"I prayed almost everyday that Heavenly Father would end my life. For those who don't know, it's hard to live here (in Israel). It's hard to be a Palestinian. And it's gotten worse...this is my home city but I don't feel like it is because I can't even leave it. My city is surrounded by a wall and I can't leave."
-Sahar, Palestinian resident of Bethlehem (a city in the West Bank)
Sahar is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ here. Church meetings are held at the Jerusalem Center in Israel, only about 20 minutes from Bethlehem, but Sahar cannot attend. Save for four weeks during the holidays when she is given a temporary permit, she cannot attend because of a recently constructed wall separating Israel from the West Bank.
Sahar is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ here. Church meetings are held at the Jerusalem Center in Israel, only about 20 minutes from Bethlehem, but Sahar cannot attend. Save for four weeks during the holidays when she is given a temporary permit, she cannot attend because of a recently constructed wall separating Israel from the West Bank.
In June 2002, because of an idea proposed by Ariel Sharon, a "separation wall" began construction that separates the West Bank (technically a landlocked territory not officially recognized as part of any country but still 'occupied' by Israel) from the rest of Israel. The wall has been compared by some as a 'second Berlin Wall.'
According to the Israeli authorities the fence/wall is "a defensive measure, designed to block the passage of terrorists, weapons and explosives into the State of Israel...." But to the huge majority of Palestinians who (obviously as Americans finally learned) are not terrorists, the wall is nothing but an infringement on basic rights.
One of my Palestinian professors, also from Bethlehem, recently recalled a time when he was in the United States and rode the Greyhound bus all the way from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles, CA. Quite a distance, right?
"To you," he said, "this is like 'Oh my gosh. That is so far!' But to me...this was freedom."
According to the Israeli authorities the fence/wall is "a defensive measure, designed to block the passage of terrorists, weapons and explosives into the State of Israel...." But to the huge majority of Palestinians who (obviously as Americans finally learned) are not terrorists, the wall is nothing but an infringement on basic rights.
One of my Palestinian professors, also from Bethlehem, recently recalled a time when he was in the United States and rode the Greyhound bus all the way from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles, CA. Quite a distance, right?
"To you," he said, "this is like 'Oh my gosh. That is so far!' But to me...this was freedom."
No comments:
Post a Comment