September 9, 2001

The plan was to join the CPTers on their Sunday morning worship schedule, where they attend the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem. Unfortunately, no taxis were going into Jerusalem because of the closures, and we waited for an hour before one finally arrived in H1.

Marthame headed off to St. Andrew's Church of Scotland for worship (their schedule is later) while Elizabeth headed back to Zababdeh for school tomorrow. Marthame saw some old friends at Jerusalem's Presbyterian Church and met some new ones, sharing in the worship leadership. All were anxious to hear reports from the northern West Bank and from Hebron, so he joined some friends from the US Consulate for lunch.

As they dined in East Jerusalem, Elizabeth called to say that the IDF was not letting any cars through at the Hamra checkpoint - apparently there had been several bombings and shootings that day. She pleaded with the soldiers, one of whom in particular was quite sympathetic, but the position was firm. The US Consulate could not intervene either, but there was no other road to Zababdeh. Finally, after three hours, hundreds of hot and tired travelers were permitted to pass.

The view from Hebrew University.

Marthame, meanwhile, was visiting with another friend studying at the Hebrew University. In one of the bizarre moments that makes history so interesting, in the 1948 Armistice agreement, the campus of the Hebrew University was an island of Israeli control in the midst of what was then Jordan. The day was quite clear, and the Dead Sea could be seen from the campus' remarkable ampitheater. So could several settlements.

Elizabeth finally made it home, exhausted, and Marthame connected with friends in Jerusalem for a little dinner and relaxation in their home. The question is how he will (or won't) be able to get home tomorrow, particularly if Hamra is closed.