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Tech Bootcamps in Palestine

visitpalestine.tech

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Re: Tech Bootcamps in Palestine

#71

Post by GirlsCanCode »

tomcooks wrote: post #44
cobookman wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Avoid wearing outward signs of support for Israel (and, if possible, symbols of Judaism) inside Palestinian areas as you may be mistaken for a Settler intending harm" So you are saying it's not safe for a Jew to come. As wearing a kippah can lead to altercations.

As much as wearing a kyffeia in any jewish neighborood can lead to some friendly 5vs1 improptu meetup in a dark alley with some of the local "security" (Rome ghetto would be an excellent example).

Why does @dang encourage, promote, and sponsor these lies?

Re: Tech Bootcamps in Palestine

#73

Post by mlevental »

isostatic wrote: post #58
mlevental wrote: post #2

i haven't been to palestine (yet) but one of my closest friends is palestinian from west bank (and i've been following the occupation closely since i met him 10 years ago). it is astonishing to me that they're running this in gaza as well as west bank. i wish them well and wish i could support the effort somehow.

Logistcally getting in/out of Gaza is far more difficult than the West Bank. A western passport means you get get to places like Ramallah by simply driving there, some checkpoints you barely need to slow down, others they stop you and check your passports, but even late at night at Qalandiya, a British Passport works wonders (Different story if you're from the west bank of course) Gaza on the other hand requires a to…

from what i've heard from my friend (who has both passports) the waits at checkpoints in the west bank are potentially interminable. now he does have both passports so that might be why

Re: Tech Bootcamps in Palestine

#74

Post by dopeboy »

isostatic wrote: post #57
dopeboy wrote: post #8

I went to Gaza in the summer of 2016 and did a mini-AMA here on HN [0]. In short, it was a tremendously rewarding experience and I'd highly recommend it. The Gazans I met were driven, friendly, and very curious about what life in the states was like. Happy to answer any questions not addressed on the site. [0] - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11858963

I haven't been to Gaza for a few years, I think they were still stamping passports at Erez even after they stopped stamping at TLV. Were they still stamping at Erez in 2016?

Yes.

Re: Tech Bootcamps in Palestine

#75

Post by dopeboy »

yostrovs wrote: post #52
dopeboy wrote: post #8

I went to Gaza in the summer of 2016 and did a mini-AMA here on HN [0]. In short, it was a tremendously rewarding experience and I'd highly recommend it. The Gazans I met were driven, friendly, and very curious about what life in the states was like. Happy to answer any questions not addressed on the site. [0] - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11858963

Is calling them Gazans accepted? Some time ago they'd be referred to as Palestinians.

You know, I actually don't remember if they referred to themselves as "Gazans". I definitely remember colleagues calling them that.

Re: Tech Bootcamps in Palestine

#76

Post by geverett »

I traveled to Gaza to mentor with Gaza Sky Geeks in December. While I was there Trump decided to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the leader of Hamas decided to respond by declaring a 'Day of Rage'. My writeup of that experience here: https://medium.com/@gillianim/what-its-like-in-gaza-on-a-day... The TL;DR is that the majority of Palestinians are trying to live normal lives and don't care much about international political chess. As a foreigner I felt completely safe. Many Jewish people have mentored at Gaza Sky Geeks and had no issue. I traveled through the Erez checkpoint and didn't have my passport stamped, though I'm pretty sure some malware got installed on my computer when they took it away for 'screening'. Logistically, I had to apply for permits about two months in advance, and you never know whether you'll get in or not; but all in all my experience at all checkpoints and entrance/exit to Israel was straightforward. It was an incredible experience all around and I was so impressed with the Palestinian people in Gaza that I met. Happy to answer any questions for people thinking of going!

Re: Tech Bootcamps in Palestine

#77

Post by zpatel »

tomcooks wrote: post #45
John_KZ wrote: post #24

Unfortunately the only reasons these "bootcamps" exist is to creater cheaper workforce for tech companies. They don't provide good education, just specialization in the areas that the tech companies decided they want.

Don't you think that being a hub for foreign companies would be an excellent way for Palestine to be recognized (and possibly protected) by the rest of the world?

I guess it's over 7-8 decades now that there land was taken away by people from other nationalities, so its high time that its recognized, otherwise International law/human rights are not served well in 21st century..

Re: Tech Bootcamps in Palestine

#78

Post by mark212 »

chimeracoder wrote: post #59
peterburkimsher wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I travelled to Hebron and Bethlehem last month. Crossing the checkpoint was very easy. I just took an Israeli Egged bus to the settlement, visited the Cave of the Patriarchs, and walked to the checkpoint. The Israeli guard didn't mind, just glanced at my passport and visa slip. A Palestinian hostel owner who happened to be on the street asked where I was staying. I told him I was going to stay with my friend Mo, who…

> I travelled to Hebron and Bethlehem last month. Crossing the checkpoint was very easy What's your ethnicity, what passport are you traveling on, and what's your family's religion (not your own personal religious beliefs, but your background)? Based on your username, I'm willing to bet that your situation isn't particularly applicable to the concerns OP expressed. Israeli security is no joke, and they perform a degr…

I'm white and Jewish and get hassled by security going in and out of Israel, every single time. Seriously. American passport and multiple trips in and out of the country.

All I can say is that the initial screening is done mostly by young women who are following very closely to some training they have and looking for how you react to questions. Most are secular and think religious Jews are only ultra-orthodox (because that's what they see day in and day out), so when I try to patiently explain that yes, I'm religious, no, I'm not orthodox, yes, I learned my Hebrew in Jerusalem at the municipal ulpan (intensive course for new immigrants), but no, I didn't take a package from anyone and packed my bags all by myself ... off to secondary screening.

It's frustrating, but you just can't take it personally. They're just playing the odds as they see them and going by the percentages.

Ben Gurion is a great airport once you get past security.

Re: Tech Bootcamps in Palestine

#79

Post by bsaul »

cat199 wrote: post #70
chimeracoder wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I travelled to Hebron and Bethlehem last month. Crossing the checkpoint was very easy What's your ethnicity, what passport are you traveling on, and what's your family's religion (not your own personal religious beliefs, but your background)? Based on your username, I'm willing to bet that your situation isn't particularly applicable to the concerns OP expressed. Israeli security is no joke, and they perform a degr…

but but but I thought it was a 'secular democracy'? That's what CNN always says..

secular doesn't mean security checks shouldn't take ethnicity or religion into account.

i've travelled to israel twice and had complete screening twice simply because i was travelling alone and without a big luggage. And honestly i'm glad they did spend that time on me and not of the muslim family with 4 children that was travelling in the same flight. And since they saw i completely understood their concerns i ended up sympatizing with the person interrogating me, both times.

the thing people in western countries don't seem to understand ( although that varies depending on the number of terrorists attack that took place on their soils) is that security is vital to israelis. They don't want to humiliate anyone, they don't like the idea of spending millions in security systems, and they'd really like not having to search bags of people everywhere all the time. But they don't have a choice, and this is not a game to them.

Re: Tech Bootcamps in Palestine

#80

Post by isostatic »

mlevental wrote: post #73
isostatic wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Logistcally getting in/out of Gaza is far more difficult than the West Bank. A western passport means you get get to places like Ramallah by simply driving there, some checkpoints you barely need to slow down, others they stop you and check your passports, but even late at night at Qalandiya, a British Passport works wonders (Different story if you're from the west bank of course) Gaza on the other hand requires a to…

from what i've heard from my friend (who has both passports) the waits at checkpoints in the west bank are potentially interminable. now he does have both passports so that might be why

Depends so much on the checkpoint, time, method and mood. If you're a white family driving back from Bethlehem to Jerusalem at 8pm with a foreign passport, you'll barely notice it. If you're an Arab looking young male walking through qualandria at 8am with a West Bank ID card, you're screwed.

Gaza is a different ball game, it's always quiet, almost eerie at Erez, but it will still take over an hour to get out from being dropped off. Getting in is a little quicker.

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