Separation Wall Tour

Today we went with Danny Seidemann on a tour of the wall that separates the Palestinians from the Israeli's. He was so knowledgeable and such an interesting man. He's an Israeli Jew but works mainly in East Jerusalem with Palestinian/ Israeli relations. He's some kind of leader in the Israeli Army, but he deeply cares for the Palestinians.

I have had all these mixed feelings about the wall since I have gotten here. I remember hearing that the Jerusalem Center had to let go all of their kitchen staff because they live on the other side of the wall and couldn't get to their job anymore. We learned today that 300,000 Palestinians are displaced because of the wall. Kids can't get to their schools that were once a 5 minute walk away and now are 30 miles away because of have to maneuver around the wall through ominous check points. People die because all of the hospitals are at the top of the hill in Jerusalem and the wall separates people in the West Bank can't get to them quick enough. People have lost their jobs and can't get to see their family.

Danny Seidemann

Having just attended the Holocaust Museum I feel like the Jews would do anything to avoid anti-antisemitism and an apartheid-like feel in their country. When you see the wall... it looks like that. Then again... Israel isn't suffering from so many suicide bombers anymore so it is working in a way.

Someone asked Danny if it's working, is the wall doing what they wanted it to do? He answered that pretty much it is working and it isn't working... there are good things and bad things about it.

We have had so many talks here about the politics of this place... and basically, like one reporter told us, "It's complicated."

I believe that.