by Lillian Rosengarten
“They towed us to Ashdot. It was brutally hot as we, four elderly Jews and our Jewish captain along with two journalists were herded from our small sail boat into a courtyard.To reach the courtyard, we were pulled one by one up a steep wall. A ladder had been removed ( odd but true) so that it became a struggle to get up. The 100 degree sun broiled over us. As I looked around, no one familiar could be seen. I was determined not to faint despite the brutal heat. I acutely felt the unfriendliness of the guards who milled about this god-awful place. I learned later that Glyn, our captain had returned to our sad boat which had been searched, torn apart from top to bottom and sniffed for drugs. Fortunately he was able to retrieve our luggage. With good foresight, Glyn had thrown all the knives and sharp instruments off the” Irene” immediately before the IDF (Israeli Navy) set foot on it.
After what seemed like over an eternity, I was taken to a makeshift tented space to be searched and questioned. My diary was confiscated and I was subject to an intimate body search and more questions until I found myself in a well guarded van with tightly closed shades. I was taken to Holon about an hour’s drive to the outskirts of Tel Aviv. as the driver and his companion played high decibel music that hurt my ears. They were unwilling to lower it. One had to acknowledge Israel as a state of mental illness. All of us four elderly Jewish passengers, two refusenik Israeli heroes, our crew, our British Jewish wonderful captain, were perceived by our jailers as no friend to Israel, but absurdly as anti-semites or possibly terrorists. Didn’t they care I was a refugee from Nazi Germany? Five elderly Jews arrested by Jews! I asked stupidly and naively, “Why?” We had longed to reach Gaza and through our communications with Eyad El Sarraj as well as other PNGO organizations,we had known preparations had been made for our arrival.
Here is a beautiful fragment of a note I had received from Dr. Sarraj (a hero, my hero,) after my deportation. I quote his beautiful words:
” We must stay on the side of justice with tolerance, love and peace for all.”
How wonderful it would have been if we had landed to express solidarity through our mutual humanity and forgiveness. This is what we had to offer., not as Jewish enemies to a population that is victim to a harsh and racist Zionist system, not as Jews who claim Palestinian land as theirs through force, violence and occupation and not as Jews who express pride in their “moral” army, an army designated to crush.
I tried to find the humanity in our jailers but saw only automatons. Accompanied by guards, I was taken to a cell and pushed in as the metal door with a small peep hole slammed shut. I was thirsty and overcome with exhaustion. The dank grey room had a locked window with bars. It smelled bad. There was a sink, toilet, dirty shower, table , chair and bunk bed.I sat on the chair, isolated and exhausted. I used the toilet and was being watched. There was no privacy. I needed to lie down for just a few minutes as fatigue overcame me. I lay down on the bunk bed, pulled a ragged shredded blanket around me and did not awaken until 4AM, disoriented and unclear as to where I was.
____________________________
About Lillian Rosengarten
“From The Shadow Of Nazi Germany To The Jewish Boat To Gaza” (unpublished) by Lillian Rosengarten. She can be reached at :truthpoem1@gmail.com
The post “Deported” appeared first on Intifada Palestine.
