Despite the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Areas A in and around Bethlehem, we Palestinians are still prisoners in our own towns. There was much media attention during those 10 days, but now we see few reporters. The troops may have pulled back a little way, but the siege imposed by the Israeli government still stands, and restrictions on movement are harsher than ever.
Despite the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Areas A in and around Bethlehem, we Palestinians are still prisoners in our own towns. There was much media attention during those 10 days, but now we see few reporters. The troops may have pulled back a little way, but the siege imposed by the Israeli government still stands, and restrictions on movement are harsher than ever.
The real suffering of the Palestinians seems to concern only us, those who are directly affected, and we do not seem to figure very highly on the international community’s list of priorities. We always hear of conditions being imposed on the Palestinian Authority as a requirement before returning to negotiations with the Israelis. But the reality, facts that seem to be forgotten, is that we Palestinians are struggling against the illegal occupation of our land by Israel, and are fighting for our basic freedom against oppression.
Haven’t we suffered enough? How many more innocent children, women and men need to die before the world sees the truth? Families are grieving, the pain is intense and each day our despair grows and our hope is crushed.
We are refused our very basic rights as human beings; we cannot go to Jerusalem, access to
medical treatment is denied, we cannot travel freely from one town to another, we are harassed and ill-treated at checkpoints which isolate our towns, citizens are prevented from harvesting their land, deliberate destruction of our olive groves continue and settlements are expanded at the cost of Palestinians’ homes.
Har Homa, another illegal settlement under construction today, is being built on land expropriated from the town of Beit Sahour. The rightful owners are too scared to go to their remaining land, which hadn’t been included in the confiscation, as it is located next to an Israeli Military camp at the base of the settlement. This land is under constant threat of further confiscation by the Israelis, who say it is necessary for the expansion of their base and for “security reasons”.
The only way to truly understand the Palestinian cause and to learn the reality of who is really suffering is to see it with your own eyes. So many recent visitors have expressed horror and surprise; they were so shocked and all said that they had no idea it was so bad. We implore people of the world to come and visit us in Beit Sahour, to live as part of our community and to experience the reality that Palestinians are living under. Those who have visited us once leave with an indelible memory of oppression, abuse and despair.
The season of Christmas is a reminder to us all that we are citizens of the world together and that we share the responsibility to help create a safe and peaceful environment in which to live. We urge as many concerned citizens of the world to take the opportunity to come and experience Palestinian hospitality in Beit Sahour.
