Inside Israel

Having lived in Jerusalem and currently living in the Bethlehem area, means that a lot of what I have learned and know about the Palestinian/Israeli conflict is very West Bank and Jerusalem centered.  I know little about what is going on in Gaza, except for what I hear from the news and only snippets from the situation of Palestinians in Israel.  I easily fall into the mindset that because Palestinians in Israel have citizenship and freedom of movement, their situation must be easier.  Two issues have recently come to my attention that have checked this mindset and reminded me that the Palestinian/Israeli conflict is multi-dimensional.  Although the situations in Gaza, Jerusalem, the West Bank, and inside Israel are all different, they are all part of the varying dynamics of this conflict.

Bedouins in Israel and Israel's "unrecognized" villages
Last year, the Prime Minister of Israel's office as been promoting a plan to relocate about 30,000 Bedouin to recognized Bedouin villages in the Negev in Southern Israel.  Haaretz recently reported that about 190,000 Bedouin live in the Negev Desert: 120,000 of these in recognized villages and 71,000 in localities not recognized by the state of Israel. This plan is said to help those Bedouin who live in unrecognized communities, which are thus not provided with any infrastructure by Israel, a fact which has led to an increase in environmental problems in these areas.

Photo c/o haaretz.com

Last week, a UN committee called upon the Prime Minister to revoke this plan.  Instead of recognizing Bedouin localities wherever possible, the plan calls for land exchanges, compensations, and payments, which could cost up to 6.8 Billion shekels (about 1.8 Billion dollars).

Haaretz mentioned that the report " expressed concern ' about the current situation of Bedouin communities, particularly with regard to the policy of demolitions, notably of homes and other structures, and the increasing difficulties faced by members of these communities in gaining access on a basis of equality with Jewish inhabitants to land, housing, education, employment and public health."

In a recent conversation with a friend, she was describing her experience traveling to some Bedouin communities in the Negev. She likened the situation in the Negev to the situation in the West Bank. The West Bank is currently divided into areas A, B, and C.  Area A is under complete Palestinian civil and military control,  Area B is Palestinian civil, but Israeli military control, and Area C is under complete Israeli control.  In the Negev, there are recognized Bedouin villages, (similar to Area A), unrecognized villages where Bedouin live (similar to Area B), and even Jewish only cities (similar to settlements in Area C). These detailed laws which are legalizing racism in Israel, are new details for me and something that I would like to travel for myself and see in the future.

The Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law

Photo c/o haaretz.com

Another issue that has come into the news lately, which has embellished what I know about Palestinians in Israel is the recent passing of the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law. This law prohibits Palestinians who marry Israeli citizens from obtaining Israeli citizenship.  At times these spouses even have a hard time gaining residency permits.  They are not allowed to drive within Israel, work within Israel, or receive health care.  I won't say much about this issue, but guide you to a recent movie on this subject, about one man who is fighting against this law, so that all humans can be free to love and marry whom they want.

Separation Diary

Articles about the Bedouin Relocation plan: HERE and HERE.
Another article about the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law: HERE.

Sharon and my Mother-in-Law by Suad Amiry

Suad Amiry is the founder and director of the Riwaq Centre for Architectural Conservation in Ramallah.  Born to Palestinian parents in Amman, Jordan, she lived there while growing up and then studied architecture in Beirut, Lebanon.  She then moved to Ramallah in 1981, eventually got married and founded Riwaq as a way to preserve historical Palestinian buildings.

As a way of relieving the stress of occupation, she would write email letters to her friends during the 2nd Intifada about living under curfew and neighborhood events.  Specifically, she would tell them about her frustration with living under the same roof as her mother-in-law for forty days during the curfew.  As the curfews took place while Ariel Sharon was Prime Minister of Israeli, she attributes the fact that she needs to live with her mother-in-law to him. She later wrote about about the events when she first moved to Ramallah and her struggle to gain permanent residency in the West Bank.  These two parts were put together and now make up the book Sharon and my Mother-in-Law.


The Observer calls it 'A refreshingly funny account of the absurdities of everyday life in occupied territories'.

Amiry takes the normal, everyday facts of occupation, which most people living here have gotten used to, and points out their ridiculous nature.  From her dog Nura who is given a passport for Jerusalem (a thing which Amiry and other West Bank Palestinians only wish for), to an Israeli soldier who takes Amiry's husband in for questioning after Amiry would not stop looking at him, something the soldier seemed was extremely threatening, to the days spent inside doing nothing while living under curfew, to the nine years it took Amiry to gain an Identity Card to live in the West Bank, she touches on every aspect of life in the occupied territories.

Although, I would not recommend this book as primer to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, for those with significant knowledge, it is an easy read and offers a new perspective on the occupation.  For readers who have not visited Palestine, it will shed light on the everyday complications created by the occupation, the complications which make life here so strenuous.

I first was interested in Amiry after watching her speech at last year's TEDx in Ramallah.  It is an excellent and inspiring video. Click HERE to watch.

Click HERE to buy Sharon and my Mother-in-Law in the US.

Munther Isaac: A Palestinian Christian Perspective

"Christian Zionism has ignored us Palestinian Christians at best; demonized us at worst. Whenever they speak about prophecy and Israel, it is as if we don't exist!...I believe this is because we cause a problem to many Christian Zionists. Why? Because we break the stereotype."

A quotation from Munther Isaac, a teacher at Bethlehem Bible College, who gave a powerful speech at the Christ at the Checkpoint Conference 2012.  He honestly addressed Christian Zionist theology, while at the same time, not denying his identity as a Palestinian Christian.  Please click below to go the video, and other videos about the Christ at the Checkpoint conference.

Munther Isaac: A Palestinian Christian Perspective

Christ at the Checkpoint 2012

Two years ago, I was working at Bethlehem Bible College during the first ever Christ at the Checkpoint Conference.  This year, as an attendant of the conference, I was able to see how this conference has spawned a quickly spreading movement.  Some of world's premier Evangelical leaders spoke, such as Tony Campolo, Shane Claiborne, Steven Sizer, and Gary Burge spoke along with Palestinian Evangelical leaders: Alex Awad, Yohanna Katanacho, Sami Awad, and Munther Isaac. Throughout the week, it was possible to see these speakers, doing theology in a new way, pointing to the need for justice and peace in Israel/Palestine and a recognition of the Palestinian Christian community by international Christian communities. The growth in this year's conference, with Evangelical Christians attending from all corners of the world, is a testament to the growing realization of the situation on the ground in Israel/Palestine and that it is possible to believe in Jesus, the Bible, and justice and peace for both sides in this conflict. As the opposition from the Israeli government toward speakers and coordinators of the conference and the suspicion from Jewish and Israeli groups around the world shows, these conferences have started a new movement that has the potential to turn the tables towards a lasting peace in Israel/Palestine.

Sami Awad speaking at the Christ at the Checkpoint. Photo c/o Antwan Saca.

I will not say much, but lead you to two excellent articles written on the Christ at the Checkpoint Conference.

'Christ at the Checkpoint' Challenges Christian Zionism

Evangelical Church meets 'at the checkpoint'

Also, visit the Christ at the Checkpoint Website for videos and more news from Christ at the Checkpoint 2012.