This article was originally published by This Week in Palestine and is republished with permission.

Palestinian students wait to pass the Qalandiya Checkpoint to reach their school in Ramallah. (Charlotte de Bellabre, Maan Images)

They all live less than an hour from Jerusalem and yet visiting the city is beyond their reach. They are children between the ages of 7 and 18, and Jerusalem to them is some kind of an imaginary city, although geographically close to their place of residence, Ramallah. They are all students at the American School of Palestine; many of them know other places such as the United States, Canada, and Europe very well. They have toured the world, and yet the so-called capital of their land, Holy Jerusalem, remains unknown behind the Israeli-built separation wall and Israeli-imposed segregation policies. Ever since the annexation of Jerusalem, Israeli efforts to undermine the Palestinian presence and access to the city have culminated in the cement wall that surrounds the city and the denial of access to this holy place for the majority of Palestinians and many others. Now the city that had friendly walls with open gates is surrounded by an artificial wall, like a prisoner in captivity.

Therefore, within the framework of Jerusalem - Capital of Arab Culture 2009, the school organised an day on the theme of "Al-Quds" in an attempt to help the children get a taste of the place. The children built their own Jerusalem, complete with walls to encircle the Old City. They sat in their shops to sell groceries and handicrafts and created a genuine Old City atmosphere. This part of the event was called "Jerusalem in their eyes." And in their words, they narrated the city as they dream it.

Selina, a fifth-grade student, wrote, "I dreamt I went to Jerusalem one day to walk on its beautiful beach and listen to the waves although I know it does not have a sea. One day, I did actually walk in the narrow roads of the city and prayed in Al-Aqsa Mosque. I went around Damascus Gate and was so happy. But I soon realised that all of this was also a dream."

Sultan explained, "I am a Palestinian child who lives in Ramallah, near Jerusalem, but I cannot go there because of the unjust Zionist occupation. However, I am still dreaming of going there to see the walls, doors, mosques, and churches of Al-Quds, the land of three monotheistic religions. Many women screamed, 'Oh Arabs, help!' but no one was moved by the appeal."

Another child said that what bothered him most is that Palestine, and especially Jerusalem, are still occupied territory and nobody is exerting any real effort to end this occupation.

Qaher Darwish wrote the following:

Oh Jerusalem
I wish that you would remain the capital of Arab Culture.
I dream of the day you will be free.
You are the capital of Palestine, and you will always be.
I hope that there won't be checkpoints on the way to you.
In the future, you will be the capital of Palestine and be free.
You are the holiest city, and you will always be.
Oh, Jerusalem, I love you!

And disillusioned Nahla said, "When I went to Jerusalem for the first time, I thought that there would be old architecture and no Israeli occupation and that because of the narrow roads there would be traffic jams. But when I arrived in the city, I found the unexpected: the Israeli occupation and no traffic jam, for Jerusalem is sometimes under curfew. I became very sad."

Razan still hopes to go someday but for the moment, she can only imagine Jerusalem. A few weeks ago, the Israelis expelled 1,500 families and demolished 88 houses, creating another wave of refugees in Shu'afat Camp in order to build an Israeli park on their destroyed ruins.

One obvious question remains: When will they be able to visit and actually see Jerusalem with their own eyes? Or as seventh-grader Ahmad Ibrahim wrote:

I wish Jerusalem could be free
Like all the countries are
Every time I think about you
I look at my watch
As time suddenly stops
I wish I could pray in Jerusalem
In peace without worrying
Jerusalem needs its rights
To be happy, to live its life.

Rania Filfil is a mother of two children who attend the American School of Palestine and who are deprived of visiting Jerusalem. She can be reached at rania.filfil@yahoo.com.