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7/1/1994 - Just a Day Like Any Other by Hisham H. Ahmed

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUTWRITWSC ON NT INSTITUTEOFCURRENTWORLDAFFAIRS Hisham H Ahmed Jerusalem JUST A DAY LIKE ANY OTHER July Peter Bird Martin ICWA West Wheelock Street Hanover NH 03755 Dear Peter The people thispart world narrative Certainly writers authors devoted themselves understanding Palestinian Israeli relations intra Palestinian Israeli affairs Much undoubtedly contributed broadening knowledge interested complex cultures What acquired interest actually deserves however stories ordinary human being Pa estinian Israeli foreign alike whose thoughts actions pivotal creating headlines affected Intellectuals policy makers formulate policy attracts publicity because official character Indeed occupy formal institutions status responsible their societies being times times peace It whose roles become visible demand serious consideration examples world civilizations being attempt enumerate Without participation ordinary individual however participation either passive active policies thoughts Wherever Palestinian Israeli societies people interesting revealing personal stories At market place offices where people lined documents processed street Palestinians Israelis encounter other As expected experience their daily interaction easily forgotten Hisham H Ahmed ICWA fellow complng narratives Palestinian people Since Institute Current World Affairs Crane Rogers Found ation provided fellowships enable outstanding young adults outside United States write about international areas issues Endowed bythelateCharlesR Crane theInstituteisalsosupportedbycontributionsfromlike mindedindividualsand foundations The morning July typical outside ID cards hawiyyat office which Israeli Ministry Interior Bethlehem Tens Palestinians crowded behind under waiting since early morning Israeli soldiers standing behind I needed office since I obtain proper paperwork order travel Jordan Thus driver Iyad I drove there parked outside building ready The crowd waiting impatiently clear signs frustration evident Holding American passport noticeable signalled soldiers behind wanted After repeated attempts attention moved closer towards I explained I needed office trepidation opened muttering under breath indicate discomfort Iyad Proceeded little which constructed perform security checks people going hawiyyat office I walked first Iyad followed behind As close metal detector alarm Both stood stock still beginning empty pockets metal belongings coins Once alarm sounded soldiers standing there started yelling words I understand since spoke Hebrew A moment confusion ensued little Hebrew I tried grasp going asking soldiers soldier question however later identified himself John Bidouk enraged listen anybody His voice louder louder second For Iyad trying figure could wrong invite All commotion minute until John soldier grabbed shoulders hitting machine pushing outside I tried soldier stopping doing while attempting white avail I explained other soldiers grouped around support their colleague worked I needed understand happening None soldiers bothered anything response request By already standing outside feeling humiliated defeated Behind I stood there anxlously knowing course actlon I HHA trying attention soldiers there explain exactly happened Their attitude carelessness ignored attempts I spoke gently Calmly As I became assertive John smply responded English I speak English You speak Hebrew So cannot To I replied You speak coherent English minute somebody spoke EngI John managed communicate wanted English spoke Arabic Whle language barriers contributed creating problem could language factor cause uproar The overriding reason attitudinal embedded deeply rooted feelings animosity posslbly hatred John seemed understand almost everything I other soldiers John wanted point seems wanted reconfirm other control Even I I planned report bosses C Administration American Consulate still belligerent You report God replied I couldn As discussion unfolding fruitlessly between John I someone English Israeli accent Are trying educate soldiers Israel Unfortunately Taken aback gentleness approach I interrupted enquiring whether soldier He replied No I citizen I commented Look positive attitude Your words different voice different doesn anything being polite others I thanked kindness stressed Israelis Palestinlans attitude world would better place He emphatically agreed stating Without kindness politeness between concerned trouble becomes inevitable The Israeli civilian tried John changing unreasonable attitude regrettably unsuccessful Iyad other bystanders myself John seemed determined seemed nothing could changed You John saying heavy Arabic None other soldiers effort impact John tenacity despite standing there disagreement written their faces scene later described I choice office myself company oneof people standing there There Palestlnian staff working hawiyyat office atmosphere there different outside It rather tense quite uncomfortable The staff seemed having dispute amongst themselves Gathered behind counters their windows closed arguing shout other wanted break loose No understands fighting about elderly women standing there remarked exasperation I standing since early morning simple question No seems The elderly women question maybe others waiting there likely things could differently This experiencing lives responded elderly women remarks The people bureaucracy designed serve public dependant Why would repeatedly whole month birth certificate issued newly middle wondered I waited about before I chance about paperwork Notsurprisingly I I check another I office knowing departure As I exited there How feeling I asked Not What frustrating I pointed another soldier John unarmed doubtful would risked doing What exactly I asked Well could almost shorter Iyad Iyad close So going I further asked Unfortunately there nothing I about other frustrated until dissipates It something experiencing every something happens there Iyad concluded Indeed seemed anxious actually Every while would start about incident suppress thoughts almost immediately Noticing pattern discourse I effort express His point talking about doesn frustration anger already similar ncdents happened before Received Hanover