UPDATE: GREEN PLATE, YELLOW PLATE

The first shooting on the 27^th of May 2008

Rifat and Mikado had met in the AIC office in Beit Sahour to plan their journey. This meeting was shot by the crew. They discussed the one state verses several states solution, settlements, the wall, the check points. They agreed that each other will stop by the post office in the city or the settlement to send each others postcards.

The race on the 1^st of June:

The two drivers will be provided by:

- an Israeli and a Palestinian road maps.

- 2 mobile phones to keep in touch with each others.

- Palestinian and Israeli stamps for postcards

- Pens, Envelopes (when there aren’t postcards available) and papers.

- 2 Clocks.

- The 2 drivers will arrive to the starting point with the fuel reservoir full

- A rented car for Rifat and Mikado will use his own car

Rules at the starting point

Each driver will arrive with his car to the starting point.

The 2 cars will stop next to each other ready to start.

Meeting at the starting point in the deep south of Hebron at 6.30 am

Interview with the 2 drivers 6.30 am

Departure 7.00 am

The two drivers will present themselves: where they live, their jobs, how they know each other, if they know or not the roads and the places they will visit.

Look at their maps and check the itinerary. They will describe again what they will do and where they will meet at the end of the journey. They will shake their hands and go.

The 2 cameramen will film their departure.

The two drivers will stop after 50 meters and wait for the cameramen.

After starting, the drivers should check the km counter; they will check the km counter also at the ending point.

There will be one Italian passenger in the back seat in each car to remind the drivers and cameramen of the rules of the game.

Rules during the race

Each driver will follow his itinerary without advice from the cameraman. If he will get lost, he will look at the map and ask for advice from people on the road.

Each driver will try to follow the shortest way. If there is a checkpoint, he will try to pass it.

The two drivers know few details about check points. May be the Palestinian driver knows that he can’t enter some of them. But it’s really true? Let’s check! (But the final decision is up to him).

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The two drivers should explain everything. Is not enough to say; “I can’t pass through this checkpoint”. Who doesn’t allow you? Why aren’t you allowed, since when, only you, or every Palestinian/Israeli? If you try to pass, what will happen to you?

Nablus: Rifat will try to enter by his car. If he will not be able to enter Nablus or other Palestinian cities he should leave the car outside the checkpoint and enter on foot. Inside, he can take a Taxi or service in order to reach the post office. Then, he can return to take the car.

Problems with the car: The Israeli and Palestinian driver will look for help as quickly as they can. If they can’t find help, they will leave the car and go on by public transport or hitch-hiking (but green plate for the Palestinian, yellow plate for the Israeli!).

If one driver will be forced by soldiers to leave the car, he will go on by hitch-hiking or by public transport. The aim is to reach the ending point as soon as possible.

Stop for lunch: 30 min maximum.

Postcards: each driver will try to buy a postcard of the city/settlement and go to the post office/mailbox to send it. If there will be no postcard available he will send an envelope with a short sentence or a Polaroid to his friend (the other driver). On each postcard/letter the driver should write the exact time he reaches the city. The cameramen should film the clock.

Pick up hitch-hikers: the two drivers should pick up at least 1 hitch-hiker and discuss with him/her in English (if he/she can speak English) or in Hebrew/Arabic.

Rules at the ending point

When each driver will arrive, he will check the time and the km.

The driver, who arrives first, should wait for the other as long as he can. Then he should call his friend and explain that he is leaving and why.

A short interview to conclude his journey and his feelings will be conducted. What has he learned from the journey? Has his vision been changed?

Will it be possible a two state solution on this land?

GREEN PLATE, YELLOW PLATE

A race through the West Bank

Roads in the West Bank are not open to everybody. The possibility to move depends on:

· Who you are?

· Which plate do you have on your car (yellow for Israelis, green for WB Palestinians)?

· Which ID do you have (blue for Israelis, green for WB Palestinians)?

The documentary "Green plate, yellow plate" is a race through the West Bank by two cars: one with yellow plate driven by MR. Michael Warschawski (Mikado) and one with green plate driven by Mr. Rifat Odeh Kassis, with green ID. Rifat will visit the main Palestinian cities in the West Bank, driving from south to north. Mikado will visit the main settlements near Palestinian cities.

The starting point will be in the south of the West Bank MEITAR checkpoint in Hebron area and the end of the journey will be in the North (Jenin area). On each car there will be an Italian cameraman who will shoot everything happening during the journey. The two drivers will keep in touch by mobile phone.

Which driver will arrive first? What will happen?

WHY?

Israeli and Palestinians are negotiating the creation of a Palestinian State in the West Bank. Israel pretends that the main settlements should stay and be annexed to Israel. Will this allow the creation of a viable Palestinian state?

When: Sunday the 1^st of June 2008

THE ROAD

- Maitar check point (starting point) I & P

- Al Khalil (P) – Hebron Old city (I)

- Bethlehem (P) – Jerusalem (I)

- Ramallah (P), Pisgaat Zeev or Beit El (I)

- Salfit (P) – Ariel (I)

- Nablus (P) – Qedumim or Al Badhan (I)

- Jenin (P) – Mevo Dotan (I)

- Salem checkpoint on the northern border between WB and Israel (I & P),

THE 2 DRIVERS

MR. Michael Warschawski is an Israeli activist and co-chairman of Alternative Information Centre (AIC)

Mr. Rifat Odeh Kassis is a Palestinian activist, president of International Executive Council of Defence for Children International

DIRECTORS

Luca Cusani

He has worked for the Italian television realizing social documentaries about different subjects such as life in prison, politics and sports. He is now producing educational videos for Italian NGOs about medical war problems and migrations.

Francesco Cannito

As a freelance he works in advertising and in television documentaries (“Giallo Uno” and “Il Bivio” - ITALIA UNO). Among the shortfilms, “Regalo di compleanno” won the Cinecittà Digital Prize and “Neon” was awarded at the Genova Film Festival, and at Venezia Circuito Off. Recently he completed the documentary “Water Not Included”, a production supported by ECHO (European Office of Humanitarian Aid – European Unoin), shot in the West Bank.

AUTHOR

Michela Sechi

Journalist, editor for Italian newspapers and magazines, she is part of the editorial staff of Radio Popolare in Milan. As a reporter in Israel, West Bank and Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Egypt she has been covering the main political events in the Middle East during the last 8 years. As a freelance she writes for D (“La Repubblica”’s magazine) and for the Swiss Radio (RTSI).

Marwan Birthday

Happy Birthday Marwan,

 

wish you success in your final exams,

and happy days during this long school vacation. 

 

Your Uncle

Hani

Happy Birthday Marwan

Happy 13th anniversary Marwan.

Good, for Saif we could explain what he can do with 16, but with 13, you can make much more interesting things, for example: you can wait to be sixteen.
;-)

Enjoy your day

english letters turn arabic

have a look at this online editor, you can type in Latin letters (including numbers) and it will be transformed automatically into Arabic letters. I don't know what is it good for, but it is very interesting anyway and might be helpful especially for those without arabic keyboard.
http://www.yamli.com/editor/

internet tip

imagine a search engine (like google) but which searches for music to download or videos, radios, software and documents directly. I actually thought always that such engine would be possible in the future. I didn't know that it exists already:

yamour.com

you need to type the keywords you search, then choose from a list what results do you want.

wonderful
try it

if you reach a site that you don't understand (like chinese for example) you just need to type "translate" in your browser, which will take you to google translate http://www.google.com/translate_t and give in the http and choose the languages

have fun

Joke

أتنين متزوجين قررو يروحو يصيفو على البحر, وبنفس الفندق يللي أضو فيه شهر العسل من عشرين سنه.بس الزوجه صار عندا شغل, وما قدرت تروح مع زوجها و قررت تلحئو بعد عدة أيام.وصل الزوج للفندق, وكان عم يوضب أغراضو بالغرفه, وبيتفاجأ بيكومبيوتر محطوط عالطاوله وفيه خط أنترنت.فخطرتلو فكره أنو يبعت أيميل لمرتويفاجأها فيه.....ولما كان عم يكتب الأدرس, خربط بحرف وانبعت الأيميل لغير شخص...وصل لوحدة أرمله كانت راجعه من دفن زوجها.ولما كانت عم تفتح أيميلا.... قرأت الأيميل المبعوت من الرجال, وصفرنت الأرمله فورا, ودخل أبنها عالغرفه وشاف أمو عالأرض لا من تما ولا من كما.والأبن اتطلع عالشاشه, وكان مايلي:زوجتي العزيزه,وصلت بخير, يمكن عم تتفاجئي لأنك عم تسمعي أخباري عن طريق الأنترنت, بس هلأ صار عندون كومبيوترات هون, وبيقدرالواحد يبعت أخبارو للأحباب, ما صرلي زمان واصل, واتأكدت أنو كل شي يكون مجهز لوقت وصولك لعندي الجمعه الجايه.أشتأتلك كتيييييييييير.... ومتشوق لشوفك, وبتمنى اتكون رحلتك مريحه. متل ماكنت رحلتي.ملاحظه: لا تجيبي معك اكتيير أواعي لأنو كتيير شوب (جهنم) لا تتأخري...'

hi dar qassis

I think you were all disturbed whenever you opened the blog from a strange warning message. The error took long time to be discovered but it is supposedly corrected already, if you still receive it please send me an email.

On this occasion I'll tell you a joke:

God called a meeting of George Bush, Putin and Bill Gates and said: "I've given you all the tools you needed to make a better world - you've blown it and I'm ending the world in two weeks."

Bush went on TV and said "I have good news and bad news. The good news is that God exists. The bad news is that the world will end in two weeks."

Putin called his advisors together and said "I have bad news and really bad news. The bad news is that God exists. The really bad news is that the world will end in two weeks."

Bill Gates called his co-workers together and said "I have good news and really good news. The good news is that God thinks I am one of the three most powerful people in the world. The really good news is that we don't have to fix the bugs in Windows Vista."

Karin Birthday

Hallo Dar Kassis,

Today is the birthday from Karin, don´t forget to wish her "Happy birthday".

Happy Birthday Karin and have a nice day, with best wish
Jamal, Kawkab, Manuela, Mia-Cheyenne, Jeremias Geronimo and Gassem

see on Sunday.........

Saif's Goal With Real Madrid

Hallo Dar Kassis

Hallo everybody of Dar Kassis,

we want to say " Hallo "

Mia-Cheyenne and Jeremias Geronimo...........

Rami Birthday- from Hani

Happy Birthday Rami,

plenty of years full of happiness , love and success.

 

كـــــــل  عـــــــام وانـــــت بخيـــــــــــــــر

نزار قباني يا تلاميذ غزة علمونا بعض ما عندكم فنحن نس

علمونا بأن نكون رجالا فلدينا الرجال صاروا عجينا

علمونا كيف الحجارة تغدو بين أيدي الأطفال ماسا ثمينا

كيف تغدو دراجة الطفل لغما وشريط الحرير يغدو كمينا

كيف مصاصة الحليب إذا ما اعتقلوها تحولت سكينا

يا تلاميذ غزة لا تبالوا بإذاعاتنا ولا تسمعونا اضربوا اضربوا بكل قواكم واحزموا أمركم ولا تسألونا

نحن أهل الحساب والجمع والطرح فخوضوا حروبكم واتركونا


إننا الهاربون من خدمة الجيش فهاتوا حبالكم واشنقونا
نحن موتى لا يملكون ضريحا ويتامى لا يملكون عيونا قد لزمنا جحورنا وطلبنا منكم أن تقاتلوا التنينا

قد صغرنا أمامكم ألف قرن وكبرتم خلال شهر قرونا
يا تلاميذ غزة لا تعودوا لكتاباتنا ولا تقرأونا

نحن آباؤكم فلا تشبهونا نحن أصنامكم فلا تعبدونا

نتعاطى القات السياسي والقمع ونبني مقابرا وسجونا
حررونا من عقدة الخوف فينا واطردوا من رؤوسنا الافيونا

علمونا فن التشبث بالأرض ولا تتركوا المسيح حزينا يا أحباءنا الصغار سلاما جعل الله يومكم ياسمينا

من شقوق الأرض الخراب طلعتم وزرعتم جراحنا نسرينا
هذه ثورة الدفاتر والحبر فكونوا على الشفاه لحونا إن هذا العصر اليهودي وهمٌ سوف ينهار لو ملكنا اليقينا

يا مجانين غزة ألف أهلا بالمجانين إن هم حررونا
إن عصر العقل السياسي ولىّ من زمان فعلمونا الجنونا

Happy Birthday Amira

Best wishes and many happy returns!
Enjoy your day!
love,
Bisan and Amjad

From Hani Hunaida Birthday

Happy Birthday Hunaida,

All the best in your work, long and good life with your family.

 

Your father

 

It seems that the month of May is full of birthdays occasion.

Family Album

Hey people,
I am back and so is the family album! Check out the two new folders. One is from Rula with pictures taken on the Greek Orthodox Palm Sunday (with also pictures of the twins. Rami, send us more of them!!). The other folder is from Hani, Nael and Debora's trip to Bielefeld.
Enjoy!
love,
Bisan

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Amani o 3ukbal 100 sana what do you have for today do you have any party ??any way enjoy it.

Happy Birthday Amani

Kol sana wentey salma ya 3am...
Enjoy your day
Salamat from Maastricht
Dafer

Happy Birthday Manuela

Happy Birthday Manuela, I wish you all the best ,success and happiness in your life, lot of fun with Gassem , children and all the family.

 

kul sana winti salma

 

hani

HapPy bIrtHDaY MaNueLa

Wish you had a wonderful day and a more wonderful year. Hope you will enjoy the song.
Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!!
Nael and Debora

Hallo Dar Kassis?????????

Hallo Dar Kassis,

what´s happend?
Today is Manuela´s birthday!
No wish´s.....?

It´s 18:20 local time.
you have 5 hour and 40 min time to send best birthday wish´s.


Happy birthday my wife and my mom.
from Gassem and the kid´s (jeremias and mia)

more from this..?

wait till Bisan is back home !

Piep piep

Hallo Dar Kassis,

Do you know what is piep piep?

If not, ask Amjad and Bissan, there will tell you the story about piep piep.
It´s a funny story,
with a mom (running in the house and call on phone "Amjad and Bissan have piep piep"
with dad ( he don´t know that is piep piep)

with a brother ( he know what is piep piep)

next on blog
the real story of piep piep
by Amjad and Bisan
c 2008

Family Album

Dear all,
I have received pictures from Rula (of the Easter) and from Nael (from their trip to Bielefeld and surroundings), but i am currently staying at uncle Jamal's house and the computer isn't the fastest... I will upload the pictures in the family album once i am back in Rotterdam...
Thanks for your patience ;)
love to all,
Bisan
P.S. Saif's leg injury is recovering, and now he has to take massages to get back to normal. He apologizes for all his fans out there, and promises to come back to the green playgrounds in the next season! 7amdilla 3ala salmtak Saif

To the citizens of the United States of America

A Message from John Cleese


In light of your failure to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately.

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except Kansas , which she does not fancy).

Your new prime minister, Gordon Brown, will appoint a governor for America without the need for further elections.

Congress and the Senate will be disbanded.

A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.

To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:

You should look up 'revocation' in the Oxford English Dictionary.

*. The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'favour' and 'neighbour.' Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without skipping half the letters, and the suffix -ize will be replaced by the suffix -ise.

Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. (look up 'vocabulary').

*. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as 'like' and 'you know' is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication.

There is no such thing as US English. We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell- checker will be adjusted to take account of the reinstated letter 'u' and the elimination of -ize. You will relearn your original national anthem, God Save The Queen.

*. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.

*. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not adult enough to be independent. Guns should only be handled by adults. If you're not adult enough to sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist then you're not grown up enough to handle a gun.

*. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. A permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.

*. All American cars are hereby banned. They are crap and this is for your own good. When we show you German cars, you will understand what we mean.

*. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.

*. The Former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling gasoline)-roughly $6/US gallon. Get used to it.

*. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with vinegar.

*. The cold tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as Lager. Australian beer is also acceptable as they are pound for pound the greatest sporting Nation on earth and it can only be due to the beer.

They are also part of British Commonwealth - see what it did for them.

*. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie McDowell attempt English dialogue in Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater.

*. You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind of proper football; you call it soccer. Those of you brave enough will,in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies). Don't try Rugby - theAustralians,South Africans and Kiwis will thrash you, like they regularly thrash us.

*. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of America . Since only 2.1% of you are aware that there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will let you face the Australiansfirst to take the sting out of their deliveries.

*. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.

*. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776).

*. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 pm with proper cups, never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes; strawberries in season.

God save the Queen.
Regards,
J.C.

joke

A little girl asked her father, 'How did the human race appear?'
The father answered, 'God made Adam and Eve and they had children and so was all mankind made.'

Two days later the girl asked her mother the same question. The mother answered, 'Many years ago there were
monkeys from which the human race evolved.'

The confused girl returned to her father and said, 'Dad how is it possible that you told me the human race was
created by God, and Mom said they developed from monkeys?' The father answered, 'Well, dear, it is very simple.
I told you about my side of the family and your mother told you about hers.'