A00244 - Fatima Bernawi, The First Female Palestinian Resistance Organizer
March is Women's History Month
and on March 11, Ramadan began
Ramadan was the time when it was hoped that the Israel-Hamas War would be paused for humanitarian reasons
but it was not.
In a previous email (see below), I discuss the legacy of the 1948 Deir Yassin Massacre which gave rise to the Nakba. Sadly, the 75th-year anniversary of the Nakba has predictably proven to be woefully tragic.
As a student of history, I sense that the result of this latest episode of the Nakba will not bring peace but will produce a generation of young Palestinians who are committed to resist.
One example of such historical resistance fighters created by the Nakba was Fatima Bernawi
I encourage everyone to become aware of her story. I found it intriguing not just because she was the first Palestinian woman to organize a resistance attack in Israel, but also because she was a Black Palestinian.
As a student of history, I become very sad when I see history repeating itself in a manner that will only create a new generation of Fatima Bernawis. That was the legacy of the Deir Yassin Massacre and, ultimately, it will be the legacy of the Israel-Hamas War.
In the meanwhile, while the garden of thorns continues to be nourished, I simply continue to pray for the seeds of
Peace,
Everett "Skip" Jenkins
Fairfield, California
March 13, 2024
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: skipjen2865@aol.com <skipjen2865@aol.com>
To:
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2023 at 03:08:47 AM PST
Subject: The Legacy of Deir Yassin
I have now watched the Frontline episode entitled "Netanyahu, America & the Road to War in Gaza". I also watched the companion episode "Failure at the Fence"
Both Frontline episodes are chilling documentaries about the failures of leadership and the false promises of security.
Despite the thoroughness of the two documentaries, my study of history tells me that the story behind October 7 does not rest solely on the failures of Netanyahu. My study of history tells me that the story behind October 7 goes back some 75 years now.
I again call everyone's attention to the Wikipedia article about the Nakba and note the following passage
The central facts of the Nakba in 1948 are not disputed.[29] Approximately 750,000 Palestinians--over 80% of the population in what would become Israel--were expelled or fled from their homes and became refugees in neighboring states.[30] Cities such as Tiberias, Haifa, Safed, Jaffa, Acre, and Beersheba,[31] and hundreds of towns and villages, were destroyed or depopulated.[32] Thousands of Palestinians were killed in dozens of massacres,[33] including at Deir Yassin,[34] Tantura,[35] Lydda and Ramle,[36] Safsaf,[37] and Dawayima.[38]
And in particular, I call everyone's attention to the Wikipedia article concerning the massacre of Palestinians at Deir Yassin
a massacre that included the wanton killing of men, women and children and included the sexual violation of some of the Palestinian women. It was these series of massacres and sexual atrocities that, in part, fueled the flight of the Palestinians from their native lands.
The Nakba chronicles the 75-year history of the red stain on human history that has been the Israeli-Palestinian problem. And given the current catastrophe that is the War in Gaza, this anniversary year will go down as the reddest of them all.
However, if there is any positive note in history it is this: The leader of the Israeli forces that were responsible for the Deir Yassin massacre was a certain Menachem Begin. Begin praised the massacre. According to Wikipedia,
Begin hailed the taking of Deir Yassin as a "splendid act of conquest" that would serve as a model for the future: in a note to his commanders he wrote: "Tell the soldiers: you have made history in Israel with your attack and your conquest. Continue thus until victory. As in Deir Yassin, so everywhere, we will attack and smite the enemy. God, God, Thou has chosen us for conquest."[80]
This same Menachem Begin would one day become the Prime Minister of Israel and thirty years after the Deir Yassin massacre, he would receive the Nobel Peace Prize for reaching an accord with his fellow recipient, Anwar Sadat of Egypt.
Perhaps, in some cruel twist of fate, the outcome of this bloodiest year will have a similar result. Perhaps one day an Israeli prime minister will sit across the table from a leader from Hamas to craft a final accord on a two-state solution that at long last creates a legitimate Palestinian state.
It may not be in my lifetime, but I believe such a day will come. After all, I am, and always will be, a believer in
Peace,
Everett "Skip" Jenkins
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: skipjen2865@aol.com <skipjen2865@aol.com>
To:
Sent: Friday, December 15, 2023 at 03:39:52 AM PST
Subject: Must See TV for December 2023: PBS: Frontline: Netanyahu, America & the Road to War in Gaza
For the Month of December 2023, the Must See TV program is the PBS Frontline program "Netanyahu, America & the Road to War in Gaza"
The program is set to air next week on your local PBS station and I would encourage you to watch. I know I will.
Also, I encourage everyone to learn about the Nakba
The Nakba began 75 years ago, and from the perspective of many, continues to this day.
Peace .... Please,
Everett "Skip" Jenkins
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: skipjen2865@aol.com <skipjen2865@aol.com>
To:
Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at 06:13:05 AM PST
Subject: Must See TV for November 2023: PBS: Frontline: Shattered Dreams of Peace: The Road From Oslo
For the Month of November 2023, the Must See TV program is the PBS Frontline program "Shattered Dreams of Peace: The Road From Oslo". The program is actually a review of events from 20 years ago. However, by watching the events from the past one can see the seeds for the garden of thorns being sewn. Today, the thorns are being reaped and, perhaps, even more thorn seeds are being sewn.
Thankfully, ten thousand years from now, our successors will look back on these times ... and not remember that these times existed at all.
That may be the ultimate blessing that God can bestow.
Peace,
Everett "Skip" Jenkins
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: skipjen2865@aol.com <skipjen2865@aol.com>
To:
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 04:46:30 AM PDT
Subject: Must See TV for October 2023: PBS: The American Buffalo: A Film by Ken Burns
For the Month of October 2023, the Must See TV program is The American Buffalo, a film by Ken Burns. The two-part, four-hour program is airing on PBS this week. Please catch it, if you can ... and please contemplate how the exploitative impulses that are chronicled in the program are still present today.
Peace,
Everett "Skip" Jenkins
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