I hold a Palestinian Authority passport. It replaced the "temporary two-year Jordanian passport for Gaza residents" that we held until the Oslo Accords and the creation of the Palestinian Authority in the mid '90s, which itself replaced the Egyptian travel documents we held before that. A progression in a long line of stateless documentation.

It is a passport that allows no passage. A passport that denied me entry to my own home. This is its purpose: to mark me, brand me, so that I am easily identified and cast aside without questions; it is convenient for those giving the orders. It is a system for the collective identification of those with no identity.

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This is an introductory presentation for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) for Palestine movement.

From the BDS site.

Amidst all the fanfare the following is on the brand new White House website about the Obama-Biden plan for the rest of the world:

* Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Obama and Biden will make progress on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a key diplomatic priority from day one. They will make a sustained push -- working with Israelis and Palestinians -- to achieve the goal of two states, a Jewish state in Israel and a Palestinian state, living side by side in peace and security.

...

* Ensure a Strong U.S.-Israel Partnership: Barack Obama and Joe Biden strongly support the U.S.-Israel relationship, and believe that our first and incontrovertible commitment in the Middle East must be to the security of Israel, America's strongest ally in the region. They support this closeness, and have stated that the United States will never distance itself from Israel.
* Support Israel's Right to Self Defense: During the July 2006 Lebanon war, Barack Obama stood up strongly for Israel's right to defend itself from Hezbollah raids and rocket attacks, cosponsoring a Senate resolution against Iran and Syria's involvement in the war, and insisting that Israel should not be pressured into a ceasefire that did not deal with the threat of Hezbollah missiles. He and Joe Biden believe strongly in Israel's right to protect its citizens.

Evidence of the use of white phosphorus by Israel in its war on Gaza is everywhere. Videos, photographs and accounts by bloggers and reporters are more than sufficient.

Medical evidence on the effects and management of white phosphorus is scarce. Pubmed returns 14 papers with search criteria "`white phosphorus' burn" most of them describing the experiences of burn units along its years of operation with people who contacted the material accidentally.

White phosphorus is an extremely menacing substance whether it is used on a densely populated area or not.

It ignites spontaneously at temperatures above 34°C, producing fumes with a garlic-like odour and phosphoric acid which promotes further burning. It can be extinguished with water but will reignite again when dry.

So if a person comes in contact with phosphorus. He will suffer burns that might start again spontaneously inside his own wound. Even hours later.

A solemn account of the properties of white phosphorous burns is mentioned in the `In Gaza' blog:

You can help the injured from Gaza—being treated in Egyptian hospitals—by transferring mobile credit to their phones. A one minute phone call to Gaza costs around 5 EGPs.

All the patients are accompanied by only one family member or a relative. They were quickly transfered from the overwhelmed hospitals in Gaza to Egyptian hospitals. They didn't have much time to take clothes or enough money with them.

By transferring credit from your mobile you will be helping families keep in touch.

Please remember that this is only one thing they need. You can contribute more by contacting the Popular Committee in Support of the Palestinian People.

Please read this to learn more. And for instructions on how to transfer credit.

The new numbers:

Etisalat
0114778590
0116944568

Mobinil
0128164634
0129730075
0180214298
0181693224
0186168596
0189313542

Vodafone
0107247768
0194713596

There are more numbers posted earlier of people that still need your help.

There are more than 100 injured Palestinians in Egyptian hospitals. Most of them suffered difficult, life-threatening, disabling or disfiguring injuries and they speak of horror stories.

I personally met some of them in three different hospitals. Many of the casualties are civilians including children.

The attacks on Gaza didn't discriminate between civilians or non-civilians.

You can help the injured from Gaza by transfering mobile credit to their phones. A one minute phone call to Gaza costs around 5 EGPs.

All the patients are accompanied by only one family member or a relative. They were quickly transfered from the overwhelmed hospitals in Gaza to Egyptian hospitals. They didn't have much time to take clothes or enough money with them.

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