i am writing the story, as you suggested, last night.
Petra and I spontaniously decided we should go Suad Massi concert in Ramallah.
The concert was sold out, we knew it was almost impossible to get tickets since we made a few calls, in vein. But we thought we should give it a try. Yallah!
On the way along Sheikh Jarrah, Shu'fat, Beit Hanina, al Ram. We were quite curious whether we would find last minute tickets. We did not think of the other possibility for example,
to miss the concert because of 'the checkpoint'.
Despite the fact that we left Jerusalem at 7, it was already 7.30
and we were in the middle of a long Q of cars along the Walllllllllllll of al Ram.
Israel, yesterday decided to close the checkpoint.
The Iron Gate in the WALL was open for a few cars to pass, very very slowy, under control.
"I remembered Fouad telling me, the other day that the checkpoint is becoming
absolutely terrible to pass through, and every day, not only thursdays, as it used to
be the case.
Qalandia, before Israel occupied the rest of Palestine in 67, used to be the Jerusalem airport
and i remember that my father used fly Middle East Airlines to Beirut.
The Gate of the military terminal was open for cars to take a D-tour to reach Qalandia
from the other side of the checkpoint.
This 'trajet' took one hour, and we are talking about 20 meters distance.
its 8 oclock, still in the car, 1st, neutral, 2nd gear, 1st, stop, yellow ford transits passing us
right, left and centre, the sun sets on this disastrous Qalandia checpoint.
"When Joel and i first met, dear Petra, we spent many hours talking on the phone; Joel lived in Ramallah;
all of a sudden he would say, ok, bye, 'j' arrive", i am coming. He would take his car and within
7 minutes be in front of my home in Sheikh Jarrah."
Still on Qalandia checkpoint, "c'est bon, jai trois tickets pour Suad Massi'; i got texto by Amelie!
yes ! wonderful....but ? are we going to make it ?
by the time we arrived having taken all short cuts of Ramallah's new streets and extended new neighbourhoods, the lights of Ramallah Cultural Palace with the lights on top of the hill where
the tomb of Mahmoud Darwish lies, "ya Rawi ihkee hkayaat" Suad singing, her voice of 'haneen'
nostalgia and words for freedom.
We made it!
and were seated on the very second row, in front of all those who told us, sorry, its sold out,
Patrick, Philip .....and other sponsors of the concert. we laughed !
its true that Suad Massi with her blue jeans on, carrying her guitar, pure and beautiful, created a night of magic energy in the skies of Palestine and the hearts of Palestinians.
but, every time i come and go to Ramallah and spend horrible hours of stress on the checkpoint
i tell myself, "never again"!
you go for fun and end up exhausted, frustrated and with no energy left to enjoy;
especially no patience to recross.
Yes because its two way control !
Zyad who heard me say this, said "this is exactly what they want'!
"You should keep coming.
At least you can, but we cannot come to Jerusalem".
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