Good evening; I'm Edward R. Murrow. Once the most holy city in the world besides Jerusalem, the small town of Bethlehem has, unlike its companion, still remained largely unaffected by tourism or popularity. It's a quiet little town, about divided between Palestinian Christian and Palestinian Muslim populations. But over the last forty years, the occupying state of Israel has subjected Bethlehem to its whim.
[sounds of construction]
The [imagination-supplied] noise you hear in the background is possibly the most controversial project Israel has ever undertaken. It is a wall, about twenty feet high, and never-ending. It cuts a sharp path through the city. Made of concrete blocs, topped by barbed wire, and manned by Israeli soldiers, the wall contrasts with the peaceful mood of the city. Being as wide, tall, and strong as it is, it also divides it. Small portals, guarded by Israelis, are the only means from one side of the wall to the other. There is no telling whether any family can see each other again once they try to get through the wall.
The justifications for the wall are many. The most prominent is that the wall is designed to separate so-called "terrorists" from the growing number of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the Israelis state itself. Critics point out that after sixty years of fighting, a wall will not do much, and anyway, the settlements are illegal. Despite the rising tide of support for a one-state solution, most Palestinians are still willing to negotiate with Israel, and have no plans to carry out martyr or military operations within Israel.
The wall is heavily graffitied on both sides. On the Palestinian side, slogans like "Free Palestine." I see the red jeem-sheem-arrow logo of the Popular Front, a picture of the Chairman, and the colors. On the Israeli side, I don't know. I just have what Yacove tells me: the blue star, a slogan in Hebrew, some IDF stickers.
The situation in Bethlehem is not especially loud or violent. It is tense, certainly; any Palestinian West Bank city these days is tense. Sound grenades every day or two make me jump, and sometimes there's a military curfew. Normally the curfews just spring up out of the blue.
My time on the internet in this cafe is running out, so I'll close off. Good night, and good luck.
Originally posted by scherzothe proverbial dog in the manger ...
Good evening; I'm Edward R. Murrow. Once the most holy city in the world besides Jerusalem, the small town of Bethlehem has, unlike its companion, still remained largely unaffected by tourism or popularity. It's a quiet little town, about divided between Palestinian Christian and Palestinian Muslim populations. But over the last forty years, the occupying st ...[text shortened]... the internet in this cafe is running out, so I'll close off. Good night, and good luck.
Originally posted by scherzo"Most" is not enough. Thus, the wall. Please strap your laptop on your back and climb over the wall to go find another internet cafe.
most Palestinians are still willing to negotiate with Israel, and have no plans to carry out martyr or military operations within Israel.
Originally posted by RedmikeImagine if the roles were reversed ,the israelies were holed up in palestine and the arabs surrounded them and had superior weapons and armed forces , i dont think a wall would be getting built some how do you ? if you are in any doubt as to my meaning i would say the israelies would be wiped of the earth before you could say " Aliackbarcamelhump!!"
OK, now run along.
Originally posted by RedmikeIsn't there in Scotland a pool for senior citizens where you can go and do aquaerobics?
OK, now run along.
I mean, enjoy the last years of your life, dude. Your 3 causes are lost and there's nothing you can do about it:
(a) Israel will exist and the jews won't be exterminated.
(b) Communism won't move from its grave.
(c) Scotland will remain as the backyard of the English.
At least during your remaining years.
Clock is ticking!
Originally posted by SeitseIhtink ..c... is the one which will touch a nerve !!!😉
Isn't there in Scotland a pool for senior citizens where you can go and do aquaerobics?
I mean, enjoy the last years of your life, dude. Your 3 causes are lost and there's nothing you can do about it:
(a) Israel will exist and the jews won't be exterminated.
(b) Communism won't move from its grave.
(c) Scotland will remain as the backyard of the English.
At least during your remaining years.
Clock is ticking!