January 11, 2003

Today was a slow day in Jerusalem - at least for Marthame. He spent most of the day working on his sermon and watching digital TV, two of the great ancient sabbath practices.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, collective punishment was once again hampering the school. A curfew was in effect for Qabatia, meaning that none of the students or teachers from either Qabatia or Jenin were able to come to school today. That's nearly one hundred students in a school of six hundred. Teachers also scrambled to fill in for their absent colleagues.

Palestinian taxis on unnavigable roads are but one sign of the persistent Palestinian non-violent resistance to Occupation.

The stories about new travel restrictions are horrific. Officially, no Palestinians are allowed to travel between cities or villages. And no Palestinians under the age of thirty-five are allowed to leave the West Bank - either for work in Israel (which is already down to a trickle) or to go into Jordan. But for the safety of a passport, we would be part of the restrictions. We know that Palestinians will continue to try - and succeed - at their own risk, to live life as normally as possible. Can it get much worse here?

In the evening, the World Council of Churches' folks had a farewell party for some of their accompaniment folks. The repeatedly requested official international observers or peacekeepers haven't come, so the WCC has responded by bringing some volunteers. They are being paired with local churches and organizations - both Palestinian and Israeli - to do what they can to bring some glimmer of hope for peace here. This has meant a variety of activities, and they all have their "war" stories. The hope is that more people will come, and those that do will see for themselves and deliver an accurate picture of what is happening here back home.

While the world sits by, this offers some glimmer that truth will out.