We arrived in Hebron this afternoon after a long drive and a brief stop in Ramallah. Over the next few days, I’ll be embedded with the Christian Peacemaker Teams in Hebron and documenting their work in the area. Their primary mission here is to protect the Palestinian civilian population (particularly children) from attack by Israeli settlers and soldiers.
I’ve been to Hebron once before but only for one day. Hebron, however, is an amazing microcosm of the entire Israel/Palestine conflict. Hebron is the only place where Israeli settlers live amongst the local Palestinian population, albeit with the help of walls, barbed wire, and a large Israeli military presence. In fact, about 150 meters from my room window, one can see a large Israeli sniper tower that watches over the square below and the entrance to an Israeli settlement. As we were waiting to meet our hosts, a heavily-armed Israeli army patrol arrested and detained a Palestinian and took him behind the walls. No one was able to tell us why he was arrested. So, things in Hebron are pretty tense.
On the bright side, I had some fantastic shawarma for dinner before we stopped and smoked some shisha at a local cafe.
Below, I’ve included a photo of the street leading to the Old City where we are staying and, finally, in case you had any visions of a Western photojournalist staying in swanky hotels while out in the field, a photo of my room. In addition, earlier while I was using the single restroom, the toilet fell apart. Yes. Fell apart. We’re hoping it will be fixed in the morning.
All in all, though, I’m looking forward to doing some work over the next few days and documenting the amazing work that CPT does.
Being a freelance photographer gives me a degree of freedom that might not otherwise be possible. However, that also means that I am often forced to finance my own projects. If you enjoy my work, please consider making a donation.
Shawn Duffy is a freelance commercial photographer and photojournalist based in the Washington, DC Metro area. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, he is a self-taught photographer who has decided to merge his passion for photography with his intense interest in the world around him. From the bustling streets of Bangalore, India, to the refugee camps of occupied Palestine, Shawn strives to create images and tell stories that compel others to act.
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