I work at Beit Sahour Municipality and at the moment I am trying to obtain visas for a group of local artisans who are going to Italy for a handicraft exhibition. As it is well known to many, it is impossible for Palestinians to go to Jerusalem and apply for visas at the consulates because of the strict siege imposed by Israeli forces. It was time to go and apply. I have an English friend who is working with me at the Municipality, and she willingly offered her help to bring the documents to Jerusalem herself. Because she is English she has the freedom to move in and out of checkpoints with little difficulty.
I work at Beit Sahour Municipality and at the moment I am trying to obtain visas for a group of local artisans who are going to Italy for a handicraft exhibition. As it is well known to many, it is impossible for Palestinians to go to Jerusalem and apply for visas at the consulates because of the strict siege imposed by Israeli forces. It was time to go and apply. I have an English friend who is working with me at the Municipality, and she willingly offered her help to bring the documents to Jerusalem herself. Because she is English she has the freedom to move in and out of checkpoints with little difficulty.
I felt very bad. I so wanted to go to Jerusalem, but the chance of me getting through was very small. I thought, why not take the chance, and if the Israeli soldiers send me back, I won’t feel too disappointed. At least I could try.
A car dropped us at the checkpoint, and as usual civilians and cars were waiting to go through the checkpoint to Jerusalem. The soldiers took their time inspecting the papers and passports. It seems as if Palestinians have to wait for God’s mercy to come before being allowed through. It was now our turn. My heart was beating very fast as they asked for my friend’s passport and they checked to see if she had a visa for Israel. I pretended to get my passport out of my bag and just walked through, full of confidence. As I walked past I held my breath and my face must have been very pale. I had the feeling that they would call me back or that they might even shoot at me. I held my breath until I was on the other side of the checkpoint and immediately took a taxi to Jerusalem. I felt like a small child who was visiting the zoo for the very first time in her life. I can’t explain my feelings at that moment.
I was shocked to see Salah Al Din Street and the old city deserted; there were hardly any people walking through the streets. Usually the old city is packed with many international visitors and full of people from the West Bank areas.
I finished my work and took time to visit some old friends I had not been able to see for so long. Then we returned back to Beit Sahour. On the way back, the Israeli soldiers stopped our taxi and asked for our passports. My heart started beating again, because if they found out that I went through without a permit I would be heavily fined or even detained for passing illegally. One soldier shouted, “only look at one passport.” It was like heaven had opened its arms for me. Thank God. The soldier was training a new conscript and was explaining the procedure of checking that international visitors have an Israeli visa. It all went so well and we both got back home safe and sound.
Later that same day I learned from my sister Hannan, who teaches at St. George’s School in Jerusalem, that she tried to go to work through the checkpoint, but the soldiers would not let her and the other teachers pass. The teachers tried to take a back way behind Al Tantor, avoiding the checkpoint, but one of the soldier’s spotted them and shot at them. My sister was so afraid; she said she had never been so scared of being hit with a bullet.
I can’t believe how lucky I was that day, but I can’t believe that we have to go through this each and every day, just to reach Jerusalem.
