I was born in Bethlehem, was raised back and forth between Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Yes there were two different states, the under probation state of Palestine, and the state of Israel.

            My father was born and raised in Bethlehem, my mother was born and raised in Jerusalem, two cities that are about 7-10 miles apart, yet each were separated. For over 70 years the conflict between Palestine and Israel has existed and impacted both peoples, yet it is not resolved and one peoples are considered by the eyes of outsiders as terrorists, and the other peoples are considered the victims.

            My parents, both Christian-Arab, got married 33 years ago. At first, they were able to live together under one roof. But when the first intefadah started, they started to face difficulties. People who hold an Israeli ID have to reside in Israel, otherwise they lose their documents and legal right of living in Israel.

          The Israeli ID provides its’ holders with a little more freedom of movement, better health facilities and care, better opportunity for education, better opportunity for career and jobs, better resources and life-style, than Palestinians with Palestinian IDs. Therefore, Arabs with Israeli IDs want to make sure they don’t lose their benefits and legal status, which would also protect not losing their properties.

        My parents were one of many families that lived in this struggle. Traditionally, women after marriage live with their husband in his hometown; that was one of many traditions and laws not written.  My parents had to choose between living within tradition, or a better life for their children and better future. Therefore, they tried to compromise and live in Jerusalem, but it wasn’t that easy.  My father, who has a Palestinian ID, was not allowed to visit and stay, nor work in Jerusalem with a special permit.

        Applying for family unification takes years and years of documents, and evidence. The struggle of providing for family, providing evidence of living together, went on for so many years. The trouble is that the “immigration office” wants evidence of living and working in Israel, yet they didn’t provide the work and living permit for my father to do so.

        The struggle continued for so many years, so many courts, so many nights sleeping with one parent, so many years of living out of luggage, so many years not knowing where my favorite shirt or toy was; was it in our home in Jerusalem, or in Bethlehem?

        The struggle continued when I reached an age (16 years) and needed my own I.D; neither Israel nor Palestine wanted to give me an ID. Each state was directing me to go to the other side, and neither wanted to take me as their resident nor citizen, each providing unreasonable reasons or directions. For over 6 years I wasn’t able to get any document to prove my identity. Lawyers, courts, and applications, were all for nothing.

        I felt like I was in prison, I went to high school in fear– daily trips of high anxiety, horror, and fear that an Israeli police would stop me randomly and ask for proof of ID. And, without one, I would be taken to prison and no one would know where I was. I was stopped twice, but both times I was with my mother and, with the help of the heavens, I was able to get back home.

        I graduated from high school with no official certificate, as they needed a legal document and proof of ID for that. Then, I applied and attended university. I was enrolled by the assistance of a family member who worked there. Only because the community is somehow small, and everyone knows everyone, was I able to continue my education without a legal document.

        A couple months before graduating, I was informed that if I didn’t provide a legal document and ID, I could not participate in graduation and, therefore, couldn’t get my certificate. I felt so upset, angry, frustrated, and hopeless. I thought that after all those years of education, and being the best in what I do, it would go to waste, go unseen, be unrecognized, and I would have no future or career.

        I decided, without notifying anyone, that I would go to the Palestinian ministry, fill out an application for an ID, and submit it to the officer. The officer rejected it stating, “You don’t have any files in our system.” I stood in the middle of the hall, and started screaming with a loud voice.  Officers came to arrest me.  I shouted, “Please arrest me, I already live in prison; I wouldn’t mind living in a smaller one.”  The head of the department heard my shouting and screaming.  He ordered them to bring me to his office. He asked me about my story, and reason for screaming, and I told him that all what I wanted was my right to obtain an ID, and his signature accepting my application. He smiled and said, “My signature won’t matter much if the government won’t issue you an ID but just so you relax, here is my signature.  Go and submit it.”

        One month later, I received a phone call saying, “Your ID is ready.  Come pick it up from our office.” These were words I thought I would never hear. My heart was racing; I was filled with joy, happiness, hope, and peace. I was flying from happiness. In that moment, I was recognized as a citizen of Palestine… as a person! I thought, I can graduate! I can get a driver license! I can find a job! I can walk in the street with no fear of being arrested for not having an ID! I can try to obtain permission to go and see my dying grandparents! I can try to obtain permission to go and sleep in our house in Jerusalem! I can… I can… I can… !

        With all those bad things that happened to my family, and to myself… with all those troubles, barriers, and injustice, I believe in peace. I believe in the words of Pope Paul VI, “If you want peace, work for justice. ” I graduated as an Occupational Therapist. I went to many training for conflict resolution and peace making, and I worked as an Occupational Therapist with children with special needs.  There was a day when I heard about a project “Sport for peace,” investigated in it, and requested to join! I became the coach and leader of the first wheelchair basketball team in the west bank for young adults!

        This project aimed to gather sport teams from Palestine, with sport teams from Israel (not Arab), to play together and use sports as the bridge between the two peoples that are separated by the wall. We were able to get players to mingle and enjoy the friendship of each other. Each person learned about the other side, despite the language barrier, and each learned about the others struggles, hopes, dreams, and families. They learned their differences and, better, they learned their similarities.

        The reason I am writing this, is because of what the 45th president of the US is proposing: to build a wall.  This is outrageous; it makes me upset. I am hoping that we will be able to rise and have leaders object this proposal.  Leaders who think of methods to build bridges instead of walls, to build trust and love instead of fear and hatred.