Kathy Huffstetler: Oppressed stones

Regarding Rob Christensen’s May 27 column “The old stones of Israel”: He stated, “Perhaps nowhere in the world is there a place so rich in history, meaning and tradition as Israel.”

Christensen said he was “steering clear of politics.” How can one steer clear of the Wall, checkpoints, house demolitions, child detention and the “politics” of diverting water and other natural resources away from Palestinians?

How can one steer clear of the politics of the denial of basic human rights when in the West Bank Palestinians are imprisoned in islands of the occupation surrounded by illegal settlements in a country that is supposed to be a democracy?

I have a hard time appreciating the digging for old stones when living stones are being oppressed.

I have taken two trips to Israel since last May. I came away with a much different feeling than Christensen did. I’m thinking that many of the residents of Bethlehem we met – bright people, many with undergraduate and advanced degrees – wish they could get out of their walled-in prison and go to see these fascinating digs. But the truth is, they would not be allowed to travel there.

This story was originally published June 3, 2015 at 5:52 PM with the headline "Kathy Huffstetler: Oppressed stones."