"How a Pilgrimage renews a call for Justice"
It's been months passed since this writer visited Palestine.
All despite the strict security measures to fatulence brought about by their cuisine, this person fnd himself not just amazed by their culture and its faith, but also worried by its ever present state- particularly the struggle of Palestinian Arabs for self-determination by any means.
And to think that this was this person's trip to Palestine, or as others call it Israel, this person would say that despite the trip's supposed religious nature, he read enough to know the basics: that Arabs and Jews were fighting over land since 1948 or even earlier.
All in communion with God
Religiously speaking, Palestine, particularly Jerusalem or Al-Quds, hath been an abode, if not a home for three major faiths. Jews for their Western Wall and Temple Mount, Arabs for their Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque, and Christians for their Mount of Olives and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. These three abrahamic, monotheistic religions held that holy city with much importance as pilgrims from all walks of life enter its walls, climb its hills through its stairways and roads, and enter its holiest sites all in pursuit of communion with God.
For a pilgrim would say that Jerusalem and other sites within Holy Land retains its holiness over thousands of years owing to its history. And by visiting those sites would leave an unforgettable spiritual experience some of them would express an overpowering emotion, if not excitement and adventure.
For a pilgrim would say that Jerusalem and other sites within Holy Land retains its holiness over thousands of years owing to its history. And by visiting those sites would leave an unforgettable spiritual experience some of them would express an overpowering emotion, if not excitement and adventure.
However, with the almost exception of Christians in that country, this person would notice that as Jews and Arabs been fighting over the once barren desert land, so are the sites they consider holy: The tomb of King David, the Temple Mount, the Tomb of the Patriarchs hath been an object of battle between these two faiths- and also became another factor for both Palestinian Arabs and Israelis to fight over those sacred sites.
At some time, there are also Christians who do enter holy sites like King David's tomb and the western wall out of biblio-historical significance, and out of sacrality would done Kippah and headscarfs to enter and show respect as a fellow faithful. It may seemed strange at first thinking why some Christians do visit those as part of their pilgrimage, but remember: these sites are actually secondary to those they prioritise be it the Mount of Olives (including the Cenacle and the place where the Lord's Prayer been made), the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Bethlehem with its Nativity Church and Beth Sehour, Nazareth with the Annunciation church and the Mary's Well shrine, and the Sea of Galilee with its fishing boats and the Synagouge of Capernaum.
But again, despite these matters would say that these holiest sites urges the faithful to be in communion with God. The question is, will their faith change their views?
At some time, there are also Christians who do enter holy sites like King David's tomb and the western wall out of biblio-historical significance, and out of sacrality would done Kippah and headscarfs to enter and show respect as a fellow faithful. It may seemed strange at first thinking why some Christians do visit those as part of their pilgrimage, but remember: these sites are actually secondary to those they prioritise be it the Mount of Olives (including the Cenacle and the place where the Lord's Prayer been made), the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Bethlehem with its Nativity Church and Beth Sehour, Nazareth with the Annunciation church and the Mary's Well shrine, and the Sea of Galilee with its fishing boats and the Synagouge of Capernaum.
But again, despite these matters would say that these holiest sites urges the faithful to be in communion with God. The question is, will their faith change their views?
Trying to hid its atrocity
As a Pilgrim, he would say that it was quite amazing kind of journey knowing that the Jerusalem and other towns, villages still invoked an atmosphere of holiness amidst actually-existing distress if not chaos. The food seemed good although fatulating due to fava beans and fiber-rich meals, and the secenery as postcard-worthy so to speak that both Jews and Arabs trying to create an appearance that their homeland isn't chaotic as media entities do.
But despite this touristish appeal this doesn't hid the fact that there are no exception to IDF scrutiny especially in entering zones between Israeli and Palestinian territories. Prior to entering or exiting the notorious border wall the bus hath ought to show passes as well as the tour guide with his license to do tours within the territory knowing that Bethlehem, Jericho, are cities controlled by the Palestinians, but this recognition didn't stop the Zionist from invading homes, destroying crops, and turning hilly portions into "fortress-like" settlements.
But despite this touristish appeal this doesn't hid the fact that there are no exception to IDF scrutiny especially in entering zones between Israeli and Palestinian territories. Prior to entering or exiting the notorious border wall the bus hath ought to show passes as well as the tour guide with his license to do tours within the territory knowing that Bethlehem, Jericho, are cities controlled by the Palestinians, but this recognition didn't stop the Zionist from invading homes, destroying crops, and turning hilly portions into "fortress-like" settlements.
Yet for this person's fellow pilgrims, these issues doesn't matter. Whilst they're resting inside the bus or praying, this person was simply looking if not taking pictures that seemingly feature life in Palestine/Israel. True that it is postcard worthy while feeling how security conscious people are especially when a newcomer, no matter how being part of the group, is been treated as an individual tourist: asking its reason for entering, its itinerary, even frisking evenly out of extreme security measure. A simple knowledge of Hebrew, like "Shalom Alecheim" may be helpful tho. Call it exaggerations but their actions may appear contrary to its polished presentation of itself to tourists, some of which may end feeling a sense of worriness and less of satisfaction.
What more that these measures are not even nastier as those from its inhabitants. As according to Huffington post about "there is no Palestinian-Israeli Conflict" by Ferrari Shepard, that:
"Palestinians and progressive Israelis told our delegation story (which Shepard was participated) after story of the abuses and degradation they’ve suffered at the hands of Israeli settlers or soldiers, and we witnessed some of this treatment first hand. Along with the rampant home and land confiscation in the West Bank (in which settlers receive state subsidies), agricultural violence is on the rise, as settlers uproot and destroy the olive trees Palestinians rely on for income and nourishment. More sinisterly, public beatings, arrests and shootings are common, particularly in the West Bank. Without charges, a Palestinian can be imprisoned and held for months or years under administrative detention. The same law does not apply to Jewish Israelis. In fact, Israeli citizens can commit a range of crimes against Palestinians with near impunity. Furthermore, Israelis benefit from being under police and civil courts jurisdiction, while Palestinians are under military jurisdiction. Human Rights Watch has documented the “Separate and Unequal“ legal situation endured by Palestinians."
Like Shepard, this person as well as his colleagues was told by the tour guide that the occupied West Bank is divided into three parts: “Area-A,” “Area-B” and “Area-C.” “Area-C” is controlled by the Israeli government, while “Area-A” is supposedly under the control of the Palestinian Authority (or PA), a self-governing body established to govern the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and “Area-B” as under glorified Palestinian municipal control and Israeli security control. These districts were created in response to the Oslo accord since 1995, which envisioned the establishment of a Palestinian interim self-government in the Palestinian territories but did not promise an independent Palestinian state.
The accord may appear to be binding, but as said earlier, didn't stop the Zionist settler from taking over and to do its atrocity.
But this doesn't stop the struggle
But this doesn't stop the Palestinian, be it the Arab or the Jew who opposed Zionism to struggle for Palestinian self-determination. No matter how the IDF tries to stem the situation by invoking mass hysteria guised as "security measures", this doesn't stop the oppressed to rise and fight by any means. The artworks, songs, even their expressions do convey a message that's of struggle, a will to fight, and to carry on their desire for self determination, equality, and social justice that's "from the river to the sea."
And as this person do read some articles related to their resistance, it is also unsurprising that as some Palestinian Jews support their fellow Palestinians and its rights, that even the once oppressor in the frontlines end knocked by their consciences as they themselves expose and oppose the unjust policies that brought their Israel to "bad light", especially how it treated Palestinian Arabs as second class citizens, of depriving their right to shelter, education, and dignity as persons and communities.
In Bethlehem for instance, pilgrims would say that the site is known for Christ's birth. But also within those walls remembrances been displayed like those shown above. And to think that the border wall also passes through that town, then there are also settlements near those walls, that there are checkpoints, an atmosphere of fear for as these Zionists once felt the tremor of Intifada that brought names of Palestinian Arab martyrs such as those near the Milk Grotto.
So was in Nazareth, one wall reminds Palestinian Arabs and Jews about the horrors of the Nakba, that occurred when more than 700,000 Palestinian Arabs — about half of prewar Palestine's Arab population — fled or were expelled from their homes, during the 1948 Palestine war. Between 400 and 600 Palestinian villages were sacked while urban Palestine was almost entirely extinguished. The term, which meant "Catastrophe" or "Disaster" in English, also refers to the period of war itself and events affecting Palestinians from December 1947 to January 1949.
And not all thee Palestianian Arabs were Muslims, there were also Christians who were victims of this disaster. Right was Aref al-Aref, who wrote:
"How Can I call it but Nakba? When we the Arab people generally and the Palestinians particularly, faced such a disaster (Nakba) that we never faced like it along the centuries, our homeland was sealed, we [were] expelled from our country, and we lost many of our beloved sons."
The form of this person's visit may be religious given the primary intent along with his fellow pilgrims, but, given the news reports would say this doesn't stop from seeking truth from facts as a concerned person. The place may still carry its charm and sacredness thanks to those sacred sites if not the appeal for peace, but so long as the conflict continues over that sacred soil, the struggle remains.
But this doesn't stop the Palestinian, be it the Arab or the Jew who opposed Zionism to struggle for Palestinian self-determination. No matter how the IDF tries to stem the situation by invoking mass hysteria guised as "security measures", this doesn't stop the oppressed to rise and fight by any means. The artworks, songs, even their expressions do convey a message that's of struggle, a will to fight, and to carry on their desire for self determination, equality, and social justice that's "from the river to the sea."
And as this person do read some articles related to their resistance, it is also unsurprising that as some Palestinian Jews support their fellow Palestinians and its rights, that even the once oppressor in the frontlines end knocked by their consciences as they themselves expose and oppose the unjust policies that brought their Israel to "bad light", especially how it treated Palestinian Arabs as second class citizens, of depriving their right to shelter, education, and dignity as persons and communities.
In Bethlehem for instance, pilgrims would say that the site is known for Christ's birth. But also within those walls remembrances been displayed like those shown above. And to think that the border wall also passes through that town, then there are also settlements near those walls, that there are checkpoints, an atmosphere of fear for as these Zionists once felt the tremor of Intifada that brought names of Palestinian Arab martyrs such as those near the Milk Grotto.
So was in Nazareth, one wall reminds Palestinian Arabs and Jews about the horrors of the Nakba, that occurred when more than 700,000 Palestinian Arabs — about half of prewar Palestine's Arab population — fled or were expelled from their homes, during the 1948 Palestine war. Between 400 and 600 Palestinian villages were sacked while urban Palestine was almost entirely extinguished. The term, which meant "Catastrophe" or "Disaster" in English, also refers to the period of war itself and events affecting Palestinians from December 1947 to January 1949.
And not all thee Palestianian Arabs were Muslims, there were also Christians who were victims of this disaster. Right was Aref al-Aref, who wrote:
"How Can I call it but Nakba? When we the Arab people generally and the Palestinians particularly, faced such a disaster (Nakba) that we never faced like it along the centuries, our homeland was sealed, we [were] expelled from our country, and we lost many of our beloved sons."
***
The form of this person's visit may be religious given the primary intent along with his fellow pilgrims, but, given the news reports would say this doesn't stop from seeking truth from facts as a concerned person. The place may still carry its charm and sacredness thanks to those sacred sites if not the appeal for peace, but so long as the conflict continues over that sacred soil, the struggle remains.