April 8, 2003

Elizabeth arrived at school today to find all of the Jenin students there. At last! It's good for everybody to be back.

“Downtown” Jalame.

Marthame made his way from Ibillin, but his ride to Jalame (just inside the Green Line) was unable to pass the checkpoint into the West Bank. As Marthame descended from the van, two older women called to him. They live in Nazareth, with Israeli citizenship, but also have family and live in Zababdeh most of the time. However, with their Israeli citizenship, they were turned back yesterday. (Except soldiers and settlers, Israelis - even Arab Israelis - are generally forbidden to enter the Occupied Territories.) They figured that going with a priest, and an American at that, might help their chances. After some negotiating with the soldiers, it did, and all arrived back in Zababdeh safe and sound.

The teachers met again today, strategizing for next year's budget crisis. We hope they will be able to find a solution. Fr. Aktham traveled down to Jerusalem and back today, hoping to find that his visa was ready. He, and many other priests of the Patriarchate, have had their visa renewals delayed indefinitely by the Israeli government. After a big international stink involving the influence of the Vatican, it looks as though things have been resolved for the best. However, as is all too frequent here, the employees at various Israeli ministries are now on strike. Fr. Aktham was supposed to travel to Italy for a conference this week, but with no visa to stay, he won't be allowed back into the country. He returned to Zababdeh with a horrible crick in his neck - the weight of the world on his shoulders, perhaps?