RAMALLAH, West Bank -- A trip to this Palestinian town can shatter preconceptions and compel the mind to dream about the possibilities of peace -- and then awaken to the cold realities of a complicated conflict.
You may expect to see squalor and desolation in the city that serves as the capital for the Palestinian Authority. Instead, you have to work your way through a bustling downtown of crowded streets and impenetrable traffic jams, complete with vibrant commerce. You can admire the designs of bright new buildings or stop for coffee or a cool ``smoozy'' at Stars and Bucks.
Amid the global recession, the West Bank is enjoying an economic boom unlike any it has seen in years. As many have noted, prosperity is not a substitute -- nor a guarantee -- of peace, but it conjures images of what peace could bring. Just imagine it: normalcy...
...near Ramallah is an ugly, disheartening wall. Palestinians despise it, and Israelis tend to look down when they talk about it. The reality is that it helped bring an end to suicide bombings that made life in Israel a heart-pounding nightmare. Israeli guards at the checkpoints still stop would-be attackers. In the dream of peace, the wall becomes unnecessary...
...Ramallah's prosperity shows how much everyone has to gain from peace. But a closer look reveals that, tragically, lasting peace remains a dream.
Gee, that 'occupation' is tough, eh?
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1 comment:
On one hand, Pals enjoy the highest economic growth rate among non-oil Arabs, being able to parasytize on Israel. But also note that their GDP is negligible, and there is little economic substance behind Ramallah's bustling streets
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