April 1st (early morning):

This is my stories from Palestine (and letting you all
know I'm still alive). This is the almost uncensored
version (ie not for my parents) cos I figure you're all big and ugly enough to handle it.

Well, I'm writing this from Bethlehem, trying to ignore the gangs of men with very big guns who're standing in the street. I made it into Palestine with no problems. If you've been watching the news, you probably realise the situation here has seriously deteriorated. The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) invaded Ramallah yesterday or the day before (where Arafat is), many have died, shellings have left loads wounded and the IDF aren't letting ambulances or medical supplies thru.

Rumours abounded - Ya Basta! are inside Ramallah fighting the IDF! (not true, they couldn't get to Ramallah but they did storm the Orient House - Palestinian authoritiies headquarters till the IDF took the building last summer - and had a riot with Jerusalem cops.

A 10 year suicide bomber struck 10mins from our hotel.
Last night I went to bed not knowing whether I'd wake
up surrounded by tanks or not - IDF could invade Bethlehem at any time.

Yesterday we visited a refugee camp. Even the journey
there was a real eye-opener - recent shellings have damaged schools, hospitals, orphanages and Bethlehem uni. In one place there were temporary repairs to a massive crater in the road. The refugee camp itself was nothing like I expected - no tents or shacks.

There are small stone buildings - 3m x 3m units per family. 11,000 people live in 1km square. There is 1 doctor and 3 nurses for all these people. In the midst of these tiny houses there are huge piles of rubble- they used to be homes until the F16s struck. These people have nothing and still it's taken from them.

But still, everywhere you go there is art work, murals and graffitti on the walls. Art lives on, and people still make sure their little home is as good as it can be. All the walls on every street are covered with posters of martyrs - those killed while fighting or just victims of the IDF. A lot of the posters are of young boys.

This is such a beautiful country. Driving here from the airport yesterday I understand why people were fighting to defend it. But there's an immediate difference when you cross from Israel to Palestine - there's destruction and devastation everywhere. I can't get used to the number of when walking around with M16s and shit. Haven't seen any tanks yet, but did bump into an unexpected checkpoint in the dark last night. The IDFs a much bigger threat than the
Palestinian militants here. Haven't been anywhere too dangerous yet, but that's gonna change. Marching to Beit Jala (the IDF invaded last night there) in an hour or so.

Going to be guarding refugee camps and maybe riding with ambulances so they don't get shot at (in theory) later. I haven't come face to face with any violence yet so it still seems distant. It doesn't seem real that people are being murdered within half an hour from me. Finally came out of denial world yesterday and admitted to myself that I could die here. Don't worry, I won't. I think I'm back in
denial again. Anyway, better go.

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April 1st (late morning):

The situation here in Palestine is very serious, in case you hadn't realised. I spent last night in a refugee camp waiting for the Israeli army to invade. It was like being on death row. Miraculously, our camp was not attacked. It could be at any time though.
This is a call for help. The Israeli army executed 30 Palestinians in Ramallah this morning. Last night they shelled a maternity hospital. This army has no respect for human life. The people I am staying with will be arrested (if they aren't murdered) simply for being Palestinian. Israel's racist and murderous actions must stop.

Belgium (and I think Norway now) have cut diplomatic ties with Israel. Without support from other countries, this murder cannot continue. You all know how I feel about going through MPs and that stuff but this time I really think it can make a difference. Please PLEASE write, call, harass, kidnap your MP, call the Houses of Commons, hassle anyone you can and tell them to cut diplomatic ties. Tell everyone you know. Let the press know. Talk to people. There are people dying here all the time.

Thankyou. I love you all. Hopefully see you in a couple of weeks.