The Revolution Begins

ISSA & NITZAN: ONE PALESTINIAN & ISRAELI AT A TIME...

One of my closest friends from Israel, Nitzan, came to meet me and Issa, one of my closest friends from Palestine. It was the first time for each of them to have ever gotten the chance to meet a person from the other side and it was so amazing to hear them talk and learn about one another.



MAR ELIAS HOLIDAY:
The Palestinians receive permission on certain holidays,throughout the year, to visit Israel. This past Friday, July 20th, was Mar Elias Holiday. Out of the 1500 people (from Bethlehem & surrounding areas) who applied for permission to go to Israel, only 500 received it. At around 4 AM (YES I SAID 4 AM!!!) the bus with all the Palestinians (+ me & Ina) departed for Israel. Last year, the trip was cancelled because of the war in Lebanon, so I think everyone was extra excited to be going this year.

HAIFA & TIBERIAS:
We arrived at Marelias Church at 7 AM and the Palestinaians began to play cards and gamble outside the church (which is an ironic tradition they do each year). Then we went to a water park in Tiberias. Nitzan met us later that evening on the boardwalk in Tiberias, where we had a beautiful dinner on the water (where Jesus walked).

ISSA & NITZAN CONVERSE:
While we were at dinner in Tiberias, Issa showed Nitzan what his permission form for entering Israel looks like (see picture at left). Nitzan currently has 3 months remaining in the Israeli Army, where she has been in the education department; teaching the soldiers about Middle East History & Culture. I just asked Issa to tell me something he learned from meeting Nitzan, and he was surprised about how open-minded she was. I think Nitzan was surprised to learn about how Issa thinks of Israel as having a positive impact on the West Bank.

Another important observance to note, that Nitzan & Issah realized, is that the only other words they know of the other's language, are the phrases & words used at the checkpoints. Neither are fluent speakers of the others language, but both know English extremely well and used this to communicate during their conversations.