July 10, 2003

An Israeli jeep at Birzeit’s main traffic circle.

Our extended weekend begins, so after class we hopped into the Qalandia taxis in Birzeit. While we waited, an Israeli army jeep stood at the main traffic circle, then drove back past a couple of times. An armored personnel carrier rolled through town, too, as normally as if this was the afternoon traffic. It's amazing what folks can get used to.

We rented a car in East Jerusalem, one of only two companies that insure for West Bank driving (even though we won't be entering the West Bank this time), and drove off to Kufr Yasif in the northern Galilee. Kufr Yasif is the boyhood home of last year's Presbyterian Church (USA) Moderator Fahed Abu-Akel, and we have visited with his family from time to time, and they have welcomed us into their home.

We had extra reason to come this summer, though, since some of Rev. Abu-Akel's extended family whom we also know from Atlanta are back home visiting the grandparents. Maybe they speak with a Southern Kufr Yasif accent.