By Sherri Muzher

As the Israelis prepare to withdraw from Gaza, it is inevitable to evaluate what has happened in Gaza under occupation, and what continues to happen in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. After all, there is a human price, not just for the Palestinians but also the Israelis. While there is absolutely no symmetry between a well-equipped Israeli military occupier and the occupied Palestinians who live at their mercy, the humanity of both peoples has taken beating in a chess game where each move gives short-term bragging rights. In the end, it is the people who pay a long-term human price.

For Palestinians, the cost has been a loss of human dignity and a struggle to maintain a sense of normalcy for each generation. And when you're living under an occupation that can see husbands and wives living in different regions because of Israeli government policy, normalcy can be extremely challenging.

Consider that much ado is said about the `culture of death' that has gripped Palestinian society. To a degree, that is the reality as posters of those killed during the uprising abound on buildings. However, raising children to believe that they can realise their dreams is difficult in the face of harsh occupation policies.

By Sherri Muzher

It's said that "home is where the heart is". It's also been said that "money makes the world go round". For Caterpillar shareholders, the latter truism has taken precedence as shareholders voted on April 13 against a resolution that would have directed the heavy equipment manufacturer to investigate the use of its bulldozers by the Israeli army to demolish Palestinian homes.

The resolution, which was voted down 97 per cent to three per cent, had been introduced by four Roman Catholic orders of nuns and the organisation Jewish Voice for Peace. Furthermore, groups from all over the world demonstrated to protest Caterpillar sales of home-crushing bulldozers to Israel. But none of that mattered as hopes were dashed that the shareholders would send a message that using Caterpillar equipment to abuse human rights is unacceptable.

Strangely, a visitor to Caterpillar's website is told: "Our goal is to be recognised as a profitable, innovative, well-managed industry leader with a strong focus on social responsibility and sustaining the environment."

Among Caterpillar's accomplishments have been the preservation of rainforests. Sadly, its concern for saving rainforests does not translate into concern for the one million plus olive trees Israeli troops and settlers using Caterpillar equipment have uprooted during the current Intifada. This is in addition to the thousands of Palestinian houses demolished.