Israeli Volunteers Invite Palestinian Children to Beach
Israeli women accompany Palestinian children and their mothers to Tel Aviv on a trip that for most is their first visit to the beach.
Even after seven years of activity, they are evidently still deeply excited. They are called the “Women of the Sea," as they have taken it upon themselves to give Palestinian children a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for fun at the beach. So far, more than 5,000 children — newborn babies, young kids and teenagers up to the age of 15 — have enjoyed the experience.
It is Wednesday, Aug. 21, at 8 a.m., and the “Women of the Sea” are already waiting at Tel Baruch beach, north of Tel Aviv, for the arrival of the bus full of young Palestinians. They watch the goings-on on the other side of the border in the framework of the Machsomwatch (Checkpoint Watch) movement, in which they follow closely the behavior of Israel Defense Forces soldiers at the West Bank checkpoints.
Rachel, one of the organizers of the children's trip to Israel, paces restlessly, and so do the 30 volunteers who arrived at the Tel Aviv beach at this early hour of the morning to play host to their guests. Rachel calls Morthada, the group's Palestinian escort on the bus. Morthada tells her that the bus set out at dawn from the Palestinian village of Haris, but is now held up at the Eyal checkpoint, not far from the settlement of Ariel. Rachel hopes that the security check will be over as quickly as possible, without any incidents.
Each group of Palestinian visitors brings tension with it. Once the civil administration in the territories approves the list of Palestinians seeking entry into Israel, they are all thoroughly checked from head to toe at the barrier — even children and babies. Each bag they carry is opened and its contents examined by means of the most advanced equipment.
