The Separation Barrier

We traveled to Bethlehem some weeks ago (definitely just typed 'years'. It feels like it was years ago) to visit the grotto where Christ was supposedly born and also to visit Bethlehem university and hear from some of the Palestinian students there. Though Bethlehem is six miles south of Jerusalem it might as well be worlds away because of the Separation Barrier. Bethlehem is in the West Bank, Palestinian territory occupied by Israel, and in 2006 the Israeli government built this wall to stop the Second Intifada and to prevent future terrorist attacks against the state of Israel. And while the wall accomplishes this goal it also prevents the Palestinians from accessing jobs, schools, universities, hospitals and family. Most importantly, it's a daily reminder that Palestinians are a people in bondage.





When we passed through the wall returning to Bethlehem a piece of graffiti on the Palestinian side stuck out to me. It was of a lion, the symbol of Judah, bloodied and violently spewing out "Welcome to Israel". Directly underneath was written the word "hypocrisy". On the Israeli side was a nice Board of Tourism advertisement with the same "Welcome to Israel" but this time accompanied by scenic views of Israel. At that moment I did feel terribly like a hypocrite. It's a feeling I hope I'll never forget.