IMEM (International Middle East Media Center)- 2007

Aseel, a 14-year old child, sat at home with tears flooding on her red cheeks after the Israeli occupation barred her from travelling to Qatar to participate in a festival for children, this occupation is not only occupying her land, but also depriving the children from their basic rights.

Aseel is an active child; she loves the world, loves life even among the dark nights imposed by the occupation on her people. She is a member if a local Dabka (folklore dance) group in Ramallah city, in the northern part of the West Bank. She finally had her chance to represent her country in Qatar and in another festival in Jordan, but the occupation does not want her to go.

She was so happy when she heard she can go with her group to participate in the festival, she started running in the house kissing her family, and saying “finally my wish became true, I will travel and represent the folklore of my country”.

But it seems that the Israeli occupation does not like the idea!, her parents are originally from Gaza, and are living in a village near the West Bank city of Qalqilia, her father and grandfather own dozens of Dunams of orchards in Qalqilia. They carry identity cards issued in Gaza, and the Israeli authorities do not allow Gaza ID holders to obtain any permits from its military offices in the West Bank.

Aseel needs a special permit in order to be able to leave, if she leaves without it, she will not be allowed into the West Bank, and will be forced to go to Gaza without her family.

Her father applied the Civil Coordination Office, controlled by the Israeli army, and asked the office to allow his daughter to leave with the band and be allowed back to her family, but, as expected, his request was denied, and she was not allowed to leave with the band.

She came back home with her father, and just felt darkness all around her, darkness spilling coldness on her innocent face, What crime did I commit? She said, Why am not allowed to travel with the rest of my group? Why is the occupation barring us from living like other nations and peoples do? and once again she realized the occupation is bad, and that the occupier is tyrannous.

The occupation stole her happiness, imprisoned her childhood, and imprisoned her hope to live as other children live around the globe.

Her father said that there are nearly 80.000 Palestinians carrying Gaza ID cards and living in the West Bank, “they have homes, and deep roots in this country and the occupiers imprisoned them in their own land”, he added.