Post by Stallit 2 de Halfo on Jan 16, 2009 23:50:10 GMT
This paper is fantastic I have to say.
Thursday, 15 January 2009
Local woman vows to remain near war zone
A NORTH county Dublin woman, based just 50 miles from one of the world’s most dangerous war zones in Gaza, has vowed to remain there until her work helping beleaguered Palestinians is done.
Ingrid Colvin, from Skerries, left for the West Bank last November as part of an international team of volunteers, just one month before the Israeli invasion of Gaza.
Despite the dangerous conditions she said she would complete her three-month visit before returning to Ireland in February.
In the face of extreme conditions, with hundreds of sites being bombed daily just a short distance away, Ingrid has been able to continue her work with Palestinians in the relative safety of Jeyyus in the West Bank.
“There is a strong Israeli army presence here at the moment and the situation is quite charged but things are not too bad in comparison with Gaza,” Ms Colvin told Northside People.
“Palestine is a very small area so while the war is waging just a short distance away I am still far enough from immediate danger.”
“My family have been very worried and they get in touch with me regularly.
“Everyone has been very supportive of my decision to stay here and I get lots of calls and texts from home.”
Ms Colvin believes that both Israel and Hamas are in breach of international humanitarian law in the current armed conflict and that neither party is protecting civilians.
“While Israel blames Hamas for situating their bases and missile silos in residential areas of Gaza, they must also take responsibility for the civilian casualties that occur from their F16s, from their tanks and from the guns used by their ground troops,” she declared.
“As each day passes and one side blames the other, we hear reports of civilians, many of them women and children, being killed.
“The first day of the air strikes saw the largest military operation in Gaza since 1967, killing more than 225 people. Each day the death toll rises.”
Ms Colvin travelled to the West Bank as part of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme, an initiative established by the World Council of Churches, to support local and international efforts to end the Israeli occupation and bring a resolution to the conflict based on international law.
She explained how the attack on Gaza affects the lives of people from the West Bank.
“The pain, fear and death experienced by the people of Gaza is felt deeply by their fellow countrymen and women in the West Bank,” she stated.
“People continue to eke out an existence of the life that remains under the not so obvious and newsworthy story of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank.
“They continue to go to work and pass through the daily humiliation of checkpoints and agricultural gates imposed by Israel, which restricts their freedom of movement and access to their land.
“What is different now is that the moments of joy in a new job, in the birth of a child or the announcement of an engagement are also being denied by the war in Gaza.
“People’s faces have changed. It is difficult for them to find the words to talk about what is happening to their people.”
Ms Colvin has also found herself in the direct line of fire of the Israeli Defence Forces during her work as a human rights observer.
“There are weekly peaceful demonstrations against Israel’s fence which cuts the townspeople off from their lands and wells,” she added.
“These demonstrations by local people, Israeli peace activists and a large number of internationals from a variety of Non Government Organisation (NGOs) opposing the occupation, gather to walk from the mosque to the South Gate to register their rejection of the barrier.
“The army respond to the demonstrators with rounds of tear gas, sound bombs, rubber bullets and even rounds of live ammunition. It’s unfortunate to say but you actually get used to it.”
Meanwhile, Clontarf ward councillor Bronwen Maher (GP) has given her full support to the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), speaking at public rallies and putting motions to Dublin City Council in support of Gaza.
“I fully support the IPSC’s call for EU trade sanctions against Israel as a means to bring about a lasting peace in the region,” Cllr Maher stated.
“We need to see a continuation of the international intervention that has gathered momentum.
“The UN, together with the US and EU, must continue high level international intervention to not only establish a new ceasefire but ensure delivery of essential aid as a matter of immediate urgency.”
www.dublinpeople.com/content/view/1481/57/
Thursday, 15 January 2009
Local woman vows to remain near war zone
A NORTH county Dublin woman, based just 50 miles from one of the world’s most dangerous war zones in Gaza, has vowed to remain there until her work helping beleaguered Palestinians is done.
Ingrid Colvin, from Skerries, left for the West Bank last November as part of an international team of volunteers, just one month before the Israeli invasion of Gaza.
Despite the dangerous conditions she said she would complete her three-month visit before returning to Ireland in February.
In the face of extreme conditions, with hundreds of sites being bombed daily just a short distance away, Ingrid has been able to continue her work with Palestinians in the relative safety of Jeyyus in the West Bank.
“There is a strong Israeli army presence here at the moment and the situation is quite charged but things are not too bad in comparison with Gaza,” Ms Colvin told Northside People.
“Palestine is a very small area so while the war is waging just a short distance away I am still far enough from immediate danger.”
“My family have been very worried and they get in touch with me regularly.
“Everyone has been very supportive of my decision to stay here and I get lots of calls and texts from home.”
Ms Colvin believes that both Israel and Hamas are in breach of international humanitarian law in the current armed conflict and that neither party is protecting civilians.
“While Israel blames Hamas for situating their bases and missile silos in residential areas of Gaza, they must also take responsibility for the civilian casualties that occur from their F16s, from their tanks and from the guns used by their ground troops,” she declared.
“As each day passes and one side blames the other, we hear reports of civilians, many of them women and children, being killed.
“The first day of the air strikes saw the largest military operation in Gaza since 1967, killing more than 225 people. Each day the death toll rises.”
Ms Colvin travelled to the West Bank as part of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme, an initiative established by the World Council of Churches, to support local and international efforts to end the Israeli occupation and bring a resolution to the conflict based on international law.
She explained how the attack on Gaza affects the lives of people from the West Bank.
“The pain, fear and death experienced by the people of Gaza is felt deeply by their fellow countrymen and women in the West Bank,” she stated.
“People continue to eke out an existence of the life that remains under the not so obvious and newsworthy story of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank.
“They continue to go to work and pass through the daily humiliation of checkpoints and agricultural gates imposed by Israel, which restricts their freedom of movement and access to their land.
“What is different now is that the moments of joy in a new job, in the birth of a child or the announcement of an engagement are also being denied by the war in Gaza.
“People’s faces have changed. It is difficult for them to find the words to talk about what is happening to their people.”
Ms Colvin has also found herself in the direct line of fire of the Israeli Defence Forces during her work as a human rights observer.
“There are weekly peaceful demonstrations against Israel’s fence which cuts the townspeople off from their lands and wells,” she added.
“These demonstrations by local people, Israeli peace activists and a large number of internationals from a variety of Non Government Organisation (NGOs) opposing the occupation, gather to walk from the mosque to the South Gate to register their rejection of the barrier.
“The army respond to the demonstrators with rounds of tear gas, sound bombs, rubber bullets and even rounds of live ammunition. It’s unfortunate to say but you actually get used to it.”
Meanwhile, Clontarf ward councillor Bronwen Maher (GP) has given her full support to the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), speaking at public rallies and putting motions to Dublin City Council in support of Gaza.
“I fully support the IPSC’s call for EU trade sanctions against Israel as a means to bring about a lasting peace in the region,” Cllr Maher stated.
“We need to see a continuation of the international intervention that has gathered momentum.
“The UN, together with the US and EU, must continue high level international intervention to not only establish a new ceasefire but ensure delivery of essential aid as a matter of immediate urgency.”
www.dublinpeople.com/content/view/1481/57/