The West Bank is small (about 30 miles wide and 80 miles long). Every place we’re visiting for this episode is — barring delays at checkpoints or other disturbances — within a 90-minute drive of Bethlehem.
Introducing Palestine to our American television viewers, we’ll begin our new episode with this montage: “We’ll visit Jerusalem — sacred to Christians, Jews, and Muslims, and considered by Palestinians to be their historic capital. We’ll harvest olives, make a home visit, see the tomb of Abraham, learn to wear a scarf with style, follow pilgrims to the place of Jesus’ birth, bob in the Dead Sea, hike to an ancient monastery in the desert, and feel the energy of an emerging economy. Along the way, we’ll learn about walls, settlements, and the challenges facing the region.”
We needed a single viewpoint that said “Palestine” to kick off the show…and this was it. We were rushing to a monastery in the desert, but screeched to a halt when we saw this in the dramatic morning light, just after a light rainfall to clean the generally dusty air, and with some puffy clouds to give it punch. The frame was absolutely perfect, but it was right by the road — and after half an hour of trying to film the “on camera” without a thunderous truck going by, we decided to move on, thinking we’d find something else just as good. We didn’t, and days later, we drove all the way back from Ramallah to reshoot it here. The light was nowhere near as good…but it worked. Looking into the camera, I said, “We’ll visit the West Bank of the Jordan River — a land its residents call Palestine. While Israelis and Palestinians have overlapping claims and struggle to share it peacefully, the West Bank has a rich and fascinating heritage well worth exploring.”With a driver, a local guide, and a second cameraman, our standard crew of three was expanded to six in Palestine. And we could just barely fit in the biggest car we could get. Still, our driver was great, and having Dean, the second cameraman, was a God-send. (I capitalize that word in the Holy Land — because even many non-religious types notice God’s presence here.)Last April, as I was scouting for this shoot, my guide stopped at this little roadside coffee stand at the edge of Bethlehem, and I thought: perfect for TV! We came back and filmed it, saying, “The local drive-through coffee shop, for a hit of local-style coffee, is part of any good Palestinian road trip.” (I got to drink three coffees for three takes.)As much as I believe in Israel, I believe in Palestine, too. America knows and loves Israel. Israel has powerful advocates in the USA and is well-covered by our media. And Israel is very well-funded. If you played word-association with most Americans and said the word “Palestine,” you’d get “terrorism” as a response. That’s understandable. But my hunch is that Palestine has learned that violence is not the answer. Following a rash of suicide bombings in the early 2000s, it has now been more than five years (April 19, 2008) since an extremist from Palestine has resorted to violence within Israel. I firmly believe that those who care about Israel will learn that security, dignity, and independence for Palestine is actually in Israel’s best interest — part of the long-term, sustainable solution to this region’s troubles.
I’ll continue this Holy Land series until November 21st. Then, to celebrate my homecoming, I’ll give a live, free slideshow lecture on Thursday, November 21st at 7 p.m. P.S.T. in Edmonds, Washington. You can attend in person (registration required)…or watch the live webcast from anywhere in the world (no registration required). Learn more at Rick Steves – Holy Land: Israel and Palestine Today.
Comments
8 Replies to “This is Palestine”
Thank you, Rick, for your alert eyes, your open mind, and your genuine concern. You are right to explore this region with sympathy for both sides. In this case, the Palestinian situation is in need of the increased exposure that you are providing. May your work always be a force for peace — seasoned with the sense of humor that characterizes all your shows.
RICK: You make it sound like there has been a long peaceful interlude going on since 2008….NOT!!!
You state…”it has now been more than five years (April 19, 2008) since an extremist from Palestine has resorted to violence within Israel.”…..I assume you are talking about a large attack…Who do you refer to as extremists? Every week I read a Palestinian has stabbed or murdered an Israeli? The Israeli’s have been a constant target of Ketusha Rockets… hundreds, thousands coming from the Palestinian territories and reining down on Israel. Also one of the main reasons for keeping the large terrorist attacks down is the Huge Security Fence the Israeli’s have put up…and the check points leading into Israel proper…both of which have been damned by casual observers such as yourself.
I know you mean well but people who are unaware of the true situation will accept your words as facts instead of just your personal observations! Why not ask, off camera, the Israeli’s their assessment of the situation since 2008??
Rick,
The roadside coffee stand on the outskirts of Bethlehem is a great shot. In July, when I was in the Holy Land, I saw that stand after I had taken the bus from Jerusalem. I believe that climbing road in the background takes pilgrims to the center of Bethlehem, where Nativity Church and other sites are located. So far, your posts are interesting.
“Following a rash of suicide bombings in the early 2000s, it has now been more than five years (April 19, 2008) since an extremist from Palestine has resorted to violence within Israel.” This is absolutely untrue. I don’t know who told you this but it is grossly inaccurate. Moreover, to the extent that violence is reduced, it may well be due to the security wall, which keeps prevents violent terrorists from entering Israel, and provides Israel with a necessary barrier against its enemies. Rick, I love your work, but there is no moral equivalence between Israel and the Palestinian leadership. If you don’t believe it, take a look at the education materials that are used to teach the school children. Glorifying “martyrs”, treating Israelis as invaders, making up false information about the Palestinian people and state. Furthermore Rick, I notice that you go out of your way to minimize the Jewishness of the Holocaust. I’ve seen this in features on Berlin, Paris and Prague, where you visit memorials, but don’t talk about Jewish victims. Why is that?
Rick,
I must concur with Golum and Hirsh; I have no idea what you are trying to convey except to denigrate Jews the way liberals always do. I buy your books and DVD’s because they are so good. Even though I put up with comments like “….Romans who slaughtered Christains at the Colloseum were even more violent than modern day America…” or a radio interview in which you literally stated “…we need to get rid of our military so we can buy band uniforms for middle school children.”
I guess you’re referring to Obama “over the last five years” which has been the worst five years in US/Israel relations! This is so far beyond the pale, statements of such absurdity that only Obama voters would believe them. So if Israel gives up it’s 30-mile buffer and allows 1.5 billion Muslims to move in across the street while John Carrey is in Geneva right now negotiating lifting nuclear sanctions on Iran is sure to bring a long and lasting peace.
Disgusted in LA,
Jim
Rick,
I agree with Golum that there has Not been “a long peaceful interlude”. There continues to be violence on both sides including the Gaza War with 1,100-1400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis killed in the 22 day war according to Wikipedia.
Violence is not the solution and must stop. I have personally witnessed violence to women and children both Palestinians and Israelis. My favorite quote re the Middle East is “we shall have peace when we love our children more than we hate each other”. To read about a reasonable Palestinian in Gaza please google Eyad Sarraj, MD.
John Raasoch, MD
Very naive. I was a bit startled to hear that there had been a long peaceful interlude. Perhaps you did not know that last December, as a result of hundreds of rockets aimed at Israeli civilians, there was a “small” war?
And yes, there is “wall” or separation fence that causes great difficulties and hardships. Unfortunately, it is a direct response to suicide bombers; for many years there was no such barrier. Thank G-d, it has been pretty successful.
Just to clarify the quote from Dr. Raasoch, I believe it was Golda Meir (later PM of Israel) who said, “Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us.” (Statement to the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., 1957). It’s still true today.
I have visited there, too. It’s a wonderful place with many warm, wonderful people. If everyone agrees to get along, perhaps it will be worthwhile to visit again. But both sides have got to agree that the other has a right to be there in their own country.
Interetsing that Jim Golum or Hirsch pointed only to Israeli “losses”. If they could point us to an independent count of fatalities and injuries and land thefts on both sides… that would be informative
And remember that the crimes have been going on for almost a century. Things didnt just suddenly appear ten years ago.
Moreso, suicide attacks are almost as old as mankind and if you study them carefully (or read the work of those who have), you may understand the drivers were never religious. Violence is unjustified always; however it comes in many forms; and state violence is, in my view, the biggest and ugliest crime, because it reflects shared intent to hurt civilians and deliberately targets the innocent.
Thank you, Rick, for your alert eyes, your open mind, and your genuine concern. You are right to explore this region with sympathy for both sides. In this case, the Palestinian situation is in need of the increased exposure that you are providing. May your work always be a force for peace — seasoned with the sense of humor that characterizes all your shows.
RICK: You make it sound like there has been a long peaceful interlude going on since 2008….NOT!!!
You state…”it has now been more than five years (April 19, 2008) since an extremist from Palestine has resorted to violence within Israel.”…..I assume you are talking about a large attack…Who do you refer to as extremists? Every week I read a Palestinian has stabbed or murdered an Israeli? The Israeli’s have been a constant target of Ketusha Rockets… hundreds, thousands coming from the Palestinian territories and reining down on Israel. Also one of the main reasons for keeping the large terrorist attacks down is the Huge Security Fence the Israeli’s have put up…and the check points leading into Israel proper…both of which have been damned by casual observers such as yourself.
I know you mean well but people who are unaware of the true situation will accept your words as facts instead of just your personal observations! Why not ask, off camera, the Israeli’s their assessment of the situation since 2008??
Rick,
The roadside coffee stand on the outskirts of Bethlehem is a great shot. In July, when I was in the Holy Land, I saw that stand after I had taken the bus from Jerusalem. I believe that climbing road in the background takes pilgrims to the center of Bethlehem, where Nativity Church and other sites are located. So far, your posts are interesting.
“Following a rash of suicide bombings in the early 2000s, it has now been more than five years (April 19, 2008) since an extremist from Palestine has resorted to violence within Israel.” This is absolutely untrue. I don’t know who told you this but it is grossly inaccurate. Moreover, to the extent that violence is reduced, it may well be due to the security wall, which keeps prevents violent terrorists from entering Israel, and provides Israel with a necessary barrier against its enemies. Rick, I love your work, but there is no moral equivalence between Israel and the Palestinian leadership. If you don’t believe it, take a look at the education materials that are used to teach the school children. Glorifying “martyrs”, treating Israelis as invaders, making up false information about the Palestinian people and state. Furthermore Rick, I notice that you go out of your way to minimize the Jewishness of the Holocaust. I’ve seen this in features on Berlin, Paris and Prague, where you visit memorials, but don’t talk about Jewish victims. Why is that?
Rick,
I must concur with Golum and Hirsh; I have no idea what you are trying to convey except to denigrate Jews the way liberals always do. I buy your books and DVD’s because they are so good. Even though I put up with comments like “….Romans who slaughtered Christains at the Colloseum were even more violent than modern day America…” or a radio interview in which you literally stated “…we need to get rid of our military so we can buy band uniforms for middle school children.”
I guess you’re referring to Obama “over the last five years” which has been the worst five years in US/Israel relations! This is so far beyond the pale, statements of such absurdity that only Obama voters would believe them. So if Israel gives up it’s 30-mile buffer and allows 1.5 billion Muslims to move in across the street while John Carrey is in Geneva right now negotiating lifting nuclear sanctions on Iran is sure to bring a long and lasting peace.
Disgusted in LA,
Jim
Rick,
I agree with Golum that there has Not been “a long peaceful interlude”. There continues to be violence on both sides including the Gaza War with 1,100-1400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis killed in the 22 day war according to Wikipedia.
Violence is not the solution and must stop. I have personally witnessed violence to women and children both Palestinians and Israelis. My favorite quote re the Middle East is “we shall have peace when we love our children more than we hate each other”. To read about a reasonable Palestinian in Gaza please google Eyad Sarraj, MD.
John Raasoch, MD
Very naive. I was a bit startled to hear that there had been a long peaceful interlude. Perhaps you did not know that last December, as a result of hundreds of rockets aimed at Israeli civilians, there was a “small” war?
And yes, there is “wall” or separation fence that causes great difficulties and hardships. Unfortunately, it is a direct response to suicide bombers; for many years there was no such barrier. Thank G-d, it has been pretty successful.
Just to clarify the quote from Dr. Raasoch, I believe it was Golda Meir (later PM of Israel) who said, “Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us.” (Statement to the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., 1957). It’s still true today.
I have visited there, too. It’s a wonderful place with many warm, wonderful people. If everyone agrees to get along, perhaps it will be worthwhile to visit again. But both sides have got to agree that the other has a right to be there in their own country.
Interetsing that Jim Golum or Hirsch pointed only to Israeli “losses”. If they could point us to an independent count of fatalities and injuries and land thefts on both sides… that would be informative
And remember that the crimes have been going on for almost a century. Things didnt just suddenly appear ten years ago.
Moreso, suicide attacks are almost as old as mankind and if you study them carefully (or read the work of those who have), you may understand the drivers were never religious. Violence is unjustified always; however it comes in many forms; and state violence is, in my view, the biggest and ugliest crime, because it reflects shared intent to hurt civilians and deliberately targets the innocent.