Photo: Joel Shupack
Israel Story

The Wall—Part II: The Other Side

Some call it the ‘security fence,’ while others prefer the ‘West Bank barrier.’ But to most around the world it is known simply as ‘the separation wall.’ Our series continues with a visit to what is perhaps the most divisive symbol of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But as usual, we’ll go beyond the politics, to the people.

July 23, 2019
Photo: Joel Shupack

For the last 17 years, when people say “the wall” and “Israel” in the same sentence, they’re usually referring to something very specific: A 440-mile-long barrier—some 95% of which is a sophisticated multilayered fence, and some of which, especially in urban areas, is an imposing concrete wall. Seen from the Israeli side, this fence/barrier/wall represents security, stability, and safety. It allows us to calmly ride the bus, peacefully go out dancing, and—mainly—quietly sleep at night. Because it was, after all, born out of violence and carnage. People were getting killed often and daily. It was scary. And, as experts around the world agree, the wall has dramatically reduced terror. But when Israelis go to bed at night, there are other people—really close by—going to bed, too. And from their perspective, looking out of their window, the same wall represents something different altogether. Not safety or security, but rather lack of freedom.

Without getting into political polemics, in our episode today we meet some of those neighbors. Regular people, living in the shadow of a wall.

Prologue: “The Negotiator.” Host Mishy Harman talks to Danny Tirza, a jovial retired IDF colonel who, back in 2002, was given an unusual—and logistically almost impossible—mission: to build the security fence.

Act 1: “The Writing on the Wall.” For everything this fence/barrier/wall represents to people on both sides, it’s easy to forget that it is an actual physical structure. And as Joel Shupack discovered in Bethlehem, some people have found surprising ways of using it. This is the story of Alaa Asakerah, who went from being an underworked shawarma maker to the most famous cab driver in town. And it is all because of the wall.

Act 2: “Eight Days a Week.” Arianna Skibell takes us to Battir, a pastoral village about 3 kilometers southwest of Jerusalem. Over the centuries the serene landscape has seen Jews, Romans, Mamluks, Ottomans, Brits, Jordanians, and now—of course—Palestinians. But throughout it all, one feature has remained the same: the ancient agricultural terraces. Faced with the threat of a wall dividing their community, the residents of Battir joined forces with a strange group of professionals who had been hanging out in the village. Together they came up with an ingenious solution: applying to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Act 3: “Yoffi Toffi.” If Alaa made the wall in Bethlehem into his own private billboard, Yoshi Fields explores the advertising world from a different perspective. In 2009, Cellcom was one of the largest telecommunication companies in Israel, known for its emotional, heartwarming ads. But then, one of them backfired. Big time.

The original music in “Eight Days a Week” was composed, arranged, and performed by the Israel Story band led by Ari Wenig and Dotan Moshonov, together with Ruth Danon, Eden Djamchid, and Ronnie Wagner-Schmidt. The end song is our band’s cover of the Arabic classic “Foug el-Nakhal,” popularized in Israel by, among others, Dudu Tassa. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions, Podington Bear, and Broke for Free.

This episode was edited by Julie Subrin, Sara Ivry, Yochai Maital, and Zev Levi, and was mixed by Sela Waisblum. Thanks to Revital Iyov, Rafi Schoffman, Dani Schoffman, Yotam Michael Yogev, Matti Friedman, Marom Ginsberg-Fletcher, Claire Anastas, Ahmad Abu Ahmad, Mohammed Obidallah, Joe Rashba, Natasha Westheimer, Elham Nasser ed-Din, Arie Ruttenberg, Alon Rom, Asaf Liberman, Josh Brook, Skyler Inman, Maya Enoch, Via Sabra, Congregation Kol Ha’Neshama in Seattle, Rabbi Zari Weiss, David Satran, and Naomi Chazan.

This episode is based on Israel Story’s latest live show tour, “The Wall.” Thanks to all who made that tour possible, including Rabbi Jonah Steinberg, Lauren Cohen-Fisher, the Brachman Family, the Harvard Hillel staff, Justin Ziebell, Michael Simon, Reut Tzadok, Rachel Hillman, the Northwestern Hillel staff, Nevo Shinaar, and Shaul Notkin.

Listen to the full episode here, or download it from iTunes. You can hear all of Israel Story’s episodes in English here and in Hebrew here.

Israel Story, the English-language version of the popular Israeli radio program Sipur Israeli, is distributed by PRX and produced in partnership with Tablet.

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