There must be 50 WAZE to erase the Green Line

By Ami Kaufman July 31, 2011 | Edit

After a long day walking in the hot sun with the kids in the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo in Malcha, our next destination was Bet Shemesh.

Him: Hun, can you find on WAZE (Israeli-made “social-GPS” system) the quickest way to Bet Shemesh?

Her: Sure Hun. Let’s see… OK, it says to go through route 375.

Him: OK. Let’s go…

Driving… suddenly we’re on our way to the Tunnels Road, which leads to Gush Etzion.

Him: Hun, doesn’t this go past the Green Line? Shouldn’t WAZE tell you that?

Her: You’re right. Let me check. Hmmm.. this is what it says in the settings. I’ve ticked the box “Avoid areas under Palestinian Authority supervision”. So, I guess technically, the program is working. We’re not in the PA.

Him: Hmmm… does the Orange GPS have the same wording? Or warning?

Her: Lemme check. Hmmm, nope. The Orange one let’s you avoid passing the Green Line totally.

Him: Hmmmm

Her: Yup.

If you believe these stories are important, become a +972 member today to make sure we can keep telling them.

For those who care deeply about the people living between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, this is your opportunity to move from despair into action.

The effects of Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza are still being felt: much of the Strip lies in ruins, millions remain displaced with nowhere to return to, tens of thousands have been killed, and many more are believed to be buried beneath the rubble.

In the West Bank, the Israeli army has displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians from refugee camps, while state-sponsored settler violence is wiping rural communities off the map on a weekly basis. At the same time, Israel’s ever-escalating regional aggression threatens to drag the entire Middle East into the inferno.

We are here on the ground — from Gaza to Tel Aviv to Masafer Yatta — exposing the crimes, reporting the horrors, and amplifying the voices of those resisting injustice to an audience of millions around the world. If there was ever a time the world needed +972 Magazine, it is now.

As a binational team based in Israel-Palestine, we are best placed to cover this pivotal moment in a way that no other outlet can — but we need your help to do it. Join us as a member to become part of our mission, and support independent journalism that really makes a difference.

BECOME A +972 MEMBER TODAY