Makram al Arja: “I want to show my
steadfastness to the Israelis and
the world!”
The
Everest Restaurant is located at the
highest point of Beit Jala, on top
of the hill. It is only a few meters
away from an Israeli settlement, Har
Gilo. For many years, the Everest
restaurant was without doubt the
most famous restaurant in the area;
many important guests found their
way to this beautiful place. It was
established in 1945 by the family Al
Arja. Makram Al Arja is the manager
of the hotel. His seven brothers and
sisters live from the income of the
hotel as well.
Just
before the last intifada started in
2000, the family expanded the
restaurant and included it in a
large hotel. When the hotel was
finished, it was decided to enlarge
the kitchen as well. The family,
which lives in area B - controlled
by the Israelis - did not ask
permission for this. When the
reconstruction was almost finished,
the Israeli army discovered it. The
family got a warning that the
expansion was illegal and that
everything would be destroyed. Out
of concern that this would happen,
the family put only a roof of
corrugated iron over the kitchen.
In
October 2000, with the second
Intifada, the people of Palestine
started to actively resist the
Israeli occupation once more. The
mountain became a hot spot. Because
the settlement Har Gilo was so
close, there were shootings nearby.
Many tourist groups canceled their
reservations. Moreover, the
Separation or Apartheid Wall and an
Israeli checkpoint were established
nearby the restaurant. This made it
also more difficult and risky for
Palestinians to come.
Heavy stress put on the family
On
top of the threat of the kitchen’s
destruction, the family also faced
other problems. The electricity with
which the hotel and restaurant were
provided was by far not sufficient.
It would cost 250.000 shekels to
renew the electricity system. They
asked the Palestinian Authority to
support them, but it was refused.
During the second intifada, the
father of Makram al Arja was already
quite aged. He got seriously ill,
and needed regular medical treatment
in hospital. But Israeli soldiers
occupied the parking of the
restaurant with their tanks, and put
mud and rocks in front of the house.
It was not possible for ambulances
or cars to get at their house.
Makram’s father, seriously ill, had
to walk 5 minutes through the fields
down to the main road in order to be
brought to hospital.
Not
long afterwards, he passed away.
Israeli tanks used to fire bombs at
Palestinian areas next to the
Everest. This was not only
psychologically, but also physically
very demanding. After a bomb
exploded, the family felt deaf for
three days.
Hosting families from Beit Jala
Not
only the area close to the
restaurant was bombed; the army
fired on different areas of Beit
Jala. Many houses were damaged or
even destroyed. 18 families were
unable to remain in their houses.
They went to the hotel, and lived
there for several months. Some
families even had to stay a full
year in the hotel before they
managed to repair their houses.
No
financial compensation
Makram al Arja heard that these
families got financial support from
the Palestinian government in order
to pay for the repair and
reconstruction of their homes. It
was a great disappointment for him
that his family did not get any
compensation, neither from the
Palestinian Authority, nor from the
families. He felt that this was not
fair.
Around 2001, most of his brothers
and sisters decided to leave the
country. Some went to Egypt, others
to the United States. Makram stayed
in Beit Jala. Nowadays, the
situation of the Everest remains
difficult. The settlement Har Gilo
is still nearby, and there is an
Israeli military zone along it. Many
Israeli soldiers are around.
Palestinians are hesitant to go
there.
Proud
The
Everest is part of zone B. This
means that, at least theoretically
Israeli citizens are allowed to
enter this area. Despite all
difficulties his family faced,
Makram is proud to be on such a
special spot. “Even though I live in
a difficult situation, I am happy
that the Everest is a place where
Palestinians and Israelis can meet.
This provides an opportunity to
speak about peace. I never think
about leaving my place! In this way,
I show my sumud – which means
steadfastness - to the Israelis and
the whole world.”
