Partners-4-Peace

Presenter: Steve Austin & Dr Noel Preston
Dr Noel Preston and Zack Sabella

Zack Sabella is a young Palestinian who grew up in Jerusalem in Israel . Everyday as he drives to work in Bethlehem he sees an additional block being added to the Israeli security wall, and as he drives past he wonders if a wall can ever be a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The 21-year-old works for the Middle East Council of Churches' department of service to Palestinian refugees. He is a member of the Christian World Service's Partners4Peace program, which offers aid and development. Zack is a graduate of Business and IT currently works with a solar physics project conducted by Dr Hanna Hallak of Bethlehem University in the Palestinian territories. He studied in the College des Freres high school in New Gate in the Old City .

Zack Sabella says security issues make everyday life in Jerusalem difficult. "I pass through three routine check points a day. Next to my house is the security wall. You need a blue card to the Israeli parts of the city and if you have a green card rather than blue, you can't go into Israel ."

Zack says the security wall is not a way to solve the simmering tensions in the Middle East . "The wall separates Palestinians from Palestinians, as well as Palestinians from Israelis. It also says it takes land away from Palestinians," he argues.

Safety and security are everyday considerations for those living in the holy city. Zack does admit he feels safer now than he did a few years ago because bombings inside Israel have been reduced. But he describes living conditions in the Bethlehem as unworkable. "There's three refugee camps there. So many people live below the poverty line," he says.

Interestingly Zack chose to study in Israel and he attended school in Hertzilya in order to educate himself about the Israeli society. "As it marked the beginning of the intifada in 2001, and the 9/11 attacks the university's policies slowly shifted to become a right wing educational institute. I had to cope with some social difficulties in the Israeli society."

Zack has strong hopes for peace within the Middle East . He believes a resolution can only come from young people like himself. "If it's up to the leaders, then we are in trouble. The solution must come from the people," he remarks.