Scenic route along the Garden State Parkway of New Jersey in Cape May County | by Boston Public Library

Scenic route along the Garden State Parkway of New Jersey in Cape May County: postcard, issued c. 1930-1945 (The Tichnor Brothers Collection, Boston Public Library)

Route 3 and lonely
cloudless sky except for
virgin clouds like irregular cocoons,
but in the distant east
an army of wormy clouds
white caterpillars
strung along southward

River's quiet million ripples
generated by north wind

O rivers oceans spurning
O oceans joining oceans
O spark of living motion
in holy ecstasy
Set us free, set us free
like rivers to the sea

Joseph Ceravolo (1934-1988): October 5, 1986, from Collected Poems, 2012

New Jersey State Route 3: photo by Doug Kerr, 1 July 2011

New Jersey State Route 3: photo by Doug Kerr, 17 March 2012

"Set us free, set us free"

A Palestinian young woman from the Birzeit University looks on during clashes with Israeli security forces in Beit El, on the outskirts of the West Bank city of Ramallah, on Wednesday: photo by Abbas Momani/AFP, 7 October 2015

New unrest hits Israel, West Bank despite calls for calm: image via Agence France-Presse @AFP 7 October 2015

Palestinian stone throwers wounded by 'undercover Israelis': image via Agence France-Presse @AFP 7 October 2015

#Jerusalem sees rising tension in recent weeks: image via Reuters Top News @Reuters 7 October 2015

#Jerusalem sees rising tension in recent weeks: image via Reuters Top News @Reuters, 7 October 2015

Israeli border policeman uses pepper spray on a Palestinian man during clashes near Arab East Jerusalem

An Israeli border policeman uses pepper spray on a Palestinian man during clashes near the Arab East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Wadi al-Joz, on Friday: photo by Ammar Awad/Reuters, 2 October 2015

AFP Israeli photographer Menahem Kahana is roughed up by by an Israeli policeman at a demonstration. By @TomCOEX #AFP: image by AFP Photo Department @AFPphoto, 4 October 2015

Jews and Arabs worlds apart in Jerusalem's Old City: image by Agence France-Presse @AFP 5 October 2015

Arab women march in the old city of #Jerusalem to condemn the blockade of al-Aqsa mosque: image via Palestine Social @PalestineSocial, 4 October 2015

Netanyahu vows 'fight to death' as clashes spread after attacks: image by Agence France-Presse @AFP 5 October 2015

#Jerusalem #Palestinian correspondent Hana Hammad live after Israeli soldiers fired gas bomb on her face: image via souamesfarah @souamesfarah, 4 October 2015

Arab-Israeli TV journalist goes back on air after being hit by stun grenade: Hanna Mahameed continues broadcast with head bandaged hours after being wounded during clash between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters in east Jerusalem: Dugald Baird and Agencies, The Guardian, 5 October 2015

Tributes have been paid to the bravery of Arab-Israeli TV journalist Hanna Mahameed, who went on air shortly after being hit in the face by a stun grenade during a clash between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters in east Jerusalem.

Mahameed, who works for Lebanese-based Al-Mayadeen TV, was allegedly hit by a projectile grenade fired by Israeli police on Sunday.

Footage showed Mahameed screaming in pain and her flak jacket being ripped off, before she was taken to hospital to be treated for burns to her face.

She later appeared on air with much of her face covered in bandages.

A Palestinian boy sleeps on a mattress inside the remains of his family's house, that witnesses said was destroyed by Israeli shelling during a 50-day war in 2014 summer, during a sandstorm in Gaza September 8, 2015. A heavy sandstorm swept across parts of the Middle East on Tuesday, killing two people and hospitalising hundreds in Lebanon and disrupting fighting and air strikes in neighbouring Syria. Clouds of dust also engulfed Israel, Jordan and Cyprus where aircraft were diverted to Paphos from Larnaca airport as visibility fell to 500 metres

A Palestinian boy sleeps on a mattress inside the remains of his family’s house, that was destroyed by Israeli shelling during a 50-day war in 2014 summer, during a sandstorm in Gaza on Tuesday: photo by Suhaib Salem/Reuters, 8 September 2015

Israel razes homes of Palestinian militants in Jerusalem: image via Reuters Top News @Reuters, 6 October 2015

Palestinian protester uses a sling to hurl stones towards Israeli troops during clashes near the Jewish settlement of Bet El, near the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah...A Palestinian protester uses a sling to hurl stones towards Israeli troops during clashes near the Jewish settlement of Bet El, near the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah October 5, 2015. Violence intensified in Jerusalem and the West Bank on Sunday after Israelis were targeted in two stabbing attacks and a Palestinian was killed in a clash with Israeli troops, officials said

A Palestinian protester uses a sling to hurl stones towards Israeli troops during clashes near the Jewish settlement of Bet El, near the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah on Monday: photo by Mohamad Torokman/Reuters, 5 October 2014

WEST BANK : A Palestinian youth hurls rocks at Israeli soldiers during clashes near Ramallah. By Abbas Momani #AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 5 October 2015

Clashes at the Qalandia checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah #WestBank. By Abbas Momani #AFP: image via AFP Photo Department @AFPphoto, 6 October 2015

Clashes at the Qalandia checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah #WestBank. By Hazem Bader #AFP: image via AFP Photo Department @AFPphoto, 6 October 2015

Palestinians clash with Israeli security forces in east Jerusalem: photo by Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via the Guardian, 5 October 2015

The Palestine Red Crescent Society has declared a level 3 state of emergency in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in response to increased attacks by Israeli soldiers and illegal settlers against Palestinians: photo via Friends of Al-Aqsa, 6 October 2015

As unrest spreads, Israel demolishes homes of two Palestinians behind attacks on Israelis: image via Agence France-Presse @AFP, 6 October 2015

An Israeli border policeman speaks to a Palestinian man near the scene of a stabbing in Jerusalem’s Old City. According to Israeli police, a Palestinian woman attacked an Israeli man with a knife, the man was carrying a gun and shot the woman: photo by Lior Mizrahi via The Guardian, 7 October 2015

Israeli forces detained 6 Palestinians children in Baitonia town shortly before ..#IntifadaAlAqsa #WestBank: image via Said Shoaib / Gaza #saidshouib, 5 October 2015

Palestinians in the West Bank village of Duma watched and attended the funeral of Ali Saad Dawabsha, the 18-month-old child killed in an arson attack in Nablus about 30 miles north of Jerusalem: photo by Thomas Coex/Agence France-Presse 31 July 2015

Muslim worshipers, guarded by Israeli police, pray on the streets of the Wadi al-Joz neighborhood in east Jerusalem, following restrictions by Israeli police to only allow men above 50-year-old to access the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound: photo by Jack Guez/AFP, 31 July 2015

'Those disguised as Arabs'

Disguised as stone-throwers, infiltrators open fire on Palestinians: image via Agence France-Presse @AFP, 7 October 2015

Infiltrated members of the Israeli security forces detain a Palestinian stone thrower and aim their weapons at fellow protesters during clashes in Beit El, on the outskirts of the West Bank city of Ramallah, on October 7, 2015 (AFP / Abbas Momani)

Infiltrated members of the Israeli security forces detain a Palestinian stone thrower and aim their weapons at protesters during clashes in Beit El, on the outskirts of the West Bank city of Ramallah: photo by Abbas Momani / AFP, 7 October 2015

'Those disguised as Arabs': Andrea Bernardi, AFP Correspondent / behind the news, 7 October 2015

Ramallah, October 7, 2015 -- It's fairly common to see Israeli agents infiltrate the crowds of Palestinian stone throwers during demonstrations. I've witnessed this plenty of times in Jerusalem. The goal of these "mustarabiin” -- literally "those who disguise themselves as Arabs" -- is to stop the protesters. They usually take out their weapons without using them, or, more often, point them into the sky, as if they were about to shoot into the air.

But today, I filmed these undercover agents for the first time firing live bullets into a crowd of protesters.

I showed up to cover a "Day of Rage" that Palestinian students staged at the Bir Zeit University in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank. At the end of the demonstration, the protesters headed toward the DCO checkpoint near the Bet-El settlement, which has often been the scene of clashes between the two sides.

The students started throwing stones at Israeli soldiers, taking cover behind trash bins. As usual, the soldiers responded with rubber bullets and tear gas.

The clash began to get very violent and, not wanting to risk getting hit by a projectile from either side, I walked over to the side of the road, next to AFP photographer Abbas Momani about 10 meters away.

I put my camera on a tripod and continued to film the scene.

Suddenly we saw four masked men who had been throwing stones with the others take out guns from their waistbands and three others who rushed toward a demonstrator.

There were screams, most of the Palestinians ran away as fast as they could and the Israeli agents opened fire as stones flew toward them.

Israeli soldiers and infiltrated members of the Israeli security forces detain a Palestinian stone thrower during clashes in Beit El, on the outskirts of the West Bank city of Ramallah, on October 7, 2015 (AFP / Abbas Momani)

Infiltrated members of the Israeli security forces detain a Palestinian stone thrower during clashes in Beit El, on the outskirts of the West Bank city of Ramallah: photo by Abbas Momani / AFP, 7 October 2015

Some fired in the air, but others clearly targeted the Palestinian demonstrators. One of the youths was hit in the back of the head.

As you can see in the video, the Israeli agents punched and kicked the protester they caught. Then the Israeli soldiers who had been several dozen metres away arrived as backup.

Three young Palestinians who were captured after being wounded were dragged away and treated by military doctors near the army vehicles, where my colleague Abbas Momani could photograph them from up close.

I stayed a bit further away, as I was afraid of getting my camera confiscated by the soldiers –- recently our team was assaulted by Israeli soldiers as we covered clashes in the West Bank and my equipment had been destroyed.

Israely soldiers detain a wounded Palestinian stone thrower during clashes in Beit El, on the outskirts of the West Bank city of Ramallah, on October 7, 2015 (AFP / Abbas Momani)

Israeli security forces detain a Palestinian stone thrower during clashes in Beit El, on the outskirts of the West Bank city of Ramallah: photo by Abbas Momani / AFP, 7 October 2015

Today's video is composed of two parts. The first lasts about 10 seconds and shows one of the undercover agents, the one with the yellow shirt, circulate in the middle of the group of Palestinians, and another throw stones toward the soldiers. The second part starts at the moment when the Israeli agents take out their weapons. Some 30 seconds passed in between the two parts. But since nothing much happened during this time, I wasn’t filming.

The agents had arrived after the clashes had started and had been among the protesters for a while before making themselves known. It was impossible for the protesters to recognise the enemy was among them -- during West Bank clashes everyone wears masks, be it an old T-shirt or the Palestinian keffiyeh. The agents -- be they Jews, Druze, Israeli Arabs or Bedouins -- all speak Arabic and physically look like the demonstrators.

Having arrived with their backpacks, their sneakers and bright coloured T-shirts, in Barcelona or France football jerseys, the agents blended perfectly among the student protesters. After the clash, they all walked toward the army vehicles, a green Hamas scarf still hanging from a backpocket.

Israeli soldiers and border guards stand next to a wounded Palestinian stone thrower who was shot by infiltrated members of the Israeli security forces during clashes in Beit El on October 7, 2015 (AFP / Abbas Momani)

Israeli security forces detain a Palestinian stone thrower during clashes in Beit El, on the outskirts of the West Bank city of Ramallah: photo by Abbas Momani / AFP, 7 October 2015

like rivers to the sea

Clashes with #Israeli Forces forces in #Jaffa these moments.. #IntifadaAlAqsa #Palestine: image via Said Shoaib / Gaza @saidshouib, 6 October 2015

Clashes with #Israeli Forces forces in #Jericho city today .. #IntifadaAlAqsa: image via Said Shoaib / Gaza @saidshouib, 6 October 2015

Clashes with Israeli forces near one of #Alaqsa mosque gates shortly before.. #IntifadaAlAqsa #Jerusalem #Palestine: image via Said Shoaib / Gaza @saidshouib, 6 October 2015

Clashes between Palestinians & Israeli forces south of #Qalqilya these moments.. #West Bank #Palestine #IntifadaAlAqsa #Palestine: image via Said Shoaib / Gaza @saidshouib, 6 October 2015

Clashes with Israeli forces in the north of Albeirah these moments.. #West Bank #IntifadaAlAqsa #Palestine: image via Said Shoaib / Gaza @saidshouib, 6 October 2015

Palestine Resist .. !! #IntifadaAlAqsa: image via Said Shoaib / Gaza @saidshouib, 6 October 2015

Israeli soldier fired tear gas canister then the Palestinian youth throw it back to them .. #PalestineResist: image via Said Shoaib / Gaza @saidshouib, 6 October 2015

Bethlehem youngsters defy Israeli army after teen death: image via Agence France-Presse @AFP, 6 October 2015

Ultra-Orthodox Jews celebrate Simchat Torah - ends cycle of reading the Torah - with the Hasidim dance in Jerusalem: image via Agence France-Presse @AFP, 6 October 2015

As unrest spreads, Israel demolishes homes of two Palestinians behind attacks on Israelis : image via Agence France-Presse @AFP, 6 October 2015

#WestBank: Clashes between Palestinian youths and Israeli forces in Qalandia near Ramallah. Injuries reported.: image via Syndicalist @syndicalisms, 6 October 2015

Palestinian girls in the clashes with #Israeli forces today in #Bethlehem #IntifadaAlAqsa #FreePalestine: image via Razan Tobasi @Razan_Tobasi, 6 October 2015

From Qalandya checkpoint today clashes with occupation.#IntifadaAlAqsa #FreePalestine: image via Abbas Sarsour @iFalasteen, 6 October 2015

Funeral of the martyr AbedAlrahman Obeid in #Beithlahem shortly before.. #WestBank #IntifadaAlAqsa #Palestine:image via Said Shoaib / Gaza @saidshouib, 6 October 2015

Photos of the clashes with Israeli forces in #Nablus.. #WestBank #IntifadaAlAqsa #Palestine: image via Said Shoaib / Gaza @saidshouib, 6 October 2015

Always there is time for a #Selfie: image via Hazem Balousha @iHaZeMi, 5 October 2015

Zionist Settlers storming #Alaqsa mosque with protection of Israeli Forces this morning .. #IntifadaAlAqsa: image via Said Shoaib / Gaza @saidshouib, 6 October 2015

This land for Palestinians only... Go back where you come from. .. : image via Said Shoaib / Gaza @saidshouib, 6 October 2015

Does the #3rdintifada begin ??????????: image via Mhmmd Abu Oweimer @vic2pal, 4 October 2015

6 comments:

Mose238 October 2015 at 00:48
The shifts in scale in the first stanza - clouds as cocoons or white caterpillars, armies of them - seems fitting for the asymmetry of the struggle outlined in the post. Guns against slingshots; it looks a whole lot like a third intifada.
Sandra8 October 2015 at 05:11
so beautiful and touching!
tpw8 October 2015 at 05:46
Sweet, song-like poem from Joe Ceravolo, in such stark contrast to the images. Thanks, Tom.
TC8 October 2015 at 08:09
Many thanks, Duncan, Sandra, Terry.

The second intifada (2000) was triggered by Sharon's balls-out swagger into AlAqsa, a thumb in the eye of the dominated that resulted in many deaths and much pain. The same site is now again being calculated as a lever by the occupiers. It appears very much as though I-3 has been simmering ever since July, when the beaming young vigilante nutter, evidently operating on the random space-case guided-by-voices direction of pure human malignity, burned down the Dawabsha house in Nablus with the infant in it, thus in one crazed act instantly becoming a hero to illegal settlers all about the West Bank. In fact it appears the occupiers' strategic campaign of retrospective, retributive and speculative "collective punishment", dealt out in sporadic blows upon old wounds, has been permitted to advance incrementally (and deliberatively, does it not seem), over these recent months in which the collapse of Syria and dispersal of its peoples has rightfully captured the attention of the conscious. But the Palestinian struggle continues withal, always in the hands of the youth now, and it's hard not to see that this 67 year (post-Nakba) struggle for self determination, on the part of a people transformed, like it or not, by the Catastrophe of domination, from farmers to revolutionaries, whose only weapons in the impossible struggle of resistance come from the Neolithic, must have some true fire of the spirit within it, merely to have been kept alight this long.

Long story short, I feel that same spark burning in these late Ceravolo poems, and appreciate its rarity all the more now that the poet, gone and unable to resist, has been tentatively ensconced post mortem in the blank, busy landscape of official, approved pennclown pomo "experimentalism", a tight little box that would choke and suffocate any accidental glimmer of spirit that snuck in during the night.
vazambam (Vassilis Zambaras)8 October 2015 at 09:43
TERPSICHORE IN PALESTINE

Jerusalem Jews jump
For joy roll on
The floor and dance—

Palestinians stare
At the rubble round them
As if in a trance.
TC8 October 2015 at 11:45
The writing on those pulverized walls might have become illegible long since, but the drift, or "project" as I suppose it would be called now, will always remain the same, the basic aim of selfdetermination as a people, as humans neither terrorists nor victims, recognized and acknowledged by other humans as such... an aim that may be wildly unrealistic and utopian in that it presupposes the others in the picture are indeed humans, not merely brutal territorial/tribalist beasts with the systematic extermination of those hated and feared as their particular project.

For So It Has Been Written...

TOM CLARK

Wednesday, 7 October 2015

Joseph Ceravolo: October 5, 1986 ("Set us free, set us free")

Arab-Israeli TV journalist goes back on air after being hit by stun grenade: Hanna Mahameed continues broadcast with head bandaged hours after being wounded during clash between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters in east Jerusalem: Dugald Baird and Agencies, The Guardian, 5 October 2015

6 comments: