The normal roads, like most of the West Bank, have either been closed to Palestinians (either by roadblocks or military vehicles) or are too dangerous for them (with settler groups "keeping watch" over "their" roads). Nevertheless, we had to go through an Israeli checkpoint. They stopped our van, picked out one of the two Palestinians in our van, and scrutinized his ID - the look on that Israeli soldier's face was nothing if not pure revulsion and hatred, and gave us all pause.
Read MoreThe violence of the Israeli Occupation is increasing, as is the Palestinian response to that Occupation. Non-violent resistance continues to be used as a strategy to fight the Occupation (consider the daily acts of resistance performed by thousands of people: crossing road blocks to go to work and school, using tractors to open closed roads, refusing to buy Israeli goods, requesting international monitors to observe/protect them, organizing protest marches and events, etc.).
Read MoreThis is the second week of the Latin Church's camp. About 200 kids come each day to play games, do art projects, see films, study the Bible, and of course prepare songs and dances.
Read MoreAs far as Israel is concerned, his Palestinian identity overrides his American citizenship. The American Consulate told him it's none of their business - this is an internal Israeli issue.
Read MoreWe've talked to Gaza students who have not been able to make the short trip home for over two years.
Read MoreOne woman asked if the village we lived in would be considered in Samaria. The tour guide, who knows the West Bank quite well said, "yes." "It was in Biblical times," we added. "Samaria" has become a politically-loaded term, often used by Israelis who are staking claim to the northern West Bank as part of the state of Israel (e.g. the Ministry in charge of settlements is called the Council of Judea and Samaria). Indeed, for a period in history, the region around Zababdeh was a primarily Jewish place called Samaria; but this is not the only, or necessarily the most dominant or identifying period in its history. In a way, to refer to it as Samaria denies the reality of the current inhabitants and situation; it overlooks the people and history before and after that particular Biblical period.
Read MoreThe beautiful crescent moon over the walls of the Old City provided us some solace.
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The highlight of the trip, though, was the closing-time rounding-up of the giraffes.
Read MoreWe caught a ride to Ramallah with one of the students in our class, a Belgian who is married to a Palestinian. They have two kids and are living in Ramallah for the foreseeable future, but has to renew her tourist visa every three months (there is no permanent resident status granted to non-Jewish foreigners in the Occupied Territories, even if they have family obligations there).
Read MoreOur professor today talked about his background.
Read MoreHe talked about Birzeit's "illegal cells of education" (so-called by the Israeli government) as it organized classes in professors' homes between 1988 and 1992 when the University was closed by Israeli military order.
Read MoreWe negotiated the "road" for another hour before joining back up with the road on the other side of the checkpoint. "Welcome to the occupation," once sang REM's Michael Stipe.
Read MoreToday we worshipped with both the Anglican and Orthodox churches.
Read MoreWhile we were gone, our telephone bill went unpaid for three weeks, which meant that it got cut.
Read MoreWe got the chance to visit and catch up with our Zababdeh friends and neighbors, who were anxious to hear stories about our time in the States and word from our families.
Read MoreWe finally had our first Arabic class!
Read MoreIt was a little hard to feel like celebrating, anyway - word came of an assassination of three Palestinians in their car near Zababdeh (Marthame heard about it from one of his 8th grade students by email), most likely with American-made weaponry. The sad irony of Independence Day...
Read MoreOur speaker was an eloquent expert on Palestinian humor and folklore. He gave an insightful talk on the subject, citing jokes and folktales as much better judges of public opinion and morale than political speeches - they circulate if they resonate with the people, and they die if they do not.
Read MoreUnfortunately, our travels for the day are not over. We took a while trying to figure out how we were going to get to Birzeit - one word was that the checkpoint was closed, another was that it was open but yellow-plated taxis would not be allowed in.
Read MoreIt was a long, long day (or a short two days, depending upon your calculations).
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