April 1, 2002 — Mudeif Productions

It's April Fool's Day, but we don't feel much like joking. The reports that are coming out of Ramallah and Bethlehem are increasingly disturbing. There was no school once again under a Ministry of Education order - this has happened only a few days during the entire seventeen months of the Intifada and siege, indicating how serious the situation is and how angered the people here by how their president is being treated.

We spent the day doing some overdue cleaning of the apartment, trying to get our minds off of the situation here. We still turned on the TV periodically, needing to keep abreast of what is happening. CNN brought a story about a group of international peace activists who have made their way into the Presidential compound. We know some of them and have been impressed by their commitment to non-violent resistance to the Occupation. It was one glimmer of hope for this day that these folks, as bullets and tank shells and suicide bombs are flying, are able to make enough of an impact to garner press coverage.

We gathered with the other ex-pats at the University to celebrate a birthday and to share in our concern and worry together. Unfortunately, they celebrated with cheesecake, and we're still fasting for Lent...