Tiny People

Another notch on the wall

This is the wall built by Israel in Abu Dis, an Arab a neighbourhood in East Jerusalem. It divides Abu Dis into two. The wall is a "sophisticated" means of occupying land from Palestinians.

A person living on one side of the wall cannot move to the other side to go to work or school, to visit friends or family, to go to the doctor or just to take a trip somewhere when they feel like it.

In order to do any of these ordinary things they need to get a permit from the Israeli army, which may or may not be granted.

It is about 8 metres (26 feet) high. People look tiny next to it; maybe it was designed to make them feel tiny. Being humiliated and harassed by armed soldiers on a daily basis might also make you feel tiny. It might also make you want to leave your home and move elsewhere.

I am often asked for permission to use this photo. I'm happy to share it in order to promote a political statement against the separation wall.

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Comments

lavive says:

thanks for this
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

Lra0x - The X-Ray says:

...I thought the world tore down the wall!!?? This is a sight not many people in the west know exists - I did not - this is a powerful image indeed and a reminder that the world indeed is still not a free place for every one ... where is the conscience of the west now that communism has become nute - what about this and other forms of oppression that still exist??
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

_L7 says:

Truly a moving photograph. Excellent composition, excellent textures, and profound content made visual.
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

kitakitts says:

effective scaling, tal :)

love the composition and context of the photo :)
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

Janet Leadbeater says:

the breath rushed out of my body even just seeing the thumbnail. the larger versions didn't let me down. superb.
i wasn't aware of the existence of this wall either. thanks for sharing it. very powerful image.
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

ido1 says:

Good pic - but I hate involving politics here.
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

TalBright says:

everyone - I'm glad this photo got such responses. There are many more photos of the wall on the web (you can start here and see where it takes you).

ido1 - I feel I must involve politics. It's part of my life and these are things I can't ignore. Sorry if you find it offensive, this wasn't my intention.
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

What What says:

What's wrong with involving politics, I'm glad you took the photo and I'm glad you shared it with us. Great description too.
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

Morven Photo says:

I simply love this - FAV
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

Tonnoz says:

I find this photo touching. It's not only well done but also can make, i believe, people think, if only for a short while, to what's been going on between Isdrael and Palestine for far too long now.
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

LaCuartaErinia says:

es por eso que pienso que los sabras son huecos. sin ofender.
still, your pic is great
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

viocean says:

Tiny human kind!
We could be beyond
all kind of walls.

Impressive image!!!
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

AnomalousNYC says:

looks like a painting - I love how its both fantastically abstract and excrutiatingly specific.
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

Gogelmogel says:

Great pic. Makes you feel embarrassed in a way.
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

Muhammad says:

this picture speaks a lot. It is worth the 1000 words. very expressive.
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

Yaronimus Maximus says:

incredibly powerfull.
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

Eris23 [forever oldskool] says:

This picture needs no words, what a vivid message...! Thanks!
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

mel born photographer says:

Thank you and you have every right to speak your mind...u have opened my eyes..thank you
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

wacky doodler says:

stunningly perfect.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

AnomalousNYC says:

this was featured on interestingness...
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

bitpuddle says:

Great photo.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

Loso says:

and banksy was in palestine to paint on the wall
check this out
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

Today is a good day says:

Wow that is a really powerful image.

Very much appreciate the words that go with it to.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

kuro_rakko [deleted] says:

There is a person in a picture.
Nice photo!love it.
Posted 47 months ago. ( permalink )

David Haberlah says:

the wall is really a powerfull symbol of the increasing distance between the Palestinians and Israelis - both as close neighbours and somewhat similar as the two Germanies used to be. Sad to see as a German ...
Posted 47 months ago. ( permalink )

ISH-10-M says:

Tal - this one's really excellent and effective !
Posted 46 months ago. ( permalink )

Hamevugar says:

very powerful. sad as hell
Posted 41 months ago. ( permalink )

Chadwick Meyer says:

No one photo can tell the whole story, but of course to hear the whole story, every part of the story needs to be told. Along this vein, here's an interesting presentation on the situation from a Palestinian Perspective: www.cratemedia.com/samples/bbc/
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

flicker2002 says:

awesome, great angle on wall
Posted 37 months ago. ( permalink )

SkyShaper says:

Posted a year ago , and still a powerful photo
Posted 37 months ago. ( permalink )

Jaume d'Urgell says:

:(
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

LayGuy [deleted] says:

that wall is vital to the peace in the land. if you haven't been there, you have no right to have an opinion
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

ziliafoto says:

This is a fantastic image......Congratulations!
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

ray_v_tal says:

you are a real star
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

shoobalali says:

so distant
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

maletti gianfranco says:

It is a "terrificante" collage
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

m2m.on says:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I really like your photo!
You are invited to post this photo to Arabisc (Invited Photos Only !)
http://www.flickr.com/groups/Arabisc/
Arabisc WINNER
Please add the tag Arabisc to your photo
Please include a link to the photo when applying for group membership.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

third front says:

paradigm blue may have a point. "if you haven't been there....." but really a lost one. an opinion is worth a revolution, albeit a small personal one starting right here a year ago (?)

i personally appreciate this stark represenation at humilation or self perservation whatever it maybe...
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

rucchiddu says:

excellent! a photo more than thousands words!
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

excauboi says:

How could I not see this picture of yours before! Such brutality!
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

saul.davis says:

Amazing shot.
Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )

Modest and Jill says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Travel Photojournalism, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.

Oh wow. This is such a powerful shot.
Posted 26 months ago. ( permalink )

skfjgyv says:

This is a great composition shot !!
Posted 26 months ago. ( permalink )

orenhak says:

Simple, yet powerful..
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

noorel76 says:

powerful in meaning...an evil cerate such wall... poor palestinans..
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

abudoma says:

powerful photo and great description.
Posted 23 months ago. ( permalink )

Simon bar Giora [deleted] says:

this anti-sniper wall will go in the eventuality there is security and one day Peace, as for now as ugly as it is, it has saved thousands of lives thus far.
Posted 23 months ago. ( permalink )