, Nov 11. Palestinian military leader is shot by a Jewish sentry when he wanders into Jewish 1936–1939 Arab Revolt led by Haj Amin held Kastel in the Jerusalem corridor Al-Husseini. Over 5,000 Arabs were killed, thinking it is in Arab hands.

27 Apr 9, 1948 — May 28, 1948 Jewish quarter of the old Jewish dissident underground groups city of Jerusalem falls to the Jordan Legion. and Lehi kill over 100 Palestinian civilians in About 300 Haganah defenders taken the Jerusalem village of Deir Yassin. prisoner and sent to Jordan. The entire Apr 13, 1948 Hadassah Convoy quarter including 58 of the 59 synagogues is Massacre—In retaliation for Deir Yassin, demolished by the Arab mob despite efforts Arabs kill Jewish medical personnel and sick of the Legion. persons on their way to Hadassah hospital. Jun 11, 1948 First truce begins, lasting Apr 13–20, 1948 Operation Har’el until 8 Jul. launched by Haganah at conclusion of Jun 23, 1948 Irgun’s Altalena ship brings Operation Nachshon, does not succeed in weapons and 940 immigrants to Palestine, a opening the road to Jerusalem. violation of UN embargo. Apr 1948 Arab flight from Haifa Jun 28, 1948 Swedish Count Folke continues; Arab flight from Jaffa. Bernadotte, a UN mediator, presents first Apr 22–31 1948 Operation peace plan—Jerusalem to be Arab. Misparayim launched by Haganah to Jul 08, 1948 Egyptian army breaks truce, assume control of Haifa after British due to end Jul 9. Attacks from withdrawal and attacks by Arab forces and neighborhood of Majdal (Ashdod). Israeli Irgun. counterattack at Faluja unsuccessful. This May 12, 1948 Haganah captures Tsfat phase of the war is known as “the ten (Safed). Arab population flees the city days,” and included Mivtza Dani—the Israeli before it is captured. conquest of Lydda (Lod) and Ramla, breaking the Arab siege of Jerusalem, and May 13, 1948 Jaffa surrenders to creating thousands of refugees, as well as Haganah. advances in the north. May 13, 1948 Kfar Etzion Massacre—In Jul 10, 1948 Arab League announces the retaliation for Deir Yassin Massacre, Arabs establishment of a temporary Palestinian kill about 128 Jewish defenders at Kfar civilian administration over Arab held-areas Etzion, after they had surrendered. of Palestine, but it is never implemented. May 14, 1948 Remaining kibbutzim of Jul 12, 1948 Egyptians attack Kibbutz Gush Etzion surrender. British High Negba with armor and massive troop Commissioner Cunningham leaves concentrations. Israelis suffer 5 dead, 16 Palestine. State of Israel declared on Friday wounded, Egyptian casualties 200–300 May 14, in advance of the Sabbath. dead and wounded. May 15, 1948 British leave Palestine. Jul 19, 1948 Second truce in Palestine. Israel War of Independence (1948 War). Egypt, Syria, Iraq, , Jordan, Saudi Sep 17, 1948 Bernadotte assassinated in Arabia declared war on Israel. Egyptian, Jerusalem, and Lehi members are Syrian and Jordanian invasion began. suspected. Bernadotte, who had been instrumental in saving about 21,000 Jews in May 17, 1948 Haganah captures Acco WW II, was proposing to “relieve” Israel of (Acre). Most of the Arab population flees the Negev and force return of the the city before it is captured. . The latter proposal May 18, 1948 Syrian army captures was adopted in UN General Assembly Masada and Merom Hagolan. Resolution 194.

28 Sep 22, 1948 Palestinian States—AHC originally allotted to it by the UN Partition communiqué announces the establishment Plan. The war created about 780,000 of the Government of All Palestine (APG; Palestinian refugees who fled or were Hukumat ‘Umum Filastin); Declaration of evicted from Jewish held areas. Gaza fell Independence proclaimed by Hajj Amin to under the jurisdiction of Egypt. The West Palestine National Council in Gaza (30 Sep t- Bank of the Jordan was occupied by Jordan 1 Oct) on Oct 1, with Hajj Amin as President and later annexed, consistent with secret of the PNC, Ahmad Hilmi ‘Abd al-Baqi as agreements with the Jewish leadership PM, Jamal al-Husayni as Foreign Minister, in made before the outbreak of hostilities. the Mandate territory of Palestine, with the Apr 3, 1949 Armistice—Israel and Arab flag of the 1916 Arab Revolt. Jerusalem as states agree to armistice. Israel gained capital, Gaza as seat of government. about 50% more territory than was Recognized and sponsored by Egypt and originally allotted to it by the UN Partition Arab League, who sought to forestall Plan. ‘Abdullah’s plan to annex West Bank; strongly opposed by Jordan. Ahmad Hilmi Oct 29, 1956 Suez Campaign. In continued to represent Palestine in the retaliation for a series of escalating border League until his death in Sep tember 63. raids as well as the closure of the straits of Tiran and Suez canal to Israeli shipping, and Oct 15, 1948 Second truce ends; Israeli to prevent Egyptian use of newly acquired offensive breaks Egyptian siege of Israeli Soviet arms in a war, Israel invades the Sinai settlements in the Negev (operation Yoav). peninsula and occupies it for several Beersheva is taken. In the north, operation months, with French and British Hiram defeats the Arab Liberation army. IDF collaboration. massacres in Eilabun, Saliba, Safsaf, Jish, Hule, Majd el-Krum, Bi’na, Dier el assad and May 1964 PLO (Palestine Liberation Arab al-Mawassa. Organization) founded with the aim of destroying Israel. The Palestinian National Dec 11, 1948 UN Resolution 194 calls for Charter (1968) officially called for cessation of hostilities, return of refugees liquidation of Israel. who wish to live in peace. The resolution reflected UN and US anger over the May 1967 Egyptian President Gamal assassination of Bernadotte. Abdel Nasser closes the straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping and dismisses UN Dec 1948 Israelis advance into Egypt; peacekeeping force. Negotiations with US Nokrashy Pasha, Egyptian PM, assassinated. to reopen the Straits of Tiran fail. Dec19, 1948–Jan 7, 1949 Israeli Jun 5–10, 1967 Six-day war. Israel destroys Operation Horev conquers Gaza and enters the Egyptian air force on the ground, Sinai. Intervention by British and US forces conquers and occupies Sinai and Gaza, then Israel to withdraw. Israel shot down several conquers the West Bank from Jordan, and British reconnaissance planes, apparently Golan Heights from Syria. UN resolution 242 unarmed (four Spitfires and one Tempest) called for Israeli withdrawal, establishment Jan 7, 1949. of peace. Mar 7–10, 1949 Operation Uvda— Oct 6, 1973 (Oct War). IDF captures southern Negev including Eilat In a surprise attack on the Jewish day of with no resistance. atonement, Egypt retook the Suez canal and Feb–Jun 1949 Israel and Arab states agree a narrow zone on the other side. Syria to armistice in Sep arate agreements. Israel reconquered the Golan Heights. Following gained about 50% more territory than was massive US and Soviet resupplying of the

29 sides, Israel succeeded in pushing back the May 17, 1999 Israel elects Labor party Syrians and threatening Damascus. In Sinai, leader and Former General as the IDF crossed the Suez Canal and cut off Prime Minister in a landslide. Barak the Egyptian Third Army. promises rapid progress toward peace. Mar 26, 1979 Peace treaty signed Mar 2000 Israeli-Syrian peace between Egypt and Israel. negotiations fail when Hafez Assad rejects Jun 7, 1981 Israel destroys Iraqi nuclear an Israeli offer relayed by US President reactor in daring raid. Clinton in Geneva. Oct 6, 1981 Egyptian President Anwar Sep 28, 2000 Palestinians initiated riots Sadat is assassinated while on the reviewing after Israeli opposition leader stand of a victory parade. visited the Temple Mount, which is also the location of the Haram as Sharif holy to Jun 6, 1982 Massive Israeli invasion of Muslims. Lebanon to fight PLO. Sep 11, 2001 Terror attacks on World Sep 13, 1993 Oslo Declaration of Trade Center in NYC and the Pentagon Principles—Israel and PLO agree to mutual carried out by fanatic Islamic Al-Qaida recognition. group headed by Osama Bin Laden initiate Sep 28, 1995 Oslo Interim Agreement US war on terror. Israel and Palestinians signed. Palestinian Authority to be agree to a cease fire, but it is not established. implemented. Nov 4, 1995 Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin Feb 6, 2001 Right-wing Likud leader assassinated by right-wing Israeli fanatic Ariel Sharon elected Prime Minister in Israel Yigal Amir. Rabin is replaced by Shimon replacing Ehud Barak and promising “peace Peres. and security.” Jun 1996 Right-Wing Likud leader Mar–Apr 2002 Israel conducts operation elected Prime Defensive Wall in the West Bank, following Minister in Israel, replacing . a large number of Palestinian suicide Sep 1996 Al-Aksa tunnel riots—Arab attacks on civilian targets. Operations sources spread the false rumor that a gate include the “Battle of Jenin.” Saudi peace opened in an underground tunnel tourist initiative adopted at Beirut summit. attraction by the Israeli government, Jan 28, 2003 Elections in Israel give wide endangered the foundations of the Al-Aqsa margin (40 seats) to right wing Likud party, mosque. This caused several days of rioting returning PM Ariel Sharon for another term. and numerous casualties. Mar 19, 2003 US begins invasion of Iraq Jan 18, 1997 Israel and Palestinians by a strike against a building where Saddam reach agreement on Israeli redeployment in Hussein and other leaders are meeting. the West-Bank city of Hebron. Baghdad falls, Apr 9. Oct 1998 Wye River Plantation talks Jul 9, 2004 International court of result in an agreement for Israeli Justice (ICJ) rules that the Israeli security redeployment and release of political barrier violates international law and must prisoners and renewed Palestinian be torn down. commitment to correct its violations of the Nov 11, 2004 Palestinian Authority including excess police force, President dies. illegal arms, and incitement in public media and education.

30 Jan 9, 2005 elected recognize Israel and participate in peace President of the Palestinian National process. smuggles in cash through Authority. the Rafah crossing with the connivance of Jan 10, 2005 Ariel Sharon forms unity European monitors in order to pay salaries. government with Labor and United Torah Mar 2006 Over 40 Qassam rockets fall Judaism parties in Israel. on Sderot. IDF responds with shelling of Apr 2005 Ariel Sharon visits US launching sites and IAF raids to kill leaders President George Bush at his Texas ranch. of Popular Resistance Committees, Islamic Syrian Army leaves Lebanon, officially Jihad, Hamas and Al-Aqsa brigades ending Syrian occupation. involved in the attacks. May 26, 2005 Mahmud Abbas visits US Mar 28, 2006 elected PM of President George Bush at the White House, Israel, heading Kadima party coalition. an important symbolic gesture signaling US May 11, 2006 Palestinian Prisoners in backing for Abbas and Palestinian Israeli jails issue document of national unity aspirations. Israel releases 400 Palestinian calling for a state in West Bank and Gaza prisoners including some with blood on Strip and right of return for Palestinian their hands. Britain confirms “low level” refugees. Hamas government rejects the negotiations with Hamas. document and Hamas prisoners who signed Jun 2005 Violence flares in Gaza. US it repudiate it. Palestinian President Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visits Mahmoud Abbas announced that he will Palestinian and Israeli leaders to ensure hold a referendum on approval of the coordination of Israeli withdrawal from document if the factions cannot agree. On Gaza. Israeli PM Ariel Sharon and Jun 28 a revised prisoners’ document is Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued, supposedly agreed to by Hamas and meet in Jerusalem. Jun 21, 2005 Sharon Fatah. However not all factions agree and announces that Palestinians have promised Abbas decides to hold a referendum. to coordinate regarding Gaza withdrawal. Jun 2006 Israeli-targeted killings in PM Abbas postpones Palestinian legislative Gaza and West Bank continue, while Hamas elections in order to change the election fires about 90 Qassam rockets into Sderot law, amidst growing concern that Hamas and other Western Negev communities. IDF will trounce Abbas’s Fatah party in the denies killing civilians the beach, and points elections. Lebanese elections give a decisive out that shrapnel recovered from the majority to the opposition to Syria, led by victims does not come from IDF shells. Saad Hariri, son of slain leader Rafiq Hariri. Jun 25, 2006 Following announcement of Aug 15, 2005 Disengagement—Israeli a “truce” agreement by the PNA, Hamas evacuation of Gaza settlements and four kidnap Israeli soldier from Israeli army West Bank settlements began on Aug 15 outpost inside Israel, and kill two others. and was completed Aug 24. They demand release of Palestinian Jan 4, 2006 Ariel Sharon suffers a prisoners. Israel refuses to negotiate, massive stroke, leaving the leadership of demands release of soldier. Israel and the new Kadima party in the Jun 27, 2006 Hamas, Fatah sign hands of Ehud Olmert. Palestinian Prisoners’ Document, Jan 26, 2006 Radical Islamist Hamas supposedly cementing national unity. Israel movement wins an upset victory in begins , invades Palestinian Donor countries suspend direct Gaza strip to recover kidnapped soldier aid to the Hamas until they are willing to Gilad Shalit and stop fire.

31 Jul 12, 2006 terrorists cross Feb 8, 2007 Palestinian Unity the blue line border with Lebanon, attack Agreement in Mecca. Hamas and Fatah an Israeli patrol, killing 3 and capturing 2 agree to share power, based on vaguely soldiers. Hezbollah begins a series of rocket worded agreement. Hamas officials attacks on northern Israel. In subsequent reiterate that they will never recognize days, Israel carries out massive but selective Israel. US and Israel insist that the new bombing and artillery shelling of Lebanon, government must recognize right of Israel hitting rocket stores, Hezbollah to exist, disarm terrorist groups and agree headquarters in Dahya quarter of Beirut to end violence. and al-Manara television in Beirut, and Feb 19, 2007 Trilateral Israeli-Palestinian- killing over two hundred persons, many American summit with Secretary of State civilians. Hezbollah responds with several Rice, PM Ehud Olmert and President Abbas hundred rocket attacks on Haifa, Tiberias, ended with no visible result. Safed and other towns deep in northern Israel, killing 13 civilians, and a Hezbollah May 20 2007 Start of confrontation in Iranian supplied C-802 missile hits an Israeli Lebanon Palestinian Refugee camp Naher el missile cruiser off the coast of Beirut, killing Bared between Lebanese security forces 4. Hezbollah rocket also sinks at least one and Fatah al Islam (Al Qaeda) militants, foreign neutral ship and damages an evidently sponsored by Syria. Egyptian one. G-8 meeting calls for Jun 15, 2007 Hamas Coup—Hamas cessation of violence, return of Israeli forces attack Fatah in Gaza and drive them soldier and disarmament of Hezbolla in out of the Gaza strip in brutal coup. accordance with UN Security Council President Mahmoud Abbas dissolves the Resolution 1559 and UN Security Council unity government, but Prime Minister Resolution 1680. Haniyeh insists that the government is still Aug 14, 2006 Lebanon Cease fire, based in power. A summit in Sharm El Sheikh (Jun on UN Security Council Resolution 1701. 25) attended by Egypt, Jordan, Egypt and Palestinians pledges support to the Abbas Nov 26, 2006 Israelis and Palestinians government, but Egypt calls for announce truce to apply to Gaza strip. reunification with Hamas. Israeli incursions and arrests continue in West bank, as do Palestinian terror Sep 2, 2007 End of confrontation attempts. In Gaza, Israel holds to the truce, between Lebanese army and Fatah al Islam but rocket fire from Gaza continues. in Nahr el Bared refugee camp. About 220 militants and over 40 civilians were killed in Dec 23, 2006 Meeting between Israeli the fighting. P.M. Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Abbas; Olmert promises to improve quality Sep 6, 2007 Israeli air raid on claimed of life for Palestinians and remove Syrian nuclear structure. The structure is checkpoints, but in practice no real changes destroyed. The raid proves that Syria lacks occurred an effective air-defense system. Jan 29, 2007 Palestinian suicide bomber Sep 19, 2007 In Beirut, unidentified kills three in Eilat. assailants detonate a car bomb assassinating Christian Phalange party MP Feb 2007 Israeli renovations near the Antoine Ghanem, the 8th anti-Syrian figure Mughrabi gate of the Al-Aqsa mosque in killed in the past 3 yrs.), reducing the Jerusalem spark widespread unrest in the governing coalition’s parliamentary Arab world, over false charges that Israel is majority to 67 of 128 seats only 6 days destroying the mosque.

32 before parliament is to convene to elect a May 9, 2008 Hezbollah takes over Sa’ad new president by simple majority. Hariri-owned media, puts Hariri under Nov 13, 2007 In Gaza, Hamas forces fire house arrest in Beirut, threatens coup, after on Fatah demonstrators during Lebanese government tries to dismiss an commemoration of the death of Yasser official belonging to Hezbollah, and close Arafat, killing 7 and wounding 55. down private Hezbollah communications network. Lebanese army, government Nov 26-28 US convenes Middle East eventually “solve” crisis by capitulating to Summit in Annapolis, MD. Israelis and all Hezbollah demands in “compromise” Palestinians agree to implement roadmap settlement. under US monitoring and to negotiate continuously with the aim of reaching a Jun 19 Israel–Hamas truce in Gaza. final status agreement by the end of 2008. Jun 29 Israel–Hezbollah prisoner swap deal Jan 2008 A tour of the Middle East by approved. US President George Bush apparently fails Jul 1, 2008 Three Israelis killed and to achieve support for US Middle East policy over 50 wounded in a bulldozer attack in goals. However, Israelis and Palestinians Jerusalem .Police shot and killed the pledge to negotiate seriously regarding militant attacker. “core issues” such as Jerusalem and Jul 11, 2008 Border patrolman Lance Palestinian refugees. Israeli government Corporal David Chriqui, 19, of Rishon issues contradictory declarations regarding Lezion, critically wounded in a militant status of a building freeze in West Bank attack in the Old City of Jerusalem. He died settlements and areas of East Jerusalem Jul 23. annexed in the Six Day war. Jul 22, 2008 Copycat bulldozer attack in Jan 20, 2008 After Israel cuts Gaza fuel Jerusalem wounds 16 Israelis. supplies in retaliation for rocket and sniper fire from Gaza, Gaza power plant, supplying Jul 28, 2008 Fatah arrests about 50 about 20% of Gaza’s electricity, is shut Hamas activists in West Bank. down by Hamas, precipitating Jul 30, 2008 Hamas forces in Gaza condemnation of Israel and international detained 160 supporters of the rival Fatah outcry. movement after three explosions, including Jan 23, 2008 After months of one that killed six people, a Palestinian preparation, Hamas blasts holes in human rights group says Gaza/Rafah barrier, allowing hundreds of Aug 4, 2008 Israel permits Fatah thousands of Gazans to enter Egypt freely. loyalists fleeing Gaza repression by Hamas Border breach is partly closed by Egyptians (Hilles clan) to cross to Gaza by Jan 28, but reopened by Hamas and Aug 17, 2008 Israeli cabinet approves eventually resealed by Egypt. release of 200 jailed Palestinians. Feb 13, 2008 Assassination of Hezbollah Aug 23, 2008 Two boats of volunteer terror mastermind Imad Moughnieh in activists break Gaza blockage for the first Damascus. time. Israel permits them to arrive and Feb 27–Mar 3 Large scale Israeli raid in depart. Gaza kills over 100. Aug 2008 Gaza doctors affiliated with Mar 6 Terror attack by Palestinian in Fatah begin strike against Hamas gov’t. Jerusalem’s Yeshivat Merkaz Harav kills 8.

33 Sep 5, 2008 Israel allows shipment of Hamas cancels participation in the Egyptian 1,000 rifles plus ammunition for Palestinian hosted Palestinian unification meeting that National Authority forces. was to begin in Cairo. Sep 16, 2008 At least 11 killed in Dec 19, 2008 Hamas announces that the internecine Palestinian fighting in Gaza. “lull” (tahidiya) has expired and that it will Sep 17, 2008 In primaries held after PM not be renewed. Rocket fire from Gaza is Olmert forced to resign over financial stepped up. improprieties, elected to head Dec 24, 2008 About 60 rockets and Kadima party in Israel, form new mortar shells are launched at Israel by government. Hamas and associated groups from Gaza. Sep 21, 2008 PM Olmert announces Dec 27, 2008 Israel launches Operation intent to resign. Oferet Yetzuka (Operation Cast Lead) with Sep 22, 2008 15 hurt in Jerusalem when continuous air strikes at rocket launching Palestinian motorist stages car attack, facilities, factories, smuggling tunnels, running over pedestrians. Hamas command and control centers. About 400 Palestinians are killed by Dec 31. Oct 20, 2008 IDF demolishes three illegal Hamas broadens rocket strikes to include West Bank outposts. Israeli towns and cities as far away as Oct 23, 2008 IDF authorizes 500 Beersheba and Yavneh. additional PA police in Hebron Jan 18, 2009 Israel announces unilateral Oct 23, 2008 86-year-old Avraham Ozeri cease fire in Operation Cast Lead, after killed and a police officer was moderately killing about 1,300 Palestinians and losing a wounded in Jerusalem by a stabbing attack total of 13 Israeli dead. Hamas declares a launched by 21-year-old Mohammad cease fire later the same day, but sporadic Elmadan, from a village near . rocket fire continues, along with IDF Oct 26, 2008 Tzipi Livni announces she retaliations. cannot form a coalition because of Shas Feb 10, 2009 Israeli elections give a party financial demands and opposition to majority to a bloc of right-wing parties. concessions in Jerusalem, calls for new Though the dovish center Kadima party gets elections. the largest number of votes of any party, Nov 4, 2008 Barack Obama elected the right wing Likud party eventually President of the United States. Arab world formed a government together with the hopes for radical change in United States Israel Labor party and the right wing Yisrael Middle East policy. Beiteynu Party IDF discovers tunnel into Israel being built Jun 1, 2009 UN Human Rights Council from Gaza, launches incursion to destroy it. investigative panel led by Judge Richard Six Hamas gunmen killed. Hamas and others Goldstone enters the Gaza strip to launch about 35 rockets into Israel in the investigate alleged Israeli war crimes, coming days and IDF retaliates. Operations leaving Jun 4. Israel refused to cooperate. continue for several days. Both sides insist Jun 4, 2009 Address by President they want the truce to continue. Obama in Cairo, Jun 4, 2009—Historic Nov 9, 2008 Quartet meeting at Sharm speech of rapprochement with the Arab el Sheikh reaffirms support for Annapolis and Muslim world also has direct peace negotiations process. implications for Israeli–Palestinian conflict, since the President calls for an end to Israeli construction of new housing in settlements

34 in the occupied territories, as well as Arab Israel. IHH personnel on Mavi Marmara recognition of Israel. beat Israeli commandos and attack them Jun 13, 2009 Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with various weapons prepared in advance, declared re-elected President of Iran in including possibly guns, kidnapping several. elections denounced as blatantly Israelis open fire killing 9. Major crisis in fraudulent. Israel–Turkey relations and international outcry. IHH may have ties to Al Qaeda and Jun 14, 2009 Address by Israeli Prime other terrorist groups. Subsequently it was Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Begin- found that there were no humanitarian Sadat Center, Jun 14, 2009—Netanyahu supplies on the Mavi Marmara. acceded to Obama demand that Israel support creation of a Palestinian state, but Jun 9, 2010 UN Security Council votes refuses to end construction of housing in sanctions against Iran (Resolution 1929) Israel’s West Bank settlements. Backed by because of Iranian refusal to curtail US, Palestinians refuse to start peace talks uranium enrichment program and with Israel unless all Israeli construction cooperate with IAEA. Resolution is stops in West Bank and Jerusalem. weakened to meet Chinese and Russian objections. Brazil and Turkey vote against Aug 2009 First Fatah congress in 20 the resolution. Lebanon abstains. years, issued Fatah Foreign Policy Program, Aug 11. Jun–Jul 2010 Israel announces that it is easing the Gaza blockade, bowing to Aug 26, 2009 Palestinian Authority issues international pressure. an EU backed plan to declare a state unilaterally within two years. Jul 13, 2010 Israel announces public investigation (Turkel commission) of flotilla Nov 2009 Israeli P.M. Netanyahu incident. The investigation is closed in Aug announces settlement construction freeze with no public acknowledgement of serious to end Sep 26, 2010. intelligence failures. UN launches Dec 2009 US announces another independent probe. clandestine Iranian nuclear facility at Qom Aug 20, 2010 US announces direct Israeli- and it is inspected by IAEA. Palestinian talks Mar 8, 2010 Announcement of Aug 31, 2010 Drive-by shooting construction in Ramat Shlomo (east Palestinian attack kills four Israelis including Jerusalem) by Israeli Minister of the Interior pregnant woman in south Hebron area. Eli Yishai embarrasses US VP Joe Biden, as Fatah al Aqsa brigades and later Hamas take he arrives to kick off indirect (“proximity”) “credit.” Palestinian Authority arrests talks between Israelis and Palestinians. hundreds of alleged Hamas members. Apr 26, 2010 (approximate date) Israel Hamas vows to continue attacks. and US evidently tacitly agree to East Sep 2, 2010 Direct Israeli–Palestinian Jerusalem construction freeze. talks open in Washington with Egyptian May 31, 2010 Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, President Mubarak and Jordan’s King chartered by IHH is boarded by Israeli Abdullah in attendance at the initial commandos after attempting to run the ceremonies. The sides agree to meet every Gaza blockade. The Mavi Marmara was part two weeks. of a flotilla of “humanitarian aid.” Other ships are diverted to Ashdod and their cargoes of cement, used clothing and * Copyright by MidEastWeb for Coexistence outdated medicines are shipped to Gaza by R.A—Middle East Resources.—

35 http://www.mideastweb.org/timeline.htm. All rights reserved.

36 A Chronicle of Empty Graves checkpoints. His little sister always sat in a corner, frightened and strange, staring By Juliano Mer Khamis, May 25, 2002 at us. It is very difficult to write when you Ashraf was arrested and beaten by know that the readers of these lines the border police. For a long time after could be family members who have lost his release he proudly carried his their dearest. Their pain echoes in my wounded hand. His father was fired ears. from his place of work. His Jewish But it is also difficult to remain employer could not stand his absences. silent. I have no intention of writing of Ashraf went out to look for a job to my feelings as a resident of the city, support his family. Rehearsals went on neither as an Arab nor as a Jew. I without him. His friends said that they assume that the newspapers will have saw him pass by in the night, sparing their fill of “authorized” commentators with words and always in a hurry. on Arab affairs, on co-existence (which We met again in 1992 , when he was never was) of “deep shocks”, hatred, only thirteen. His speech was fluent and conciliation (especially merchants), and, captivating. Ashraf wants to be a of course, on security. “Shahid.” His friends mocked him. His I want to tell the story of Ashraf. parents treated this as youthful frivolity. These are not words of praise or blame. But he held his ground. His little sister, This is a monologue of predetermined who had stopped speaking ever since death. These are cold facts, statistics for soldiers burst into their house and took the future or, as Ashraf called it, “A her brother, would hold on to his pants Chronicle of Empty Graves.” so as to keep him near. Her love for him Ashraf was born in 1979– into the was proof of the justice of his path and jaws of the Occupation. He wanted to strengthened his spirit. Ashraf want to be an actor. We met in 1988 at the Jenin avenge the vengeance for all. The fervor refugee camp where I performed, of his words and his secretive actions together with my mother Arna, for the entertained those around him. sake of “The Children of the Stones.” The Intifadah was at its peak. And Ashraf also wanted to write a play. then it happened. His brother was An intelligent child, uninhibited by convicted in military court and oppression, who loved to dream. In the sentenced to eight years in prison. Their mornings he would throw stones at the house was blown up by the military and soldiers and at nights memorize texts of totally demolished. Ashraf cried. a play we put on stage at the camp. He Television cameras of foreign was only nine then. broadcasters documented his tears. “I would rather die standing than live on His brother was imprisoned in an my knees,” he would say. This was a bad Israeli prison for his part in that omen. Intifadah. His mother offered the roof of her house to serve as our rehearsal Ashraf did not die. The Oslo space. His father hated the border agreements were a reason for a party to

37 which everyone was invited. He was West Bank, chopping up its width and dressed like a bridegroom. A local hero. length. “They are working us over”— A winner. His family moved to live with yelled Ashraf into the telephone. I his uncle. Jenin the city and the adjacent invited him to visit me in Haifa. He refugee camp were included in Area A. never came. [Israeli Prime Minister Ashraf went to look for work. Ariel] Sharon went up to the “Temple I met him during one of my visits to Mount.” A closure was imposed on the the Jenin market. This time he was territories. Ashraf went underground. dressed in the uniform of a policeman I traveled to Jenin at the peak of the and strutted like a peacock. I did not “El Akza” Intifadah. The roads around conceal my disappointment and the city were dug up to prevent the reminded him that “power corrupts,” as passage of cars. The military did nothing the cliché tells us. to protect the sewage system or the In a telephone conversation several electricity. The camp was in total months later he told me that he had left darkness. I managed to sneak in with the police force and that, in fact, the help of a friend from a nearby nothing had changed and he had no village. Ashraf’s mother opened the intention of participating in the door for me and, as usual, invited me in “conspiracy,” as he now called the Oslo quickly. I was afraid. The atmosphere agreements. was harsh. Paralyzing. The mother counted the wounded and the arrested, “We have become subcontractors of they did not speak of the dead. “Ashraf Israel,” he said. “They expropriated land is gone,” she said. “He went to fight,” from my grandfather to expand the she was tough and did not disclose any settlement above Jenin … and as worry or protest. In previous visits I Palestinian police we are supposed to would be at their house as at mine—not guard the settlers against harm.” “There hesitant with my words. This time it was is a border barrier every meter.” “I work different. My hosts, who sensed my in Area C, secretly move through Area B embarrassment, did not spare me from and sleep in Area A like a cow who goes their anger and rage at the occupation, back to her enclosure after pasture.” as if I were its representative. They are “Double occupation”—he hurled these humiliated, hungry, cold, and dark. I words at his father who had, in the offered my help but it was peremptorily meantime, found work in the local rejected. We Sep arated. market. Ashraf exploded himself in the South The tension in the territories rose. of the country. His body was never Eight years of “Oslo.” Eight years of brought to burial. direct and indirect occupation. The territories are divided into cantons. The His words; “It is better to die barrier checkpoints increase and the standing than to live on one’s knees” humiliation continues. The number of still reverberate inside me. settlers multiplies. Lands are Source: expropriated. Bypass roads disfigure the www.arna.info/Arna/articles.php?id=3

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