Tuesday - Arrived in Tel Rumeida, Hebron
I arrived this afternoon in Tel Rumeida, Hebron. It is near to the Tomb of the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their wives) There is a small illegal Jewish settlement of 500 people in the middle of a Palestinian neighbourhood. We had to pass through a check point to get to this street. Palestinian children get stoned and abused regularly on their way to school. Here is a recent film taken by members of ISM living here.
Israeli children atack Palestinians
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPXpL-Nydx4
Ramallah was very peaceful. We were in a mainly Christian quarter. I got to know quite a lot of muslims at the local mosque and met Father James at the Greek Orthodox Church. Every one agreed that relations between Muslims and Christians have always been good. Father James said that with the recent rise of Islamic fundamentalism he has often been abused by children who are now being taught intolerance.
Trip here was easy enough. We took 2 buses and changed at Jerusalem as the direct bus has to go all the way around the Wall which encicles most of Jerusalem now. A woman with a baby was refused permission to enter Jerusalem and was turned off the bus.
We have no water in the ISM flat here, nor do our Palestinian neighbours. It seems a lorry broke the water pipe. The Israelis will not allow it to be fixed until after the Jewish holiday of Sukkoth (booths). So no water until after Sunday.
I'm tired so I'll stop for now.
