A Clash of Histories

The country of Israel was created in 1948, out of what was previously the majority Arab land of Palestine. Spurred by the desire for their own homeland, and fleeing persecution in Europe, waves of Jewish settlers began to settle in Palestine from the early 19oos. In 1948, this movement succeed in taking over most of Palestine, leaving only 2 areas under Arab control: Gaza and the West Bank(of the river Jordan).

What for Israelis is celebrated as a homeland for the Jewish People, came to be know by the Palestinians as Al Nakba (The Catastrophe). In 1948 0ver 700,000 Palestinians were forced to leave their towns and villages (many of which were destroyed by the new Israeli state). These Palestinian refugees settled in camps in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt as well as in Gaza and the West Bank.

Then in 1967, Israel took over the rest of the West Bank and Gaza. The occupation of the West Bank and Gaza finally sparked an organized resistance (intifada) in 1987 and again in 2002. While violence and atrocities were committed by both parties, the Israeli government, since 1967, has overseen the planting of over 400,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. This is one of the major sources of the continuing conflict. The Israeli government, today, are continuing to disposs farmers in Palestine, (like the one pictured above from Beit Ummar, north of Hebron), all in the name of "SECURITY". In this case, the security of the residents of illegal settlements.

And so here am I in 2009. And I will tell you some stories from Hebron and from my travels in the West Bank and Israel. (see disclaimer)