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May 24, 2018

The Killing Fields of Gaza by Fred Schlomka of Green Olive Tours

The Killing Fields of Gaza

- by Fred Schlomka - - 20th May, 2018 -

Gaza continues to be desperate. Your help is needed.

Imagine a giant prison bounded by the sea on one side, and fences and walls on the other three sides. The original prison guards were thrown out in 1967, and the new prison guards evacuated themselves in 2006, retreating to the prison borders, sealing it off except for a few heavily guarded entrances, fortresses along the prison’s land border, and gunboats patrolling the shoreline. Since then few have been allowed to enter or exit. A bare minimum of goods are permitted to enter, barely enough to allow the subsistence for the inmates.

One of the prison gangs took over the management of the prison, and terrorised the inmates into compliance with their demands. Rival gangs have sent a some small rockets over the fence, causing little property damage and almost no casualties. This results in remote retaliatory attacks by the prison guards via drones, rockets and bombs. Most of the prison inmates live in fear, from the Israelis, from Hamas, and of destitution and despair. There is little hope for the future

The 2 million inmates of Gaza have no citizenship - no state - no freedom.

Over the past two months, tens of thousands of people come to the fence every Friday to protest their plight. A few try and approach the fence. Some burn tires and throw stones across the fence. The vast majority stay at a distance. It seems likely that these protests are organised by Hamas. It’s also possible that Hamas is orchestrating and planning for the eventual killings, by managing teams of people who are trained and instructed to approach the fence. And yes, there were a few visible armed protesters.

Israel set up teams of snipers and is playing its part by shooting them down. It’s all very predictable. Just a last week, about 60 people were killed in a calculated manner by these snipers. It’s a turkey shoot.

Much of the foreign media mirrors the official Israeli use of words like ‘clashes’ or ‘riots, describing the protestors as ‘terrorists’. Terminology is used to imply that Israelis are at risk, and the fence might be breached. Israel fuels this misconception by massing troops along the Gaza border, backed by teams of paramilitary police.

CNN International said that the ‘clashes’ resulted in ‘deaths’, as if they were acts of God, yet also allowed that ‘Many of them caused by Israeli fire’. Even Israel’s liberal Haaretz newspaper called the protest a ‘clash’.

There were no ‘clashes’. Every Palestinian was murdered on their own side of the fence by Israeli snipers on the Israeli side of the fence. No protesters came in close contact with any Israeli soldier, not was there any possibility of this happening.

Every Palestinian murder was a calculated decision of an Israeli sniper or his/her immediate commander, in accordance with their rules of engagement which allows the killing of unarmed Palestinians who are causing no immediate danger to anyone.

These tactics are the same as used by colonial empires of bygone eras and other authoritarian regimes of today, which prohibit any actions by disenfranchised people protesting their rule. The British likewise conducted lethal reprisals against protests by their subject peoples in India and Africa. China has more recently followed suit. Israel has learned well.

Non-violent protests are especially feared by the state of Israel, and every effort is made to ensure that violence ensues, thus justifying the killings, at least in Israel’s worldview.

Make no mistake. If Israel wanted to use non-lethal means to drive back the few hundred protesters that approach the fence, then it has sufficient means at it’s disposal, notably water cannon and tear gas. However it also serves Israel’s purpose to conduct these killings.

Israel also needs to learn that murderous repression of protest never has the desired results in the long term. Palestinian steadfastness will not be contained by murder and slaughter. Ultimately the likes of Hamas and the Zionist regime will be tossed in the dustbin of history, and the liberation of the people of Palestine and Israel will be realised. In the meanwhile people are being killed.

Your support is critical at this time. Here’s what you can do:

Contact the nearest Israeli Embassy to protest the actions of the IDF
Organise a protest outside your nearest Israeli consulate or Embassy
Join an organisation in your locale that is active in these issues
Contact your political representatives to exert pressure on the Israeli government.
Encourage your friends and relatives to come and visit Israel/Palestine, and bear witness to the events that are unfolding.
Organise a group to come on a study tour.

In Peace,

Fred Schlomka

CEO, Green Olive Collective

This very important post was copied from the blog of Green Olive Tours.

Here is a link to the page:

http://blog.toursinenglish.com/

Thank you, Fred, for taking time to share with us these very important words and your thoughts on this issue.

from cl:

Just returning from a visit to the area and wanting to let everyone know the food was delicious, the countryside was lovely, biking through hills of almond and olive groves and the hospitality was something to write home about.

Always wanting to visit the city after the tour going to Ramallah on my own was fun and interesting. It is easy to see the city because it is small and not difficult to navigate. The shop keepers are friendly, often offering coffee and a sample of their goods--please visit the candy shops.

The Arafat Museum was very well done--recomending it to anyone interested in this very famous person who holds the heart of the Palestinians.

Area D Hostel is a good price, the people there are very willing to answer questions and take time to chat and the breakfast is particularly nice and well worth the price. The gentleman that serves it is a good cook.

Area D Hostel is right across from the bus station so it is very easy to get back to Jerusalem and then go to the airport from there.

Do not miss the vendors with the cups of corn with lemon, spices, salt and butter and the falafel shops.

May 23, 2018

10 Tips on visiting Palestine & Israel: Green Olive Tours on @TheRonnieRe #LovePalestine

10 Tips on visiting Palestine & Israel

copied from Green Olive Tours

1. PREPARATION - Do some advance reading about the country’s history, religions & politics. This will enhance your visit.

Here’s some suggested reading

a. A Brief Framing of the Palestine/Israel Conflict. This short 15-page booklet is an essential place to begin your learning curve of the region. Free download here.

b. A comprehensive suggested reading list can be found at this link.

(This is a copied page of a PDF--please go to the very informative website of Green Olive Tours to actually get the link. cl)

2. THE AIRPORT - Entering the country is an adventure in itself. Israeli security is legendary for ferreting out ‘undesirable tourists’ and whisking them out of the country almost before their feet touches the airport tarmac. ‘Undesirable’ in Israeli terms can mean anyone who has publicly criticised the government and been audacious enough to promote their views on FaceBook or other public media. Having stamps in your passport from places like Lybia or Iran is also a ‘red flag’. Here’s our advice to get through Ben Gurion airport without being invited to the proverbial ‘back room’ for a chat:

a. Brush your teeth and wash up before your flight starts to descend.

b. Dress well. There’s something about a collar and tie, or a smart dress, that disarms Israeli security.

c. Sloppy dress or hippy-ish looks, will raise an immediate red flag.

d. Wear a large Jewish or Christian religious symbol.

e. The first word out of your mouth at passport control should be ‘Shalom’.

f. Try and avoid the words, ‘Palestine’, ‘West Bank’, or anything that indicates that you see yourself as visiting ‘Palestine’, not Israel. Above all, smile at the passport officer. He/she can make a snap judgement based solely on your demeanour, and press the little red button on the floor to summon a plain clothed person with a flesh coloured ear bud.

3. HOSTELS & HOTELS - So you made it out of the airport - Congratulations. Where to go? The airport is almost half way between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem so either city is a good place to start. Tel Aviv is a vibrant cosmopolitan city on the beach with a large number of great hostels and hotels. We recommend being less than a 15-minute walk from the beach. Jerusalem likewise has a variety of options which differ between the West and the East side of the city. Generally East Jerusalem hotels and hostels are Palestinian-managed, and those in West Jerusalem are Israeli managed. For specific recommendations, please send an email from this link.

4. DRESS CODES - If you travel to traditional Muslim areas, such Hebron or Nablus, or to an ultra orthodox Jewish neighbourhood such as Mea Sharim in Jerusalem, you should cover your body parts - for both men and women long trousers (pants) and a shirt that covers the shoulder and upper arms would be enough - it’s recommended for a female to always carry a scarf to cover her hair or shoulders when visiting religious places. For more details check this link.

5. SAFETY - In both Israel and Palestinian areas, the streets are very safe. Violent crime is relatively rare and it is usually quite safe for solo woman The occasional political violence rarely impacts on foreign tourists who are usually not the target. For more details see this link.

Published by the Green Olive Collective, a Palestinian/Israeli social enterprise. The organisation is dedicated to cultivating humane and just societies through progressive social change, cultural development, political activity and economic enterprise.

© 2017 Green Olive Collective Inc – www.greenolivetours.com – office@greenolivetours.com – +972-3-721-9540

6. COMMUNICATION - One of the oddities of the country is that people call it by different names, depending on your location and the religion of the person you are talking to. Whether referred to as ‘Israel’ or ‘Palestine’, locals usually meaning the same piece of land from the river to the sea - the majority of Palestinian Arabs, even those who are Israeli citizens, do not like the country to be called Israel and the opposite is true for Israelis who don’t like the country to be called Palestine. Be aware of whom you are talking to. In many places using Hebrew will elicit a negative response, and using Arabic in Jewish areas will likewise often not be welcome. That applies to greetings such as ‘Shalom’ or ‘Salaam’.

7. LOCALES - Moving between Jerusalem and Tel aviv often feels like travelling to another country and switching cultures, although they are just an hour’s drive from each other. Tel Aviv is a cosmopolitan city, whereas Jerusalem is traditional and heavily religious. Similarly, travelling from a Jewish town to an Arab town will also seem like you’ve moved countries, even though these locations are often just a few kilometres apart.

8. TRANSPORT - There are good roads and public transport throughout the country.

a. Public transport in Israel is generally quite good. Trains and buses go everywhere in the country but are limited or non-existent during the Sabbath in Jewish areas of Israel, . Public transport is also quite good in Palestinian areas, and runs 7 days a week in most areas.

b. Car rental in Israel is ubiquitous and intercity roads are excellent, however most yellow-plated Israeli rental cars are not insured for Palestinian areas in the West Bank. Palestinian car rental companies in east Jerusalem will rent you a car with full coverage for both Israel and the West Bank. If you rent a car from a Palestinian company in Bethlehem or Ramallah with a green/white license plate you won’t be able to drive it across the Green Line into Israel

9. CURRENCY - Cash machines or ATMs (‘Caspomat’ in Hebrew) are everywhere in Israel. Even at kiosks on the street. However always carry some shekels cash, especially when travelling in Palestinian territories, since many places accept only cash, and ATM’s can be rare outside the cities in the West Bank.

10. MEETING PEOPLE - Make sure to engage in discussions with local people. Most Israelis and Palestinians are friendly so if you have a chance to speak with the Arab or Jewish population, engaging with them in a discussion will teach you a lot and enrich your journey. Even though it’s a small country between the river and the sea, different people live under different laws, circumstances etc. Try to visit different types of communities in your most likely short trip, such as Israelis from a kibbutz, Mizrahi Jews, ultra-orthodox Jews, Palestinian villagers, Christian Palestinians and Palestinians from the city.

Here is a link to the blog page of Green Olive Tours--Fred has posted a very important article about Gaza:

http://blog.toursinenglish.com/2018/05/the-killing-fields-of-gaza.html

#LovePalestine

Jul 22, 2014

Finding Inspiration from Green Olive Tours--I want to go to Israel and Palestine

Thanks, Fred, your statement is beautiful...thank you for bringing the world together with history and information. I really want to go on your tours and meet the people you describe.

27th October - 7th November 2014 

Olive Picking Program and Tour • 12 days / 11 nights

Rub shoulders with farmers and villagers from the northern West Bank. Experience this iconic activity connecting today's Palestinians with their ancestors.

Several days of olive picking are blended with tours and activities that will make this a trip of a lifetime

Jerusalem • Bethlehem • Hebron
Nablus • Ramallah • Beit Ummar

Mission Statement of Green Olive Tours
Green Olive Tours is a social enterprise tour agency providing tours that are informative and analytical, covering the history, culture, and political geography of Palestine (West Bank) and Israel. The tours provide benefit to the indigenous population through the hiring and training of tour guides, overnight stays with families & small guest houses, and encouraging visitors to purchase local crafts directly from producers and Fair Trade outlets.

The wide range of itineraries include interaction with Palestinians and Israelis, and visit areas that embody the history and current status of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and between Israel's Jewish, Palestinian-Arab, and Bedouin citizens. The complex mosaic of religions, nationalities, and political viewpoints in the Holy Land are explored in depth.

Many of the tours also visit sites of historical, cultural and religious interest, placing them within the context of the ongoing analysis provided by the guide.

Green Olive Tours aims to provide our guests with:

A cultural, historical and political understanding of Palestine & Israel.
Visits to cultural, historical and religious sites.
An experience of the political facts on the ground.
Interaction with Palestinians and Israelis.
Analysis and commentary based on;

Human Rights
Cultural self determination
The right to political self determination
The right to live in safety
The right to political freedom
The right to a home

Jerusalem & the West Bank
The tours in the Occupied Territories visit the Separation Barrier, and travel the roads and tunnels that connect to Jewish settlements. Some tours arrange visits with residents of the territories, both Israeli and Palestinian, that help develop an understanding of the complexities of the relationships. A wide range of information about social, cultural and historical issues is provided that help to link together the sites visited and your previous knowledge about the region into a coherent perspective on the situation. The tours provide a unique opportunity to learn about Palestinian culture, gain first-hand, in-depth knowledge of the situation on the ground, and hear critical analysis from knowledgeable Palestinian and Israeli guides.

copied from the website of Green Olive Tours.......

Fred From Green Olive Tours Talks Walking His Dogs in Jaffa and Suffering the Israel/Gaza Conflict

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Dear chloe,

The country is full of pain and suffering in these days. The death toll mounts. Hospitals are being bombed. Cities are being targeted. The poor and the dispossessed have nowhere to hide, and pay the greatest price. The wealthy and powerful hide in their reinforced concrete bunkers or tunnels deep in the sand. The country has once again gone mad with hatred and bloodlust.

Last night I left my home to walk my dogs to the beach of Jaffa and encountered several heavily armed policemen camped out at the end of the block. I discovered later that they were there to protect the neighborhood from racist thugs who were rioting on nearby Yefet street screaming 'Death to the Arabs'. In the meanwhile my good friends in Ra'anana are supervising their children baking cookies to send to the soldiers at the 'front'. It's all a little surreal.

The contradictions and pain of this moment are perhaps best illustrated through the words of Erella, who writes about her conversation a few days ago with a good friend in Gaza. > > Read on > >

The tour business is of course struggling. The tourists have gone and cancellations keep pouring in. Refunds are draining our dwindling supply of working cash. Also, over the past three months we have added daily Tel Aviv pickups for our day-tours, and hired a full-time driver to better service the anticipated increase in clients. Alas we now have less clients and more overhead. However this too shall pass. From our experience, it takes 2-3 months after a war ends, for the tourists to return in large numbers.

We are also building an expanded Volunteer Program and have engaged a part-time staffer to develop this part of our work. By the end of the summer we will be offering 4-12 week volunteer opportunties at many local charities, NGOs, and economic development organisations throughout Palestine and Israel. We'll be helping Bedouin, Women, Refugee youth and Arab/Jewish Fair Trade organisations to fulful their goals.

Green Olive has also begun a program of continuing education seminars and training tours for our guides and others from the Alternative Tourism sector who want to take advantage of our expertise and experience. The seminar at the end of May gathered over 30 people for two days of learning and discussion. This is one example of how we put to work any excess funds or profits from the tours.

And so, to ease us through these hard times and build a stronger foundation for the future, we are making you an offer whose time has come - see below.

In peace,
Fred Schlomka, CEO

Become a Member of the Green Olive Collective

Green Olive Tours is a project of the Green Olive Collective. The organisation is a wide-ranging network of Palestinian and Israeli partners, working partners, investors and international members who are committed toour principals.

There has been much talk of BDS, Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions of Israel. While we support selective BDS, we also offer an opportunity to make a positive investment in a civilised future for Palestine/Israel.

Be part of the solution. Help develop our educational tours, volunteer programs, economic & social development projects - all designed to build momentum towards a post-Occupation reality.

There are six levels of Membership. Each level comes with privileges and rewards. Take a look at what's being offered and select the level of membership you are comfortable with.

>> Click here for more membership information >>

Investment opportunities are also available to interested and qualified individuals and institutions. For more information contact us at this link. This is not a solicitation to invest.