There are so many things I could say about our recent trip to Israel. I loved it. It was a "bucket-list" trip. I had my eyes opened to so many things I did not realize. I saw things that I've read in scripture over the last forty years and it made me wonder, appreciate, ponder and learn.
Over the next few posts I want to share some of the more interesting things I saw, or observed.
Let's start with this: Israel is a country of complexity. One cannot just jump into a car, cab, or bus and go north to south or west to east without to go through checkpoints.
There are multiple checkpoints. Why?
Because Israel is a divided country with different sections relegated to Palestinian Arabs and the general Jewish population.
It does not mean that Arabs and Jews don't live together. They do in many different areas - city and rural.
Yet those areas of joint living are all under Israeli control. The areas that are completely under the control of the Palestinian authority are still under Israel's Defense Forces oversight. And, those that live in Palestinian controlled areas are often restricted in their ability to travel to those areas under Israel's control.
For example, we stayed in Bethlehem - the historic village where Jesus was born, and where David ruled Judah for the first 7 years of his rule, and where Boaz and Ruth were wed. Yet, an average Arab, whether the predominant Muslim, or the minority Christian, cannot travel to Jerusalem. They are restricted to move only within the territories designated for their population - in this case, it's Area A.
Israel is divided into three different zones for the sake of movement, government, and control. Area A is under Palestinian control - except for national defense - and those living in it need special permits to travel to any Israeli controlled area - which is Area C.
Area B is areas of Palestinian control also, but under Israeli military control.
If it sounds confusing, it is. It's complex and yet it is the situation on the ground.
What complicates things more is that Israeli settlers have moved into Palestinian areas - both A & B - in order to establish Jewish presence. The settlement areas are often small rural farms, but sometimes they are large - one even achieving the status of a city with over 18,000 inhabitants. They are also connected at times with "holy" sites - places in Palestinian areas that are biblically important to orthodox Jews.
It's complex...you'll read in the media that the settlements are illegal. To Palestinians I talked with - both Muslim and Christian - they are hated. There is a certain disdain for the settlers as they are viewed as stealing Palestinian lands. Yet, the fact remains, that Palestinians in general think Israel has stolen all of the land and the only solution among some radical factions is the complete destruction of Israel.
Lastly, Israel controls the movements through the building of the walls that separate Jewish areas from Palestinian. The walls did not exist until the most recent Intifada. In 2000 a Palestinian uprising began. By the time it ended in 2005 over a thousand Israelis died and several thousand Palestinians died. The walls were built to stop the incursion of Palestinian suicide bombers who were blowing themselves up in Jerusalem. The Walls have been built over much of the land to separate the Palestinian population from the Israeli Jewish population.
In one conversation I had, a young Palestinian man told me that the Intifada was a huge mistake and that Palestinians are now much more worse of than they were before. The solution is not Political, or Military...
Israel is complex!
Over the next few posts I want to share some of the more interesting things I saw, or observed.
Let's start with this: Israel is a country of complexity. One cannot just jump into a car, cab, or bus and go north to south or west to east without to go through checkpoints.There are multiple checkpoints. Why?
Because Israel is a divided country with different sections relegated to Palestinian Arabs and the general Jewish population.
It does not mean that Arabs and Jews don't live together. They do in many different areas - city and rural.
Yet those areas of joint living are all under Israeli control. The areas that are completely under the control of the Palestinian authority are still under Israel's Defense Forces oversight. And, those that live in Palestinian controlled areas are often restricted in their ability to travel to those areas under Israel's control.
For example, we stayed in Bethlehem - the historic village where Jesus was born, and where David ruled Judah for the first 7 years of his rule, and where Boaz and Ruth were wed. Yet, an average Arab, whether the predominant Muslim, or the minority Christian, cannot travel to Jerusalem. They are restricted to move only within the territories designated for their population - in this case, it's Area A.Israel is divided into three different zones for the sake of movement, government, and control. Area A is under Palestinian control - except for national defense - and those living in it need special permits to travel to any Israeli controlled area - which is Area C.
Area B is areas of Palestinian control also, but under Israeli military control.
If it sounds confusing, it is. It's complex and yet it is the situation on the ground.
What complicates things more is that Israeli settlers have moved into Palestinian areas - both A & B - in order to establish Jewish presence. The settlement areas are often small rural farms, but sometimes they are large - one even achieving the status of a city with over 18,000 inhabitants. They are also connected at times with "holy" sites - places in Palestinian areas that are biblically important to orthodox Jews.
It's complex...you'll read in the media that the settlements are illegal. To Palestinians I talked with - both Muslim and Christian - they are hated. There is a certain disdain for the settlers as they are viewed as stealing Palestinian lands. Yet, the fact remains, that Palestinians in general think Israel has stolen all of the land and the only solution among some radical factions is the complete destruction of Israel.Lastly, Israel controls the movements through the building of the walls that separate Jewish areas from Palestinian. The walls did not exist until the most recent Intifada. In 2000 a Palestinian uprising began. By the time it ended in 2005 over a thousand Israelis died and several thousand Palestinians died. The walls were built to stop the incursion of Palestinian suicide bombers who were blowing themselves up in Jerusalem. The Walls have been built over much of the land to separate the Palestinian population from the Israeli Jewish population.
In one conversation I had, a young Palestinian man told me that the Intifada was a huge mistake and that Palestinians are now much more worse of than they were before. The solution is not Political, or Military...
Israel is complex!
Comments