We pulled up into one of several stonecutters' shops which line the road to Misilye.
Read MoreFiras' new responsibilities as deacon (and, soon to be, priest) include not only Zababdeh's Melkite community, but also for the Christians in Jalame and Muqeible. Not more than a quarter mile separates the two villages, but the two places couldn't seem more apart.
Read MoreThe olives are brought in large bags, then dumped into the system which sorts the olives out from the sticks and leaves, then they are washed, crushed, then the water and oil are separated out. The end result is glorious, glorious fresh olive oil.
Read MoreThere is no order here, there is no Authority, and people have been living in more squalor than usual for the past two years. Every night, Apaches and F-16s fly overhead, and periodically puncture the night and Gazan buildings with rockets. If this is hell, then we are the devil's minions, we American taxpayers.
Read MoreEvery PC(USA) moderator has the ex-officio honor of being ecumenical canon at St. George's, but until now, only one moderator had come to Jerusalem to receive this honor. The Rev. Dr. Canon Fahed Abu-Akel is the second, and today this honor was given to him as part of the Sunday worship service.
Read MoreOur destination was the village of Kufr Yasif, Rev. Dr. Abu-Akel's home town. He had been raised in the Greek Orthodox Church there, and even though he had become a Protestant pastor, it was that church which hosted his "welcome home" reception.
Read MoreMarthame took a break from his duties at the school to film an historical event: the re-introduction of electricity to Zababdeh's Melkite Church.
Read MoreAmbulance is the only way to travel on a day like today.
Read MoreEverywhere are the signs of battle - one is the burned-out hull of the City Center, a fifteen-story mall at the center of town.
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The streets were empty, except for the presence of Israeli tanks and jeeps and those who had been detained by them for breaking curfew. The place is a wreck - trash is piling up, the basic civil infrastructure - streets, sidewalks, curbs, signs - have been crushed and damaged by tanks. Buildings are riddled with bulletholes.
Read MoreHe, along with another 200 young men, were detained for questioning and background checks, accompanied by verbal and physical harassment. Finally, at 11:00 p.m., he was released and sent home to Zababdeh - on foot.
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