Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
This Israeli water pump, in the West Bank, is caged in and surrounded by barbed wire—a
reminder of what is the most important natural resource around here.
Each community has its concerns: They say the first thing an Israeli considers when
building a house is a bomb-hardened safe room, and the first thing a Palestinian considers
is building a cistern. Along with water tanks and solar panels, Palestinian rooftops also
sport satellite dishes to connect to Arab and international satellites, which serve as their
window on the world. Palestinians told me that many here keep the TV on at all times. To
them, “breaking news” stories aren't just entertainment, but critical updates about a con-
stantly shifting reality.
Driving through the West Bank at night was also instructive. In the countryside, there
were no streetlights unless I was under an Israeli settlement or military base—in which
case, the highway was well-lit, including powerful spotlights facing away from the road,
illuminating the land nearby. In the distance, the faint flicker of open fires, lanterns,
and makeshift dangle lighting marked off-the-grid Bedouin camps. And I could identify
Palestinian towns on the horizon by the proud green lights of their minarets.
