Where The Line Is Drawn XI

Raja Shehadeh went to the headquarters of the Israeli Civil Administration for the West Bank to conduct two trademark objection cases. At the gate, a young soldier, surrounded by jazz magazines and listening to jazz on a radio at high volume, ordered Shehadeh to "'Close the door.'" (p. 96) When Shehadeh turned to the open door closest to him, the soldier said that he had meant another door further away. When Shehadeh refused to be ordered about like this, an older soldier, also present, offered to close the door.

The young soldier ordered the older man to search Shehadeh thoroughly. Taking Shehadeh behind a curtain, the older soldier did search him although not very thoroughly. When they returned to the counter where the young soldier was looking through a book, another man passed through without being asked to show ID. When the older soldier asked why the second man had not been asked for ID, the young soldier replied, "'Jews don't need passes.'" (p. 97)

This attitude, applied consistently, can only provoke violent resistance from some of its recipients.