Update 2: Crossing Borders and Centering Nakba

Crossposted on Instagram

NOTE ABOUT MY PALESTINE UPDATES: Because of the nature of this trip, I’m not making specific details super public. I am not at spy-level security and folks can find info if they want it, I am just not interested in connecting with random folks who may choose to defend what is happening in Palestine at the hands of the Israeli Government and with the support of the United States and my tax dollars.

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First, I floated in the Dead Sea, and it was pretty cool. After most of the day wandering Jordan, we took a refresher by having some water time while we waited for our final delegation member. Without any real reason, I was expecting it to be kinda gross, but it was surprisingly refreshing. The water was clear, cool, and calm, perfect for a very hot day. Not sure I would do it again, but I can say I did it.

Today, we crossed the Jordan/Israel/Palestine border. Let me just say that it’s super anxiety-producing because of how so many people are harassed as they travel to Israel. I have many friends who have been pulled aside, questioned, and intimidated because of their political values (perceived or actual), namely in support of a free Palestine or for being connected with organizations perceived as too pro-Palestinian.

In any case, we overprepared our technology, hearts, and souls and allowed in with little questioning. Go figure. In any case, it was good to have this bonding exercise with these lovely folks as we got to know one another a bit more.

After settling into our Jerusalem hotel, we began our day listening to two elders who shared their personal experiences of Nakba, when Palestinians were displaced from their land in order to form the nation-state of Israel.

Conversation with Co-founder of Sabeel, Cedar Duaybis: Faith and the Nakba

Born in Haifa in 1935, Cedar Duaybis fled to Nazareth in 1948, where she grew up as an “internal refugee” within Israel. She is a founding member of Sabeel (Arabic: “The Way”), an Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem, and a member of its General Assembly. She is a retired schoolteacher who also supported her husband’s ministry as a clergyman of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Jerusalem inside Israel and in the Palestinian territories. She has co-authored several books with Naim Ateek.

She was amazing, kind-hearted, firey of spirit, and theologically committed. At the end of the day, she just wanted peace and justice.

Then it was outside to the nature. . .

Lifta Village(a Village from 1948) with Yacoub

Yacoub Ahmad Odeh was eight-years-old when he was expelled from Lifta during the Palestinian Nakba of 1948. Today he lives in East Jerusalem, only a few kilometers from Lifta, but he is banned by Israel from living in his home village. Still, over 76 years later, he is still determined to return to Lifta and is helping lead the fight against Israeli plans to turn Lifta into a Jewish neighborhood of West Jerusalem.

At the end of the day, he, too, just wanted to be able to have his home back, not even for himself, but for his descendants. Hearing their stories and seeing how long it has been could be demoralizing, but he, like so many, was hopeful that someday justice would be known. So devastating to know that our taxes have gone to create and perpetuate these systems and so inspiring to know that there is hope.

That was that for the day, tomorrow more conversations and curiosity.

[Transcript]

Hello all. Well, I'm in Palestine again. Yes, it was only a month ago, but I'm back. We made it across the border, which is a super stressful and anxiety inducing experience. And I think that's part of what the intent of the Israeli government is, is to make it really difficult and, make you not want to come.

In any case, we're here. We've already heard two really powerful stories from folks who were displaced from their land, during NAKBA in 1948, older folks who, exhibited a good deal of righteous indignation, a lot of lament and sorrow for the loss of childhood and home, and just a reminder of what people have had to live under, for the last 75 plus years.

And so our storytellers were here to listen to those stories. We may generate some things while we're here, to build our own kind of community, to be in allyship, and continue to help to share and amplify stories. One of the stories we'll continue to share is how Palestinians continue to live under the, constant intimidation of settlers.

Today on one of our hikes, we were, yelled at quite a bit, stared at, and it was just a reminder of, what our Palestinian siblings have to deal with all the time and for generations. So we'll continue to lift up those stories, continue to share them. Thanks for your support. And I will see you soon.

Peace.

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