Episode 11 - A Special Episode: The Intersection of COVID-19 and the Occupation
A SPECIAL EPISODE
On this episode of Women Behind the Wall, we bring you stories and voices of women and men, Muslims and Christians, who are currently living through the novel coronavirus crisis under Israeli occupation. People all around the world are dealing with the devastation of this virus, and our lives have changed dramatically as a result.
During times of crisis, human rights, democratic values, and social justice are often overlooked. During this fraught period, we wish to draw attention to what is happening here, both how it is similar to what you might be facing and how it is unique.
While there has been important coverage of what this pandemic means for communities, how it is affecting your countries, and Palestine and Israel, we’ve found women’s voices and perspectives to be lacking. So while we interviewed both men and women for this episode, we center the voices and perspectives of the women living and working behind the wall in Palestine.
SEND A NOTE
If you’d like to drop a note to one of the people featured in this episode, please address it to them and we’ll make sure they get it!
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
+972 Magazine - Independent commentary and news from Israel & Palestine.
Institute for Middle East Understanding and IMEU on Instagram - The Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU) is an independent non-profit organization that provides journalists with quick access to information about Palestine and the Palestinians, as well as expert sources, both in the United States and in the Middle East.
Sign up here for the weekly Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) email bulletin with a round-up of news from Palestine and Israel.
The Foundation for Middle East Peace (FMEP) - The Foundation for Middle East Peace promotes a just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through grants, public programming, and research.
ISSUES RAISED
Check out these helpful resources for more information on the issues raised in this episode.
the Siege on the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, palestine
The current lockdown of Bethlehem as a result of the coronavirus is mentioned throughout the episode as a time reminiscent of the 2002 siege of the Church of the Nativity and Bethlehem.
In Episode 3, Amira shares about the siege of the Church of the Nativity, which took place from April 2 until May 10, 2002 in Bethlehem in the West Bank. As part of Operation Defensive Shield, the Israeli military occupied the Church of the Nativity trying to capture suspected Palestinians who sought refuge in the church compound. At the same time, there were more than 200 monks and Palestinians residing in the church. After 39 days, the siege ended with the suspected Palestinians exiled to Gaza and different parts of the world.
Although the siege was confined to the proximity of the Church of the Nativity in the center of Bethlehem, the army incursions were not limited to that area. The larger district of Bethlehem experienced raids and incursions in the middle of the night as part of regular Israeli military tactics. Palestinian men were frequently targeted for arrest at the time, even those who were engaged in nonviolent resistance and were not connected to the main purpose of the siege.
More can be found about the siege on Wikipedia, a PBS Frontline introduction of the siege and chronology of the events.
kafr aqab and jerusalemites behind the wall
Walid shares about his Palestinian Jerusalemite community of Kafr Aqab, calling it a “no man’s land,” which lies within the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem, but is geographically located behind the separation wall. Jerusalem residents there have to physically cross a checkpoint in order to reach the rest of Jerusalem. This physical fragmentation of Palestinians from one another is further complicated by Israeli lockdown regulations due to the coronavirus response.
To learn more about the situation for Palestinians with Jerusalem residency who live behind the wall, listen to Heather’s story in Episode 6, where we explain that one-third to one-quarter of Jerusalemite Palestinians live behind the wall in areas that are still considered Jerusalem. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz provides more information on this in their article “15 years of separation: The Palestinians cut off from Jerusalem by the wall,” as does The Times of Israel in “Jerusalem’s no man’s land: Chaos and anarchy in the Kafr Aqab neighborhood.” See here for a map of Kafr Aqab and the surrounding area, published by the Jerusalem-based human rights organization B’Tselem, which provides maps and other resources on their website.
MUSIC
The music featured in the intro and outro of the podcast comes from a live jam session of Palestinian musicians at Hosh Al Yasmine organic farm and restaurant, previously located in Area C in Beit Jala.
The music tracks behind the interview and narration come from the following sources:
Ability, Choice, Walking, Determination, and Attainment, by Borrtex on the album Ability, which is available for noncommercial use under the Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International License through the Free Music Archive.
Oud, tracks 01, 05, 09, and 17. Thank you to the New Vision Media Center for generously providing us access to these resources.
*Some names have been changed for anonymity.
All interviews were conducted via online social platforms in accordance with the social distancing, shelter at home, and lockdown restrictions that we are currently facing.
Disclaimer: The WOMEN BEHIND THE WALL Team does not necessarily agree with or endorse all the opinions and perspectives linked to in the resources above.
Thank you to Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) for helping to sponsor this episode. You can find them at www.cmep.org, and on Facebook and Instagram. CMEP does not necessarily agree with all the views expressed here, and those interviewed do not speak on CMEP’s behalf.
