A Dose of Reality
By: Sandra Olewine
Numerous headlines around the world have been announcing today
“Israelis withdraw from Bethlehem.” In response, many of us living in Bethlehem
have received emails from friends and partners across the globe conveying
messages of hope and celebration. While I don’t want to be accused of raining on
people’s parade or eliminate the sense that at least something seems to be
changing in the right direction, a dose of reality is necessary.
A few days ago, scenes of jubilation from Gaza filled TV screens as Israeli
tanks drove out of Beit Hanoun and as some roadblocks in the central Gaza strip
were removed. But, here we joked, “You can tell this is only the first time the
Israelis have withdrawn from Gaza since the beginning of the Intifada. This will
be the 6th time for us in Bethlehem. We just wonder how long it will be before
they come back.”
In fact, there is no withdrawal this time. While jeeps full of Israeli soldiers,
APCs and tanks have been part of the life in Bethlehem for the last 7 months,
there will be no scenes of tanks driving out of Bethlehem today as in Gaza over
the weekend. During this particular incursion, which began on 23 November 2002
following a suicide bomb in Jerusalem, the heavy military equipment and soldiers
have been mainly at Shedma camp on the outskirts of Beit Sahour, near the
outskirts of Beit Jala or at Rachel’s tomb. Entering at whim, night or day.
About the only thing to change today will be that Israeli soldiers will not be
driving down the streets daily carrying out arrests, home demolitions, searches,
or detentions, and Palestinian police will be back in uniform and on the
streets, hopefully bringing with them a bit of order after the disorder of the
last seven months. I don’t mean to imply that this change isn’t a good thing.
Already last night you could sense a change as the streets in town were as full
of traffic as they have been at night since October.
But, again, the reality is that the soldiers haven’t gone anywhere – to the
north, the west, the south and the east of the Bethlehem they are still present.
The ‘security fence’ continues to keep the residents locked in a small area. The
Israelis have so far refused to remove the road block at the southern end of
Bethlehem which connects the city to Hebron and the main road to the north of
the West Bank, the Wadi al-Nar, remains closed except to those few Palestinians
who have permits to leave Bethlehem. Remember, these permits are not even to
enter Jerusalem but just to get out of Bethlehem to enter another city in the
West Bank whether it be Jericho or Ramallah or Hebron. Rather than describe this
as a withdrawal it seems a more accurate description to say the ‘prison guards
won’t be coming into the prison.’
This lack of the freedom of movement continues across the West Bank. It is one
of the major sources of frustration and despair as Palestinians cannot move,
regardless of their need. If steps are not taken soon to change this reality –
especially as the walls and fences continue to be built around Palestinian
residential areas and no significant settlement removal or freeze takes place –
the frustration and anger of every Palestinian will not dissipate. In fact, it
is likely to increase. As talks on the political level try to ‘make nice’ and
pretend that things are moving, the daily lives of 3 million Palestinians have
to see some relief – and now – if there is to be a real chance for a significant
change.
While Bush’s National Security Advisor, Condoleezza Rice, was here over the
weekend, she was quoted as asking PM Sharon to consider moving the line of the
“Security Wall.” This is not good enough. If a commitment is being made to a
2-state solution, then the wall must go or at least be built on the Green Line.
This is not time for gentle nudges on issues of the continuing land confiscation
by the Israelis, not if people really want to see an end to the violence that
has brought untold heartache to both peoples.
A dose of reality – the daily lived reality of everyday Palestinians – needs to
infiltrate the senses of the political leadership at every level. Maybe then
there would be a reason to dance in the streets.