With just two weeks left
in Palestine, I can confidently say that this is not a place I will
be forgetting about anytime soon. I came to Palestine knowing very
little about the conflict and the politics of the Middle East. Over
the course of my three months I have learnt
a significant amount about the history of Palestine and Israel. I
grew up in an international school, with many American Jews as
friends. I’d never made up my mind about which ‘side I was on’,
but my background should have meant I would be more inclined to
support Israel.
The foreign media portrays
Palestinians as militant and dangerous but that's not been my experience, far from it. Upon arriving in Palestine,
my preconceptions were constantly flipped, and I was often confused,
but most of all I was angry. That has changed over the course of the
three months, but I hope it is not because I have become
desensitized, though I fear this is part of it. When first arriving
in Palestine I was shocked almost daily, the current situation in
Palestine is far more complicated and the occupation has severe
impacts on Palestinian lives that you don't even think about back
home.
With time, and having met
more people I have convinced myself, rightly or wrongly, that my
presence here is helping. Palestinians tell me that they are thankful
that we as internationals are here, and they need the international
community to listen. As much as I understand that the international
community can make the biggest difference, how do I reach out to
those who aren’t already working for Palestine’s freedom? How do
I reach people who don't realise the impact of foreign governments
policies in Palestine? I am just one international who has come to
Palestine and seen what millions of people need to see. I want to
come back but I don’t feel like this can be the last and only time
I am here. I want to return both because of and despite the conflict.
I love the place for the food, the people, the weather, the scenery,
but I am also intrigued by the conflict, and the complexity of it. I
find myself continually wanting to learn more.
My time in Palestine has
put a human face on the conflict and made me realise everything is
not as it was potrayed back home. In Palestine you see the human
impact of the occupation and you start to question the necessity of
the policies in place.
I have had an incredible
three months thanks to an amazing charity. I would strongly recommend
the ICS program to anyone who has a desire to see a new culture, and
learn more about themselves than they thought possible. I have had so
many experiences, most incredible, some frustrating but all have made
my three months here a truly unique experience.
No comments:
Post a Comment