IN STEREO

Even the visitors have a role. I mean, sometimes I sit with tourist groups – some of them come to the village. There is a positive effect, because this is the first time they know Palestinian people. I mean, it’s the opposite of the picture they have, that it’s us [who are] the aggressors of the Israelis, and not us who are under occupation. In many situations, it’s been that they come thinking it’s us who want to steal [the country]. But it’s very good that people come and know the reality. I mean, they see things on the ground. They see where the wall is, how lands [are divided], demolished homes… [Benefits of tourism] don’t come to us directly. [Giving a message] has a benefit. There is EBBI, an association that works on the checkpoints and documents the violations. They come here to meet people [and] make interviews, [and] they write the stories and publish them abroad continuously. – Lubna

Actually, because I don’t mix with [tourists], I don’t know. But I know that tourists only come here to have fun. They don’t do anything. They come to take a look, and they go. What do they do for the area? They encourage tourism when they come, even if they don’t give benefit. But I mean, it’s that the area is very important for them. [It’s] important for all people. All the world comes to us, to the areas here. I mean, now they come from everywhere to photograph the Bedouin’s olive. How many people came to Al-Haniya before Israel took it? – Um Mustafa