On Thursday, March 14th, we visited Barta'a with our teacher David Mendelsohn. Barta'a is a city that was cut in half after 1948.
The red roofs are an influence from Jewish communities, whereas in most traditional Arab communities, roofs are kept flat to make room for the future home of a son when he gets married.
The yellow mosque in the distance in East Barta'a (West Bank)
The green mosque in West Barta'a (Israel)
The ditch that used to be the so-called "Green Line" established in 1949 as part of an armistice agreement. The current wall separating most of the West Bank from the state of Israel is behind East Barta'a (West Bank), so the Palestinian Authority doesn't have any physical control over East Barta'a. This has created a situation where the residents of East Barta'a don't pay taxes, but the local businesses got together to pay for public services.
Professor Mendelsohn showing us rebar on top of an Arab home, which will someday be used to build a home for a son when he marries.
"Intifada" (uprising)
Professor Mendelsohn and his friend who is a barber in East Barta'a. The friend's hero is Saddam Hussein, who according to the friend, never betrayed the Palestinian people like Arafat or other Arab leaders.
"Map of Palestine"
The friend's hobby is repairing antique recording equipment.
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