Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Ciao Israel

One gets the feeling that the vast majority of the population of Israel want peace, yet 53 years after independence; it remains a war-zone. Rockets fly in from Gaza, bags are searched when entering any building, be it a bus station or a supermarket, and 18 year old kids in and out of uniforms walk around with AK47s.

It affects every aspect of every life in Israel whether Arab or Jewish, and is embedded in the national psyche. It’s easy to make simplistic generalizations about the situation in Israel, but in reality, it is far more complex. I have seen firsthand internal hostility between both Arabs and Jews.

I am very much indebted to family and friends here in Israel who have welcomed and spoilt me at every opportunity. I have eaten loads and will return to Europe weighing considerably more than when i started this journey. I certainly shan’t wait another 27 years to return. Without their generosity i would not have been able to stay as long as i have – Israel is really expensive.

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