![](images/qt2.jpg)
She had been joining the weekly demonstrations in Nabi Saleh; and later worked with the Qalandia Women's Handicraft Cooperative.
![](images/carpet-selling-checkpoint.jpg)
Palestinians never cease to amaze me with the variety and vibrancy of their different activities.
On Sunday, I travelled back from Jerusalem via the obligatory checkpoint to see the Christmas Tree Light Event in Arafat Square and the surrounding streets, On the way, from the serviis, I snap a carpet seller; street selling is part of Palestinian 'entrepreneurship' and he is taking advantage of the roundabout to display his wares and the slow moving traffic to entice buyers.
![](images/qalandia-scouts.jpg)
The message from Laila Ghannam, the female Governor of Ramallah was to turn on the light of justice on the darkness of the Occupation. The lights are switched on - after a bit of a hitch - and the crowd joins in singing Jingle Bells!
ALL THEY WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS JUSTICE
![ramallah orchestra](images/qalandia-governor-ramallah.jpg)
![ramallah xmas tree](images/qalandia-xmas-tree.jpg)
![ramallah orchestra](images/qalandia-orchestra.jpg)
![](images/qalandia-checkpoint5.jpg)
In Nabi Saleh, a couple of hours before the Palestinian boy was shot here, Bassem shows me an x-ray picture of his wife Nariman's leg injury from last week. Shot with live ammunition by the IOF, she now has metal staples above the knee to help the femur fracture to heal. A call on his mobile and Bassem learns that Nariman is to be discharged and he leaves for the hospital saying, ' I don't think there will be a demonstration today as we are tired.' His remark surely is an understatement of their feelings, the villagers must be: tired of protesting against 60% of their land being stolen, tired of trying to get to their village spring; tired of getting shot at when marching to protest against this; tired of their children growing up under occupation. As I leave I spot some boys roaming around and, though I don't know the exact circumstances, later on, a stand off with the IOF puts one of them in hospital, shot in his thigh as Nariman was.
![](images/qalandia2.jpg)
So back to Qalandia where I am living. The checkpoint resembles the Gates of Hell, blackened concrete of the Wall, the gulag style watchtower. But 'normal' life goes on: cars either speeding through or backed up amidst the tear gas. At the same time the shebab are moving around ready to use their sling shots or bowl stones; fuelled by a mixture loathing of the army and youthful high spirits.
I don't want to give the impression that shopping isn't a feature of normal living here, whether hunting for bargains at the market or, for the better off, making boutique and patisserie purchases. And even though it is Friday, the equivalent to our Sunday in the 'West', this is what people are engaged in, even just a stones throw from the Qalandia shebab up against the Wall (excuse the puns!). A juxtaposition of consumerism and resistance unique to the West Bank.
Last Friday Hamas made a call for protests across the West Bank, focussing on the oppression in East Jerusalem and Al Aqsa mosque.
I wanted to join the proposed march from Ramallah which did not seem to be happening so I went back to Qalandia. Near the checkpoint, camera crews, equipped with bullet proof vests, hard hats and gas masks, were congregating around a open sided 'hut' in the centre of the road ready to get into position for any action.
A ladder had been erected against the Apartheid Wall by a few shebab (youths) who were climbing up to throw stones, young kids the youngest seemed to be about 7. I took a picture and returned to the press 'hub'. They were mainly international...Italian and Canadian, though Pal TV did turn up later. The awaited action did happen about 10 minutes later when more shebab appeared in the road from the camp and set fire to a tyre in the road as is their custom. The army appeared from their positions behind concrete blocks and the crews sprang into action, positioning themselves at one side of the road and then the other to dodge the worst of the tear gas.
![Qalandia Checkpoint](images/qalandia-checkpoint3.jpg)
![Qalandia Checkpoint](images/qalandia-checkpoint4.jpg)
Aware that only two weeks ago an Italian activist from ISM was hit in the face by a rubber bullet, I took the opportunity to join a bespectacled Reuters reporter, who couldn't wear a gas mask, and take shelter in one of the crew's cars. Although I was not wearing a keffiyeh, and could have been part of a press team, the shooting of the tear gas canisters seemed to be quite random often in the middle of the road just missing cars and the cameramen. 'Accidents' waiting to happen. We were joined by the reporter's Italian colleague, 'it is really kicking off in Hebron,' he announces reading his tweets.
At the same time as these events at Qalandia, Mahmoud Abbas was opening the IYSPP conference at the Ramallah Cultural Palace nearby, in Nabi Saleh was having its non-violent Friday demostration. The conference was televised and many internationals did come but I have yet to find any reports of the outcome or who actually attended; did they speak about the right of return (UN Resolution 194) or has this slipped off the agenda as being too contentious?
![](images/qalandia-nariman.jpg)
I am going to a Rally/Celebration at the Qalandia camp so I leave the shebab and Israeli armies to fight it out and get a lift with the Reuters reporter who is based in Ramallah. The lift is only for 50 metres but it gets me clear of any 'accidental' tear gas canister or bullet flying my way. I ask him why he doesn't cover the the Rally and that there is exquisite embroidery at the Qalandia Women's Cooperative. He replies he has never been in the camp. I reflect that how ever much is reported, and although it is worthwhile that the resistance gets air time, unless the big picture is transmitted, what chance is there for change?
His driver is Palestinian and as I leave car he points out his family home ' you are welcome there anytime' - the Palestinian welcome surviving everything it seems.
![](images/qalandia1.jpg)
Will justice be achieved for them by conferences like that to be run by IYSPP this weekend in the in the Movenpick Hotel - the only 5* star hotel in the West Bank? Incidentally, the establishment of Movenpick was lauded by Hilary Clinton and others as a symbol of the Palestinian embrace of neo-liberalism. Ironically, it is only a couple of miles away from the Qalandia checkpoint where shebab (youth) burn tyres and throw stones at the occupying army who shoot tear gas and ammunition, both live and rubber-coated, from standpoints on the Apartheid Wall. The introductory blurb for this conference, the International Conference of Local Authorites in Solidarity with the Palestinian People - which is under the patronage of Mahmoud Abbas - states it will be attended by Mayors, international political figures, Academics and Civil Society representatives. But will it result in any postive outcomes for the ordinary Palestinians or will it just be another talking shop to be added to the stack of UN Resolutions that are ignored by Israel? Is this also a PA PR exercise that has no substance?
![](images/army-hassle.jpg)
19 November 2014
Salfit governorate stretches from the wall in the west to the Ariel conglomerate in the east - that and the other settlements cut through and appropriate villages' land.
Wadi Qana on the map is a beautiful valley surrounded by 7 settlements on the hills. It is Deir Itsiya land but Israel has its eye on it to turn into a natural park .....20 pal farmers were there 10 years ago...now only one because of settler harassment
Click map to see it in full-size.