Build bridges not walls
SpunOut.ie blog: Youth Editor Orla Price talks about her experience of the Amnesty International summer camp.
I have to say, Amnesty International summer camp was one of the best experiences of my life!!
There’s nothing like living together with strangers to make friends. Whether it was hiding from security guards, playing elevator music, learning Hebrew nursery rhymes or playing toffee (a game where you tangle everyone together and other people have try to pull you apart, used in protests) we all had incredibly memorable experiences.
It wasn’t all fun and games though and I don’t think anything could have prepared us for first hand accounts of the difficulties experienced by those whose lives are affected by the Israeli / Palestinian conflict.
It was a culture shock to learn that the Palestinian girls were not allowed in the same room with any of the boys. Or to hear that honour killings of daughters by fathers still go on and the police do nothing about it.
There were also stories of the constant security checks and restriction of movement through Palestine, as well as the hours and hours it took them to get here.
The most distressing part of the whole camp had to be the tears that were shed by the students who were held back longer than anyone else because of the stickers with numbers on their bags that meant they were Arabs.
The Israeli side spoke about witnessing suicide bombings, and the looming threat of army service over their heads, and about having to obey orders at checkpoints where women in labour were forced to give birth rather than be allowed to pass. People spoke of brothers and sisters in the army who did not want to follow these types of orders but had to do so.
We all decided unanimously to have a march for Palestinian/ Israeli solidarity. Some resounding opinions echoed through the planning: construction of the wall inside the west bank must be stopped, end expansion of the Israeli settlements, stop the restriction of movement in the occupied Palestinian territories or the need for the wall to be taken down altogether. We didn't know what solution could be reached (however we discussed power sharing, similar to the north and a three state solution) Our slogans included, ‘We live separately, we march together’ and ‘Build bridges not walls!’.
The last day of the camp was very difficult. We stayed up all night knowing it was the last day and afraid to go to sleep in case we missed everyone before they got on their early flight.
Seeing the Palestinians crying as the wondered if they would ever come back, knowing an Israeli friend was going to jail for refusing to be in the army and just having to leave all the new friends we made was so hard, especially when we knew they were going to back to a struggle.
What we talked about and how we tried to help in the face of such a long hard conflict seemed small but however small, it was still a step.
Even if it was just the fact that we were all together in the same room, trying, meant something and for that, I hope all the friendships and contacts made on this camp will be maintained and that we will continue fighting for peace.
We live separately but we can march together.
See www.amnesty.ie for more info and action.
By: Orla Price
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