Walls instead of bridges
Photography by Ruba Anabtawi
Palestinians look over literature at a table near the Ramallah checkpoint.
Qalandia checkpoint. The checkpoint has two sides, one goes north to Ramallah and ...
A billboard advertising a need for peace.
This movable iron door controlled by Israeli soldiers in a control room at one of the many checkpoints
The infamous wall seperating Palestinian's from Israeli's.
One side of the wall. The Palestinian Territories.
A baker at the entrance to the Ramallah checkpoint.
Passengers trucks and vans wait to pick up people crossing the checkpoint
Crossing the checkpoint near Ramallah.
Banana peddler near the checkpoint.
Another perspective of the wall.
Palestinian's headed for the gloomy checkpoint.
On the way to Ramallah after luckily getting across the checkpoint.
Vehicles wait their turn to pick up passengers crossing the checkpoint
Crossing into Ramallah.
Palestinian's look over literature at a table near the Ramallah checkpoint.
RWI: Do you think there will ever be peace in Israel?
RA: If Israel admitted the Palestinian's right to have there own state, without settlements in the west bank, right of return for refugees and, have east Jerusalem as a capital for the Palestinian state then I think peace would be possible, and the conflict would stop.
RWI: Who is to blame for the violence?
RA: The Israeli government has not used the chances the Palestinian government and negotiators have given them on a silver plate many times over. Recently the truce between Abu Mazen (the Palestinian president) and Israeli president Sharon. The Palestinians were committed to the truce while Israel continued with the aggression, including; building the wall, by building more settlements, and continuing with blanket closures.
RWI: Why do you think that Palestinians are using suicide bombers?
RA: I’m against the suicide attacks and killing of human beings, but in the same time we should ask ourselves why. The “Paradise now” movie can answer that, but from my opinion, 58 years of living in poverty, an unhealthy life should be cause enough. Look at their circumstances and how they are living in refugee camps, there are daily invasions of homes, assassinations, killing of innocent Palestinians, children, woman, everyday suffering at the checkpoints, confiscation of land, uprooting of trees, they are restricting our lives in many ways. I think all Palestinian's want a natural life, self determination, mutual respect and I don’t think these are impossible demands.
RWI: Should Israel retaliate after a terrorist attack?
RA: Revenge is never a clever solution for Israel, revenge will create revenge and this circle will not end. Israel should work for peace, admitting our right to live as human beings and not prisoners in camps, to have dignity, and independence, otherwise the conflict will continue.
RWI: Should Israel continue building the wall separating Palestinians and Israelis?
RA: Of course not! Israel should build bridges for peace and not an apartheid wall.
RWI: How can young people like you change the situation there?
RA: By showing the facts, in the media, by way of television and documentaries and print. We can spread our sufferance not to show that we are the weakest side but to ask the human nations that we too want to live, to be happy.
No one believes we love to die, we just want to live as human beings, with political, social, international rights, and again, right to return for refugees who were driven from their homes, and not more.
RWI: Should all Israelis leave?
RA: It is not about staying or leaving, it is about admitting our right to live as Israeli's have their right to live. The Jews have lived with us for many decades in peace. We should go back to the borders 67, and settlements should be dismantled because it is an obstacle for peace.
RWI: Is it right for Palestinian's to live in refugee camps?
RA: Of course not! And, I think the most important thing is the refugees issue and the right of return for refugees who live in these horrible unhealthy refugee camps. There are many, many problems in these camps, especially in Lebanon. Again, treating people as human beings to begin with is a good start towards peace.
RWI: How do young Palestinians feel today?
RA: We are frustrated really, we usually see on TV, or by traveling outside Palestine, or by visiting west Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, how the other side lives. They are happy, there are no checkpoints, no wall, and no restrictions on their lives at all.
We cannot have a limit on our lives, we are frustrated asking for peace, for life, for happiness. Which are the foundations of international rights.
RWI: Why do you think it is gloomy to live there?
RA: I answer this question While Israel invades Jericho prison. They have destroyed parts of the compound and killed two Palestinian security people to arrest " Ahmad Sadat” president of the Al Jabha Party president.
East Jerusalem is under Israeli administration, and as an Arabic city, Palestinian culture and history do not exist, there should be a continuous, between Jerusalem and west bank and the Gaza strip, however all the means of continuity such as Palestinian association, activities, festivals, political and civilian life is forbidden and Israeli rules restrict a sample of a natural city, more over there are checkpoints surrounding the city and an apartheid wall.
RWI: How do young Israeli’s feel about the situation today?
RA: I don't really know, but I know some people feel for us, and protest against Israeli humiliation policies, but the majority look at us as an enemy, terrorists, and feel we should leave Palestine and live in Diaspora.
RWI: Are you afraid living there?
RA: Truly, from dealing every day with suffering I wish I could immigrate to any country that has freedom, rights, and happiness, especially when I traveled to Jordan, and USA last year.
I feel we live in humiliation here. But in the same time as a Palestinian and a journalist I believe that I have a message to spread, to cover the facts, so little by little I can change the world for the better, I hope.
RWI: Is there communication between young Palestinian's and Israeli's today?
RA: Yes! Groups such as Seeds Of Peace, and others work on accepting others and living together in peace.
RWI: How does photography make you feel?
RA: It makes me feel that I can correctly document the facts, with tools that are realistic and balanced more than the print media is. Photography can talk without words, so I love photography, and believe in the power of the photograph.
RWI: What can photography do for your future? Is it a good communicator?
RA: Yes, it is good commentator, I can express how I feel through my camera and that's why photographs do not need a special language, pictures are common and global and that is the power photography has.
RWI: Is photography a powerful tool?
RA: Yes of course, realistic, common, and expressive without additions.
RWI: Thank you Ruba for sharing your thoughts and feelings with us.
Ruba Anabtawi is a young Palestinian living in Jerusalem, The 23 year old is a journalist and amateur photographer with a BA in media and political science at Berziet University, and currently works for various magazine and news websites in Palestine.
