"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
The village of Bakka has been split in half by the Wall. Cousins and brothers have been split: Half are now in Israeli territory confined with special permits and the other half are on Palestinian territory. The Palestinian side does not have permission to visit their family on the other side even though they were once neighbors. The green line (the 1967 officially recognized border between Palestine and Israel) lays past the houses, but the Wall has been constructed inside the line so the village has been split. Here, you can see the Wall actually intersecting a house. Israel gave the home owner two options: give us your house forever (it is a strategic point) or we will destroy it. The house owner acquiesced (notice the cameo on the top) and lives in a small house nearby hoping one day he will get it back. In the forefront, you can see where half of a house was ripped off to clear for the Wall. In another picture, you can see the kitchen tiles literally ripped in half.

The village of Bakka has been split in half by the Wall. Cousins and brothers have been split: Half are now in Israeli territory confined with special permits and the other half are on Palestinian territory. The Palestinian side does not have permission to visit their family on the other side even though they were once neighbors. The green line (the 1967 officially recognized border between Palestine and Israel) lays past the houses, but the Wall has been constructed inside the line so the village has been split. Here, you can see the Wall actually intersecting a house. Israel gave the home owner two options: give us your house forever (it is a strategic point) or we will destroy it. The house owner acquiesced (notice the cameo on the top) and lives in a small house nearby hoping one day he will get it back. In the forefront, you can see where half of a house was ripped off to clear for the Wall. In another picture, you can see the kitchen tiles literally ripped in half.