My Story by Rod Everett
Lancaster Palestine Action support
I am an organic farmer from Roeburndale with lots of apple trees, ancient semi natural woodland and a few sheep. I am also a permaculture design tutor.
I have become involved in action for Palestine because meeting Palestinians at Permaculture gatherings many years ago and hearing about farmers whose water tanks being shot at and water pipes destroyed, making growing crops very difficult. The Israeli destruction of 300 year old olive trees that have been looked after by the same Palestinian family for many generation and then the land being built on by Illegal settlers. The land grab that has stolen 237km 2 since the beginning of this year. This injustice is difficult to understand.
My wife Jane has been following Palestine for years and keeps me up to date with the horrific events happening in Gaza that are supported by our UK government.
The recent genocide and specific stories make by heart so sad. These are some of the despicable actions that throw my people care sensitivity into action: 4 years ago a young girl lost her arm when she was given a toy at Eid that contained a bomb. The starving boy who found a tin of food and when he opened it he lost limbs. The drones that give out a screaming child and a woman calling for help and then kills everyone who comes to help. The top surgeon who was operating on a patient and refused to leave when asked to by an Israeli soldier. Both of his knees where destroyed and his team had to operate on him. Then 3 days later he was arrested and taken to Israel as a prisoner and only given a carton of orange juice every other day for around 30 days. He was then released and crawled back to his hospital. He also lost an eye. The starvation and restriction of water for Palestinians in Gaza, the West bank and for the 9,000+ prisoners/hostages held in Israeli jails is an appalling reflection on humanity.
What deal ties the UK government to support this genocide? Is it the Palestinian oil and gas, or is it an alternative route, instead of the Suez canal, or is it the weapon sales that our country channels through Israel. Both the conservative government and now the Labour government have been funded, or is the word politically captured, by Israeli money.
My only hope is that the world will become a caring place as more people become aware of the apartheid genocide in Palestine, and that it brings about a massive change that will take the world away from greed towards a thriving world where everyone cares.