Tanks Menacingly Point Their Turrets

A Palestine Observer Writes Monday

Hey Everyone,

Spirits are higher today, as the curfew has been lifted for a few hours. For the first time in a week, cars are rolling down the street (past tanks, who menacingly point their turrets in your direction as you pass) and some stores are open.

It has been a week of terror, and it is far from over. But with the sun out, and a four hour window of activity, you can almost imagine, or remember, what this beautiful city felt like before the horrors of the current military invasion. Before the tanks and snipers and machine gunfire that we've come to accept as normal parts of our lives.

There are 17 of us left in the Al-Azza refugee camp. The families here are scared, but so happy to have us here. They tell us that they feel safer with us here, and are more able to laugh. If nothing else then, maybe we can bring laughter.

About ten international observers have left Bethlehem to attempt to deliver humanitarian aid (and perhaps some international attention) to Nablus. Reports of massacres in Nablus, and even worse in Jenin, have riveted our attention.

Meanwhile, in Bethlehem, scores of unarmed civilians are locked in the church of Nativity, running out of food and water, as the Israeli military lays seige to Manger Square.

A few more international observers arrived in Bethlehem in the last couple days, including our friend Kate. We have heard of many more trying to get in. We encourage you to come. It is possible to get in, and we need you. There are plenty of places to stay. Just get on an airplane, and call us from Jerusalem.

Thank you all for your support. We feel it here.

For Press info, see jerusalem.indymedia.org,

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