Voices From the Middle East:
Liat Margalit on Going Out
"For Israeli teenagers who live in the city, going out has
become a complicated operation."
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By Liat Margalit
 For
Israeli teenagers who live in the city, going out has become a complicated
operation, especially if you live in a city like Jerusalem, as I
do. The first thing you do when you want to go out is consult with
yourself. Yes, going out on a Friday evening has become a major
personal dilemma, something you want to consider twice, three times
and more, before actually taking that step and leaving home.
My friends and I have canceled many plans when the majority of
our group doesn't want to go out, because they are scared.
The center of Jerusalem looks like a military base these days.
But the problem is, if there are Palestinian suicide bombers, it
is difficult to prevent them from blowing themselves up, no matter
how many armed forces are scattered around.
Before the uprising I remember just how exciting it was downtown
every Friday evening. It used to be so wonderful to simply enjoy
life, relax and have no worries.
My friends and I have decided we can't let the situation ruin our
fun all of our lives. So we sat down and made a plan. We decided
to meet indoors. We get together in private houses, but we don't
want to lock ourselves inside. Then, you hear about another suicide
bombing in Jerusalem, and your plans to go to the mall, restaurants
and cafes are ruined. As much as it's unbelievable, things keep
deteriorating all the time. And the fact that some of the suicide
bombers are young females like me is something I can't comprehend.
So, yes, things in Israel are frightening. Every day of your life
you think about whether you'll get back home safely or not, and
yet it seems like teenagers are the ones that do the best job of
not letting terror affect their lives.
— Liat Margalit is 17 years old and lives in Jerusalem.
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