This story is ancient history.
Back in 1992, I remember riding a car for the second time in my life. Maybe it was not exactly the second time but this is how I remember it anyway; it was the second major transit I experienced at that young age.
Beck then, the first Palestinian Intifadah was in its peak, no Palestinian Authority yet, and the whole Palestinian land was under Israeli occupation. Ironically, this had a bright side!
You only needed to stop a taxi at your doorstep in Gaza to drop you at Allenby Bridge on the west bank of the Jordan River.
One year Later, you need a "hard to get" permit to pass Erez Crossing to get out of Gaza, where you have to change the taxi that will drop you at Jericho where you need to have another transportation method in your way to Allenby Bridge (aka King Hussain Bridge on the other bank of the river).
Those were the good days anyway! Now, a normal person from Gaza cannot think of going to the West Bank at all, much less going to Jordan or beyond using the same old route.
the only reluctantly available way to move out of "the strip" is through Rafah border.
Last year, cousins of mine who lives in West Bank went to visit my late grandfather in Gaza. Ideally, it's a 80 Minutes drive from Ramallah to Gaza, but they had to take a twisted route passing two rivers, a canal, and a peninsula!
In 1991, my lovely aunt favored an expatriate cousin over me when she had a trip to Jerusalem. Her argument was that I have all the time in the world to go there in another trip, but my cousin don't because she had to travel abroad soon. Apparently, there is no enough time in the world to make that wish true, Thanks to the peace process that tore us into pieces.
Back in 1992, I remember riding a car for the second time in my life. Maybe it was not exactly the second time but this is how I remember it anyway; it was the second major transit I experienced at that young age.
Beck then, the first Palestinian Intifadah was in its peak, no Palestinian Authority yet, and the whole Palestinian land was under Israeli occupation. Ironically, this had a bright side!
You only needed to stop a taxi at your doorstep in Gaza to drop you at Allenby Bridge on the west bank of the Jordan River.
One year Later, you need a "hard to get" permit to pass Erez Crossing to get out of Gaza, where you have to change the taxi that will drop you at Jericho where you need to have another transportation method in your way to Allenby Bridge (aka King Hussain Bridge on the other bank of the river).
Those were the good days anyway! Now, a normal person from Gaza cannot think of going to the West Bank at all, much less going to Jordan or beyond using the same old route.
the only reluctantly available way to move out of "the strip" is through Rafah border.
Last year, cousins of mine who lives in West Bank went to visit my late grandfather in Gaza. Ideally, it's a 80 Minutes drive from Ramallah to Gaza, but they had to take a twisted route passing two rivers, a canal, and a peninsula!
In 1991, my lovely aunt favored an expatriate cousin over me when she had a trip to Jerusalem. Her argument was that I have all the time in the world to go there in another trip, but my cousin don't because she had to travel abroad soon. Apparently, there is no enough time in the world to make that wish true, Thanks to the peace process that tore us into pieces.
