“This is for your safety.” (By Kuong , 7th October)

In the afternoon, the Action Partners and the Palestinian participants travelled to city of Nablus to see the Samaritan Village. After walking the streets of Nablus and seeing a Turkish bath and a quick stop into a soap factory, we made our way up to the Samaritan Village. Unfortunately, in order for the group to enter the Samaritan Village, we had to enter through a checkpoint that was administered by people who lived in the Israeli settlements. These people are not Israeli soldiers but rather just residents in the settlements who monitor who can or cannot enter the area. But like Israeli soldiers, they too carry guns strapped to their bodies. We were denied entrance and told we had to enter the settlement from an alternative route where there were Israeli soldiers. We had no choice but to co-operate.

After driving about 20 minutes to the other entrance where Israeli soldiers were on guard, Cherie, our fearless Oxfam leader got off the bus and explained to the soldiers that we had a meeting with the Samaritans. We told them we were just a group of international people touring the area. I am convinced that because Cherie, an Australian, spoke to the soldiers, we were allowed to pass through. However, it did take a while for her to convince them. Shortly after, two Israeli soldiers got onto the bus and walked down the aisle to make sure we weren’t hiding anything suspicious or dangerous. At one point, before the soldiers got onto the bus, one of the Palestinian participants had stated that the soldiers may make the Palestinians wait here at the checkpoint while allowing the international visitors through. It seemed that all of the Palestinian participants would be okay with this if this was the outcome.

While a part of me understands why the Palestinians urged the Action Partners to go see the Samaritans Village without them if this is the only option we have, the second part of me felt angry and upset. What person would I be if I allowed myself to go visit the Samaritans with the other Action Partners while leaving behind our Palestinian friends behind? Over the last couple of days both the Action Partners and the Palestinians have created friendship and camaraderie among each other. While at times there are some language barriers between all of us, we have come to appreciate each other’s friendship and company; and I know the Action Partners have been so thankful that the Palestinian participants have allowed us a glimpse into their lives here. Even before the soldiers got on the bus, I had made up my mind that if the Israeli soldiers at the checkpoint were unwilling to allow the Palestinians through with the action partners, then in solidarity, I too would wait behind. Just because I carry an American passport and the Palestinians are forced to carry IDs imposed on them by Israelis does not mean they can be denied the same rights I am granted of mobility. Because Cherie was able to work her magic, after the soldiers checked our bus, we were allowed to visit the Samaritan Village.

On our way back to Bethlehem, many of us had fallen asleep on the bus. When we came to a checkpoint, the lights on the bus came on and we were ordered to pass up our passports and IDs to the front of the bus so that the Israeli soldiers could inspect them. After what seem like seconds from the time our passports reached the hands of the soldiers, one of the Palestinian participants were asked to get off the bus and was thoroughly inspected by the soldiers, none of whom it seemed spoke Arabic. What does it feel like to return to the city you call home and be inspected every time you want to enter and leave? The Palestinians are not criminals but they are treated like criminals in their own home. No right to leave without being checked and no right to enter without being checked. Can Israel believe this is truly humane? What purpose do these checkpoints serve? Perhaps Israeli may argue that this not only for the safety of their nation but also for the safety of Palestinians, the reality is, for the Action Partners like myself who are getting an insight into what it must feel like to be Palestinian, we can only shake our heads in disapproval of how the Palestinians, how our friends here, are treated every day.

Kuong

Editor's note: The Samaritans were an interesting community for us to visit. There are only 700 Samaritans remaining and they live in 2 communities (the other is in Tel Aviv). They speak Arabic and an ancient form of Hebrew (on Saturdays).


The Rabbi in the Samaritan village


Watching how they make kanefeh - a yummy sweet!