"You have heard...But I tell you..."

This is my time in the Occupied West Bank this summer. It's my medium of processing and recording what I am witnessing and observing. I am realizing that there is a lot that I have heard and been taught which does not line up with the reality I am experiencing. My internet access is sporadic at best, but I'll try be faithful and pray you will be too. If you have any comments, questions or want to hear more email me at juliainpalestine@gmail.com I'd love to hear from you!
Mon Jul 14
Part of the line waiting at an Israeli checkpoint. There are more than 500 checkpoints throughout the West Bank. Most of them, like this one, are on Palestinian only roads in what is supposed to be territory exclusively under Palestinian control. Sometimes you can wait for hours before it is your turn for your ID’s to be checked: it really depends on the soldier’s mood how quickly you get through or if, after that long wait, you are turned back. Because these roads, like this one in particular, only connect a Palestinian town to another Palestinian town, it is difficult to see the need for such ‘security’ from Israel.

Part of the line waiting at an Israeli checkpoint. There are more than 500 checkpoints throughout the West Bank. Most of them, like this one, are on Palestinian only roads in what is supposed to be territory exclusively under Palestinian control. Sometimes you can wait for hours before it is your turn for your ID’s to be checked: it really depends on the soldier’s mood how quickly you get through or if, after that long wait, you are turned back. Because these roads, like this one in particular, only connect a Palestinian town to another Palestinian town, it is difficult to see the need for such ‘security’ from Israel.