Article January 21, 2002 Issue

AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT TO PEACE

Issa

Issa (his name changed to protect him and his family) is a Palestinian who lives in Ramallah, scene of recent tank and rocket attacks by Israeli armed forces. He was born in a suburb of Jerusalem when Palestine was ruled under the British Mandate, and has lived in the region all his life, although at this time he cannot visit his home city because he does not have a travel permit. Issa is retired from a career in education. He spoke recently on Sentinel Radio about life in the West Bank.

You know, when we see things happening, terrible things happening—the shooting here and there, blockades, checkpoints wherever you go—we can always pray, "May God change the mentality of the people so that they can reach settlement, so that people can go freely without any hindrances." And in this same way, we pray also that people will not hate each other.

I used to go to Jerusalem to work, and one time soldiers at the checkpost stopped me. They said to me, "Get out of the car."

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