October 1, 2002 — Mudeif Productions

Today Tubas remained closed. Marthame subbed for an English teacher, but three others were absent as well as a bus full of children. This has become all-too-familiar and all-too-annoying. The school simply can't function "as normal" in a situation like this.

Later in the afternoon, Marthame ran into a friend who had spent all day yesterday at the Israeli "checkpoint" between 'Aqaba and Tubas. He had left in the morning, making his way to Jerusalem Open University's extension program in Tubas. He, along with another 200 young men, were detained for questioning and background checks, accompanied by verbal and physical harassment. Finally, at 11:00 p.m., he was released and sent home to Zababdeh - on foot. Another productive day in Palestine.

In the evening, we celebrated Elizabeth's birthday a few days early. We wanted to make sure that friends from the Arab-American University would be able to come, as a few of them were leaving town soon. This is the third year in a row that Elizabeth has received an appliance as a gift (somehow fitting in this culture), but it's what she's been asking for.

In the evening, as Marthame got ready for travel tomorrow, he could see flares over Tubas. What's happening, one can only guess.