The Dragon

I look out and see a guard post on the ridge. It is not manned right now but is an Israeli marker that claims this land from the Palestinian owners. My eyes follow along the ridge to an Israeli outpost. This is an illegal expropriation of Palestinian land under international law, is not recognized by the Israeli government, but it is defended by Israeli soldiers and police. This is the actual taking of land, dispossessing the rightful owners of it.

They kill the owner's crops by grazing sheep on them while protected by soldiers. They raid the Palestinian owner's homes at night and by day, stealing, harassing, destroying the buildings, killing animals and even killing the owners, all protected by Israeli military to drive the Palestinian owners out.

My eye follows the ridge down to the Israeli settlement. This, like all settlements in the West Bank, is internationally recognized as an illegal seizure of Palestinian land but is recognized and heavily subsidized by the Israeli government.

Here Israelis, mostly immigrants from the global north, live in comfort, with great infrastructure all funded by Israel cheap rent, great schools, water and sewer, roads, police, health care. 

My eye scans along the ridge again and this time I see a dragon climbing the ridge, slowly consuming Palestine. Where before I saw a guard post, now I see the consuming flames of the dragon's breath. Where before I saw an outpost, now I see the devouring mouth eating up everything in its reach. Where before I saw a settlement, now I see the body of the dragon fat with stolen resources including land, animals, crops, houses, hopes, dreams, and lives.

I am watching Palestine being devoured by the dragon Zionism.