May 4, 2006 11:00 pm US/Central
Mayor Daley Studies Israeli Security
Security Measures Such As The Wall Affect West Bank Towns
by Jay Levine
(CBS)
Mayor Daley got an up close view Thursday of how Israelis handle security on the fifth day of his trip to the Middle East.
CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine is traveling with the mayor and reports how security measures are impacting the people of Israel and the West Bank.
The briefing at Israeli National Police Headquarters Thursday morning provided an inside look at the operation of one of the most security conscious nations in the world. For the mayor, it was an eye-opener.
"I took a lot of notes," he said.
He listened to Israel's public security minister talk about dealing with a constant threat of suicide bombings, a threat that recently led to the building of what they call "the fence" -- a 40-mile-long, 30-foot-tall concrete barrier. It closes its borders to nearly everyone except Israeli citizens.
"I fully understand the Palestinians would like to work in Israel and haven't got a job and haven't got money to live, but we can't afford it because of the terror," the minister said.
To see how that argument plays with those most affected by it, CBS 2 went to the West Bank town of Ramallah to talk to people, including a former Chicagoan who put things in perspective.
"We're living in cages. Eat, drink, and don't do nothing else," said Nadeem Hinn.
Nadeem Hinn was giving a haircut to a former Northwestern business school student when we stopped by Thursday. Both men chose to return here rather than stay in Chicago.
"This is where I was born. This is where I hope to make a difference for this country," said Ibrahim Karman.
But Israel's recent action isolating the West Bank and its people is having a huge impact here. Nadeem took CBS 2's Jay Levine for a walk on a day the streets would ordinarily be jammed with shoppers. Not now.
"No money and the roadblocks and the policies, they're fed up. They're tired. They're sick. They're not living. People are not living right," Nadeem said.
Who do Palestinians blame? Not the Jewish people.
"We don't hate people. I don't hate the people. I hate the government, the government that makes us suffer," Nadeem said.
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