The occupation is a failure

Mahmoud is born under the occupation and his family has lived in East Jerusalem for many generations.  

East Jerusalem got illegally annexed in 1967, and the 300 000 Palestinian residents are experiencing increasingly challenges. The city are physically isolated from the rest of the West Bank, the illegal Separation Wall that are partly built on Palestinian territory, land expropriation and demolition of houses. The budget between the two parts of Jerusalem are unfairly divided and creating severe shortage of public services (health, education, welfare, postal, water and sewage) and infrastructure in East Jerusalem. The Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem hold the status of permanent residents of East Jerusalem, however Israel treats them as foreigners, whose residency status can be revoked on a regular basis. 

Mahmoud asked us not to forget that despite of all the hardship and human right violations the Palestinians are experiencing, the occupation is a failure. The Palestinians have managed to keep a strong identity as Palestinians during generations and he is a proof of that. 

He and his family is an inspiration!