Shattered Hopes
The West Bank remains impermeable to The Arab Spring
Despite widespread upheaval across the Arab world and the ongoing statehood bid to the UN by the Palestinian National Authority, little has changed for those living under occupation in the West Bank.
For Suad Amiry, a former member of the Palestine peace delegation, the lack of progress at the UN is frustrating. "Neither the Americans nor the Europeans have been fair in telling Israel enough. We find Obama telling us we are taking short cuts." Meanwhile, life in the West Bank is still precarious, with many living in fear of attacks from Israeli settlers. "They have always come at night, in darkness to attack us. We could not even sleep because of fear" says one woman. Zakaria Zubeidi, a former militant in the Palestinian al-Aqsa Brigades wants a single state, without occupation and with equal rights, but believes this will probably never happen. "The Israeli army has come with tanks and killed our people and in doing so have taken our faith and hope". For many Palestinians it's clear that the Arab Spring is still a long way from the West Bank.
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