Sunday morning and afternoon

Sunday morning I went to Bethlehem and then Jerusalem. They are both beautiful cities, and very important in the Christian faith, as well as in Judaism and Islam. It was nice to be able to walk down the streets and eat a nice meal, unfortunately I got there too late for a service. Getting away from the busyness of the work we do in Hebron, even if only once a week for a few hours, is nice.

Unfortunately, the occupation doesn't take a break. While on the way to Hebron in a servees, we were stopped in a long line of cars because the Israeli military stopped the cars on Road #35, and began checking them. Our servees had to take the long way around.

On the way out of Bethlehem, we came across five Israeli soldiers who entered the city to do a patrol. Bethlehem is under Palestinian Authority, and the Israeli Army should not be entering it without a Palestinian escort. Of course that did not happen. Just like in Hebron.

Israeli soldiers stop and search cars leaving Hebron. Road closures such as this are a depressingly reocurring aspect of Palestinian life. Sometimes the closures take hours, even a whole day or more.

We had to take a much longer way around. 

Bethlehem markets.

A view of the beautiful city where Jesus Christ is believed to have been miraculously born.

The Nativity Store. Two popes in particular are very popular in Palestine... 

The sign says "We welcome Poles. Good pilgrims and good people. Long live Poland".

The annexation wall that allegedly separates the West Bank from Israel but in reality takes a lot of land. An Israeli soldier can be seen on patrol. He should not be in the city.

Guns drawn, two other soldiers patrol alongside the wall, on the Palestinian side.

More soldiers.

One of them looks at a parked car.

One of the many grafitti on the wall.

What is there to disagree with?

The Old City of Jerusalem, Muslim Quarter.

The Old City of Jerusalem, Jewish Quarter.

Waffle in Jerusalem.

Shawarma wrap in Bethlehem.

A view in Jerusalem. The building in the middle is "Good Shepherd Swedish School".

People I met on the servees from Bethlehem to Hebron (1).

People I met on the servees from Bethlehem to Hebron (2).