While others joined the olive harvest, a couple of us took the opportunity to visit SEEDS in Nablus (we were advised it was safe). Our original plan involved us performing in the ‘Garden of Unity’ a space where people of Muslim, Christian and Samaritan faith can come together. Raed, the Director, talked of being in the old city on Tuesday when the Israeli Occupation Forces raided and one of his friends was murdered. Raed, also Director of Community Affairs at An-Najah University, is bringing together lots of sections of Nablus society to discuss the impact of the seige on the city’s economy, culture, education and more. Echoing Hatem, he said what Nablus most needed to support the resistance was international visitors. Najlaa, who works at SEEDS gave us a lift back to Sebastiya (with her new fiancee) and we sang to them. She said she was very uplifted as she had just returned from Germany where she said a Member of Parliament had said they are too committed to supporting Israel to be able to offer any support to Palestinians, even in relation to human rights abuses.
She had returned to Nablus feeling like nobody cared and so was delighted and moved by our demonstration of international solidarity. We have since received news of more deaths of friends of Hatem and Raed. It never stops. (Sunset on way back over the mountain from Sebastia to Nablus).
