Student Merna Foils Israeli Bid to Wreck Family’s Education Hopes

................Their latest includes the heart-rending story of a young
girl, Merna, an honors student in her final year majoring in English. For most
people studying for a degree is tough enough, but this youngster also has to
battle against armed intruders who invade her home and have systematically
destroyed her family life.
Merna is described by the Brothers as “a joyful
and engaging person, full of life and love”. The tragedy is that Israeli
soldiers frequently rampage through her refugee camp in the middle of the night
and have taken away her loved ones, one by one. From childhood Merna remembers
the constant night raids and soldiers randomly searching Palestinian homes,
ransacking their contents and arbitrarily arresting residents. She remembers,
too, her home being bombarded with missiles fired from Gilo, an illegal Israeli
settlement outside Bethlehem.
Merna’s family, like thousands of others, became refugees when their village was attacked by Jewish terrorist forces in 1948. The villagers were forced to flee to a camp in Bethlehem where they remain to this day, unable to return to their old homes.
In 2003 her 14-year-old cousin and best friend was shot dead by an Israeli sniper while sitting outside her family home during a curfew.
In 2004, the Israelis arrested her eldest brother, a 22 year-old artist who designed posters and banners for university student groups. They accused him of taking part in student political activities, which can mean anything from running for student council to organizing speaking events, and for this he spent 4 years in prison.
In 2007, they came back for Merna’s 18-year-old brother. He is still incarcerated under ‘administrative detention’, which means he hasn’t been charged or sentenced for any crime because the Israeli military claims to have secret evidence, which only a military judge can see. The Israelis use this device to lock up Palestinians — mostly students — for up to 6 months, to be renewed if the mood takes them. Merna’s 19 year-old cousin is also in prison waiting to be charged with a ‘crime’.
Then a few months ago the military came again, this time to take her youngest brother. Merna was in despair. He had only just turned 16. “As he was being taken away, he told us to take care of ourselves,” said Merna, her eyes brimming with tears. “He’s my little brother! He is the one who needs taking care of. What is he doing in an awful prison cell and how are his spirits?”

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http://dissidentvoice.org/2009/04/student-merna-foils-israeli-bid-to-wreck-family%E2%80%99s-education-hopes/