The day we have waited for for two years, and the day our friend Firas has waited for for eight years: his ordination as a deacon (the step before priesthood) in the Melkite Church of Zababdeh.

They estimate that, for the 60 Christians living in Tubas, there are 300-some living outside Palestine.

As the American sabre rattles against Iraq, people here grow nervous. Reports have appeared in the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz that Sharon will use an attack on Iraq to begin his not-so-secret project of "transfer" - the ethnic-cleansing of Palestinians from the West Bank. Blessed are the peacemakers...

"You know," she said, "I used to think that all Americans hated us. Thank you for showing us that not all Americans think the same." What's amazing is to realize that there are probably others who think and feel the same, especially when we've known nothing but unconditional welcome here. Humbling to say the least.