PALESTINIAN INHIBITION IN THE WALLED CITY OF BETHLEHEM

Leila Sansour writes about her and her family’s experience of life growing up under Israeli occupation. Reflecting on the past 45 years, she wonders how the future will unfold – not least for the younger generation who have known nothing but life under occupation.

‘As a child growing up in Bethlehem, I was entrusted with burning all the political books in my father’s library whenever there was an Israeli raid. Now my city is surrounded by walls and ring-fenced by more than forty Israeli settlements built on Palestinian land.’

http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/palestinian-inhibition-in-the-walled-city-of-bethlehem-1.435911

More reading:

In September 2011, as Palestine prepared for its bid for UN recognition, Leila writes about this hugely significant step.

‘The Palestinian UN bid – an uncharted  territory.  Is the risk going to the UN? Or is the greater risk doing it half- heartedly? Read it here.