Middle East Trip 2003: Syria | Lebanon | Jordan | Palestine The Palestinian-Israeli conflict Travelogue
Ramalla
Our friend Rouhie had the deference to invite us to spend the day in the busy city of Ramala. This city lodges one of the main commercial centers in the region, and it's the seatr of the National Palestinian Authority Headqueaters, residence of the palestinian lider Yasser Arafat, where he remains as a prisioner since year 2000. The state of the facilities, repeatedly attacked by tanks, missiles and bulldozers, remains like a symbol of the suffering and destruction that the region undergoes by so long conflict.
The streets of Ramalla
Main square of Ramallah, place of beginning of the most of the demostrations of the people
One of the street that pass near the main square
It was a surprise to see technological companies site in Ramallah
Other Oracle building in the same street of Ramallah
The Surda Checkpoint
Surda checkpoint, in the north of Ramallah. Best defined like 'blocked road', as now there aren't israeli soldiers in the surrounders. The target of this point is to cut the road with big concrete blocks, so that, the cars can't drive on this road. The habit way in this situations is tl leave the car, pass by walkand take another car in the other part of the road
In Surda, it's a doubled 'blocking'. It have about 500 meters of slope between two 'blockings' when only is possible to go walking. There are carts thrown by animals to be used by disabled people and cartloads
Red Moon Crescent (Palestine equivalent to Red Cross) have installed a little tent for first aids in the 'blocking' area in order to take care of emergencies. It's important to remember that this road connects Ramallah with a lot of villages where ambulances, food truck,etc can't access. Everything must to pass by walk through this deplorable precipice
In the othe side of the road, there is a multitude of taxis and sheruts (shared taxis) waiting for the people who are arriving
According to many, the blockade of the Surda road is due to the intention to difficult the access of the students from Ramallah to the <A HREF='http://www.birzeit.edu'> Birzeit University </A>. It's obvious the interest of the palestinian in the care and improve of their education, something of which they feel fairly proud. This graffiti in the Surda road demands the right of education and the end of the ocuppation. The University of Birzeit is accomplishing a <A HREF='http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/checkpointbackground.htm'>awareness campaing</A> about the checkpoints and the problems to pass through it by students and teachers
The Mukataa, the National Palestine Authority Headquarters, Yasser Arafat residence
Our friend Rouhi, managed to access inside the complex of the Mukata'a
Status of destruction of the Headquarters of the Palestine Authority in Ramallah. The israeli army destroyed with tanks and bulldozers lmost all the complex two years ago.
Pictures of the Mukaat'a destruction
Rouhi explained us details of the daily life in Mukatta'a. In this area, is where Yasser Arafat congregates to the press for his comunications
Last view of the inside of the Mukatta'a. The palestinian president couldn't meet with us because he was very busy. During our visit happened a suicide attack in Haifa, in what 19 people were killed inside the restaurant Maxim's. Hours later, in this place, the palestinian Authority disapprovaled the attack.
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