No freedom of movement

No freedom of movement

No freedom of movement
We had a day off yesterday, two friends and me decided to visit Nablus a city in the north of Occupied Palestinian Territory. To have some delicious sweets from there, enjoying the sun and the architecture of the old town, the former commercial centre in Palestine called "little Damascus". We were lucky crossing the first checkpoint without difficulties. We left Ramallah behind us and head on towards Nabi Saleh. Another, this time, flying checkpoint, were Israeli occupation soldiers pointed their guns towards people in cars, we crossed it as well. When we discovered we took the wrong way we turned getting back to the checkpoint, where already a queue of cars was swollen on the road. Slowly we continued stop and go, we waited and waited and waited- suddenly people gave each other signs
"m´ssakkar" (closed) - the army blocked the way. We asked people who to continue our way to Nablus and they send us back to Birzeit near Ramallah, from where we came. So still wanted to go to Nablus. We we reached another road leading to Nablus from Ramallah, we discovered the diplomatic checkpoint was closed, through an security incident, three soldiers got injured by shooted from a single man. The occupation soldiers were moderately wounded the Palestinian man was shoot dead at the spot.
Now it was clear to us, that the ways were blocked because a single person decided to attack the israeli occupation force with a gun.
We still wanted to go to Nablus, our last change to continue our way was crossing another checkpoint going there finally. When we reached, people turned their cars already and made signs "m´saker"/ closed. Well now we changed our plans. The only option was now, how to leave Ramallah to get out before the city will be locked down completely. Where should we sleep then? We made it back home to Bethlehem- half an hour later the last checkpoint was closed- the city of Ramallah and their citizens, workers from other towns and visitors locked in. Only foreigners were allowed to get out through the last "open" checkpoint. We spend the whole day in the car, circling to find a possible way to move on were we wanted to go. Lucky us, having the permission to move freely as foreigners with special passports and rights. But what about the people born here? Even if no security threats are there- daily ways are blocked- land is confiscated, daily growing illegally settlements, Palestinians are thrown out of their homes, people are detained without reasons- injustice just happens daily because of occupation, getting more land.
I´m far from away from supporting violence, but honestly I don´t know want I would do living my whole life under occupation, continuing collective punishment and racism? Would I get crazy? Would I grab a weapon too? Would I still have hope for a nonviolent solution for having equal human rights? A state? Would I try my way to Europe becoming a non welcome refugee in another racist system? Would I still believe in international solidarity of the international community? Would I stay calm and steadyfast, trying to live a normal life as the majority of people do here? Honestly I don´t have an answer to this. 31.01.2016