That was May 13th 2008’s episode of “Witness” TV program, my favorite program at Aljazeera channel. “Witnesss” is a documentary program, talks about social aspect of human life, from many different kind of background around the globe. What I like about Aljazeera is it gives different kind of angle on seeing this world which currently is dominated by western’s way of thinking (I think we need some more independent channels like this). And what I do like the most of “Witness” program is, it often presents us the real (sad) situation of how Palestinians struggling their life, how they are forced to leave their homeland by israeli. Other time the program tells about Lebanese children who become disabled as an impact of land mine’s blast on their backyard or playground area, or Palestinian school children who study in schools under bullets whistling. “Witness" is a real witness, telling the world, that in the land with the longest history of modern human civization on earth, has never been a break of conflict, and far away from peace.
That night I learned, how Palestinian has to fight against israeli troops, day after day. ‘My land is my life’ the old man said to the reporter, to picture his fight for the land that has been heritage from his ancestors for hundreds of years. Instantly, I feel blessed living in Indonesia, I can sleep well everyday without any disturbance. I can go to work or to other activities without any worry that my home will be bulldozered by strangers, without any worry my land will be looted by strangers, and then they install fences around so that even We can not go home, to our owned land. Palestinian has to be worry, every minute every second as the land that has been lived for hundreds year, can be at anytime looted by Israeli who claims this is israeli’s land that is “promised” by God.
The big bulldozer, guarded by fully armed of Israeli troops, destroyed hundreds of olive trees, which are full of olive fruits on their branches and were being harvest. The small Olive plantation is run by around twenties families, who are totally depended their life on this small plantation only. Young Men, Old Men, even women with no arm, fight for their land, their plantation, their olive trees, against fully armed Israeli’s troop and big bulldozer, who with no respect at all continued destroying the olive trees. But their no fear fight is useless, One by one, the olive trees – the symbol of peace for Arabian – came down.
The Palestinian has shown us and taught us, that the essence of life is to fight. On their world, to fight is to stand for their land that has been heritage for hundreds years. Land is life for everyone. Without this land which is laid between Dead sea and Mediterania sea, Palestine is not a nation, and Palestinian does not exist. If their fight is not yet a success (for now), that’s different story. For them, and also for all of us, the most important thing in this life and become the essence of life is, We have to keep fighting, no surrender, ....and let God take care the rest…..
My prayer will always be with you my brothers and sisters Palestinian….
