How Jerusalem’s Old City turned into a ghost town before my eyes
Al Jazeera
As a journalist in Jerusalem, I’ve watched this ancient site slowly become a hostile place for Palestinians.
Occupied East Jerusalem – Within moments of arriving at Damascus Gate, one of the main entrances into the Old City of Jerusalem, I found myself surrounded by four Israeli paramilitary officers.
“What’s in your bags?” one of the officers asked as she began unzipping and rummaging through my backpack, clearly not about to wait for my answer. Another snatched my purse to look inside it.
For once, I felt what it is like to be a Palestinian male in occupied East Jerusalem. Men – young ones in particular – are searched by Israeli officers daily, almost always arbitrarily.
“You’re not allowed to sit here,” they told me.
“I’m standing, not sitting, and I’m waiting for a friend,” I replied.
