Blogs from Nablus, West Bank, Israel, Middle East - page 2

An unfortunate, but ubiquitous, part of any school experience is the classic bully-loser situation. Guys might steal lunches, topple books, and/or physically assault the poor victim. Girls refine it to an even greater degree: backstabbing, gossiping, and/or completely ostracizing a person for no discernible reason. The victim is either left to defend themselves, which, upon seeing the effect of their torture, probably goads the bully on. Or they can suffer in silence, counting the days until there’s some sort of spontaneous conscience formed by the aggressor, or simply wait until graduation. I think of this situation, and the sheer frustration that ensues, because of a friend of my roommates’ that unfortunately has entered my world. You think that we get over bullying after high school, but, as many could point out, that is most unequivocally untrue. ... read more

Leadership Training Institute - Proposed Schedule Date Morning (10:00am-12:00pm) Afternoon (1:00pm-4:00pm) 21,june2009 Introduction to the Summer Training Program Welcome event to get to know each other 22,june2009 Presentation: Contemporary Political Geography of Palestine Guided tour of the Old City of Nablus and discussion on the 2nd Palestinian Intifada 23,june2009 Presentation: West Bank Land and Water Issues Visit to the village of Beit Furik and discussion on the effects of Israeli settlement activity in the region 24,june2009 Presentation: Palestinian Political Prisoners Visit to al Fara’a Prison and a discussion on the 1st Palestinian Intifada 25,june2009 Presentation: Legal, Environmental and Economic Lenses of the Apartheid Wall Visit to the village of Na’aleen and discussion about the popular resistance to the Wall 28,june2009 Workshop: Inter-c... read more

To perhaps counteract my verbosity on the last one: I'm really beginning to hate the fact that, on this blog, you have to select 'Israel' as the country in order to access the 'West Bank' region tab. Stacey... read more

“So. What is your name?” Stacey Waterman. “And What are you doing in Israel?” There’s a pause. I’m looking at this formidable Israeli policewoman, the fifth of what seems to be a never ending line of interrogators. I’m bleary-eyed, ridiculously exhausted from what is verging on a 20 hour trip from Montreal to here, Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. I really don’t know what answer to give her, being forewarned that Israeli security does not take quite a fancy to internationals choosing to work in the West Bank or Gaza, areas that they stubbornly refuse to accept as Palestine. I had already told a string of half-truths, not quite feeling comfortable to tell any outright lies, but trying to keep the purpose of my stay light. I was to be spending the next six to ... read more

I suppose now we're getting to the crux of things. I'm in Nablus (Finally), actually even writing this from the center I'm working at. I really should be working- I have a 15 page project proposal due on Monday. Well, I suppose, first things first. What did come first? ...I arrived at the center, and finally met Bilal, the director. He immediately put me at ease, the first day jitters completely disappeared. Within the hour, we're hurtling off to this little town near Nablus to do the certification for this volunteer training program they had there over the last couple of days. We managed to make it there in record time (10-15 minutes), thanks to a gate/checkpoint that they only recently opened, managing to avoid the previously 45 minutes drive around that it took in prior ... read more