continued...

It was a really moving experience witnessing the blatant racism of the Isreali regime against Suheil. He was so dignified about it, having to smile and reason with them. He is so used to it. They tried to say that the entrance was not for Muslims so told them he was a Christian and they said that it wasn't for Arabs. It was our first taste of how Palestinian life is made a complete misery and a hassle as well as being humiliating, not least because it is the place that you were born.

After lunch at the PGFTU we went to a hospital in East Jerusalem. Most of their patients and lots of their staff are unable to access the hospital now because of the wall, which basically runs through Jerusalem regardless of borders or boundaries. Sometimes it goes through towns (such as Abu Dis) separating neighbours and even families. There is an ID system that the Israelis have imposed that I am still trying to get my head around but, as I understand it, there are two kinds for the Palestinians: blue and green. If you have a blue ID pass it means that you live in West Jerusalem (160,000) and can work there. West Jerusalem is the "Jewish" side where all the important religious sites are. If you have a green or West Bank pass, you cannot enter West Jerusalem either to work, live or visit your family. The doctors at the hospital told us that staff cannot come to work because they are on the other side of the wall and do not have the right kind of ID pass. Also, if you have a blue pass you must stay that side. Police often raid people's houses to check that they are still there late at night. People have their passes revoked to staying away from West Jerusalem for short periods of time. You have to prove that you have lived there continuously for seven by showing proof of address, bills, bank accounts and many other documents. We met a trade unionist today who had a green pass and his wife has a blue pass so he cannot visit her family. She works in West Jerusalem but they cannot live there.