Notes on a Gazan’s Visit to Israel

[shira]

Times Insider delivers behind-the-scenes insights from The New York Times. Majd al Waheidi is a Gaza-based “stringer,” a freelance reporter who regularly contributes to The Times. In this piece, she describes a recent — and, for her, a rare — trip to Israel.

As a reporter, I have come to know the Gazan borders very intimately. I once made several reporting trips to a village near the fence for a story about illegal crossings.

But though I live so close to Israel, it is a world away for me.

Last month, I crossed the border and left Gaza for only the third time in my life. I was traveling to Israel to obtain a visa for a summer fellowship in Washington, D.C.

Security on the Gazan side of the border consists of two separate checkpoints: the first (which Gazans call “4/4”) is controlled by Hamas, and the second (“5/5”) is controlled by the Palestinian Authority.

more...
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/28/insider/notes-on-a-gazans-visit-to-israel.html?_r=2

[Little Tich]

1. Interesting read. n/t

[leftynyc]

2. I loved this comment under the story

It is not only one Palestinian that this story humanized, but also the entire Israeli people. The Palestinian visitor traveled throughout Israel and marveled at the harmony and progress of the Israeli people. The only reason why the Palestinian people have not joined the Israeli people in their progress is because the Palestinians have chosen war instead of peace, hatred instead of love, and degradation of the Palestinian people instead of progress into the 21st century. The Palestinian people should wake up and choose life, choose peace, and choose progress- and the Israeli people will welcome them.

[shira]

3. The freelance reporter who wrote the OP is very brave.

Hamas and their BDS thug friends will most likely try to bully this reporter into sticking to the anti-Israel script from now on.

[leftynyc]

4. I sure wouldn't be surprised

if his life was now in jeopardy. Wouldn't want the people to know the Israeli's aren't living vampires with Palestinian guts hanging from their teeth.