26th, October 2008
See more photos of the group day
The day started with the bus arriving around eight in the morning to pick up the participants. This day there was also a TV-crew from an Arabic TV-channel coming with us to document the olive picking, and the co-operation with the locals and the internationals. Then everybody got on the bus and Baha from JAI started to do a short briefing about Bethlehem area. He explained a little bit about the Israeli settlements as we were driving along to get to the olive field where we would be picking olives. Many of the participants were shocked to see so many established or ongoing settlements just outside Bethlehem.
When we arrived to the field the farmer told us about his difficult situation. He has had the same land and the same house since 1967, because he is not allowed to expand his land. He also told us that soon he will be divided from his land as the Israelis will build a wall on his field. He will then have to get a permission from the Israeli government to be able to reach his field.
When we went to the field with the farmer we were followed by Israeli soldiers. This was a new and scary experience for many. Norwegian Stine said that she got frightened by the soldiers and their guns, and her heart was beating very fast. The soldiers started to ask the farmer for his ID-card and permission for him and the group. Still the groups presence was very helpful. The farmer said that he would have experienced harassment and other humiliating things from the soldiers if he would be alone.
The olive picking went very well, and everybody really enjoyed themselves. Many said that they thought it was so much more fun to pick olives than they had imagined, and people were laughing and getting to know each other. We were also accompanied by the Keep Hope Alive Circus, and they both helped with olive picking and entertained the group with music and dancing. When we finished with the olive picking we went to eat the delicious meal the women from the farm had prepared for us.
After lunch we moved to Bethlehem to visit the Nativity Church. Those who had already seen the church could go to have a look around in the area. Then we moved to Dhaisha Refugee Camp, one of the three Refugee Camps in Bethlehem area. As we drove to the camp we also spotted the Apartheid Wall inside Bethlehem, and for some it was the first time they saw it, and they reacted strongly.
With us in Deheisha camp was a guide from ATG, and he talked about Palestinian refugees as we were walking around. He also talked about the life in the camp, and how many children from Dhaisha get arrested and sometimes tortured. Some found this very difficult to listen to as they are not used to such conditions and such injustice. Despite of the tough briefing people enjoyed themselves with the children of the camp who were very interested to talk to the international people.
We continued to the YMCA for a quick break and a visit to the grotto with a short briefing about the place given by Lina from JAI. Then the group went to buy some things at the YMCA souvenir shop, and later moved on to the hotel to relax and have dinner. The group was quite tired in the end, but very satisfied with the day and with what they had learned and acheived together.
