Palestine. When the word is used in the West, either
in the media or in conversation, it is usually followed by conflict,
destruction and war. If I am honest, I was expecting a place that was not as
developed, slightly chaotic and had obvious signs of the Occupation, resulting
in a repressive environment. This is what I had prepared myself for. The
reality, however, could not be further from what I envisaged. Warm welcomes and
happy faces is what greets us daily and although the Occupation presents
problems, these issues are far more subtle and pervasive than my original
suppositions.
We went to the Dead Sea on our first weekend here. Fully bonding as a group; we had mud fights, and bathed in the salty
buoyant water. Waking up the next morning, my project partner and I
headed to work at WCLAC. Still picking the salt out of my eyes from my not-so
romantic French kiss with the Dead Sea we arrived at our placement. WCLAC is
feminist charity that focuses on providing women with legal advice and
counseling. Women’s rights here are seen as secondary to the liberation
movement meaning that they are not only discriminated against by cultural norms
but also by the Occupation. Restricting movement on top of safety concerns
means that women can often live a confined life, meaning accessing facilities
or securing employment can be extremely difficult.
Understanding the current situation of women in
Palestine was vital so we spent the first week reading and proof reading
documents and reports. I thoroughly enjoyed researching and understanding the
cultural, legal and Occupation norms that women face and endure. We found out
that we will be visiting several cities in the West Bank in the coming weeks,
which I am really looking forward to, especially as we will have a chance to
see areas with such a different religious composition.
Palestine is a mix of religious culture and arriving
during a spiritual time of year, Ramadan, we are able
to see with our own eyes the strength of the Palestinian people as a whole and
the beauty of Islam. Ramadan is a time of year when Muslims observe
strict fasting from dawn to sunset. For Muslims, fasting during this period
doesn't just mean refraining from food and water; it also means purifying the
soul and re-evaluating one's own life in the light of Islamic guidance.
After iftar (when Muslims break their fast), cities come alive.
Bright lights adorn the streets and on occasion you can see floats parading
through them. The buzz is electrifying and it is such a wonderful place to be.
Being invited by the Palestinians to iftar during the
first week of Ramadan to have a taste of Palestinian food and life was
amazing. The spread was unbelievable! Kabseh, Mlokheyyeh, Bazella, Fasoulya
that was followed by Knafeh and Qatayef. Sitting down and breaking their fast
with them was lovely and such a unique experience that I will forever cherish.
Palestinian warmth and happiness filled the atmosphere. This warmth is also
reflected in religious understanding throughout Palestine as Christians support
Muslims in their fast by lowering their shutters during the day so that Muslims
do not see people eating in restaurants. To see this beautiful consideration of
other peoples' religions, thoughts and feelings highlights the recalcitrant
reality of the occupation.
Palestine. When using this word I will follow it with
the words fun, open and beautiful. I have found Palestine to be developed, calm
and a somewhat happy place. I am glad my expectations were not realized. I am
glad that I can continue to inform myself through speaking to locals about
their, culture, way of life, and also the realities and challenges of life
under occupation. In essence, I am glad to be in Palestine.
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