To Aida Camp through Bethlehem Checkpoint

To get into Aida Camp you must first go into Bethlehem, then to Aida Camp. The process is something that can only be explained through Video. Even images do not express the difficulties that the local citizens must go through each and every day to continue to work on the Israeli side, at low wages. This video is only a small example, and you cannot view what goes on inside of the building, the continual locked gates, waiting and hearing over the loudspeaker in Hebrew what instructions to follow to get to the other side. Also, each and every time, one must provide their hand-prints going in and out of the border. The border was funded by the World Bank.

A'mir Refugee Camp, Ramallah

Photograph by Lina with the Tamer Institute in Ramallah. We took a workshop field trip to A'mir Refugee Camp in Ramallah.
Book Links:  Ramallah- "Sharon and My Mother-In-Law: Ramallah Diaries", by Suad Amiry

The Israeli Security Wall - Photo Story

Photograph taken by Jumna from Ramallah, she lives across from the wall. Here this road used to go straight but it was cut off by the wall. Her mother lives on the other side. Now it can take her hours to go and visit her, when she used to cross the street.

The next photograph is of the wall taken by Sa'ana in Aida Refugee Camp located in Bethlehem. This tower is built across from the homes and a childrens community center.
Book Links: Ramallah:  "When the Birds Stopped Singing", by Raja Shehadeh
The Wall:  "The West Bank Wall: Unmaking Palestine", by Ray Dolphin
Bethlehem: "A Crisis in Bethlehem", by John Strohmeyr

Tamer Workshop Photos

Tamer Institute Group Favorites Topic: Suffering

Photograph taken by: Manar
Ghassan
Photograph taken by: Lina
Photograph taken by: Lina
Photograph taken by: Dalia
Photograph taken by: Dalia
Photograph taken by: Ghassan
Photograph taken by: Manar
Photograph taken by: Manar
Photograph taken by: Ghassan

Photograph taken by Manar

Lina's Favorites

I like this photograph because of the Palestine map on the wall because it is a symbol of Palestine.
This is a view from Jibia village near Ramallah. I like the nature of Palestine and olive trees. This photographs represents Palestine.
This is a home in Dras Krakr from the outside. I like it because it is ancient and it may be gone one day. I like the tradition of the homes and it reflects our cultural heritage.

This is a view from my home, you can see that more homes are being built.

Photographs and text by Lina (Tamer Institute) 15.

Dalia's Favorites

This is in Dras Karakr, it means the head of the mountain. I like the view and the stones, if I owned this place I would like to live in it. It is unique and you cannot find many homes like this anymore.
I like photograph because it shows the houses near each other. I like the blue because it matches the sky. They are too close, because they can hear each other. This is in Al Amari Camp.
Al Amari camp. I took this photograph of the kids coming back to us. I like the idea of kids playing it shows their Innocence.
I like his birthmark, the cross on his forehead, I like his eyes - navy blue, they are unique. I like how he is standing, and how does he live with this? He is too strong to face life, when he gets older people will make fun of him. It is hard outside.


Photographs and text by Dalia: (15) Tamer Institute

Manar's Favorites

Peaceful Days...gone

Photographs and text by: Manar (15) Tamer Institute



Prom Dress 1950.
Looks like misery and darkness.
Olive trees hugging the sun.

Manar's Favorites

Peaceful days...gone.


Prom Dress 1950.
Looks like misery and darkness.
Olive trees hugging the sun.

Manar roll one favs and Al Almar (Tamer Inst)

Manar took photographs of her favorite things or things that caused deep emotion. I will translate her text in a few weeks to add to these photographs.

Dalia roll 2 Al Almar Camp

I asked the group to create photo stories, Dalia chose children, she said that they have honest eyes.

Dalia roll 1 favs and Al Almar

Side Trip- Abu Deis and the wall

A checkpoint in between Jerusalem into the West Bank.
It is hard to represent the structure of the wall in photographs and its impact on the human psyche. I can only explain it like this: Once there was a road that went from one village into another and you could see for miles the hills and olive trees. Then one day, a large concrete slap in built on that road all grey, tall and ugly. The concrete blocks the road so you cannot go through anymore, but not only does it block the road, but also the beautiful view of the hills. It creates the feeling of isolation and a closed box. Once there was vast open air, and now it is stifling. Walking along the wall you just cannot see through it, around it, and what you once knew what was on the other side, the gas station, the coffee bar or the market. Life becomes closed and darker.

Above is graffiti with a window view of what once was on the other side.
This is a "nice" wall in Abu Deis. The locals gathered together and told the State that they did not want a gray wall going through their neighborhood. Israel bought the bricks, the locals built the wall. You can see how close it is to the homes, and the road that is cut off.


In Abu Deis, the wall divided the neithborhoods. Here you can see the homes on the other side. This used to be a "neighborhood" of families and friends, now they cannot get to one another unless they drive around through many checkpoints and spend about 2 hours.
The Palestinian's dubbed the wall as "the snake" This is a good representation as to why. You can see the olive trees, and divisions in the land winding around water wells and homes.

This is a new settlement near Abu Deis. This is the reason for the wall and the land that is being taken with it.