Deacon Dave in Hebron, Palestine

A'in Sara, Hebron

Saturday 15 Sep

One person was killed and five injured in gun fights in the old City near Abraham's Mosque. A long standing feud between 2 Palestinians broke out into violence. Israeli soldiers closed the area but did not intervene until the fighting got close to one of the Jewish settlements. They shot the man who died.

Our area of Tel Rumeida and the rest of Hebron was unaffected by the violence. Ibrahimi School and the Shari'a Court were closed for the day and travelling was difficult near the mosque.

The incident raises serious questions about Israeli security if so many guns are being held within the Israeli controlled zone. It doeas show that so called security measures are not effective and are probably more intended to be harrassment of the civilian population.

Wow ! My first day in Jerusalem was quite overwhelming. So much history, so much religion, so much human emotion in such a small place. I got hopelessly lost at first in the narrow alleyways of the Muslim Quarter of the Old City, where I am staying.

I prayed in 3 mosques, 4 churches and at the Wailing Wall. I met all kinds of Palestinian Muslims and some Armenian Christians. Everyone was very friendly.

I got stopped I don't know how many times getting into Al Aqsa Mosque. I'm not used to experiencing racial profiling ! Tourists are only allowed in before 10am. I told them I am a Muslim. They were very suspicious because there have been 2 instances of Zionists getting in pretending to be Muslims and either killing people or setting fire to the pulpit. They asked me to recite from the Quran, which I can do so then they were very welcoming. At the door of the Mosque itself I was stopped and asked all that again. Then he asked me if I had done Wu'udu, the ritual washing. Suddenly 3 people stepped forward andsaid they had watched me doing wu'du and could vouch that I am a Muslim. One of them got stroppy with the guard for hassling me when he should have been welcoming a new convert and they got into a shouting match. All very embarassing in a large crowd. The guard apologised and I told him I quite understood. They have to be very careful who they let in. One of those who had spoken up for me offered to take me into Al Aqsa. He (Let's call him W) was very friendly and we stayed together for the prayer. Then he took me into the Dome on the Rock and we prayed in the cave under the rock from which Mohammad ascended to heaven. He was able to vouch for me to all those who questioned my presence. After he took me around the Souk (market) and sent me off with olives, falafel and small cakes. He was worried that I am a vegetarian and that I also pray in churches but he gave me his phone number anyway and hopefully I will meet him again. He has pretty strong views about Islam being the only way. He wants to see all Jews driven out of Palestine and a truly Islamic state set up. More inclined to violence than peace and yet a very kind and friendly man.