Otniel

Located in the West Bank, this Orthodox Jewish settlement contains 1,003 Jewish residents. When I first arrived at the West Bank I was a bit nervous about entering mostly because of the current situation between the Palestinian people and Israel and partly because I am a Jew. The situation surrounding the West Bank is a challenging subject to talk about and to even wrap my head around. However, I was there to visit family and not to speak my opinion about the situation at hand. Nonetheless, having this opportunity to see the West Bank and to see what a Jewish Settlement looks like is very fascinating and something that not many people get to do.

The first thing I noticed were the huge never-ending walls that separate these two groups of people. It is sad to see these two groups of people, who are so alike, separated. However without these walls around the border the situation would escalate.

As we approached Otniel I began to see Israeli flags, which put me at rest, with the conflict at hand it did feel a little wrong. As we entered the settlement, it was very easy to get in. I asked my cousin, who was born in the West Bank, why it was so easy to enter. He said that it is very easy to enter the West Bank, however leaving is where the army is more strict and cautious about who and what enters into Israel. He also talked about how this border is extremely secure and the West Bank is protected by the Israeli army. Israeli soldiers stood at the gates of the settlement and we drove up the hill into the Jewish Settlement.

I had not seen my aunt in a long time because she lives so far away, so it was amazing to see her. The West Bank is a very beautiful place with views overlooking all of the incredible land that it has. I did feel very safe in the settlement however my cousin Gilor was telling me about all the attacks that had happened. Over the past years many Palestinians have entered Otiniel and killed the Rabbis who lived there. This is very sad to see however I could understand their anger when we are settling in land that we are legally not allowed to be in. While my family does live there and I respect them settling there, it is considered illegal by the United Nations and they know they may have to leave if the United Nations tells them too.

One thing I learned when I was visiting is to respect everyone's opinions no matter what they believe. The West Bank is land that Israel gave back after the Six-Day War, however it is illegal for Israelis to settle there so I disagree completely with the settlements. However, in the Torah this land is promised to by g-d so I do respect my religious family's decision to settle on this land.

The last thing I want to talk about is the military protection around the settlement. There are hundreds of sensors that track any movement if someone were to step foot in a certain distance of the settlement. There is also a 24/7 patrol unit that circles the settlement and protects it from any intruders. I had a special experience here that I will never forget and will feel safe coming again if I have the opportunity.