A look into the past

Dear friends,

When I was eighteen I was lucky to have the opportunity of writing a column series for abcnews.com, describing everyday life as an Israeli teen.

I'm sharing with you the one that still gives me chills. I recommend you read this AFTER reading more articles etc on the situation.. it'll allow you a clearer view of what I'm talking about (in the context of the bigger picture of the Middle East conflict)..

Salaam

ABC News
A Bus Trip That Could Kill You
An Israeli Student Describes Her Fears on a Daily Bus Trip
Commentary by Tal Rogoff

J E R U S A L E M, June 3 (2002)- Taking the bus to school or work is something that many of us do on a regular basis. It sounds quite simple and peaceful: you wait at the stop until your bus arrives; then you get on, pay the fare and get off where you need to.

Some take a book or the morning newspaper to read on the way as they sit in silence, waiting for the bus to stop at the right place.

In my country, it is not always like that — it is not always so peaceful and ordinary.

Since early 1995 there has been a spate of bus bombings throughout Israel. And as the death toll mounts, those who survive the attacks never walk away whole. Even if they are not physically injured, they are emotionally damaged for life.

In Greek mythology, souls were taken into the Other World by boat over the river Styx; we have buses.

Terror at Every Turn

At first, the bus bombings followed each other on an almost weekly basis, shocking us anew like a harsh strum on our heart strings.

Then the time-gap between these attacks grew larger, only to be filled in by other forms of terrorism such as suicide bombings in the marketplace and random shootings. When the terrorists grow tired of attacking one way, they try another.

I remember watching the evening news a few years ago, when the No. 5 bus was bombed in downtown Tel Aviv. That was the very first large-scale attack on a bus.

I remember the footage from that afternoon, shortly after the bomb exploded: police were keeping people away from the scene; the paramedics were rushing frantically from casualty to casualty, from the screaming patient in shock to the man with the bloodstained sleeve.

The medics were covering bodies with blankets that were growing bloody and soaked; and a cameraman could not help capturing a shot of someone's lost arm amidst the wreckage.

It's a Fact of Life

I take the bus everyday — to school, to friends' houses or downtown for shopping. Everyday I wait at the bus stop outside my house, get on the bus, pay the fare and sit down by the window; usually, it is just a quiet ride and so I give it no second thought.

There are times, though, especially just after another attack, when you start noticing everything and everyone. I have seen people looking suspiciously from the corner of their eye at someone laughing loudly with their friend and speaking Arabic. Every person who looks a little shabby or darker than others and is carrying a heavy bag automatically draws suspicion; people look twice at pregnant women.

Never again will these people spend the ride peacefully daydreaming as they look out the window; they will watch you get on the bus and they will watch you until you get off it.

As a volunteer in the Civil Guard, I occasionally have bus patrol duties. We patrol in pairs or trios, carrying at least one rifle, one torch, one walky-talky, and report cards that we fill in with every bus that we check.

One stays up front by the driver, writing down the vehicle number and such details as are required; the other thoroughly examines the bus, looking under seats and in the rubbish bins for suspicious objects; observing the passengers; searching for anyone out of the ordinary.

If someone seems out of place, you immediately ask to see their ID.

No one seems the same anymore — no more innocent passengers. To some this may seem paranoid, but as they say: "Just because you are paranoid, does not mean they are not after you."

Tal Rogoff, 18, is in her final year of high school in Jerusalem. She begins compulsory Israeli military service in mid-July.

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