Imagine you lived in Virginia and worked across the river in Washington, DC. Now imagine living with the daily uncertainty of whether someone would stop you from crossing over to make a living or returning in the evening to be with your family. This seems like an absurd scenario to many of us but it is a reality for more than 2.5 million Palestinians living in the West Bank, a territory roughly the size of Delaware. Regardless of your views on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the lives behind these walls are filled with memories of war, scarce resources, and perpetual violence that threaten the potential for peace and a stable future.
I recently traveled to the Middle East as part of an IREX assessment of the region as it goes through a transformative period characterized by citizen-led social movements on the streets and online through platforms like Facebook and Twitter. During my time there, I paid particular attention to Palestinian communities – a group spread across the region representing a range of social, economic, and political perspectives. Despite this diversity, those I met shared a unified goal – the right to a homeland and a life without walls. This goal was the backdrop to all conversations, particularly in Lebanon and in the West Bank where Palestinian refugees and families live behind enormous physical and socio-economic walls that restrict their ability to access basic resources but strengthen their desire for freedom. International media, unfortunately, seems to dwell on the actions of a few extremist freedom fighters. But what we saw behind the walls were youth, artists, and community members searching for creative and peaceful ways to reach the outside world. They tell their motivating stories via murals on the very walls that immobilize them. Their creative works serve as daily, peaceful reminders of their dreams. International organizations like IREX have the opportunity to strengthen these courageous young artists’ and activists’ efforts and amplify their voices to reduce conflict in the region. They already have a great start.