'Palestinians suffer too'
2005-03-03 13:45
Dear Editor,
Why is it that we only ever hear and see the news from one side?
Today, there are hundreds (thousands perhaps) of Palestinians who are treated in the most awful manner.
How do I know this? I've lived and worked in Palestine for the past year and have seen daily what's happening to these people.
Last week, "Palestinian terrorist attacks" were big in the news. But are these terrorists really the terror, or are they freedom fighters?
Yesterday, while Israel took part in so-called peace talks, one of my friends was a victim of an Israeli "legel terror attack".
He's travelled the same road every day, with a permit from Israel and worked in the Palestinian Authority offices as an inspector for 22 years.
He's never taken part in any attacks on Israel, and was never a danger to anyone in the country.
All he wants is peace, a life, and the ability to raise his children in the way he thinks fit for them to be strong citizens of the country.
Chased like an animal
But yesterday, he was one of hundreds who was kept at checkpoint till dark and afterwards, chased like an animal at gunpoint to the nearest prison.
He was lucky though, and managed to escape, because he knew that if they took him into Administrative Detention, he would be there for up to three years.
But he will loose his permit, even if they don't keep him, which ultimately means he will not be able to travel to his work place, and will not be able to provide for his family.
When he arrived home last night after being chased for 5km, he was in tears of frustration and helplessness.
His family was devastated and his wife was forced to be the strength of the family.
And for him, this is humiliating because in the Arab culture, no woman should be the strength of the family.
The husband and father is the leader. In other words, what this results in, is many men losing hope for their families and becoming shameful, hopeless people.
My question to you is, why does the world turn a blind eye to this, and perceive the Israelis to be "under attack by terrorists?". Why are the Israelis always the victims?
A few years ago, South Africa's current government, was a "terrorist organisation".
Are we going to look the other way now because we are free?
Maryna Schutte,
Palestine
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