(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

[whereisjoy.livejournal.com]

I find myself feeling all but physically ill at the thought of another settlement in Hebron (not in a "wow, those people disgust me" way; just in a "dear god, no" way.) I've avoided reading that article until today, knowing that I didn't really want to know. Have you heard about the plans to erect a settlement in Bethlehem, inside the Rachel's tomb loop of the wall. It's, frankly, the worst news I've heard from the area in a while - Bethlehem represent Palestine's most promising hope for economic development and it could become another Hebron. Geez.