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not feel from a textbook and was a feeling I
had never experienced in the United States.
Walking through the shuk, or market, in
the Old City and talking with and bartering
with the different vendors was very cool.
I had never seen so many fences and
walls dividing people as when we visited
Israel’s border with Gaza. While I did not
feel unsafe, it did feel like my heart stopped
beating there. I could not believe I was just
feet from Gaza. I felt sad to be at the place
responsible for so much destruction amid
the complicated Israeli and Palestinian rela-
tionship. I felt sad for those trapped in Gaza
and on the outside living in fear. The pins
calling for peace glued onto the wall were
juxtaposed with rocket shelters converted
into play structures for kids just yards away.
Entering the West Bank through check-
points, I was at first shocked how separated
it is from Israel when there are some of the
same people living in both places. Yet life
was also different in these two portions of
the country just feet apart because the gov-
ernments are so different.
Visiting Bethlehem was a reminder of
how the Palestinian people are deprived
of water, electricity and other basic needs.
Seeing the humanity and struggle of
Palestinian refugees was emotional and
important to take in. Entering Ramallah
and talking with the Palestinian Authority
was important because I could hear from its
members and its own narrative, without the
filter of what our U.S. media or Israel have
to say.
Walking the beach in Tel Aviv, it was

important to see nightlife and that the con-
flict does not dominate every aspect of life.
I learned how the city was and continues
to be a refuge for the LGBTQ community.
I bonded with my peers on my trip, and it
was humbling how all of us with different
identities and backgrounds came together
to learn.
We met with Israeli and Palestinian
journalists, both critical of each other and
of their own people. It was incredible to
hear how they communicate and how they
navigate reporting on the conflict. We heard
from educators seeking to integrate more
diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
into education. We also heard from former
government officials about why getting to a
two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict is difficult, but why that needs to be
the end goal.
Each person I talked to had their own
story and their own voice. I saw the human-
ity in every person, and my hope is that
everyone there sees the humanity in each

other. There is co-existence and there are
many areas of peace, so I did leave with
some optimism.
I want people to do their research and
be open to listening and learning. There is
power and benefit from talking to people
on the ground, being uncomfortable and
ultimately understanding their viewpoints
better in the end.

Jack Harrison is a rising senior at Michigan State

University studying political theory and constitutional

democracy in James Madison College, journalism and

public relations. This essay was originally published on

Martin Waymire’s blog.

continued from page 36

for college students
by college students

Jack Harrison
on the ground
in Israel