Samir a 16 year old boy who lives in Beit Jalla Bethlehem

Samir
Samir

How would you feel if you didn't know your identity, "am I an Arab or am I a Jew"? This very dilemma is one that besets Samir a 16 year old boy who lives in Beit Jalla Bethlehem.

I asked him where he was born.

Samir: I am from Haifa, I was actually born in Haifa, but I now live in Beit Jalla.

Paul: Are you from a Christian family?

Samir: Yes my parents are Dutch. I was adopted by Dutch parents when I was 3 years old, but when I got older I started to talk to God and ask him questions, like why don't I have real parents and things like that. Also at that time God didn't really answer my prayer so I started to go away from God and do wrong things, but after that I started to ask myself "if God is the only one who can help me through these things, then why am I blaming him, so after that I repented and I asked God to come back into my life and he did and he started to speak to me and told me "you are adopted into my family" and he also answered my prayers.

Paul: So do you know who your real parents are?

Samir: No, I don't really know

Paul: So do you know if you're an Arab or a Jew?

Samir: No I don't know

Paul: So how does that make you feel not knowing your real identity?

Samir: It's kind of difficult, because you don't really know who your parents are and what your real nationality is, so yes it's kind of hard for me.

Paul: You've been adopted by a Dutch couple, what benefits have come out of that?

Samir: Well actually there have been very good benefits because if I was a Palestinian I wouldn't be allowed to go to Jerusalem but because I have Dutch parents I have a Dutch passport which makes it easier to cross borders and I can fly out from Tel Aviv airport without any problems. Palestinians have to fly from Jordan; they're not allowed to fly from Tel Aviv.

Paul: What do your parents do here in the Israel?

Samir: They work as volunteers. My Dad works in the YMCA with the handicapped children, he works with the Olive Wood and my mum works in a children's home for mentally ill and disabled children. CR

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.