My experience in Israel and Palestine

Summary

In this deeply personal video, John shares his 2014 journey to Israel and Palestine with his family. The trip, motivated by his grandmother's declining health, led to a meaningful exploration of his family's roots in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. John vividly recounts the challenges of crossing checkpoints, the tension between Arab settlements and Israeli forces, and the emotional impact of witnessing struggles faced by Palestinians. Despite the hardships, his visit to Jericho and the Dead Sea left him with a sense of gratitude and humility. John also emphasizes the importance of understanding the struggles of minorities globally and highlights his support for humanitarian causes.

Takeaways

• 😀 The narrator's trip to Israel and Palestine in 2014 was motivated by a visit to their grandmother, who was in her late 70s or early 80s and had health concerns.
• 😀 The narrator and their family visited the homes and places important to their mother’s childhood in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, providing insight into their cultural and familial background.
• 😀 Jerusalem was described as a city with a mix of modern and historical architecture, with both new areas and old sections, including the school and college their mother attended.
• 😀 The narrator highlighted the multicultural environment of Jerusalem, noting interactions with people from various parts of the Middle East and Northern Africa.
• 😀 Bethlehem, a key location for the narrator, is a significant Palestinian city in the West Bank with strong emotional and cultural ties for the family.
• 😀 The narrator reflected on the difficulty and tension involved in crossing checkpoints between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, where documentation was necessary and encounters with Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers were unpredictable.
• 😀 The IDF soldiers' behavior was described as inconsistent—some were friendly, while others were taunting or unfriendly, especially towards Arabs, creating a tense atmosphere at the checkpoints.
• 😀 An unsettling memory from the trip involved an incident at a checkpoint where the narrator's aunt forgot her paperwork, leading to an intense and uncomfortable experience with soldiers.
• 😀 The challenges faced by Palestinians, such as limited access to basic resources like water and electricity, were emphasized, with the narrator sharing the stories of their relatives in Bethlehem who often dealt with shortages.
• 😀 The trip also included a visit to Jericho, known for being one of the lowest cities in Israel, and the narrator described an experience in the Dead Sea where its extreme salinity allowed for floating on the water.
• 😀 The narrator expressed gratitude for their life in the United States, recognizing the safety, security, and access to basic necessities, in contrast to the struggles faced by those living in Palestine and Israel.
• 😀 The narrator shared a personal commitment to raising awareness about the situation in Palestine, highlighting their empathy for marginalized groups and support for charitable organizations like the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund.

Q & A

What motivated the speaker to travel to Israel and Palestine in 2014?

The speaker's motivation was that their grandmother, who lived in Jerusalem near Bethlehem, was aging and facing health concerns. The speaker's mother, wanting to visit her, invited her children to accompany her on the trip.

What was the significance of visiting Jerusalem for the speaker and their family?

Visiting Jerusalem was significant because it allowed the speaker and their siblings to experience the place where their mother grew up, and to understand the early part of her life before she moved to the United States.

What was the speaker's description of the environment surrounding their grandmother's home?

The environment around the speaker's grandmother's home was described as having a lot of grassland, steep inclines, and a rural, almost biblical atmosphere with shepherds and sheep, set in a sunny and peaceful landscape.

How does the speaker compare the new and old parts of Jerusalem?

The new parts of Jerusalem are modern, with recent architecture and historical landmarks, while the old city contains ancient architecture, including the school and college where the speaker's mother studied.

Why is Bethlehem special to the speaker?

Bethlehem is special to the speaker because it is one of the few Arab cities still classified as part of Palestine, and it holds personal significance as it is where many of the speaker's relatives live.

What challenges did the speaker and their family face when traveling between Jerusalem and Bethlehem?

The speaker faced difficulties at military checkpoints when traveling between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, particularly when crossing from Arab settlements into Israeli-controlled areas. They had to present proper documentation to prove their right to travel, and the process was often stressful due to the unpredictable attitudes of Israeli soldiers.

How did the speaker describe the behavior of Israeli soldiers at the checkpoints?

The speaker described the soldiers as being mentally unstable, with some being friendly and others taunting or displaying hostility, especially towards Arabs. The soldiers sometimes delayed travelers, and the process could feel intimidating due to the soldiers' heavy weaponry and the tense atmosphere.

What happened when the speaker's family forgot the necessary documentation at a checkpoint?

When the family forgot the required documentation, they were detained and had to go through a small security building that felt gloomy and prison-like. The situation was made worse by a heated argument between soldiers.

What were some of the struggles faced by Palestinians in the West Bank as shared by the speaker's relatives?

The speaker's relatives in the West Bank faced issues like power outages, limited access to clean water, and the possibility of losing their homes due to Israeli citizens claiming the property as their own.

How did the speaker describe the experience of visiting Jericho?

The speaker described Jericho as a unique city due to its location near the Dead Sea, which allowed visitors to float effortlessly in its salty water. They also mentioned the mineral-rich water's potential to smooth skin.