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Voices From the Middle East:
Ala Owaineh and Liat Margalit

Teens give first hand accounts of living in conflict.

As the situation in the Middle East escalates, Israelis and Palestinians all but abandon normal life and routines. Teens and young adults are among the most affected since they are usually the most active. As part of a series, Youth Voices from the Middle East, Youth Radio has essays from a Palestinian and an Israeli.

05/03/03 Ala Owaineh's essay | Liat Margalit's essay Youth Radio’s commentators in the Middle East reflect on the war in Iraq and how it has affected their lives.

01/31/03 Ala Owaineh's essay Ala writes in about the degradation of being a second class citizen in Palestine.

11/06/02 Ala Owaineh's essay | Liat Margalit's essay Youth Radio’s commentators in the Middle East sent some updates on their lives. This time, instead of reflecting on continuing violence, they reflected on their travels this summer, and tried to describe what it’s like to be away from their daily lives.

6/25/02 Ala Owaineh's essay | Liat Margalit's essay We've been checking in with young commentators in the Middle East through Youth Radio. Today, we have an update from a Palestinian, Ala Owaineh and an Israeli, Liat Margalit. They are both trying to cope with a life that's anything but normal. Ala lives in Bethlehem, and spent most of April and May inside his house under Israeli army curfew. People in his town are getting used to the on-and-off military presence. Liat lives in Jerusalem and graduates from high school this month. She will immediately start her mandatory army service after final exams.

5/31/02 Ala Owaineh's essay | Liat Margalit's essay Ala Owaineh is a 20-year-old Palestinian who lives in Bethlehem. He's been keeping a journal for Youth Radio since March 2002. On April 2, 2002, Israeli troops entered Bethlehem and Ala and his family were living under curfew for 39 days. On May 10, the troops withdrew for two weeks. Israeli troops returned to Bethlehem on May 26, 2002. For a perspective of what it's like for young people living in Bethlehem in recent weeks, here are some excerpts from Ala's journal. 17-year-old Liat Margalit is finishing high school in a time of uncertainty and sent these thoughts from Jerusalem about riding the bus.

4/26/02 Ala Owaineh's essay | Liat Margalit's essay 17-year-old Liat Margalit is finishing school in a time of uncertainty and sent these thoughts from Jerusalem. On April 26, 2002, Ala Owaineh wrote some thoughts on the power of words in the conflict in Israel. These writings came to Youth Radio from Ala on "day 26 that I'm trapped at home, watching news, as a result of politics, which consistently keeps butting into my life!"

4/11/02 Ala Owaineh's essay | Liat Margalit's essay Ala Owaineh. The 20-year-old Palestinian lives just a ten minute walk from Manger Square, where Israeli troops have surrounded the Church of the Nativity. In Jerusalem 17-year-old Liat Margalit reports on a new sense of freedom and safety in Israel.

4/02/02 Ala Owaineh's essay | Liat Margalit's essay 20-year-old Palestinian, Ala Owaineh phoned Youth Radio from his home in the West Bank. 17-year old Liat Margalit, filed by telephone from her home in Jerusalem. This Passover holiday is Liat's last vacation before joining the Israeli army when she turns 18. It will not be the playful time she had hoped for.

Read more quotes and hear interview excerpts from: Ala Owaineh | Liat Margalit