“Al Rowwad” Centre in Bethlehem vandalized by Israeli army

Bethlehem, May, 30, 2002, Wafa – “Al Rowwad” a Palestinian educational Centre for children, was vandalized on 28 May at around 14.15 pm. The occupation army of "democratic" Israel entered Aida Refugee Camp near Bethlehem, penetrated and searched many houses and arrived at Al Rowwad Centre. Two young men were inside. A student looking for a quiet place to prepare his final exams and the house keeper, Maazen, a temporary employee on the emergency program of the UNRWA. The soldiers asked the two young men for their ID cards, took the ID and asked them to wait at the door outside.

The “respectable” soldiers of the “respectable” army of the “respectable” State of Israel began a full operation of vandalism, said Abdel Fattah, the center’s director. “They emptied the drawers and shelves, threw all the files and books on the ground, broke to pieces the JVC video cameras we use for animations (rented cameras) and the cameras children use to take photos. They emptied the oil, acrylic and gouache paint tubes on the computer’s monitors, keyboards and all over the place, even on the glasses, cups and spoons. I don’t know what else they have done. My mother, who tried to talk to them, who tried to tell them that this is a centre for children and was pushed back into her house and asked to remain inside, told me what happened”.

The army arrested Maazen and took him to unknown destination.

I feel deep sorrow and anger. This centre is a bit of me. We paid for almost everything in it from our own money. Some friends have also donated for the furniture and the books, some let us equipment to work with. How are we supposed to reequip, rebuild and give back what we borrowed? How are we supposed to continue working as if nothing had happened? To begin from scratch all over again after each Israeli reoccupation? This is no longer the promised land, This is the permitted land. “Whenever this army of terror, this government of barbaric mercenaries wishes to reinfest our land, we should kneel and welcome the new gods of the century” he said in anger.

“Nobody is protesting anymore against their entrance and vandalism of our places. Nobody is shouting against what is going on. These ghettos that are encircled by barb wires and check points, these checkpoints like the gates of prisons where the Palestinians must have permits from the Israeli “wise” government to pass from one Palestinian city to another. These checkpoints that can close according to the mood of the soldiers in guard. These humiliations and murders that prevent people from getting to work, to school, to hospital or simply to visit family members” he added.

“How many women, children and sick people will have to die on these death checkpoints before Israelis realize it is a crime and before the whole world realizes it’s complicity with these crimes? How many times will it take the world to realize that suicide bombers are the symptom of this injustice and your silence and complicity with the government of terror in Israel will make their number proliferate? What will it take to make you realize what you are doing with the people of the world? What will it take to wake you up and make you think that your silence doesn¹t help anyone? Not the Palestinians, of course, but also not the Israelis and not your own people, Abdel Fattah said in despair.

A cultural and theatre training centre for children was completely vandalized. Pure sadism. It wasn’t the first time. It will not be the last, I fear. But what are you going to do about it?

Message dictated on the phone to Claire Theret, Palestine Solidarity Campaign in Newcastle, UK.

Abdel Fattah is currently in Jerusalem under constant curfew, with no access to e-mail.