Just another day in the middle east

I wanted to write about my christmas here in Bethlehem, but it is difficult to avoid talking about what is happening in Gaza, especially since it is happening here, in the middle east where I am now.

I just don't know where to begin.

So far over 300 people have been killed, among them are children.

Israel has bombed the university in Gaza.

They have also bombed a mosque with people praying inside.

Two civilians from Israel has been killed so far. But with possibilities to evacuate, and to get medical treatment the wounded Israelis should not worry.

But what about the almost 1500 people wounded in Gaza. They are dying in the streets cause the hospitals in Gaza neither have the capasity nor the medicine to treat them. Medicine they have been lacking for many months because of the blocade of Gaza that has been going on for too long. And where can they hide in one of the most densely populated places in the world?

Israeli politicians say that they have the right to defend their citizens, and they will continue till they have destroyed Hamas.

Tzipi Livni, leader of Kadima party and minister of foreign affairs says "We are trying to attack only terrorists from Hamas. But unfortunately, what often happends in war, sometimes civilians also pay the price"

Well this is what is happening, civilian lifes have already been taken. I don't understand how they think they have the right to protect Israel by attacking an already critical area. Gaza was already in a critical state before this happened with powercuts, no gazoline, no food, no medicine, no blood for the hospitals. Especially the lack of gasoline led to other extreme consequenses. One of them was the rising level of sewage. Without the possibility to clean the water with powercuts the sewage water started to go into the villages whick led to hygenical crisis. Many children were also badly nourished.

They claim that Israel has the right to protect itself. What about the palestinians right to defend themselves when Israel does kill civilians as well? And if its enemy is the terrorist Israel should know that what they are doing is only creating new ones. If they think that their violations are creating love and peace they should seriously think twice.

I don't agree with terrorism and I don't agree with the killings of innocent people. Well what Israel is fighting against they are now doing themselves.

Here the situation is calm. We have heard of rough demonstrations in Ramallah, and clashes between soldiers and palestinians in Hebron. Here in Bethlehem, however, it is calm although a depressed atmosphere is hanging in the air. People have lost friends and loved ones, and a 3 day sorrow is iniciated.