Palestine and Israel

In May, I had the opportunity to visit a few different areas of the West Bank. With a group of friends and a tour guide, I learned first-hand what the reality of the situation there is. I was amazed, shocked, and disappointed.

As we drove from East Jerusalem to towns within Palestinian or Israeli control, we passed through Israeli army checkpoints, saw fenced-off Arab villages and heavily guarded Israeli settlements, “Jewish-only” roads, and barriers to divide the Jews from the Arabs. We heard from local people about the difficulty of life under Israeli occupation, with the restrictions placed upon their business and personal lives.

Whether this land technically belongs to the Palestinian people or to the Jewish people, the situation is depressing. It is a tough and humiliating way of living, and there is a total lack of trust or respect for the other. In reality there is little hope for a fair and peaceful solution.