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From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders

By January 27th, 2021No Comments
Re-posting in light of recent events

From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders

Hola Chicas, 

So I hated to do it, but we spent the whole of Tuesday on one of those cattle drives tourist trips that require that you get on a bus, off a bus, on a bus, off a bus, listen to a story, eat at the pre-selected restaurant where your tour guide already made a kickback deal for you to eat crappy felafel, look at the same souvenir crap made out of plastic and wonder which relative gets which piece of crap… which of course is made in China. But the point is that when you’re in Israel, you simply must visit a few major locations and this annoying ass tour allowed us to visit all of them in one day. So that’s what we did…we saw Jerusalem and it was wonderful.  I hope that you decide to visit the Holy City one day as well.  When and if you do, remember that while you’re looking at all of these beautiful ancient sights, the West Bank is actually behind you and it’s full of Palestinians.  On Monday, we went to Jerusalem too, but then we kept going and actually crossed the infamous fortified wall into the West Bank and met real life Palestinians.

Read On!>>>

Second Class Citizens:
If I told you that you couldn’t go to the moon, you’d definitely tell me that you don’t give a damn and that you would never want to go to the moon anyway.  But what if I told you that you were not allowed to leave your neighborhood…or to cross the street? 

Now, I imagine that I’ve got your attention.  This is the lunacy of life in the West Bank.

Big Problems/Small Solutions:
So let’s back up for a sec– Dr. Daddy is an international relations scholar and when we began throwing around the idea of going to Israel (back in March), his only request was that we pay a visit to the West Bank. 

Enter Gamillah Yafit Biso of Humans Without Borders.  One day back in 2002, while sitting in the lobby of a Jerusalem hospital, a tearful Arab woman was worried about how she would get her child home.  You see, Palestinians are not allowed to drive or even enter many areas in Jerusalem and the West Bank, and the cost of cab rides is incredibly prohibitive. Over-hearing this, Gamillah volunteered to give her a ride back to her village. The woman then explained that her child needed dialysis treatment, and would have to return to the hospital the following day.  Gamillah had to work and could not offer her a ride, but found a friend to meet her at the IDF check point. The idea stuck.  Humans Without Borders was born!  Thirteen years later, Gamillah has organized a humanitarian army of 200 volunteers that have helped Palestinian families with both transportation and permits to Israeli hospitals.  Obviously, the Palestinian/Israeli conflict is a huge problem…and I ain’t got the answers Sway!  Sometimes, huge problems require simple solutions. Below are images of one woman’s quest to overcome the divides of occupation. 

From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
The pediatric dialysis treatment center at the Jerusalem hospital- Shaare Zedek This treatment is unavailable at Palestinian hospitals. 
From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
Volunteer clowns… either cheering up or scaring the hell out of the kiddos.
 From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
Rida and his proud daddy (and Palestinian policeman), straight out of dialysis.  He comes for treatment three times a week.  If he had to rely on taxis to get to and from the checkpoints, he’d spend roughly $250 a week. 
From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders We drove them back to their home in the village of Kiflhares
From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
 Dr. Daddy acting like he ain’t geekin’
From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
Read the sign.  #WouldYouGoTho?
From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
#WouldYouGoTho?
From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without BordersPalestinian crew love– Ashraf, Loay and Mustafa

From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
See that gas station behind me?  Ashraf and crew are prohibited by law from going there. #ApartheidMuch
From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
Ashraf just finished his studies in finance, is recently engaged and dreams of opening a felafel shop in the United States. 
From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
He fed us the best shawarma we’ve had since we’ve been over here and wouldn’t accept payment.
#WhereTheyDoThatAt
From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
Even Israeli soldiers frequently stop by for lunch.  Note the big ass gun strapped around his back. #ItsComplicated
From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
We hit it off, so he spontaneously took us on a tour of his neighborhood, Kiflhares.  #WouldYouGoTho

From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
 Complete with sacred tombs– when religious Jews visit these tombs, the IDF shuts down the entire neighborhood and the Palestinians are not allowed to leave their homes.
From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
#WouldYouGoTho

From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
 Thought to be the tomb of Joshua
 JERUSALEM
From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
That cityscape, tho.

From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
beware of camel

From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders

 From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
 From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
 From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
 From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders

From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without BordersPeople pay half a million dollars each to be buried here. #WouldYouPayTho
From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders This is thought to be the location of Jesus’ last supper
From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
 This is thought to be the location of where he charged his iPhone
From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
Dr. Daddy in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
The line for Jesus’ tomb was 5 hours, but I skipped it, cause he lives in me. #ThatLightTho

From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
That face you make when you know He is risen.

From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
 Jesus was thought to carry his cross through Jerusalem, up these stairs. #JesusWalks
From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
 Is hubby a quarter Jewish? #NotTooShabby
 From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
#IReadMyBibleOnMyPhone #FactCheckingTho #CantFoolMe
From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
 #JersualemServe

From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders
#JersualemServe

Later Gators,
Nik

p.s. if you’d like to donate to Humans Without Borders, click HERE.
From Jerusalem to the West Bank: Humans Without Borders

I’m giving away a year’s supply of Henna Sooq’s Red Raj Henna (12, 100g boxes)! All you have to do is comment on all the Israel related posts that have the ‘CurlyNikki WorldWide’ logo at the bottom.  On May 30th (at 5pm EST), one lucky commenter will be randomly chosen to receive #AllTheHenna! Good luck!

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