Stopped at a Checkpoint

On the way home to Tulkarm, Esther and I were riding in a service vehicle.  This type of van holds 7 passengers and the driver.  There were 5 Palestinian passengers….4 men and 1 woman and the 2 of us on board.  We were a little ways from Ramallah when we were pulled over at the Zaluraard Checkpoint.  Every service vehicle coming along was ordered to pull over and wait in a parking area on the other side of the road.  Each vehicle was thoroughly searched and our identifications examined.  Other traffic—cars and trucks—were allowed through without a check, but for some unknown reason all service vans were ordered to stop. 

The Israeli soldiers were fully armed and serious about their assigned duty.  It was scary and unnerving to be approached by a soldier carrying a large weapon.  All the service vehicle drivers got out of their vans.  Some passengers also got out of the vans while some stayed inside and waited. 

After a long wait the soldiers allowed the vehicles to start moving.  By this time our taxi driver was very anxious to get us to Tulkarm as this long wait had certainly cut into his income for the day.  He drove very fast and took risks on the road to make up time. 

But in an occupied territory there are any number of ways the strong power can intimidate the weak.  I don’t know how the Palestinian people manage all of their feelings concerning this.  Waiting and patience are everyday activities for Palestinians.  They wait at the checkpoints, wait at the agriculture gates, wait for a loved one to be released from prison, wait to get a permit to visit a relative or friend on the other side of the separation barrier.  The list goes on and on with the grand finale being waiting, waiting, waiting for the occupation to end.  I only know how it made me feel……frustrated, scared and powerless.

We are aware that the tension has been on the rise since the Israelis have ended the moratorium on building settlements.  One of the other EA’s from the United States, Pastor Wayne Smith from Tacoma, recently sent me information on what is happening in Jerusalem since the moratorium was lifted.  You can read about it on his blog:  http://www.prayforthepeaceofjerusalem.wordpress.com.

In the past week there have been two young Palestinians shot to death at checkpoints near us, the closest at Nablus (Jan 2^nd)  where we go to worship most Sundays.  The irony is that these checkpoints are set up to screen travel on Palestinian roads  from one Palestinian town to another Palestinian town.  The reason given for these checkpoints is that they will increase safety and security.   It seems to me that the opposite is true.

Please continue to pray for the Palestinian people to remain patient in face of this constant intimidation and fear. 

Susanne