david hall update Aug 7th

Hello everyone, I'm sorry my mails are not very personal or frequent, sometimes I haven't much time and its important to get things down as fast as possible. I'm doing well; the military has finally withdrawn its huge force from the center of the old city in Nablus. It does however remain both in the main city and in the hills surrounding the city. I do not have
any updates on the 65-year-old woman who was held as a human shield in the home, "cooking" for soldiers.

My friend Danielle Loduca, 972-67-382-623, is in Tel, a village 10 KM south of Nablus, I was there 6 days ago. The night before our group left for Tel, we were staying in the village of Iraq Boreen, about 1 KM from Tel. At approximately 330 AM, I was woken by the buzzing of mosquitoes in my ear. As I attempted to fall back asleep, there was a remendous explosion that shook the house and woke everyone in our group into a standing position. The
Israeli Army in Tel demolished a 3-story home and all nearby homes were severely damaged. There are 5 more homes scheduled to be demolished in Tel, good luck Danielle!

It's 7 Aug, and I'm staying in Al Farrah refugee camp, 17 KM north of Nablus City. As I mentioned in my last update, our group is staying in the home of a Shaheed (suicide bomber). The man who owns the home would rather me
mentions his family name as he fears for his family's safety. I have many quotes from him and some commentary on the situation.

His name is Alad. He speaks excellent English and although he refuses to be filmed, he has allowed me to copy his words. His home is beautiful. Tree stories high with a balcony rooftop overlooking the mountains and the massive illegal Israeli settlements. 12 people live in his home, all his family (6 children). The Martyr was his younger brother. He was studying for his masters degree and was said to be brilliant, having memorized the entire Holy Quran. On the 18th of June, Alad was working in the hospital of Jerusalem when he received word that there was a suicide bombing in town. He had no idea it was his brother. The hospital prepared for emergency patients and all the staff was on point and ready. Soon enough the doors busted open, only not from injured civilians, just soldiers. The soldiers arrested Alad
and detained him for a day. The hospital told him he would need to find a new job because his permit to work in Israel was revoked. His other brother who was studying biology in Ramallah University was also arrested and held
in solitary confinement for 10 days before he was released.Alad says the suicide bombers never tell the family about an operation. Alad


condemns the suicide attack, he does not agree with his brother's operation. As he was talking about this, he became very choked up and was obviously holding back tears. Alad speaks about how he was helping to pay for his brothers university fees and working double shifts, that the family was poor and he wanted to see is brother do well in the university. He says he worked 70 hours a week at times to feed his family and also build his home. He speaks of all his brothers' accomplishments, how kind he was, and how many people loved him.

Now, the Israelis have ordered that Alad's home be demolished. Since the bombing, Alad has been without work. 65% of the Al Farrah camp are unemployed. Most of the people worked in Nablus City, which is impossible to travel to since the Israeli closure months ago. Alad has taken his case to the Israeli High court in hopes that there will be justice. It will be very difficult to survive without work or a home for his family. Israel issued a statement that all housing demolitions would be temporarily banned until the decision of the high court on the 6th of Aug. We were all waiting with him to hear the news, each minute that passed was long and tense. Finally the ruling in his case was announced. It stated that his case was closed, and that all homes of martyr relatives may be demolished without warning. At that same time, the Israeli high court signed for the demolition of forty-two homes.

These are mixed quotes from Alad. The Israelis know that there is no connection between the operations and families. If there is justice, they can find out if there is a connection or not. These actions do not prevent operations in Israel. How do you think it feels, knowing that your home may be destroyed at any moment for no crimes? If your brother does something wrong, how can people come and judge you, your mother, and your father? Israel says its fighting terrorism, all over; this word allows them to do anything they want. It's easy to attack poor people anywhere in the world
under this word. When people from all over the village and towns close by see the ruins of our home, this will only build hate towards the Israelis, in an already hopeless situation. How do you explain these things to the children?

"we refuse, we do not accept the higher court decision, either to tell the families before or not. It is wrong, we will not accept it, no one will."

Alad's home is a 3-story building made of stone and concrete. There are 10 homes adjacent to his home. All the families who live in these homes have removed their furniture and valuables. They are all very afraid. Alad's home was emptied before we arrived. Yesterday, they removed the windows, doorframes, kitchen sinks, bathtubs, light fixtures and water tanks. Our group has stayed alone in the home each night so far. We will stay until the Israeli army comes to demolish it. The reason for our presence is not to prevent the home from being demolished. No one thinks we can do that, although we will refuse to leave the home short of being arrested. The main reason is to provide an international presence so that the Israeli army will use the appropriate amount of explosives, as to not ruin the many homes around. I will be posted on the rooftop of a nearby home to video the demolition. I have already taken video in the home, as it is,
it will be sad to make the comparison video when I return. It's amazing how worried about the other homes Alad is. I have a great deal of respect for Alad. Alad has stayed with his family away from the home each night. I've always asked, what will the family do when the, home is destroyed? In previous Israeli operations, the family is arrested and sent to Gaza. If you can, read up on Gaza, it's the world's largest prison. Gaza is a strip of land 24 miles by 6 miles. There are over 1.6 million Palestinians living there, 30% of the land there has been stolen by Israel in the form of
illegal Jewish settlements, housing only 6000 Israelis. Tanks, forests of barbed wire, and land mine fields, surround Gaza. Towards the sea, there are Israeli ships that sink anything trying to leave. A Palestinian vehicle has not left Gaza in 2 years. It is very hard to think of Alad and his family there. If you believe in god, please pray for them, they are good people that do not deserve this. While you're at it, pray for the millions of other
Palestinians who struggle every day against Israeli occupation, in every
town village and city.

I feel that it is one of the most barbaric decisions ever publicly released
by the Israeli high court, that it is somehow acceptable to Israelis, to
demolish a families home, arrest the family and send them to Gaza without
any trial, any charge, or any display of evidence whatsoever.

As I write this I have heard 10 F-16s pass over head, all day yesterday I
heard them as well. They are heading south, I worry.

We lose Jon tomorrow; he leaves for Jerusalem, and then Tel Aviv.
He will be in his conformable bed by the 11th in the humble town of
Washington DC.
Enshallah
stay aware
David