Nasrallah Family to Visit Olympia

author : Jennifer Zahn Spieler topic : Palestine | Rachel Corrie | Rafah

by Jennifer Zahn Spieler

[Reprinted with permission from The Sitting Duck.]

Most people know how Rachel Corrie was killed: she was crushed by an Israeli bulldozer. But why she was in front of "that bulldozer" is often overlooked.

Television commentator Ken Schram, in a 216-word rant against the Corries' decision to sue Caterpillar Inc (manufacturer of the bulldozer), has said Rachel was killed " . . . as she defiantly stood in front of a home that the Israeli military was in the process of demolishing." Schram's phrasing suggests the place was vacant.

Only it wasn't. A pharmacist, Dr Samir Nasrallah, lived on the main floor with his wife and three children; upstairs were his brother, Khaled Nasrallah, with his wife and two daughters. All were displaced when the home was demolished.

The Nasrallahs are the family Rachel Corrie died to protect. Who are they? Olympians will soon have the opportunity to find out. Three members of the family are coming to Olympia through the efforts of the Rachel Corrie Rebuilding Alliance Project in Gaza.

Khaled Nasrallah, his wife Samah, and baby daughter Sama will appear at St John's Episcopal Church June 18.

Rachel Corrie's mother, says that Olympians can show the Nasrallahs that Americans care about their plight.

"By our being there we send a message that we are paying attention, that we care about what happened," Cindie Corrie said.

Craig Corrie, Rachel's father, has tried to imagine what it would be like to live in Gaza, which is under constant siege. He and Cindy spent six days there in 2003 following Rachel's death.

"Of all feelings, the worst must be the feeling of abandonment," Mr Corrie said.

Mr Nasrallah is an accountant; Samah is studying to become a teacher. Their daughters Noor and Maryam will remain in Gaza with relatives during this trip.

Olympia is one stop on a three-week journey that will also take the family to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle, and then on to the Midwest. There will be educational fundraisers at each stop. The Rebuilding Alliance hopes to raise $40,000 to rebuild the Nasrallah home. Dr Samir's family will help to reunite everyone under one roof.

Donna Schumann, along with her husband Mark Brodeck, were contacted by ther alliance to arrange the event. Ms Schumann said she has "no idea" how they got her name, but assumes it must have been as a result of contacts made while traveling in the Middle East. When she spoke with The Sitting Duck, Ms Schumann was excited to report that the Nasrallahs had been granted visas by the US.

"Of course, they still have to be able to get out of Gaza," she said.

Palestinians must pass through Israeli checkpoints in order leave the Occupied Territories; often, they are arbitrarily denied exit.

The Corries believe rebuilding the Nasrallah home is an important first step in restoring some sense of normalcy to the family's life.

"The process of rebuilding is central for healing," said Craig Corrie. "How it's done is so important. You can't just throw something up and stuff people into it. There has to be some dignity."

Meet the Nasrallahs

Khaled, Samah and Sama Nasrallah will be at St. John's Episcopal Church

114 20th Ave SE, Olympia

June 18, 2005, 7:00 p.m.

Admission is by donation

Event co-sponsors are the Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace & Justice, the Olympia Friends Meeting, Fellowship of Reconciliation, the Olympia-Rafah Sister City Project, Veterans for Peace -- Rachel Corrie Chapter, and St John's Episcopal Church