The "poor palestinians" who live under the "cruel occupation" and "die of hunger and thirst in the concentration camp" sometimes make very interesting confessions.
"Swimming pools have become trendy in the West Bank", says Rajoub, 30. "It's because of the occupation. We used to be able to travel freely to the beach in Israel. Everybody from Hebron would go on Friday. But now we're not allowed. We had to find alternatives."
Nowadays, every city in the West Bank has a pool or a recreational complex: Bethlehem has one similar to Al-Khahuf, while Ramallah has more than 10. One of Jenin's swimming champs committed a suicide bombing at Jerusalem's Sbarro restaurant in August 2001. Nablus has a pool reserved for women, and an Olympic pool. Another pool and recreation complex sits between Nablus and Tubas.
Al-Khahuf draws about 2,500 people on an average weekend day, Rajoub says. Abdullah Abu-Znayid, the owner's brother, gives us a tour of the small caves hewn into the mountainside. The first is for VIPs. "This is where important people come to drink coffee. Jibril Rajoub and Mustafa Barghouti have been here," he says.
So, swimming pools - in the “concentration camp”?
Arabs, give us a break
"Swimming pools have become trendy in the West Bank", says Rajoub, 30. "It's because of the occupation. We used to be able to travel freely to the beach in Israel. Everybody from Hebron would go on Friday. But now we're not allowed. We had to find alternatives."
Nowadays, every city in the West Bank has a pool or a recreational complex: Bethlehem has one similar to Al-Khahuf, while Ramallah has more than 10. One of Jenin's swimming champs committed a suicide bombing at Jerusalem's Sbarro restaurant in August 2001. Nablus has a pool reserved for women, and an Olympic pool. Another pool and recreation complex sits between Nablus and Tubas.
Al-Khahuf draws about 2,500 people on an average weekend day, Rajoub says. Abdullah Abu-Znayid, the owner's brother, gives us a tour of the small caves hewn into the mountainside. The first is for VIPs. "This is where important people come to drink coffee. Jibril Rajoub and Mustafa Barghouti have been here," he says.
So, swimming pools - in the “concentration camp”?
Arabs, give us a break