The buzz word this week in Palestine has been the need to fight corruption. You see reference to this issue in the press, on the Internet, in leaflets as well as by word of mouth.

I was surprised when I saw a fax signed by the anticorruption unit of Fatah’s al-Aqsa Martyrs calling on Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat to weed out corruption in Palestinian society. The leaflet didn’t settle for generalities, but it named a senior Palestinian banker whom the group accused of transferring some $12.6 million it claimed were meant for those who were suffering from the recent situation to an account outside of the area.  Continue Reading »

When I heard the newly sworn-in president of the United States mention Jericho in his inauguration speech, I wondered whether he had ever been to the real Jericho, a place I drive by each week.

President George W. Bush wanted to illustrate his new administration’s vision of compassion when he referred to the biblical story of the good Samaritan.  Continue Reading »

I found myself in a very difficult position this week. Without giving much thought to it, I had begun defending the decision of the Palestinian Authority to execute a number of Palestinians accused of facilitating sensitive information that led to the Israeli army’s assassination of intifada leaders.

My arguments were simple. The situation in the occupied territories is akin to war, with the “enemy” shelling our populated neighborhoods from tanks and helicopters and Israeli sharpshooters gunning down our people.  Continue Reading »

‘You will go home again in safety and in freedom. When you have gone through something as awful as this, it is very easy to have your spirit broken, to spend the rest of your life obsessed with anger and resentment. But if you do that, you have already given those who have opposed you a victory.”

“We must have peace on terms that will allow the people to return to their homes and rebuild their communities. And we must have accounting for the wrongs that have been done.”

The above statements were not made by a PLO leader addressing Palestinian refugees in Lebanon or in Gaza. They were made by US President Bill Clinton and his Secretary of State Madeline Albright regarding the Kosovo refugees.  Continue Reading »

The latest round of peace talks in Washington has done little to dissuade the average Palestinian from continuing his anger and frustration towards the Israeli government and its army for their continued collective punishment.

This week the Israeli government went the farthest it has ever gone in tightening the noose around the Palestinian population.

Side and minor roads, which were being utilized with great difficulty, to transport people from one location to another, have joined the major roads already closed in previous months. Continue Reading »

There is no date in any calendar year that is more important for family get together than the holidays. This year both Christmas and Id al-Fitr fell on almost identical dates.

This year is perhaps the worst facing Palestinian families in decades: The multi-layered Israeli siege on Palestinian territories has forced various members of the same family to celebrate alone.

Palestinians like to spend the holidays visiting the grave sites of deceased family members, visiting prisoners, and of course large families like getting together, often at the home of their parents. Let me detail some of the obstacles facing Palestinians this particular holiday season.  Continue Reading »

I met Robin and Nancy Wainwright in Jerusalem in 1993. They were newly married and full of excitement about a project they thought would bring attention to the Arab peoples of the Middle East. Long before anyone had thought of millennium celebrations, the Wainwrights were looking ahead and thinking of ways to use the end of the second millennium in a positive way.

They had many ideas, but the one that seemed to capture everyone’s imagination was a pilgrimage for peace, following in the journey of the wise men, or Magi. The biblical story of the Magi, coming from the East, to visit the baby Jesus in Bethlehem, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, is taught in every Christian Sunday school in the West.  Continue Reading »

Every year during the month of fasting our office tries hard to get together for an iftar dinner. The entire staff – both Moslems and Christians – enjoy a hefty meal as the sun sets. Many who don’t normally fast try and abstain from eating or drinking this day in solidarity with the devout Moslems who are fasting.

This year our accountant, Byan, suggested that we go to the Philadelphia restaurant in Jerusalem. She thought that our staff had worked hard all year (especially the last three months), and they deserved a break in a nice restaurant. Initially everyone welcomed the idea but as the day went on, Jumana, who was organizing the event, started getting defections.  Continue Reading »

One of the recent disputes between Israel and the Palestinians sounds like the discussion about what came first – the chicken or the egg. The Israelis insist that before negotiations can commence and before the international fact finding commission can begin its work, Palestinians must cease their resistance. The Palestinians insist that the resistance is a natural byproduct of occupation and that it can’t stop unless the occupation ends. Continue Reading »

My friend Khaled Batrawi is a civil engineer working in Ramallah. I went to see Khaled on Tuesday night and found him frustrated with the weak internal response to the current situation. Among other things, Khaled is angry because he feels local officials of the Palestinian Authority are not doing enough to prepare Palestinians for the current onslaught of heavy mortar and missile attacks.  Continue Reading »