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Jenin |
In the culture of a healthy society, one is nurtured by the inter-relationships strengthened by religious faith. However, when a violent war erupts healthy inter-relationships suffer and psychological problems take their place. Eric Fromm, in his book To Have or to Be states that, “When man worships power while professing a religion this genuine religion becomes a secret religion reducing his professed religion, Judaism, Christianity or Islam to an ideology that conflicts with daily social practices” (Fromm, p.93, 122). In Israel, this conflict of ideology has erupted into a full-scale abuse of human rights. A recent example of this issue is the massacre that recently took place in the Palestinian town of Jenin.
Rabbi Yisroel Weiss of the international orthodox Jewish organization Neturei Karta International commented, “…the state [of Israel] consistently legislates and acts in violation of numerous Torah imperatives” (Weiss, p.1). In the case of the Jenin Massacre this is clear. The Prophet Muhammad (SAAW) deplored the killing of women and children, the burning of trees and homes and those who will not defend themselves or others against the oppressor (Bukhari, 4:176,177, 4:256, 257, 262, 282). However, Israel’s dormant plan “Operation Defensive Shield” exacted these atrocities in Jenin (Huggler #2, p.1).
British reporter Justin Huggler refers to Jenin as ‘a devastation worse than an earthquake’. He says, “The television pictures do not convey the devastation. You have to come here to walk over the dust and rubble that used to be people’s homes, picking your way through the little pieces of their lives, the children’s schoolbooks and discarded clothing. You have to smell the stench of death that clings to certain corners…” He states that Palestinians did not have heavy digging equipment and dug for relatives with their bare hands and found some bodies in pieces. He also saw a mother spend hours searching for her two sons not knowing whether they were detained in an Israeli camp or buried in the rubble of Jenin (Huggler #1, p.1, 2).
To evaluate the physical and psychological effects of this attack a team from al-Mezan Center for Human Rights preceded on foot to Jenin across mountains from Salim village, bypassing roadblocks. They were immediately overwhelmed by the smell of decaying bodies amongst rotting garbage and leaking sewerage. Survivors had been trapped in this for two weeks with no electricity, water, nor communication with the outside world before the curfew was lifted. Official documents show that Jenin had a population of 13,000. However, Al-Mezan found only 3,000 people. The other 10,000 are unaccounted for. They found instead demolished homes with inhabitants inside, and buildings compressed into fine dust and rubble. Soldiers had taken jewelry and cash and larger items were destroyed. Some bodies were crushed by tanks rolling back and forth over the bodies in order to make them completely unrecognizable. Ahmed Mahmoud Fayed told the team of his paralyzed brother who physically could not leave the house. As the parents fled they pleaded to the Israeli soldiers to allow them to remove Jamal Fayed, then they demolished the home with him inside to the extent that rescue workers until now have not been able to recover the body (IAP, p.1).
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Official health agencies such as the International Red Cross are worried about the psychological and well as the physical effects of the Jenin massacre and continued wartime abuses of the Palestinian people. There is no way to know for sure what exact effects this war will have on the psyche of the Palestinians. However, the experience of apartheid war in South Africa and war in Chechnya are good indications of what may lie ahead. South Africa has shown the legacy of apartheid to be negative, resulting in crime, displaced peoples, loss of productivity, high health bills, demoralized population, and aggression (Speakout, p.2).
Similarly, by the later half of the last century, the Chechens had twice experienced near annihilation. First, they were deported to Kazakhstan, and exposed to extreme cold and were then placed in a local mosque and burnt alive. In the fields, 30,000 died of hunger and frost. It was only through International pressure they were finally allowed to return home. As a consequence they lost their industrial buildings, educational institutions, schools, museums and 70% of their health institutions. Psychiatrists Kuri Idrisov and Khapta Akhmedova stated that since the 1995 occupation, 10 concentration camps were provided for 25,000 people. From these 17000 were killed, 1200 declared missing, 6800 people survived, 4,800 became disabled, 1500 developed TB and 500 became handicapped as a result of torture. Torture included being thrown into cages with dogs while others watched, hung from the ceiling by cuff attached to their hands, electric shock, and having ears removed and nails pulled out. After three years, 62% had highly intensive flashbacks, intrusive memories and nightmares. Many have also suffered depression, anxiety, and feelings of loneliness, helplessness and then rage.
During the flashbacks a neuro-vegetative disorder occurred in 70% of cases and there was memory disorder for 92% (Idrisov p.1-3). By the time of the 1999 occupation, most Chechens had been forced into a life of precarious existence. Between 1997 and 1999, Grozny had a children’s psychological rehabilitation center. Known, as “Little Star”, it comprised of psychologists, teachers and nurses. But Russian aggressions made the workers themselves become refugees. The program was relocated to camps in Ingushetia with a team of 34 psychologists and counselors working in six refugee camps. Over 19,000 children have not been able to go to school and emergency psychosocial support has been necessary (Warchild, p.1, 2).
An additional worry is the effect that sex crimes are having on the population. The statistics for sex crimes have still not been established in Kosovo, however, the CDC noted rape survivors ‘often manifest long-term symptoms’ of chronic headaches, fatigue, sleep disturbance, recurrent nausea, decreased appetite, eating disorders, menstrual pain, sexual dysfunction and suicide attempts (Speakout, p.2). The situation is heightened by living in squalid camps, memories of fleeing their homes, losing family members to death squads, and having problems with food and water. As a member of the Red Cross Disaster Mental Health program, psychologist Robert Hayes believes that some survivors will suffer emotional problems years and even decades into the future. This will be compounded by the fact that in trying to raise their children, those born during and after the occupation, will in turn be affected (Ransford p.1, 2). Many fear that the Palestinians may befall the same fate as the Chechens and South Africans.
Media control has shaped perceptions, but on the ground the atrocities are real. In his 1961 Nobel Peace Prize speech, South African Albert Luthuli said, “There are still people in the world today who regard South Africa’s race problem as a simple clash between black and white. Our government has carefully projected this image of the problem before the eyes of the world. This has had two effects. It has confused the real issues at stake…and it has given some form of force to the government’s contention that the race problem is a domestic matter for South Africa. This in turn has narrowed down the area over which out case could be better understood in the world…ours is a continent in revolution against oppression. And peace and revolution make uneasy bedfellows. There can be no peace until the forces of oppression are overthrown” (Drachler, p.153, 154).
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In much the same way, the Palestinian situation has been presented as a race problem and been dealt with on an internal basis. Sales of military weapons to Israel doubled during President Bill Clinton’s first year of office for the alleged reason of internal and border security. From 1993-1997, $190bn in weapons were sold (motherjones, p.1). Furthermore, the U.S Foreign Military Finance, FMF fund still helps Israel finance U.S military equipment, services, and training. FMF has been scheduled to increase by $60 million annually to phase out Israel’s Economic Support Fund by 2008. This has made Israel the fifth largest exporter of arms and military technology to 61 countries.
This increase in internal security supplies is ironic given that more Israeli’s have died in the Palestinian Occupied Territories where Israel has fought than within Israel itself. More troops are employed in occupation forces than in defense of Israeli borders or internal security maintenance (Zunes, p.2, 3).
By referring to Palestinians as being strong the media forfeits the impact this war has had on their lives. Certainly, much money has been raised and items purchased, but most are destroyed. Not even blood donations get through. And certainly there has been a psychological impact on the population. The world can only wait to see what this will be.
“And if they incline to peace, then incline to it and trust in Allah; surely He is the Hearing, the Knowing. And if they intend to deceive you - then surely Allah is sufficient for you; He it is Who strengthened you with His help and with the believers” (Surat ul Anfal 8:61,62).
Sources:
- Drachler, Jacob. “African Heritage.”U.S: Collier Books. 1973.
- Fromm, Eric. “To Have or To Be?” U.S: Bantam Books. 1981.
- Huggler, Justin #1. “Families Scrabble in the Dust to Find the Dead.” Independent.co.uk. 04/20/02.
- Huggler, Justin #2 & Reeves, Phil. “Once Upon A Time in Jenin.” Independent.co.uk. 04/25/02.
- Idrisov, Kuri & Akhmedova, Khapta. “Post-War Psychological Problems in Chechnya.” E-wtc.com. 10/18/01.
- Islamic Association for Palestine. “Return of Mezan Delegation from Jenin Refugee Camp.” Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights. 04/24/02.
- Motherjones.com. “Action Atlas, U.S Arms Sales: Arms Around the World.” Arms. 12/06/01.
- NCPTSD. “Rape of Women in a War Zone.” National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. 10/18/01.
- Ransford, Marc. “Kosovo Survivors Suffering from Horrible Stress.” Balls State University. 02/11/01.
- Speakout. “Post Rape Trauma: Posttraumatic Stress Syndrome.” Speakout.org.za. 10/18/01.
- Toensing, Chris. “Israeli-Palestine Conflict.” Foreign Policy in Focus. 04/30/02.
- Warchild.org. “Children in Ingushetia.” Warchild.org. 10/18/01.
- Weiss, Yisroel David. “An Open Letter to President Bush.” Neturei Karta.org. 12/30/01.
- Yackley, Joseph. “U.S Security Assistance to Israel.” Foreign Policy in Focus. 04/18/02.
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