CPTnet
16 November 2007
HEBRON REFLECTION: Hebron: Obstacles to school, obstacles to peace
by Lorne Friesen and Jessica Frederick
When one thinks of Israeli occupation, one probably does not think
immediately of the ways in which it may affect the life of a little
Palestinian boy in a wheelchair.
The nation of Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 war. To feel
more secure in this occupied territory, Israeli authorities control the
movement of Palestinian people throughout the West Bank. Thus, Israeli
authorities have closed roads to Palestinians in hundreds of places. In
urban areas, many streets are blocked with walls to a height of twelve feet,
making the street impassable. Palestinians need to drive lengthy circuitous
routes in order to get around these road closures.
One such street closure has become the focus of our attention. A family
lives less than 100 meters off Shuhada Street. If the barricade were not in
place, they could cross Shuhada Street, and immediately arrive at the Al
Ibrahimiyye Boys School, which their children attend. Instead, the children
must walk an extra 500 meters to arrive at school: up and down hilly
streets, one of which has an exceptionally steep incline. The school
children are then required to go through a metal detector similar to those
used in airports, and then make their way to the school.
Compounding this more difficult journey, the family has a seven-year-old
boy, Hani (not his real name) confined to a wheel chair. Because of the
concrete barricade, the boy must rely on people to push the wheel chair up
the hill, which includes steps within the labyrinth of ancient stone walled
houses. When they have reached the adjacent street, his journey becomes
precarious because of the lengthy steep grade. On the way to school, one
must walk very carefully down this street, holding the wheelchair in check,
because otherwise the wheel chair and its occupant would plummet down the
hill. When school dismisses, someone needs to push the wheel chair up this
same steep street, a challenge for a person in prime physical condition.
When will the Israeli occupation of the West Bank end? When will children be
able to travel freely on roads to schools nearby?
For pictures of Hani and his journey to school, see
<http://www.cpt.org/gallery/album226 >
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