It is hard to accept that the things you are seeing can be really happening -

Like most things here in Palestine, the ordinary becomes Extra-ordinary - so that your mind and senses are constantly being challenged. It is hard to accept that the things you are seeing can be really happening - and have been happening for a long time.

For instance, a few days ago we went to visit the family of Hani Amer - Father and Mother and 4 children who live in Masha Village in the Sulfit district. What is unusual about this family is not only are they living just on the other side of the monstrous Wall/Barrier that the Israelis have
built, but they are also surrounded by one of the many illegal Israeli Settlements.

This has been their situation for almost four years, and the story goes that at one time the Israeli Government has even offered them a blank cheque to vacate their home, but the family have refused it. It is their home and has
been for many many years - why should they leave, there connection to this land goes back generations.

They have a key to a little gate that allows them to come and go between certain hours, but the Mother and Father can never be absent from the house together. If they both leave, then the Israeli Government can confiscate and demolish their home.

This family are effectively prisoners in their own home.

The day we arrived there was a jeep and a handful of soldiers at the Settlement entrance, but before we had all passed through the little gate (maybe 14 - 16 of us, a mix of Palestinians and Internationals) another 4 jeeps and two APCs had arrived, and the soldiers - I counted 42 - had taken up their positions.

Hani Amer argued with the Commander that we were his invited guests, and he wanted to offer us Palestinian hospitality in his home - something to eat and drink. After some negotiations, we were allowed a miserable 5 minutes
to visit the family.

During those precious minutes, three Settler' vechiles pulled up by his house - they were armed -they always are. The family suffer repeatedly from Settler' attacks but of course the Israeli Army do nothing to protect them. (You should know that here in the West Bank, the illegal Settlers
act with impunity and feeling that they are above the Law, they constantly take the Law into their own hands, never fearing retribution or punishment by the Israeli Army or Courts).

After our oh so short a time it felt almost like an act of betrayal to walk back out that gate and leave this family to their fate, but as we left they thanked us profusely for coming.

It is impossible for me to absorb the extent of the injustice that is taking place here, injustices that are enforced in violent and oppressive ways. I know I said this in my e-mails last year too - but if anyone out there
reading these e-mails thinks for a moment that I may be exaggerating, embellishing or dramatising what I am seeing just please please take a few weeks out of your life and come here and see for yourself.

You will have a wonderful and memorable time - you will never read a newspaper or watch the news in the same way again.