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The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil,    but because of the people who don't do anything about it

Occupation magazine - Commentary Home page  back Print  Send To friend 1938 HUMAN BEING 2011 - Bethlehem Checkpoint Axel Becker I didn’t say a word I didn’t intervene I was silent sunday 13.march 2011 at about 8.30 I am walking through the checkpoint in bethlehem with a group of germans after the second revolving gate in the fence there is a metal detector keys, coins,mobiles etc. have to be placed in the tray with the rucksack and pushed through the xray as I walk through the metal detector there is a loud bleep I have left my belt on and anyway the machine always bleeps when I go through because of my artificial metal hip I show the young Israeli soldier stretching in her seat in the cabin behind the bulletproof glass my red passport I am allowed to take my belongings and continue I wait for the rest of my group in order to be able to help them through this part of the checkpoint an elderly palestinian enters the small room on crutches which are holding him up under his armpits he has squeezed himself through the revolving iron gate puts keys mobile coins belt in the tray on the conveyor belt he walks through the metal detector it makes a loud bleep a voice yells at him briefly I don’t understand it the soldier indicates he should go back there is another loud bleep he starts looking through his pockets nothing he walks through again another loud bleep he indicates he needs his crutches the voice yells at him again frightened he pulls a piece of paper out of his pocket unfolds it shows it to the young soldier through the glass he says something I don’t know whether she understands him or not does she speak hebrew and he only arabic I a human stand close by see and hear the sad helpless powerless face of the palestinian human I throw a quick glance through the bulletproof glass the soldier a human unmoved in her seat does that mean go back he goes back another loud bleep another human being a palestinian has come through the metal gate the sick palestinian human puts down his crutches can hardly keep standing the other one supports him goes with him through the metal detector again a loud bleep again the loud commanding female voice both of them try to explain something in front of the bulletproof glass they have to go back again there is a loud bleep does the palestinian contemplate giving up back again but the metal gate only revolves in one direction he tries one more time with the help of the other man again the loud bleep the soldier yells at him again there he stands in front of the bulletproof glass where he pulls he has to his trousers down and shows the woman his recent operation scar he takes his crutches in the meantime passed through the xray and wobbles towards the next control point ?!?!?!?!?! I saw it ! His scar was in the same place as mine! Why did my scar not bleed with pain? Why did I not intervene? I have that little red passport which ensures that I, a German, am privileged throughout the world! Was I afraid because a soldier with a machine-gun had followed us through the barred corridor ? He shouted;”No photos!” He wanted to see the photos and videos that two of us had in our cameras. But then all of us were waved through at the metal detector , although it bleeped loudly for each of us. Is the metal detector tuned so finely that it almost always produces those nerve-racking sounds? Why did I not say anything, did not intervene??? And it occurs to me that, during the burning of the synagogues, (1938 the year of my birth) humans said nothing. And when their neighbours, humans, Jewish humans, were taken away, they said nothing, - my parents ,too, maybe, said nothing. I don’t have to remain silent. Nor do my government nor world states have to remain silent about the daily humiliation of Palestinian humans : children,women and men humiliated by the illegal Israeli annexation policy, by young soldiers who have to see it through. The Israeli women from Wachsom Watch are no longer allowed up to this point. Modern control methods at the checkpoints make it practically impossible for them to continue their support for humiliated Palestinians . I didn’t say anything, I didn’t intervene. I can’t forget about it. What is wrong with me? I, who can live contentedly with my artificial hip and my little red passport………. Axel Becker Links to the latest articles in this section The US and nuclear programs in the Middle East How can Israel, Palestine return to a two-state solution? A matter of concrete debate