Beautiful Occupation
May 29th, 2008 by Alison CastelHow Jerusalem is being cleansed of the images of conflict
On my first visit to Israel and the West Bank, I immediately observed a terrible situation developing in the most contested land of the conflict. East Jerusalem, part of the West Bank and Palestinian land under international law, is slowly and instrumentally being cleansed of the imagery of conflict. As time goes by, Israelis can be less aware of the conditions for Palestinians as their lives grow increasingly difficult and untenable. The conflict is being white washed.
When we arrived at Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv we experienced the first example of the obfuscation. Israelis and tourists witness one Israel while Palestinians witness another. Miryam Rashid, a staff member of the American Friends Service Committee, a Palestinian activist, human rights advocate, and our delegation co-leader was detained by Israeli border police for five hours of interrogation and searches. For us, however, the process was seamless. We witnessed the marble-coated architecture and machine-like efficiency of Tel Aviv’s airport oblivious to alternative experience for many of its travelers. Miryam was accused of lying and deceiving Israeli border police only to be released with no charges to lead our peace delegation. She told us later that this regular treatment of most Palestinians slowly wears at their confidence.
In one place, two people can see very different face of Israel.
The old more visible conflict appeared in East Jerusalem. Walking through the Muslim Quarter, we came across a guard stand for a Jewish settlement inside the ancient city. The image was raw and real. There was barbed wire, machine guns, and security cameras. We all could see this Israel—it communicates the true nature of the conflict. But sights like this are becoming increasingly rare. As Israel demolishes Palestinian homes and apartments and confiscates Palestinian land they are cleansing the land of these constant reminders of occupation. Segregated by the barrier, the people that enable this occupation are becoming oblivious to its consequences.
But the barrier is not a resolution. While it removes the daily reminders, it does not hold back the hostility and it does not bring about reconciliation. If anything, the radical measures its construction requires have made things worse. Jerusalem is cleansed of its signs of conflict, as it is cleansed of its Palestinian residents.
- Travis Green