Restless Clouds

If you’re reading this in North America, you might think of me as being in the same Over There as Iran and Iraq. In light of this past week’s events Over There, you might have been worried about my safety. Thank you. I am grateful for friends who are concerned about me.

Unlike many Iraqis, I was in no immediate personal danger from the U.S. operation against Iran and the subsequent response. If university had been in session this week, I probably would have stayed off campus for a day or two on the advice of my embassy point person. There is a culture of political activism on campuses in Palestine—think “Young Hamas” or “Young PFLP” instead of “Young Republicans” or “College Dems,” but more widespread and stronger. Student-led protests may have been organized, which may have resulted in suppressive action (e.g. tear gas) by Israeli forces. It is probably this latter that would have posed the most danger to me if I had been in the vicinity.

I think it would be foolish to believe that the consequences of Soleimani’s assassination are done rippling through the region. (So please feel free to remain worried about me—but not too much!) And I’m sad to admit there’s a deeply cynical part of me that wonders if Netanyahu, who is facing charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, is planning some distraction for the weeks leading up to the third iteration of Israeli legislative elections on March 2; a win for his party could buy him time to avoid trial.

(As I confirmed that date, I learned that Avi Berkowitz, Jared Kushner’s assistant for Trump’s so-called peace plan, visited Israel to talk with Netanyahu on the 6^th and rival Benny Gantz on the 7^th. Some Israeli officials speculate that the U.S. will release the political portion of the plan before the elections; this would likely benefit Netanyahu. And why not speculate? Trump could do anything.)

But the point of this post is supposed to be that life in Palestine and Israel seems to have proceeded normally this past week. From a security stand point, according to the weekly email briefing I get on Thursdays, this included Israeli taxi driver protests, inter-family feuding with guns, Israeli security forces beating and arresting Palestinians outside Al-Aqsa Mosque, and similar actions against Palestinians. The only out-of-the ordinary events were the deaths of one Israeli and one Palestinian in flash floods. I live near the top of a big hill, so I was safe.