Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., July 31, 2007 Av 16, 5767 | | Israel Time: 08:53 (EST+7)
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Enchanting scenery, without Palestinians
By Zafrir Rinat

The Israeli establishment has fostered the repression of the everyday reality the occupation has created in the territories, and this repression has generated a cognitive dissonance that allows many to overlook the injustices and oppression done in their name. This disregard is particularly comfortable for those who do not cross the Green Line. But there are those who foster this dissonance for Israelis who choose to tour the land of settlements and fences. This is done by refashioning the landscape and nature for the visitors.

Here is a current, typical example in which institutional entities like Hakeren Hakayemet (the Jewish National Fund) and the Tourism Ministry are partners. These entities, in collaboration with the Mount Hebron Regional Council, recently published a booklet entitled "This is in our nature - 25 years in Mount Hebron and the Yatir region." The booklet blurs the distinction between the two regions and presents them as a contiguous unit, while the Yatir region is mainly located within the Green Line.

Anyone not closely familiar with the Mount Hebron region could easily believe that the booklet is inviting readers to visit an area that is a stimulating combination of Tuscany, Crete and western Turkey. It includes agriculture that develops boutique wines and fine olive oil, enchanting and tranquil springs and, of course, there are remains of Jewish culture in every corner. There is amazing desert landscape and even cherry orchards. "From every corner and every place, nature peeks in its full glory and the ancient landscape surrounds from every direction," writes the head of the Mount Hebron Regional Council, Zvika Bar-Hai.

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Another publication, about the Gush Etzion area, was recently distributed with the Teva Hadvarim magazine and included the following: "We hurtle in off-road vehicles through the enchanting spaces of the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea. We'll ride on bicycles through green fields and vineyards. We'll visit the ancient Cremisan Monastery on Mount Gilo and, for dessert, we'll visit boutique wineries that have recently grown in the region. Finally, the readers are invited to participate in the Cherry Festival."

In these publications, there is no separation wall, no bypass roads. There are no roadblocks set up next to almost every Palestinian village, limiting the residents' freedom of movement to the point of feeling suffocated. There are no ridges that have been harmed to make way for settlements that look like fortified and alienated suburbs. There are no cave dwellers who have been banished from their homes on Mount Hebron, and no pupils who cannot go to school because their settler neighbors constantly harass them. No Palestinian communities appear on the map published in the booklet about the Hebron region.

Of course, there is no mention of the fact that the territory is full of unauthorized outposts, or that the land was taken from Palestinians in creative ways. (During a visit to the area, I heard settlers tell a representative of a government body, in a matter-of-fact tone, how they took over agricultural land from a Palestinian who lives outside Judea and Samaria.) To the credit of the Gush Etzion publication, it should be noted that it mentions the distress of the Palestinian village Wadi Fukin - which is slated to be encircled by the separation fence - and the urban, ultra-Orthodox settlement of Upper Beitar, whose expanding neighborhoods "do not benefit, to state it mildly, the villages."

The daily Palestinian nightmare gives way and disappears for the benefit of publications that realize the dreams of the Israeli hiker. Now, in addition to the transportation and security infrastructure that allows the Israeli tourist to avoid encountering nearly any Palestinians and only see their communities from afar, there is a marketing and publishing infrastructure. Awaiting the hiker, for the most part, is good food, amazing scenery and spectacular sunrises. The only thing that remains for Israeli hikers is simply to come, to forget all their troubles - and particularly those of the Palestinians.

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  1.   why isn`t there a single comment to this enlightening article? 12:33  |  eric 08/07/07
  2.   Sorry but this is pointless Tsafrir 13:31  |  John 08/07/07
  3.   Enchanting scenery 14:43  |  Rolland 08/07/07
  4.   Tsafrir, Tsafrir 14:46  |  mark 08/07/07
  5.   When will the Israelis fianlly wake up?! 15:07  |  Sonia 08/07/07
  6.   way to Go Zafrir 15:32  |  alif 08/07/07
  7.   why not write about the paradise of Iran or Saudi Arabia 15:49  |  Joseph 08/07/07
  8.   Why not include 16:01  |  christa 08/07/07
  9.   Tourism 16:15  |  Ruth 08/07/07
  10.   A positive point 17:16  |  Mauro V Mendlowicz 08/07/07
  11.   Zafrir,Damscus Gate,Jaffa Gate and Walls of Old City:away with 17:45  |  Absolute Sweden 08/07/07
  12.   Do tour guides for NYC contain a section on the South Bronx? 18:27  |  Gush Etzion resident 08/07/07
  13.   Gush Etzion has historically been very friendly to Arab neighbors 18:37  |  MM 08/07/07
  14.   Apartheid 19:05  |  Mitch Cohen 08/07/07
  15.   The same since 1948 19:11  |  Pete 08/07/07
  16.   Picture Judea without Jews- desolate 19:13  |  Dani 08/07/07
  17.   Check your dictionary 19:28  |  JRS 08/07/07
  18.   # 7 the answer is simple, joseph 19:39  |  eric 08/07/07
  19.   it only hurts 19:41  |  RLB 08/07/07
  20.   Land without a people for a people without a land 19:47  |  Rabbi David Mivasair 08/07/07
  21.   Zafrir`s Article 20:21  |  Brett 08/07/07
  22.   Rabbi`s view 20:23  |  Brett 08/07/07
  23.   Can any body still deny the existance of Apartheid 20:32  |  Wael 08/07/07
  24.   Both areas were Jewish before 1948 and Arabs expelled Jews 20:45  |  Gush resident 08/07/07
  25.   The Jewish National Fund is a disgrace... 20:58  |  Dutch 08/07/07
  26.   TO JEWS 21:32  |  IAN SMITH 08/07/07
  27.   Positive Point 21:37  |  Katica 08/07/07
  28.   # 21 Gush Resident 21:37  |  Jim 08/07/07
  29.   to Gush resident 21:48  |  Katica 08/07/07
  30.   #21 Arabs can`t travel to Jerus`lm because too many suicide bombs 22:20  |  Gush resident 08/07/07
  31.   #16, Dani. Does "Yes-to-Jews" mean "No-to-Arabs"? 23:02  |  zmogus 08/07/07
  32.   Judea and Samaria 23:36  |  Garry 08/07/07
  33.   21 Gush resident, The fact that some Jews live in Gush Etzion and 23:37  |  Apartheid 08/07/07
  34.   Hmm, were you a marketing major? 00:10  |  Laura 09/07/07
  35.   31 Laura, You are correct ina trivial way, however this is a high 01:16  |  Apartheid 09/07/07
  36.   Pa;lestinians who do not belong to Palestine 08:02  |  Dagma 09/07/07
  37.   To Sonia # 5. 08:27  |  Dolly 09/07/07
  38.   To Absolute Sweden # 11 09:04  |  Tiny Tina 09/07/07
  39.   Arabs belong to Arabia not Palestine! 09:41  |  Natasha 09/07/07
  40.   #34, Laura. Don`t get offended if next time you`ll ... 09:47  |  zmogus 09/07/07
  41.   33 Arabs DO live in Israeli cities but Jews cant live in Pal city 10:11  |  Gush resident 09/07/07
  42.   To Apartheid # 33 10:25  |  Dagma 09/07/07
  43.   Enchanting Scenery 10:29  |  Gush Resident 09/07/07
  44.   To Apartheid # 33 10:57  |  MissKnowall 09/07/07
  45.   To Mitch Cohen # 14 - - Who needs Murderers 11:21  |  Missknowall 09/07/07
  46.   Tourism 11:22  |  observer 09/07/07
  47.   To Wael # 23 - Denying Apartheid! 12:03  |  Dolly 09/07/07
  48.   To Dutch # 25 `Palestinian`{?] rights. 12:38  |  Missknowall 09/07/07
  49.   Enchanting Scenery......and the other side. 13:34  |  Natasha 09/07/07
  50.   By 1881, on the eve of the start of the Zionist Jewish influx , 14:27  |  Apartheid 09/07/07
  51.   Do you all make up your own fake history of the land you desire 14:34  |  Apartheid 09/07/07
  52.   To RLB # 19 - Do not worry. 14:47  |  SarahGoodall 09/07/07
  53.   How many Jews study at Palestinian or Saudi Universites? 15:11  |  Jew 09/07/07
  54.   Enchanting, without the Mythical People..... 15:12  |  SarahGoodall 09/07/07
  55.   Stupid author 15:21  |  C Coren 09/07/07
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