It's been really great because the Center arranges for forum speakers and teachers to educate us as well as they can on the politics occuring in this land of conflict. I have so much more to learn because of the complexity of the situation, but I feel like I'm getting a better grasp of what's going on.
We got to visit the separation wall, a barrier constructed by the Israeli government along and within the West Bank. It separates areas of Arab East Jerusalem with other Palestinian areas. What would have taken someone a 5 minute walk to get somewhere beyond the wall now takes a 2 hour car ride through checkpoints. The wall has increased security by protecting Israeli citizens from terrorism, but has come at the price of a terrible humanitarian crisis.
Graffiti covered the wall, compelling the government to paint over it. This graffiti then, as you can see, has emerged within the past 6 months.
The Israeli government participated in a compromise to exchange 1,000 Palestinian captives for 1 Israeli captive. Supposedly, 17 of these "terrorists/murderers" were released into East Jerusalem. We weren't allowed to go into East J that day because the Palestinian celebrations over the return of these terrorists could have potentially made the Israelis mad and caused conflict of some sort.
It seems like there'll never be a solution to this problem. Thank goodness for the gospel and the knowledge that we have.
1 comment:
wow katie! makes home of the free sound amazing! remember we all love you, be safe.
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