GUEST BLOG: Lois Griffiths – WHAT ARE THEY AFRAID OF ? THE TRUTH MAYBE?

The US State Department  has denied an entry visa to 15 year old Palestinian Ahed Tamini . She has been invited by FOSNA (Friends of Sabeel North America) to take part in an US speaking   tour beginning in mid-January,  No Child Behind Bars , Living Resistance.

Sabeel, by the way,  is a Christian liberation theology organization, founded by Palestinian Anglican priest, based in Jerusalem. Quoting from their website, FOSNA is ” a nonprofit, tax-exempt Christian ecumenical organization seeking justice and peace in the Holy Land through nonviolent advocacy and education. Sabeel is an international peace movement initiated by Palestinian Christians, who seek a just peace as defined by international law and existing United Nations resolutions.”

 So let’s spell it out. The US State department has denied an entry visa to a young Palestinian , invited by an American Christian organisation. 

 Of course, the Israelis would not like Ahed to speak to Americans. She is articulate, well-informed, as her family in Nabi Saleh constantly struggles to hold on to its land and resources. Ahed could tell what life is like for children and teenagers under occupation.  Americans might be interested in hearing a different view to what they are fed by mainstream media. 

Scheduled to tour widely  in  February 2017  is  another annual Stand With US tour of Israeli soldiers. Quoting from their website,   “Come hear the stories of two inspiring young Israelis – their struggles, their successes, their military service, and their hopes and dreams. Ask the tough questions, and learn what it is actually like to live in a country that is the subject of so much discussion in the media and on campus. The soldiers speak in dozens of cities across North America each Spring, in venues including college campuses, high schools, synagogues, and churches.  By the time the annual tour is finished, our soldiers will have shared their personal experiences with tens of thousands of students and community members.”

So there you are. Israel soldiers are inspiring; they  have hopes and dreams. The State Department welcomes them in.

But Ahed Tamini , does she have hopes and dreams? Obviously the State department has decided that , if so, they should not be shared. And maybe, maybe, she is ‘inspiring ‘.  Oh no the State Department wouldn’t like that.

The No Child Behind Bars, Living Resistance tour will proceed. Ahed Tamini will participate via live stream video, not the same of course.

But shame on the US State Department.

Does anyone, anyone, still think the US is an honest broker re Middle East politics? By the US I mean of course the powerful elite. Good on FOSNA for trying to spread  the reality of the daily suffering endured by Palestinians, a taboo subject.

An interesting, eye-opening actually,  book to read over the summer break is The Way to the Spring by Ben Ehrenreich. The writer describes first hand what life is like in Ahed’s village, Nabi Saleh.

 

Lois Griffiths is a NZ human rights activist