I used to report from the West Bank. Twenty years after my last visit, I was shocked by how much worse it is today
(www.theguardian.com)
from pete_link@lemmy.ml to world@lemmy.world on 12 Dec 17:14
https://lemmy.ml/post/40232009
from pete_link@lemmy.ml to world@lemmy.world on 12 Dec 17:14
https://lemmy.ml/post/40232009
cross-posted from: lemmy.ml/post/40232005
Thu 11 Dec 2025 00.00 EST
I had not planned to write anything about my trip to the West Bank last month. But I changed my mind when I witnessed how much daily life for Palestinians had deteriorated, how dispirited they have become and how much control Israel and its settlers now exercise over the Palestinian population. I had expected conditions for Palestinians would be worse, but not this much worse.
At the end of the second intifada, there were, according to the UN, 376 checkpoints and barriers in the West Bank. Today there are an estimated 849, many of them erected in the last two years.
#world
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nothing to say for me but disgusting
I think the most important takeaway here is that for those of us in the imperial core, the urgency has never been greater to understand the architecture of power and find the weaknesses in its ediface.
The opportunity (and associated responsibility) to pursue shared liberation is greatest for each of us on in America and Europe.
Divest everything. City governments, schools, business, whatever. My city – Oakland – has had great success at this. And each institution that joins the efforts is another crack that will eventually bring end the occupation. We can do it this decade!
We have to have hope enough for ourselves and those with far fewer options.