Palestinians learn the Hebrew language at the Nafha Center for Training Languages and Translation, in Gaza City, March 14, 2022. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Nearly 1,000 Gazans learn Hebrew at a language learning center in Gaza City amid hopes to work inside Israel to improve the economic situation of their families.
by Sanaa Kamal
GAZA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Ahmed Abu Ajina, a 34-year-old Palestinian man from Beit Lahia town in northern Gaza Strip, returned to continue his learning of Hebrew after one-year absence from school, in a hope to working inside Israel.
In October 2021, Israel announced that it would allow Gazans to work inside their lands to ease the economic crisis in the Strip.
Abu Ajina, an accountant in an agricultural company in the Strip, which has direct contact with Israeli companies, has to deal with exchange of commercial letters in Hebrew between the two sides on a daily basis.
"We are closely related to Israel, either through companies or individuals, so learning Hebrew benefits us," he said.
Palestinian workers are seen outside the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce in the city of Gaza to apply for work permits inside Israel, in Gaza City, on Oct. 6, 2021. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Thousands of Gazans, including unemployed workers, graduates, and elderly people, gathered in front of the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce in Gaza to apply for Israeli work permits.
Abu Ajina was among them.
"I aspire to work in Israel in order to improve the economic situation of my family, and I hope to work in the field of accounting that I am good at," he said.
Muhammad al-Qattaa, a resident of Gaza City, also returned to studying the language after many years of interruption. He also wants to work inside Israel.
The 38-year-old father of five told Xinhua that he was currently waiting for a response to the application and he wanted to communicate with the Israeli authorities in their own tongue.
"In the past, when Palestinian workers were working inside Israel, they were fluent in the Hebrew language, but the popularity of the language has declined due to the imposed siege," he said, who works in a marble factory.
"The Hebrew language is not difficult since it is close to the Arabic language," he added, expressing his hope that his Hebrew will be improved after obtaining approval from the Israeli authorities to enter their territory.
Abu Ajina and al-Qattaa are among hundreds of students who flock to the Nafha Center for Training Languages and Translation in order to learn the Hebrew language.
The number of students learning at the center this year increased by about 400 percent compared to previous years, according to Ahmed Al-Falit, director of the center.
"As many as around 1,000 students graduate this year," he stressed, adding that "this noticeable increase is due to the desire of a large number of Palestinians to work inside Israel."
Most students need about five weeks of learning to start speaking Hebrew, he said, adding he also gives an appendix with common vocabulary to those who will work in Israel.
Both Abu Ajina and al-Qattaa hope that there will be trade and economic exchange between the Gaza Strip and Israel, and there will be "hope to live in peace between Palestinians and Israelis." ■
