When the WALL is closing in on you

Imagine a man who will be living surrounded by the wall, shut out from his village. Only a tunnel connects him to the others, and suddenly he is denied access to his land further down the hill. He is concerned about his two children who now will have more than double the distance to get to the school, although the school remains at a five minutes walking distance. This is the story of Omar, in the village of Al Walaja.

According to the map of the wall presented by UNOCHA in December 2011, there are many Palestinian villages isolated by the wall in the Bethlehem area. It states that: 

“The Barrier’s total length is approximately 708 km. 61.8% of the Barrier is complete; a further 8.2% is under construction and 30% is planned but not yet constructed. When completed, approximately 85% of its route will run inside the West Bank, isolating 9.4% of West Bank territory, including East Jerusalem and No-Man’s Land. On 9 July 2004, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion which stated that the sections of the Barrier route which ran inside the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, violates Israel’s obligations under international law.”

(On a little side note: why are some saying the wall and others the barrier? According to the ruling of the ICJ, as referred to by UNOCHA the entire construction is referred to as the wall. The ICRC and the UN organizations refer to it as the barrier, a more vague term. Israel call it the security fence. As a Swedish EA I follow the term stipulated by the International Court of Justice, whilst the EAPPI is ruled by the World Council of Churches who has so far only agreed on the term the separation barrier.)

Claire Anastas, lives with her family in Bethlehem, surrounded by the wall on three sides. To the right of their house, on the opposite side of the wall is Rachel’s Tomb, and beyond that one of the three refugee camps in Bethlehem. The street outside their house is Hebron road, that before was the main road between Nablus and Hebron. Due to the important strategic position, strict military rules apply as the area is despite being in Bethlehem city, considered Area C.

“Not long ago we had a successful business here, on the main road of Bethlehem. People would come from Jerusalem, just to buy our organic crops, and repair their cars in my husband’s garage. Christians would visit our souvenir shop, and we had a good life. Now nobody comes here, and the coaches cannot pass, so there are no tourists, no business. Now we live in a cage, but we cannot leave.”

“My main problem is that my children have suffered a lot. They are afraid, and they often cry. Did you know that the wall was erected in just one day? My children went to school in the morning, and when they came back there was the wall. From my kitchen window, all you can see is the wall. The children feel suffocated, like the wall is blocking the sun and their freedom.  On TV they watch children playing football outside, they see Walt Disney, and they see that other children are happy.

“My oldest girl refuse to look at or speak about the wall, she turns away and stay silent. The other children are looking at it and the youngest said “Wow, it is here like a tomb!”What they need is hope, and as a mother I want them to have a future. I pray to God that they will one day remove the wall, that my children will see the horizon. I tell my children not to worry, that I am doing my best to ask the politicians, powerful men such as Tony Blair to help remove the wall. I sent a message to Tony Blair, I was on TV. This gives them a little bit of hope. But I don’t know what to do if it does not helps us.’

Leaving Claire’s house you see stories of the women in the area, of how they are affected by the wall, hung up on the wall between the checkpoint and the house. This is an attempt to give a voice to women, and it feels rather symbolic to have their testimonies visible on the nine meter tall wall. Yet what strikes you as you are walking is that you see no children playing, you hear no laughter.

The West Bank is a comparatively small area. The wall is cutting in, behind the green line, placing a large part of Palestinian land on the “other” side. After three months in Bethlehem, I realized I was used of not seeing the horizon. It started to feel like the wall was closing in around me. Imagine what it feels like if you cannot leave!

Claire's house is in front of the last piece of wall, straight ahead!

The German President Joachim Glauck visits the West Bank

Education and gender equality -in focus for the German President on the West Bank

Photo credit: Katarina Reigo/EAPPI

Girls’ scouts waving Palestinian and German flags stand in two neat lines at the entrance, and everything is very punctual. It is what I consider typically German, in its well organized structure and German rather than English is the language of the day. It is a formal event, with high security. One of my colleagues is asked to show that his camera is just in fact a camera, by using the zoom. I have to explain what my binoculars are for. Our German colleague is very proud of how well organized it all is, and looking forward to hearing her newly elected President remark on his visit.

Then the press takes over like a bunch of bees, making it impossible to view the entrance of the two key players. The German national anthem is played, followed by the Palestinian. Out of the two it is the Palestinian I actually know how to sing. The speeches commence, with an abundance of compliments, expressions of welcome and gratitude and titles, everything to be repeated in German. Meanwhile the young girls are left standing in the gazing sun, as the audience sit in the shade with their back to the Palestinian people.

“Building this school is a sign from all the world that they support Palestine as a free country” said the Palestinian Minister for Education. She went on to mention the settler violence, the recent burning of Palestinian wheat fields, and the lack of freedom of movement symbolized by the checkpoints. “We hope to be able to build schools like this in Gaza and Area C, and that you will help us to put pressure on Israel.”

Photo credit: Emmet Sheerin/EAPPI

Yet from the German President Mr Joachim Gauck, there was little mentioning of the Palestinian situation. He praised the beauty of the village of Burin, how pleasant it is to open a school and observed that it was great weather for the occasion. Then President Gauck concentrated on the importance of education and gender equality. “Strong, educated, intelligent girls, will become strong, educated, intelligent women. Women who will build up tomorrow’s society and foster democracy and equality.”

According to the second in command in Burin’s village council, the German President had been advised three times not to visit the terrorist village of Burin. From that point of view, it was a diplomatic sign of support that he went through with the visit. However the visit in itself only lasted less than an hour. The girls’ sang some songs, and played some basketball, before a ceremonial buffet of Palestinian food. The Mayor of Urif, a neighbouring village on the other side of the settlement Yizhar, is standing hoping for an opportunity to talk to the German President. He has said he would like to tell about the problems last Saturday when 180 dunams of land was burnt by settlers, under the protection of the Israeli soldiers. Yet that opportunity does not present itself.

Photo credit: Katarina Reigo/EAPPI

My colleague, Evi Handke, who is German, reflected on the visit:

“It was a nice speech, focusing on the importance of education and gender equality. It wasn’t political his speech, and I expected a political speech when he is coming Palestine. Because it is a horrible situation, it needs a political solution, and that requires political attention. The speech could over all have been written for anywhere else in the developing world, where you want to promote education and gender equality. Only some small points focused on Palestine, such as Palestine having the highest literacy rate in the Middle East. “

“He mentioned before he travelled to Israel, how important the relationship between Israel and Germany is. I did not expect him to make the same comment about Germany’s relationship to Palestine, but as a friend of Israel I assumed he would say more about the difficulties of the people. Because I think that a friend has to say the truth, especially as a friend you have to criticize, because your opinion and input will be valued much higher.”

As the German President Gauck, and Prime Minister Fayyad leave in a motorcade back to Ramallah, we remain with the Palestinians. In the background, on the opposite hill, so does the settlement of Yizhar. 

Photo credit: Katarina Reigo/ EAPPI