Brookhaven Courier

Issue date: 9/10/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Adam Asmar Student Adam Asmar visits ~anabta, West Bank.

No area of the world has generated as much conflict as Israel and Palestinian Territories have in the past 60 years.

This issue brings out the most in people, whether it be compassion for the side they love or animosity and hostility toward the side they dislike. I was fortunate enough to travel to the West Bank of Palestine in July 2007.

My trip started with my plane landing in Amman, Jordan. I have Palestinian residency status, but this was my only means of entering. Palestinians have been barred from using Ben-Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, Israel.

To enter or exit the West Bank, Palestinians must use one border crossing known as the Alleby or King Hussein Bridge that crosses the River Jordan between the West Bank City of Jericho and Jordan.

As an American entering the Israeli border terminal, I experienced extreme hostility. I had to undergo quite humiliating security searches.

After this, I was sent to a visa processing counter. The Israeli soldier operating it asked me questions very angrily. She asked me, "Where was your father born?" "Nablus Palestine," I answered. "Oh, you mean Israel, there is no such place as Palestine," she said. Rather than argue politics with her, I decided to ignore her comment, and hope that I could finish hastily. After seven hours of constant standing, in a hot crowded room, I was finally able to depart the terminal. I have never seen more patient people. Some people make this rigorous journey weekly and I was going crazy after the second hour.

Upon arriving in the city where I would be staying I was immediately approached by local townspeople who welcomed me. I talked with a few Hamas supporters and members. When I asked them their opinions on Fatah, they had a lot to say.

One anonymous member said: "Why is it Fatah members have nice homes, drive nice cars, have all the money and claim to help the people? Where is all the money? I still see poverty."

Generally, Fatah views Hamas as an obstruction and a cause of Israeli aggression. "Hamas only cares for Hamas," one Fatah member said.

"They claim to be Muslims, they claim to help the Palestinian people, but everyone knows they have their own agenda."

The only violence I witnessed was the classic act of stone throwing by Palestinian children. This classic act has become much more sophisticated.

Continued...

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