A Piece of Palestine

ZAHRA HUSSAIN TALKS TO ONE YOUNG PALESTINIAN AS HER COUNTRY BRACES ITSELF FOR INDEPENDENCE. WHAT WILL IT MEAN TO YOUNG PEOPLE THERE?



Flying the flag for freedom

 You are walking to school but all is not what it seems: an armed military official has replaced the lollipop lady and you wonder where her smile has gone. Forget UCAS - university has closed its doors to people like you. If you're lucky, you'll just about catch a glimpse of its ivory tower peaking above the checkpoint that's barring you from a future. Whilst London may be under constant surveillance, at least it's by CCTV rather than armed military.

This scene is a daily reality for young Palestinians and a familiar one for 23-year old Tasneem Alhadi, who grew up in occupied Palestine. But it seems change might just be around the corner. Tasneem now lives in Leeds but believes independence means everything to her counterparts back home. "It would mean freedom, socialising - the chance to go to university and to travel." The state of Israel was officially formed in 1947 when the UN awarded a section of land around Jerusalem to the Jewish community.

Previously, the same area that had been known as Palestine was occupied by Arabs, Jews and Christians alike, under the rule of Ottoman and British empires. However, since this date, disputes have remained unresolved. Tasneem also believes that independence will allow Palestinians to develop their own economy. "Just yesterday, I walked into Tesco's to buy dates. They were advertised as being from the West Bank - presumably Palestine. But on closer inspection, it turned out they were grown by Israelis." 

Currently, Palestinian farmers can't sell their products internationally. Tasneem asserts that independence would give young people jobs and prospects that they would otherwise not possess. However, even thinking about independence has required a step-change in attitudes from one generation to the next. Tasneem's parents feel differently: "They are sceptical as they worry it will involve giving up a lot of land."

"Young Palestinians feel robbed of their identity. An independent Palestine would give us the chance to tell people that we have a country to call home"

It seems young people are less consumed by what has come before, than interested in what is coming next. "At the moment, if I tell people I'm from Palestine, they reply 'Don't you mean Israel?' Young Palestinians feel robbed of their identity. An independent Palestine would give us the chance to tell people that we have a country to call home."           

The UN has recently put off a decision on whether or not to admit Palestine recognition as an independent state. While countries suuch as Russia, China, Brazil and India are expected to support the bid, Britain and France say they will abstain on the grounds that recognition of a Palestinian state at this time would undermine the prospects for a negotiated political solution. 

As the nation waits for a decision, Tasneem waits in Leeds, hoping that the benefits of independence will be shared amongst future generations of young Palestinians.

By Zahra Hussain