From August 23-August 30 2004 Arun Gandhi will head a delegation to Jordan, Israel and Palestine to carry his grandfather's legacy of nonviolent resistance to the people of the Holy Land. This blog will be updated daily during the tour.
Click [here] to find the current time in Jerusalem.
Gandhi Tour of Israel & Palestine
Sunday, September 19, 2004
This reflection was written by Jerry Crane, one of the delegates on the Gandi tour.
The Palestinian Farmer
Saturday (August 28, 2004) we drove to Qalqilya and toured the area and the farms and saw the effects of the wall on the farmers and the community.
I talked with Omar. He grows 11 kinds of citrus trees, he has olive trees and also raises vegetable crops. The wall has separated him from his fields. He does have a permit to go thrugh gate 25, but it is much farther for him to go to get to his fields that way. The gate doesn't open early enough and it closes too early, which means by the time he has has to wait to get through the gate the days are too short and they have to work in the heat of the day.
In the peak seasons he needs a lot of workers and it is very difficult to get them through the gate and it also hard to get workers to work only in the heat of the day. Sometimes Omar and his wife have stayed and worked in the night, but it is illegal and he could be fined or even jailed.
How can a farmer operate this way, I asked myself. I am a farmer in America, in Illinois, and I can't imagine the pressure that these circumstances put on him and his wife.
The farmer is a survivor. Omar tries hard to keep his attitude good and his mind sharp. Can he make it? I don't see how, but in my innermost self, because of who he is and what he is, I guess somehow I believe he will.
But even if he does survive, is it right to punish him with so much pressure and difficulty? His workers told him they would work for a percentage of the crop, but they cannot sell it because of the wall, so Omar has to buy it back from them but then can he sell it? I don't know, but I do know that it will push this man to the maximum of his abilities, both his physical strength and his soul.
Some say the wall isn't violent. I believe it is one of the most violent things they could do to the farmer. Also, I noticed on our way to see the wall along the streets we traveled there were many shops where the farmers used to shop and now they are all closed up. Where did the shopkeepers go and what is the future?
During our visit the people in the area cooked a big dinner for us, chicken and all we could eat and drink. They were very hospitable and friendly. Is this the sign of a violent people - I don't think so. We talked much of non-violence - everyone is afraid and fears for their safety and their freedom, both Israeli and Palestinian.
I believe there are two basic emotions in life - fear and love. Everything comes from these two. If someone is angry with you and hates you and tries to destroy you it is because they are afraid. Can't we somehow practice love towards each other? Dr. Gandhi says if we could trade places with each other for 2 months then we would understand and be ready to love each other instead of hating each other. Is that too much to ask?
Comments:
I think the wall was not put in place to inconvenience Palestianian families. It was put in place in reaction to the destruction that
Isreali families have experienced at the actions of the suicide bombers.
Of course, the suicide bombers have
come with their message, "Stop the
occupation. You are destroying the
living conditions of Palestinians."
What the world misses in all of this,
is just how loving Isreali families and just how loving Palestianian
families are.
I am happy when I read of Isrealis and Palestinians working together
to reveal the peace that is present
in the hearts of the people of the
Middle East.
Isreali families have experienced at the actions of the suicide bombers.
Of course, the suicide bombers have
come with their message, "Stop the
occupation. You are destroying the
living conditions of Palestinians."
What the world misses in all of this,
is just how loving Isreali families and just how loving Palestianian
families are.
I am happy when I read of Isrealis and Palestinians working together
to reveal the peace that is present
in the hearts of the people of the
Middle East.
I think the wall was not put in place to inconvenience Palestianian families. It was put in place in reaction to the destruction that
Isreali families have experienced at the actions of the suicide bombers.
Of course, the suicide bombers have
come with their message, "Stop the
occupation. You are destroying the
living conditions of Palestinians."
What the world misses in all of this,
is just how loving Isreali families and just how loving Palestianian
families are.
I am happy when I read of Isrealis and Palestinians working together
to reveal the peace that is present
in the hearts of the people of the
Middle East.
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Isreali families have experienced at the actions of the suicide bombers.
Of course, the suicide bombers have
come with their message, "Stop the
occupation. You are destroying the
living conditions of Palestinians."
What the world misses in all of this,
is just how loving Isreali families and just how loving Palestianian
families are.
I am happy when I read of Isrealis and Palestinians working together
to reveal the peace that is present
in the hearts of the people of the
Middle East.
