(no subject)

[violachic]

Any time I read about something distressing vis-a-vis Palestinian politics, I am upset. But it is especially upsetting when I read about something happening where I've been. Such as December, 2005, when a week after I visited the Deheisha refugee camp, their kindergarten was bombed. The middle child of the family who hosted us, a little girl named Noor (which means "shining" or "light" in Arabic), was a student in the kindergarten at the time. She was uninjured, but trying to imagine the additional trauma this five-year-old girl had to endure is heartbreaking.

Today's Electronic Intifada article about a new settlement in Hebron falls into this category. When you've been there, seen the city, and met the people, it is difficult to not stop and feel sympathy, and even empathy, for them. It makes me wonder what changes the city will undergo now.



I really, really need to go back.

Comments

[sariputra.livejournal.com]

How do you think this will all play out?

[violachic.livejournal.com]

At this time, haven't the foggiest. Not enough input. The Israeli authorities usually completely ignore new illegal settlements, tho, so likelihood of it being dismantled is slim.

[sariputra.livejournal.com]

I haven't been able to figure out what's going on anymore either. I feel like Palestinians are being used in too many cynical Pan-Arab and Israeli games.

[violachic.livejournal.com]

Perhaps. I'm not sure I see it that way. Honestly, this report of a new illegal settlement in Hebron isn't really news- it happens all over the region on a regular basis, and a fraction of the instances actually get reported. That's why i say that its hard to say where this will lead- it will probably just become itself, and just be.

I can understand your sentiment about the Palestinians being used, but I think that philosophy lumps everyone in Palestine together, and forgets about individual people, and what they endure on a daily basis. I hope that makes sense, its kind of a run-on sentence.

[sariputra.livejournal.com]

The problem with "people" and "the people" is always there. Palestinians are an idea, the individual Palestinian boy on the street in Hebron is the real, flesh and blood things... still using the idea can kill the flesh and blood people, which is a long way of saying, I see your point.

[violachic.livejournal.com]

You're definitely right about how the idea can kill the flesh and blood. That is one of the reasons why I try to emphasize the individual, flesh-and-blood parts of the stories. In any armed conflict bringing humanity to an idea of a people is essential to others caring enough to try to end it.

[sariputra.livejournal.com]

In any armed conflict bringing humanity to an idea of a people is essential to others caring enough to try to end it.

I agree, but I often wonder what else is key.

[violachic.livejournal.com]

Persistence.

[sariputra.livejournal.com]

I don't think I share your optimism.

[violachic.livejournal.com]

I don't always, but I get resurgences from time to time. And even when I don't feel it emotionally, there is often a piece of my rational brain that says "this is the right thing to do".