January 29, 2003

Zababdeh students and teachers gather for conversation.

The election was yesterday, but the curfew remained in effect for both Jenin and Nablus. People are congratulating each other - tongue planted firmly in cheek - for yesterday's election results.

Bush's State of the Union address has people reeling here. The talk is of war. People here have lived through one Gulf War and its effects - West Bank-wide travel shut-downs on Palestinians, a complete loss of work and school, a daily death-toll. The more things change, the more they stay the same. "Blessed are the peacemakers," but where are they?