Categories: uncategorized
Date: 28 November 2005 14:41:59
Do have a think about Bethlehem... well, come on, it's traditional at this time of year.
When I went in Feb, it was almost completely surrounded by the wall. Bethlehem is surrounded by other parts of the occupied west bank - ie, palestinian territory. Placing a big wall around it only serves to cut it off from other parts of palestinian territory. That is all it does. It would be like putting a wall around Basingstoke and saying that this is to protect people of East Anglia against the people of Hampshire. Well, sort of. Crap analogies aside, it really is a total nonsense.
This last week or two I've been seeing reports of the escalation of movement control into and out of Bethlehem. Now, it is necessary to pass through a terminal which absolutely resembles an international border. Do they not realise people are looking?! There are several thousand things I find hard to understand about this but they mostly involve incredulity at how such a publically obvious set of absolute wrongs can perpetuate and worsen with so little outcry. I knew such things were on the cards - the wall was everywhere very much in evidence when we were there - but it has created havoc in my gut to see it getting so much worse. I suppose how they happen at all is a whole other issue, but look, there it is.
It does feel topical what with Christmas and everything. And ironic that for so long i sang about Bethlehem year on year in total ignorance of what was happening for the people who are from there.
Sorry my return to the world of blogging was so hefty. I've been thinking for some time about ways in which to communicate the experience of going in Feb and how it's been to make steps to finding out more about the situation and what I can do about it since my return. Believe me... this was the short version of one small slice of the pie!
PS If you want to know more about things, there is such an overwhelming wealth of information out there it was pretty much impossible for me to know where to start when I came back... so to help you on your way: Have a look at the appeal from the Mayor of Beit Sehour, in Bethlehem district at http://www.palestinemonitor.org/nueva_web/updates_news/pngo/bethlehem_checkpoint.htm.
For a comparison of the wall with the berlin wall (this has got a potted history of the conflict, handy if you want a read - but also pictures of the wall for those of you who don't have the first clue what I'm talking about!) have a look at http://www.palestinemonitor.org/nueva_web/infos_materials/in_focus/in_focus_27_wall.htm.