On the way to Jerusalem

July 19, 02

On my way back to Jerusalem, after working for one hour, I have a French friend with me, Jean-Claude. So, we took the car almost in the last 10 minutes before the curfew is restored. We were very luck in fact to find a car. We were two, and then another passenger came, so we were only three in the car, the driver said: If you want I can take you, but you pay the whole cost, so we three pay for seven in fact. In that situation, we couldn’t refuse, because in few minutes the tanks and military jeeps will be in the streets again, and I don’t think they would appreciate our presence in a period where they need to be alone in the streets. I don’t mean that they are bad, but you know, everyone needs moments to be alone, and of course that includes the soldiers of occupation army, who are only there for humanitarian purposes: They want to show us that occupation cares about us as well.

So any way, we agreed to pay the whole thing, and the car moved. We crossed Bethlehem, entered Beit Sahour to the east of Bethlehem, then Deir Salah, and arrived to Obeideyya.

And then, the famous wadi ennar road, where we started to head north.

A beautiful road really, but a bit annoying to take it everyday. But, with checkpoints from time to time, that make it a bit exciting. It would be in fact a conversation subject: Is there a checkpoint, or not on the road today.

And of course people start to tell there different experiences, and what they have seen with their own eyes which shall be devoured by worms when they die, they will swear that they tell the truth. But you know, the stories are a lot of times monotonous, and since they are lived on daily basis, so people and media become used to that, and so nothing interesting to tell.

Well, for example, waiting for few hours at the checkpoint on this road, many times I have seen people get down their cars, and stretch themselves, but the soldiers in those hot days asked them kindly to remain in the car. The soldiers didn’t really scream, nor did they insult them, nor even hit some of the Palestinians because after two or three hours they had an urgent need. Of course, in winter, to benefit from the rain, they let them outside, so that they can have a shower. As you know, Palestinians are dirty, and added to that they don’t have water all the time, so while waiting on the checkpoints, no harm in taking a shower. How thoughtful.

Of course people talk also about those women or parents who come with these children, and then of course they start to change their children in the middle of the street. Or sometimes they make them urinate or shit on the side of the street, in front of everybody, with no shame at all. You can imagine how disgusted a soldier could feel in seeing that every day. Poor soldiers! And What kind of parents are these who take their children on days where occupation soldiers have their practice. Well sometimes, we can excuse these ignorant parents, but they shouldn’t make it a habit, because the soldiers don’t tell when there would be a checkpoint, and when there wouldn’t be a checkpoint, of course to keep the element of surprise.  

Any way, we were descending the valley of fire (wadi ennar) as I said, and there we are. A very beautiful scene. Well not very very beautiful because there was only one jeep and one bulldozer, but beautiful as well, isn’t it? The jeep was blocking the street, so that no palestinian could be hurt of course, and the poor army bulldozer have to work under the sun to dig an alternative road of the alternative road, so that everyone can pass safely through the checkpoint. I mean, this is a difficult road, and only crazy drivers take it, and with the dust and all the troubles on that road, people might become sick. So better wait one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, or the whole day to pass rather than risk your life for nothing.

Jeep protecting the bulldozer which was digging one of the alternative roads to bypass the illegal checkpoint on this road which only Palestinians take, and the only link left between the north and south of the west bank.                                                   

While working it broke a water pipe, so I think Obeideyya and Sawahra would be without water this night

Any way, we stayed looking and admiring the bulldozer working. Suddenly, a fountain emerged, and the water flowed on the dry ground. Well, a miracle, I thought. A spring has been discovered. And after a while, the miracle was only a water pipe broken under the hits of the bulldozer. I was really disappointed, really disappointed. I was thinking that finally, there was a double benefit for the bulldozer work. Besides the one which was mentioned above, there would be the benefit of finding a spring, but well we have to be satisfied with only one benefit. We can’t ask the impossible from the Israeli occupation army, after all.

So finishing the work, the driver started approaching slowly and carefully the Israeli jeep. Nothing. The jeep remained calm. The driver continues to approach slowly, some people started to say: he is crazy. They will ask him to return. But well, the second miracle happened, they allowed him to pass. So all the cars started moving, slowly and one by one passing the jeep. They remained calm, the bulldozer continued the artistic work. And everybody was happy.

Well not exactly, because afterwards we had the checkpoint up the hill. But it was nice, we remained around half an hour only so not so bad after all, isn’t it.

This is the little story. It is not as interesting as the morning story but well it is also interesting that suspense never dies here.

Of course such things are minor suspense, besides what happens when fire works start. That seems more interesting to watch for Palestinians and Israelis as well. An assassination here, an attack there, a bus explodes from time to time. This keeps the media busy, because they have to remain active. If the Israelis and Palestinians keep the monotony, then well, nobody will talk about anything anymore…

So the big guys could continue to play cards while enjoying the show, and the normal citizens will continue to pay for the show.

 To be frank with you, those shows are not interesting anymore.

Peace be upon you all;

Abed