8 July
Note to readers,
I now announce the launch of a new Substack newsletter devoted to keeping readers up-to-date on events in occupied Palestine: West Bank Alerts.
Since returning from the West Bank at the end of May, I have received almost weekly updates from friends and contacts there who describe a rapidly deteriorating situation. These missives arrive by text and email. More than once I’ve received phone calls. They include heart wrenching descriptions—a 7-year-old beaten by Israeli soldiers—and often include videos and pictures: burned olive groves, destroyed homes, settlers and Israeli Occupation Forces raiding villages.
As these updates arrive, as several did while I was working on my first two articles for the Palestinian Voices series, my emotions fluctuate between rage and grief.
It has seemed to me that a new and unexpected responsibility has landed in my lap: to find a way to report on these situations and events as they happen. It has taken me several weeks to determine the best way to do this.
West Bank Alerts will focus solely on presenting updates from my sources in Palestine. These will be brief news flashes rather than lengthy essays. Publication will depend upon the flow of reportage coming from Palestine and my work load. I will do my best to keep as current as possible.
West Bank Alerts is an experiment, very much a work in progress. I was not trained as a journalist, and I thank you for your patience and support as, together I hope, we navigate this new terrain. Your input and comments will be welcome.
I assume this additional work with a sense of urgency. Every one of us is now called upon to do all that we can to support the cause of freedom and justice for the people of Palestine.
Thank you,
— C. M.
Note: All work published on West Bank Alerts is freely available. If you wish to monetarily support this work you can “upgrade” to a paid subscription. Or, you can make a donation through PayPal, using my name: Cara MariAnna. If you prefer not to receive West Bank Alerts, you may unsubscribe at any time or email me and I will remove your address: winterwheat7@gmail.com.
thank you!
much needed first hand unfiltered news....
Thanks, C.M. I've just been reading a SMH/The Age report of the current PM of Australia going off his brain at a Holocaust Museum - announcing a special appointment of a woman a Ms SEGAL - to an Anti-semitism post - herself of significant Jewish citizen status - along with his shock at the rise of anti-semitism - without explaining how anyone criticising the genocide being carried out against Gaza and now moving into the Occupied territories. (Thousands of Palestinian hostages locked up in Israeli dungeons is how I heard Aaron Maté describe it - over 600 Palestinians killed since October) is counted as being anti-semitic - the same kinds of tactics as used by the Starmerites to get rid of Jeremy Corbyn as the leader of the British Labour Party in Opposition after five years at the helm - back in 2020. I am shocked. Though already I have been deleted from LinkedIn for having called the Zionist Israeli IDF monsters for their slaughter of men, women and children in Gaza. There has been a show of support after I was contacted by an on-line friend who couldn't find my account - and after explaining she posted something which had six people protesting. Kind of the friend and of those brave souls who spoke up. Maybe they'll have all been deleted, too? Your work is very important - to us way beyond the sphere trying to put out the spot fires of Zionist "hasbara" propaganda and lies in our own communities. You give us the information we need to refute the nonsense! Thank-you.