A Beautiful Face from Jayous

This is a picture of our host, hydrologist Dr. Abdul-Latif, showing us his village when we visited Jayous in June on a Sabeel fact-finding trip. Read about our experience in Jayous on my blog: See the July 5 entry at http://apilgrimstales.blogspot.com/

This latest letter from Dr. Abdul-Latif shows that conditions are not improving for Palestinians traveling between towns in the West Bank. Remember, this is a Palestinian traveling between two towns WITHIN the West Bank, all in territory supposedly to be part of Palestine under a two-state solution.

Dear Friends,

New way for Security Checking at Beit Iba Check Point in Nablus
Long time ago I did not write to you, however; nothing has changed at Beit Iba Check point.

What surprised me today when I came back from Nablus to Beit Iba Check point at 16:00 o'clock, that I was standing in what they call the humanitarian lane!!. When it is my turn, I gave my Id Card to the soldier in the checking room, he looked to me and said " go back to the youth line".

This means I have to go through the long line of the university students, and this alone means additional one hour waiting. I told the soldier, why? He said go back, then he called in Hebrew for another soldier. The new soldier came and took my Id from the soldier in the checking room and said "go back". I said why? he said" your face is not beautiful" and he was showing that to me in his finger. Then I said what?!! could you repeat what you have said?! He said " your face is not beautiful" then I said to him do you insist that this is the reason? He said "yes" then I look to the other soldier that I may find different answer. But he told me "the same, your face is not beautiful" I said be sure what you have both said will reach many people including your people. He said "I don't care go back"

I turned back and in my way to the back line I found another soldier, and I started telling him my story and without any introduction. He seemed to be not happy with what I said to him and he took my Id, but the same soldier who sent me back and claims he is the commander at the check point came and took the Id from this soldier and he was shouting on me to move. I said I am discussing what happened to your colleague. He said" no discussion. I said go back"

I went back and I followed the soldier's rules with little changes. The students in the line let me very close to the rotating gate, so it took me only twenty minutes to check again.

I am not sure if these are the new regulations at the check points, or if this make their commanders happy or if their families can be proud of such a shame. What I am sure that such things happen daily everywhere at the checkpoints.

I am not sure if my face is not beautiful because I don't see it much. But I am sure that my heart is beautiful because I see it every minute.
I cried, but the tears are in the heart.

Abdul-Latif