Israel, Palestine and Health

Craig Metcho, Hali Nurnburg and Ben BenLulu watch Fuchs talk about her time in Isreal.

In a the multipurpose Harvill Building at the University of Arizona, a handful of students gathered to listen to Katherine M. Fuchs, national organizer for US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation. The campaign is a coalition of 320 organizations that adhere to their principals.

Fuchs stood at the computer in the front room ready to share her images and stories from the West Bank with the student who occupied 10 of the 100 chairs in the room.  Sitting in the chair, looking at the photos and listening to her speak, I couldn’t help but wonder how slanted this presentation was. She had traveled to Israel with Interfaith Peace-Builder to examine how U.S.  Policy and presence was affecting the conflict between the Israel and Palestine.

Fuchs gave a conversational account of her trip to Israel.

I was curious about health care, and how the conflict was affecting Palestine health care. The first thing she began talking about were the births at the borderlines between the west bank and Israel. Palestinian ambulances weren’t allowed to cross the border. However this wasn’t anything new to me. I had quickly read up on healthcare in Palestine before attending the event. However, what was shocking is that my sources were from 2006 and 2007. Seems things haven’t changed in four years

If the government feels the treat is significant to have the walls up, then they need to address the issues caused by the wall for those who are not a threat.  I’m not there, so I can’t say whether the wall is necessary or not.

One of the things Fuchs talked about was women’s health care in Israel. “Israel has better health care than we do,” she said However, she began talking about Ethiopian women in Israel, and how they receive birth control. I was drawn to this topic because she talked about Depo-Provera.  My Mother had taken the shot when I was younger.

Fuchs was concerned about birth control, but the type that was administered. She said the shot wasn’t as good as other types of birth control. She was pointing out the dichotomy between the Israeli Jews and other Israeli people. Since I’m not a women or a doctor, I don’t really think I should form too strong an opinion on the topic. The shot lasts for three months and has just as many side effects as any other drug. My mom is fine. So I need to  know more.

The Israeli-Palestine conflict generates many issues to be examined, and each issue such as health care has and equal number of issues to examine.  Hearing Fuchs speak made me want to hop a flight to Israel and see what’s going on for myself, and share what I find with out any filters or lenses.

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