Where The Line Is Drawn Analysis

In his book Where the Line is Drawn, Raja Shehadeh, a Palestinian lawyer, recounts his experience of living through 50 years of Israeli occupation in the West Bank area of Palestine. Shehadeh details the nature of life in the occupied territory through years of events and interactions with other Palestinians and Israelis. The most important of these interactions, though, is with a Canadian Jew named Henry who had immigrated to Israel. As covered extensively by Shehadeh, his friendship with Henry was by no means uncomplicated due to their presence on different sides of the Arab-Israeli issue. Throughout the years, the dynamic situation in the area tested the bond between the two friends, but the friendship endured despite the many factors that could have torn it apart. This overcoming of political and national differences led Shehadeh
At one point, Shehadeh even claimed that Henry's silence was the equivalent of him "participating in its (Israel's) evil." For example, on pages 109-110, Shehadeh describes a letter from Henry that focuses on Henry's decision to take a stance on the Israeli occupation. However, Shehadeh claims that Henry's reaction was "too little, too late." Because of his status as an Israeli, Henry was not as reactive to the actions of Israel as Shehadeh. Even though Henry may have had good intentions, there were undeniable differences in the way he and Shehadeh responded that would affect their friendship. In the context of Israel and Palestine, it is important to note, as in the case of Henry and Shehadeh, that certain differences will pervade any future relationship, even if the relationship is able to endure. Although the friendship as a whole gives hope that peace could come to Palestine, these conflicts show that any peace will not come without