Terry Waite reports from the Occupied Palestinian Territories

19 October 2011

Terry Waite is the founder of Y Care International and is in the OPT visiting young people at partner YMCAs just as Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier, is released in exchange for the release of almost 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. In this report from the OPT, he gives us insight into how the prisoners might feel on their release and deal with this next stage in their lives.

Terry Waite looks at a car being refurbished by a young mechanic, trained by the YMCA in Jericho at their Vocational Training Centre

Anne Paq

I am here as President of Y Care International, the agency I helped found over 25 years ago. We have been involved since our start in a variety of programmes in the OPT designed to develop the Palestinian infrastructure. I have been this week to a vocational centre we are supporting in Jericho, training young people in a variety of practical skills such as computing, car repairs and business management. I want to see some of these youngsters go into business on their own.
 
It so happened that my visit coincided with the release of the prisoners – one Israeli and a thousand Palestinians. What I would say about this is that the language with which it is being described illustrates the real divisions that still exist in this part of the world. The Palestinian prisoners are being described by one side as freedom fighters and by the other side as terrorists. It raises age old questions of what is the freedom fighter and what is the terrorist?

It also demonstrates how deeply polarised this part of the world is. You cannot avoid the political realities of the situation. There are some unquestionably grave injustices. Among the real difficulties are the restrictions on Palestinians making it hard for them to earn a living and run their businesses. And then there is the gradual cutting away of Palestinian territory by the building of settlements. It is this gradual erosion that creates resentment. One of the problems for the Palestinians is that they appear to the outside world to be so deeply divided among themselves. If they want to make progress, they have to present a common, united front.

It is a dreadful experience for anyone who for whatever reason is locked up for that long period of time. It takes time to re-adjust. Initially there is all the jazz and razzmatazz that centres around the released person. Everyone wants to know and see you. When that calms down you have to come to terms with the realities of the situation, with the world as it has changed, your family as it has grown up and changed. Some people manage it successfully. Others have great difficulty. People who have been incarcerated for some time do need understanding and support.
“It is good advice to withdraw for a while and take time out to let yourself catch up with the situation as it has changed in you and those around you. The released prisoners will be under constant vigilance and constant surveillance. It is not going to be easy for any of them. One soldier against one thousand others – I think it will be a similar experience for all of them.