The November Visit- Part 5 (The Wall)

Abu Dis- Continued

After the prisoner museum, you get a feeling of a larger prison for the Palestinian people, one also ever present and foreboding in everyday life. I am of course referring to the separation wall within the West Bank. The part of the wall that we saw was situated right next to the Al-Quds University. One account from a Palestinian friend spoke of the arduous journey just to attend classes, and the effort and determination needed just to get an education, a liberty many take for granted in our home countries. Unfortunately for the other students there, they are also subjected to harassment, violence and detention from the Israeli side of the wall. Abu Dis is an area with a lot of Israeli military camps. It is common for students to be arrested during exam time, and every week, it has become routine to have accommodation raided by Israeli soldiers, seemingly hoping to disrupt and intimidate by any means possible. From a student's perspective, this is awful, and one can only admire the courage and positive attitude of students in Palestine, in the face of what appears to be an attempt to stop them succeeding in life. As the majority of Palestine's population is now under 30, keeping this spirit is a necessity. The stakes are high though, as within our time there, we were told of an incident where 39 students were allegedly shot and injured by IDF soldiers within university grounds.

The Wall Winds It's Way Into All Aspects of Life: Abu Dis, Palestine.
(Photo Courtesy of Emerson Photography)

The sphere of influence in causing harm the wall has is not just limited to education. The infrastructural issues the wall has caused, and the ongoing land grab by the Israeli government, has created innumerable problems. Over capacity schools, families split apart, death from electric fences and forced migration are just the tip of the iceberg. It is a logical question to ask why build it then? Especially when every secure kilometre costs £5m. The answer of course is related to Israeli security, but also seems to be that the Israeli government wishes to keep the cycle of division and hatred going, as when the security issue dies, so does the justification for getting Palestinians to leave their homes.

Reminiscent of Berlin. Abu Dis, Palestine.
(Photo Courtesy of Emerson Photography)

What I found in Palestine, was that the majority wish to live in peace. Away from war, away from harassment, building a happy life for themselves and their loved ones. Politics should be sidelined for now, until the basic maintenance of human rights is upheld. Until our governments take action on this, I fear that the problems will only continue and worsen.

Will the Era of Walls Continue? Abu Dis, Palestine.
(Photo Courtesy of Flora Murphy)

The November Visit- Part 4

Abu Dis- The Museum

The prisoner museum in Abu Dis paints a vivid picture of the Israeli military internment system, and what life is like inside it. Imagine Guantanamo Bay. Instead of only being one facility though, where foreign nationals are abused, imagine a multitude of facilities, where citizens of their own country are thrown into jail, often without any formal charges or legal representation. Now, imagine the scenes of torture and abuse at Abu Gharib, and apply that to more people, on a larger scale, with more government backing. By doing this, you will have a similar picture of what the Israeli government does to many Palestinians within its prisons. It is sadly said by many in the Occupied Territories, that every Palestinian has some experience of this process, either directly or indirectly.

Tear gas thrown into cells, brutal interrogations, beatings, threats against families, use of the USA's EIT (Enhanced Interrogation Techniques), and even shootings to the head are said to occur within these shadowy complexes. Visits from family are also reportedly either routinely denied or heavily monitored, as well being made deliberately dangerous; as the Israeli guards sometimes use visits as an excuse to arrest more suspects. Guards even force prisoners to rush during their trips to the toilet, in another attempt at making them more uncomfortable. Needless to say, facilities are poor in the prisons, and to get even basic items to pass the time, Palestinians go on hunger strike, which carries a real risk of death either by beating from the Israeli guards or medically unsafe forced feedings.

When females are interned, Israeli prison authorities allegedly often deliberately put them in with Israeli women, convicted of crimes such as drug dealing or prostitution. This policy reportedly results in the widespread abuse of Palestinian women imprisoned in state jails, in a similar way to the men interned elsewhere. The worrying thing is, according to our guide, 50 people, both men and women, are interned in these varied facilities every month, a figure which is noted to be on the rise.

The November Visit- Part 3

Jerusalem

As a history student, it would be improper for me not to begin this by saying that even a 10 minute stroll through the winding cobbled streets of Jerusalem's Old City, is to follow in the footsteps of some of modern, medieval and ancient histories' most famous figures. It's also difficult not feel a sense of wonder in having being shown the most famous sites of monotheistic religion in the world. History is not confined to the past though, new chapters are written in every passing moment, and nowhere is this more true than in Jerusalem. On the same streets where Jesus was said to have walked to his crucifixion, the Wailing Wall is situated, where Saladin rode and Ariel Sharon resided, Israeli soldiers continue their policy of trying to make some Palestinians a broken minority. Religious humiliation is the weapon of choice in this city. Solders routinely stop any Muslim or Arab looking person en route to holy sites. A practical way from Israel's point of view in maintaining security yes, but also perhaps a symbolic gesture from them, that it will always be a struggle to achieve a comfortable home in Jerusalem for some Palestinians.

Entry is Not as Open as it Looks: The Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem.
(Photo Courtesy of Emerson Photography)

The road leading to Jerusalem was also interesting, as it is littered with heavily fortified Israeli settlements and checkpoints. One can only describe these settlements as luxurious looking compounds guarded by both the IDF and armed settlers. We were told that taxes are made so low that even those with no religious inclinations are encouraged to move here to enjoy the climate and luxury. For those who have seen coverage or documentaries on the problem, you know of the reported violence and racism committed by a vocal minority of those living in similar places, in the name of preserving their right to the land. For those who haven't, it's well worth researching.

Settlements Can Only Make the Road to Peace Longer: Jerusalem, Palestine.
(Photo Courtesy of Emerson Photography)

Seen as many Palestinians will never want to leave their legitimate homes, it is up to foreign governments to pressurise the Israeli Goverment into steadily winding back its abuses of human rights, without compromising its State's security. This is not just a matter of ethics, but global stability, as the abuses appear to fuel a seamlessly never ending cycle of violence, that we sadly see in the news.

 Under Occupation, But Still Welcoming: Jerusalem, Palestine.
(Photo Courtesy of Emerson Photography)

The November Visit- Part 2

Ramallah

Our first excursion today was a visit to the grave of Yasser Arafat, housed within the rear of the Palestinian Presidential Palace in the city of Ramallah. For a figure perceived to be consigned to the history books by someone of my background, Arafat is ever present within Palestinian politics but also continues to be divisive, even in death. This division was most poignantly illustrated by the grandeur and ceremony of his resting place, contrasting the former PLO leader's face having been cut out of propaganda posters, during our meander through the refugee inhabited area of Ramallah. From accounts by Palestinians that I heard, it is caused by a clash of the great admiration of Arafat, and a feeling of anger in relation to the Oslo agreement. This is but one indication of the multi faceted nature of the Palestinian question, which at a first glance can appear to be a conflict based solely upon the idea of a defensive occupier fighting against many oppressed occupants. Nothing is black and white.

Ever Present in Palestine: The Grave of Yasser Arafat, Ramallah, Palestine.
(Photo Courtesy of Emerson Photography)

However, this must not detract from the contrastingly clear cut battle for the maintenance of human rights in Palestine. The Palestinians are even denied the right to bury their dead. Every concealable way to humiliate the Palestinians is allegedly employed by the increasingly right wing Israeli government. In response to resistance against the IDF, collective punishment is seen as a perfect way to send a message of who is in charge by the government. Soldiers think nothing of using explosives to destroy the houses of suspected militants, and we have been told that the more collateral damage to others who happen to live nearby, the better it is for the Israeli Army. The worrying thought is, that this is only the face of the occupation we have been shown, a mere look glimpse into a plethora of multi-faceted abuse and violence.

A Campaign for a Basic Right: Ramallah, Palestine.

 Already, only two days into my experience in Palestine, the sheer reports of inhumanity, degradation and callousness practices by the Israeli state leaves a cold feeling.

A Forgotten Cause?: Ramallah, Palestine.
(Photo Courtesy of Emerson Photography)

The November Visit- Part 1.

First Impressions...

Upon flying into Tel Aviv, you are greeted by a sprawling metropolis, a Manchester or Liverpool in the Middle East. Unlike flying to a UK city though, the post flight welcome into Israel involved a lengthy wait for certain members of our travel group when the 3 hour hold up at passport control occurred. Frankly, when using the phrase 'certain members', I refer to the members of our group who had an appearance which could be vaguely attributed to an Arab or Muslim background. This crude security profiling, perhaps a thinly veiled attempt to dissuade perceived sympathisers visiting Palestine, or maybe just some light relief for the Israeli border guards, is just one indication of the questionable attitude employed by the Israelis in response to the Palestinian question. 

Airports are Dark Places at Times: Tel Aviv, Israel.
(Photo Courtesy of Emerson Photography) 

A stark contrast is noticed when arriving in the Palestinian territories en route from Ben Guirion Airport. The well developed city of Tel Aviv clashes vividly with the Palestinian city of Jericho. The lack of investment in the infrastructure of Jericho and the surrounding area is evident. Even without reading road signs or noticing checkpoints, one's entry into the Palestinian territories is noticeable by a lack of street lights and markedly poorer waste disposal. Basic amenities such as running water are also routinely denied to the Palestinians, as witnessed by the lack of sanitation within the girl's accommodation of where we were staying. Although not surprising, evidence such as this further illustrates the pursuit of an intentionally poor stance on basic human rights from both governments. However, even with poor infrastructure, the charm of the Occupied Territories cannot be denied. A hospitable people and naturally beautiful landscape makes for a hard to resist combination. This was a welcome counter balance to the ever present political situation in Palestine; perhaps providing a metaphor for the continuing resilience of the Palestinian people in the face of thier persecution.

Beauty in the Face of Adversity: Jericho, Palestine.
(Photo Courtesy of Emerson Photography)