1. Competing Narratives:
Israel and Palestine

2. DISCLAIMERS:
Because I am willing
to criticize Israel’s choices
about Palestine, that
I am not an expert on makes my views different
Israel and Palestine. from most Americans,
including almost all
I am, however, an American Jews, who tend
expert on my to not criticize Israel.
experiences in Israel
and Palestine. My views are unpopular.
My views come from Many people would
my experience of judge me negatively for
what I saw and heard my views.
on my trip as well as
research and news AFSC/Quakers tend to
watching before I hold similar views to
went. mine.

3. I want there
to be a State
of Israel.
I also want
justice and
equality for
Palestinians.
It is my view
that Israel
has policies
against
Palestine
that do not
lead to
peaceful
outcomes.

4. BUT BEFORE THERE WAS ISRAEL…
The region that
now contains
present-day
Israel and
Palestine was
controlled by
the Ottoman
Empire (Turkey)
from 1517 –
1917.
In 1917, that
same area was
controlled by
the British in
something
called the
British
Mandate.
http://www.defence.pk/forums/mil
itary-photos-multimedia/48357-
palestine-ottoman-empire.html

5. The land had been populated with Arab Muslims, Arab Christians, and some
Jews. They lived together in relative peace and equality for many centuries.

6. MEANWHILE BACK IN EUROPE…
Life in Europe
for Jews from
the Middle
Ages through
the Holocaust
was extremely
difficult at best
and at worst,
very deadly.
Jews faced
discrimination
and the
possibility of
violence
almost
constantly.

7. Some Jews did enjoy prosperity and safety (i.e. in Germany before
WWI), but it always seemed fragile, as if Jews had to rely on others to
ensure their safety.
World Response to WWI vs. WWII
German Jews leaving Germany in the 1930s, German Federal Archives. (photo: courtesy Ethan Bensinger)
http://www.timesofisrael.com/yekke-renewal-a-new-project-traces-the-remnants-of-german-jewish-culture/

8. ZIONISM
•Zion is a Biblical term that refers to the land Jews believe was given to them by
God.
•Since the mid1800s, some European Jews wanted to establish a Jewish nation in
the Middle East, a place with historical and Biblical connections for Jews.
•The people who wanted this Jewish nation and worked hard to make it happen
are called “Zionists”.
• The man who really championed the Zionist cause was Theodor Herzl.

9. ZIONISM
• Jews from Europe began moving to “Zion” starting in the
mid 1800s.
• They set up homes, farms, and businesses mostly
peacefully, sometimes not so peacefully.
• After WWII, creating a Jewish state for the millions of
European Jews who were pouring out of the concentration
camps had a lot of urgency.
• Nations around the world, especially the allied nations of
the U.S. and Great Britain supported the idea of creating a
Jewish state.

10. "A land without a people
for a people without a land."
• Zionists used this phrase to suggest that no one was living in what would
become the State of Israel.
• It makes the land seem empty of people and available for others.
• In fact, there were nearly 1 mm people living in the area that would
become Israel.
• They had homes, farms, families, businesses for generations.
• These people are called Palestinians. They were a mix of lots of religions:
Christians, Muslims, Jews, Druze, Samaritans…
• In 1945, they did not have their own nation. They lived under the British
Mandate.

11. •In 1947, The U.N. separated the land into an Arab and Jewish state, but the
Arabs did not accept the partition and war broke out.
•In the War of 1948 that led to the founding of Israel, about 725,000
Palestinians were forcibly removed from their farms and out of their homes.
•They are not allowed to
return to their land ever.
•Israelis call the War
“The War of
Independence”;
Palestinians call it
“Nakba”
(The Catastrophe).
• In protest, Arab countries
refused to recognize
Israel and live in peace.
www.theatlantic.com

12. •Each side believes different versions of the same history.
• In Israel, where 1.5 mm Palestinians live, their version of history is not taught or even
acknowledged in the Israeli school system.
•It’s as if it didn’t happen!
•So Palestinian students in Israel told us that they do not learn about the Nakba at all.

13. THE RESULTS
After Nakba, Palestinians wound up in three places:
1. Living in refugee camps/surrounding towns in Palestine.
Approx. 4 mm. in West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem
Some families live in the camps 3 or 4 generations later!
2. Moving abroad (called the Diaspora).
Approx. 5 mm. worldwide
3. Living in the Al Jalazone
State of Israel as Refugee Camp,
Arab Israeli citizens. Ramallah.
1.5 mm.
wikipedia

14. Demographic Realities
Israel’s population today: 7.5 mm…includes 1.5 mm Arab
Palestinians
SO….6 mm Jews live in Israel
Palestine’s population today (WB/Gaza/E. Jerusalem): 4mm
SO…add 1.5 Arab Israelis + 4 mm = 5.5 mm Palestinians
Many people say that by 2020, Arabs will outnumber Jews…if
policies do not change, this will mean that a minority will rule
over a majority…similar to South Africa in 80s.
The Jewish priority is on increasing Jewish population:
making aliyah  Jews moving to and becoming citizens
of Israel
Biblical reasoning  “it’s where we belong..”
Economic reasoning
Political reasoning

15. THE LEGACY
1. An unending cycle of bad relations between the two groups
(****not all Israelis and Palestinians agree among themselves).
2. Bad feelings fuel bad actions based on mistrust and fear,
especially the fear of violence.
3. Many Arab and Muslim neighboring countries are angered by
their perception of what’s happening to fellow Arabs.
4. Palestinians feel especially wronged for historic as well as current
reasons.
5. Israel is more powerful and has the backing of the United States.
In my view, it abuses its power over Palestinians in a way that is
unjust.
6. The State of Israel’s main concern is security for its citizens.
7. Palestine’s main concerns are ending the Israeli Occupation and
all its injustices, the Right of Return, and becoming a recognized
nation.

16. Food, Ta’aam, & Ochel
Vitamin S

32. Arak

33. KEIK and FALAFEL

45. Men Eating Hummus, Jerusalem, 1935
K. Kahvedjian

46. Lina’s Hummus

48. MEZZE

51. Sageedah

52. Musakhan

53. Making Militarism Visible
2012
www.newprofile.org/english

54. Making Militarism Visible
In Israel militarism is everywhere.
Wherever you look you are bound to
come across its manifestations. But
what you may not see is how
embedded militarism is in Israel’s
collective perception. Militarism isn't
just about the presence of soldiers in
civil society, it is about the presence of
militaristic thinking in the way Israelis
view the world and the way they think
about it.
"Towards Tomorrow" by A. Ettinger
Photo Editor: A. Milner. Purchased 2001

55. “…Neither shall they learn war…”
Isaiah 2, 4
This presentation is an
introduction to some of the
aspects of militaristic perceptions,
both visible and more subtle, that
shape the lives of Israelis.
This is one perspective, but you
are encouraged to form your
own.
Photo: Activestills.org

56. Militaristic Surroundings
Wherever you go in Israel,
you are likely to come
across soldiers, often
carrying guns. This is a
fact of everyday life in
Israel.
Guns and soldiers are a
natural part of our
surroundings, as much as
cars and trees.
Photo: Esti Tsal

57. Militaristic Surroundings
Most Israelis, seeing
combat soldiers in a
bus station, will
probably think about
the hardships of
combat service, and
feel sympathy and
pride.
Photo: Esti Tsal

58. Militaristic Surroundings
Yaakov Turner, a
former Air Force
commander and
former mayor of
the city of Be'er
Sheba, used this
fighter airplane as
a city decoration.
Photo: Sergeiy Sandler

59. Militaristic Surroundings
Cannon relics are an
integral part of many
children's playgrounds.
The idea here is that it is
normal, even valuable,
for kids to be around war
memorabilia.
Photo: Tal Hayoun

60. Militarized Education
Hundreds of
soldiers, stationed in
schools, are serving
as teachers and
youth guides. They
are sent there to
assist the teachers
and also to directly
promote military
service among the
students.
Taken from the IDF personnel website
http://www.aka.idf.il/chinuch/gallery/?catid=42929

61. Militarized Education
The army operates
extensive programs,
including a basic training
week, visits from officers
and school trips,
designed to promote
military service. The
students are compelled
to participate as these
are considered regular
school activities.
Photo: Activestills.org

62. Militarized Education
All schools promote
military service as an ideal
form of service to the
country.
A paramilitary ceremony in a
renowned Haifa high school,
held jointly by the school and the
adjacent military academy.
Cadets and students, marching
together on the playing field.
Photo: Activestills.org

63. Militaristic Education
The curriculum is full of
naturalizing or positive
references to wars and the
military, reaffirming the bond
between Israelis and their
army.
This is a worksheet for kindergarten
children, asking them to draw a line
between state images, peace
symbols, tanks, fighter planes and
the IDF symbol, and the
corresponding number.
Courtesy of Amir Terkel

64. Militaristic Education
Meanwhile in
Palestine, this is
what the first day
of school under the
occupation looks
like.
Photo: Tamar Matza, Sheikh Saed,
1/9/2009

65. Militarized Parenting
Parents have a very specific
role in relation to the army:
support.
This ad represents, and
appropriates, this idealized
relationship.
this ad reads:
Baking from the heart
When my boy comes home from the
army, he deserves extraordinary pastry.
Shimrit (Baking Yeast)

66. Militarized Parenting
The mothers' role in particular
is not just to support, but also
to worry. It's a role designated
for those who have no say in
the matter.
This ad reads:
“My boy is a combat soldier. The tension,
the stress, the phone calls… I asked my
pharmacist for Calmanervin, and it helped
me relax. I'm back to functioning as I
should.”
Ad by Lichtenson, 2000

67. Militarized Parenting
Fathers, on the other hand,
are expected to prepare their
children for military service;
not in the sense of actual
training, but by example, by
sharing stories of their positive
experiences, the camaraderie
of soldiers, amusing
anecdotes of life as a soldier,
etc.
Photo:
http://kennysideshow.blogspot.com/2
008/11/other-election-circus.html

68. Militaristic Economy
•Israeli society is heavily invested in its security. A glance at the
budget is all you need to see its priorities. The security budget is not
only the largest budget item, it is the most untouchable one.
Data taken from the Treasury department website
http://ozar.mof.gov.il/budget2007/index2008.htm

69. Militaristic Economy
•Israel's security spending is enormous even when compared to
other countries.
A 2009
comparison of
the security
budget as a
percentage of
GDP.
Israel USA Great Germany Canada NATO Global
Britain average average
Source: Yedioth Achronot Newspaper, 1/12/2009

70. Militaristic Economy
•Having a militaristic economy has its benefits. The Israeli security-
industrial complex is one of the largest and most profitable in the
world. Israel frequently innovates and tests weapons and security
technology, making a company like Plasan-Sasa its "2010 Exporter
of the Year“.
"Plasan's solutions for military vehicles, fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, civilian vehicles, and
personal protection systems include a suite of technologies skillfully integrated into a complete
protective system." taken from:
http://www.plasansasa.com/content/survivability-solutions

71. Militarstic Economy
The economic benefits work both
ways. Financial companies rely
heavily on aligning their brand
with the army and soldiers.
The ad, printed during the Second Lebanon War, reads
as follows:
I.D.F.
Biggest on security
Mega Supermarket Chain embraces and supports all
IDF soldiers.Thanks for everything.Take care of
yourselves!
Mega
Biggest on savings

72. Militaristic Gender
Do guns make
women equal? Can
we achieve equality in
an organization that
habitually casts
women in supporting
roles?
What happens to
women who want to
integrate in a male-
centric
establishment?
Photo: Rachel Papo 2004
www.rachelpapo.com/serial1.html

73. Militaristic Gender
A humorous postcard There are many hard ...Like push-ups for
intended to things in the army... instance...
congratulate recruits.
Military service is
often considered a
male rite of passage,
and a place for
women to snag a
husband.
"Condom
included!”
Illustration by
A. Albanogen, 2000

74. Militaristic Gender
Advertisers use deep-seeded
cultural preferences to promote
their products. In this case
they're using machismo to sell
underwear to soldiers.
"Warm Regards"
"Boxer shorts for soldiers."
Package cover, Lodjia, 2000

75. Militarism and Equality
The recurring
demolitions of the
Bedouin village of Al-
Araqib go on as most
Israelis aren't even
aware of them, and
would probably
support them. In a
society living on its
sword, violence is the
solution of choice.
Al-Araqib village demolition 27/7/2010

76. Militarism and Equality
A Palestinian
woman and
daughter sitting on
the remains of their
demolished house
in Lod, south of Tel
Aviv. Those who
aren't part of the
mainstream, like
Palestinians, are
left to fend for
themselves. by activestills.org
Taken
on 14/12/2010 i

77. Militarism and Identity
One of the most famous
Israeli idioms, inscribed on
one of the more famous
monuments, the roaring
lion, commemorates the
battle of Tel Hai, on March
1, 1920 and Joseph
Trumpeldor's last words:
"It is good to die for our
country".

78. Militarism and Identity
Every school has a memorial
for its graduates who have
died in action. Little Yasmin
passes this one every day
on her way to kindergarten.
What is she supposed to
learn about herself from this
monument?
Photo: Amir Terkel 2009

79. Militarism and Identity
A soldier and a
settler rejoicing in
Hebron. Israel's
Jewish identity and
its militaristic
tendencies play a
significant, and
interconnected role in
the ongoing
occupation of
Photo taken from the
"Breaking the Silence"
Palestine
exhibit

80. Militarism and Identity
An Israeli bride
celebrating her
wedding day by
posing for a photo
with an IDF mobile
artillery piece at a
kibbutz near the
northern Gaza
Strip. What does
the future hold for
her?
AP Haaretz 29/9/2005

81. “Study War
No More”
This version of the
exhibit was
created by Albert
Givol and Ruth
Hiller, with the
help of many New
Profile activists
and friends.
A New Profile Workshop on Militarism and Education in the Alternative Summer Camp 2006.

82. COMPETING NARRATIVES: JERUSALEM

83. Bullets in
Damascus Gate

84. Looking up to
West Jerusalem.
To go in the Old City,
you descend.
To walk in Biblical Jerusalem, you
would need to be two-three stories
below street level.

85. The major architect of Biblical Jerusalem is King Herod.
Here is his tomb in the distance.

86. Is Old City in Israel or Palestine?
Israel annexed East Jerusalem (contains the Old City) in 1967. BUT…
The international community does not recognize that annexation.

87. Arabs in East Jerusalem do not consider themselves
to be citizens of Israel. Arabs have "residency"
in Jerusalem, but not citizenship Israel.
For all intents and purposes, the Old City is in Israel.

88. Tower of David
Built in the second century CE.

89. Lovely twists and turns in the Old City…

91. Note the beautiful
dun colored stone.

101. The many stray cats of
Jerusalem.

102. St. Mark’s Coptic
Christian Guesthouse

106. BRRRRRRR…..

107. Snow in
Jerusalem

113. This is an Arab man living in
An Arab village next to the
Western Wall complex.

114. He had great aim! Was it a result of
practice during the Intifada?

118. Biblical Jerusalem and
Christian Holy Sites

119. The Cardo –
The heart
of the shopping
district in
Biblical
Jerusalem.

122. Alternate site of Easter Events?!

128. Golgotha?

132. The actual Via Dolorosa?
Several stories below street level in the Antonia.

139. Pilgrimage destination since the 4th c. CE

140. The care of the Church is held by
6 Christian denominations!

141. The immovable ladder.

145. Christ was anointed
here.

146. Christ’s Tomb.

155. What happens
at Easter.

156. Graffiti of pilgrims from
The Middle Ages!

159. St. Stephen’s Gate

162. Dormition of the Theotokos
Mary’s Tomb

165. The Lord Wept…

167. Church of Mary Magdelene, built 1886
Russian Orthodox

168. Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu

169. Absalom’s Tomb King David lived and
Absalom was King ruled in Israel about
David’s rebellious son. 1,000 BCE.

170. The Golden Gate

173. Jesus and his disciples are said to have prayed here the
night before he was arrested, the day before his death.

175. Luke 22: 39-45

177. Al-Aqsa Mosque

178. Ascending Mount of Olives and Looking back…

179. The Mount of Olives is
covered with Jewish
graves.

180. For Jews, when the Messiah comes, the Messiah enters through the
Golden Gate, and ascends the Mount of Olives.

181. These folks will have front row seats to the Messiah’s appearance!
So, it’s an auspicious place to be buried.

185. Looking from the Mount of Olives to the Temple Mount and Golden Gate.

187. The Temple Mount or the Haram Al Sharif (The Noble Sanctuary)

195. Archeological site, the original outer wall, and Silwan

196. Silwan…black water tanks
are your immediate visual
cue that this is an Arab village.

198. Archeology is political:
claim the site, claim the
land.

202. Ascent to the Temple Mount.

219. Women praying at this small
underground section of the
Western Wall devoted to worship.

225. Orthodox and Ultra Orthodox Jews:
Haredim

232. A Modern Orthodox Feminist Synagogue

233. Tova Hartman, Founder
Proponent of “Devotional Resistance”  uses what she calls the
self-correcting mechanisms found within Judaism.
“The faith is wounded and wounding.”
How could it be holy if someone is offended?”

234. “At first people said, ‘YOU fix it’ not “LET’S fix it together.”
A core practice at Shira Hadasha is to ensure that everyone
has a place to eat Sabbath dinner.

238. Ophir Yarden
Director of Education of the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel
Senior lecturer in Jewish and Israel studies at Brigham Young University’s
Jerusalem Center

239. Sami Al Jundi

240. Coexistence or Normalization? The Hand in Hand School

241. Bilingual Schools, 5 in Israel
Center for Jewish-Arab Education in Israel

244. Imbalance in Arabic
and Hebrew education

248. Divergent parental agendas
for sending kids to Hand in Hand

249. Old Rail line, Former Boundary (the “green line”) between
East and West Jerusalem, the school is in W. Jerusalem

250. Arab village of
Bet Safafa

251. Those are settlements in E. Jerusalem

253. Inshallah…God willing

254. What’s Birthright?

255. Soldiers in the Muslim Quarter

256. Sharon’s Apartment in the
Muslim Quarter

258. The King David Hotel

259. The Knesset

262. Mamilla’s restored stones

264. Words Matter…
Separation Wall?
Security Fence?
Apartheid Wall? East Jerusalem

265. Lives in the Efrat
Settlement in
Meir Schweiger, Gush Etzion
Rabbi and Professor
Pardes Institute

266. wikipedia

267. http://bcrfj.revues.org/6319

268. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/Westbankjan06.jpg

270. The politics on planting…

271. The Lone Oak,…

272. A sunny day in Efrat…note red roofs…
http://abu-pessoptimist.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.html

273. 2 car garage…20 minute
Commute to Jerusalem.

277. AFSC

278. Sahar Vardi

280. The Wall…East Jerusalem
Settlements ringing off the geographic contiguity of a Palestinian capital

283. Abu Dis
Up close and Personal

291. In the distance, the abandoned building
Intended to be the Palestinian capital…
The Wall effectively cuts it in two.

294. Sheikh Jarrah Settlement

295. BETHLEHEM:
Orthodox Christmas,
January 6, 2013

296. Most tourists are not made to go
through the main Bethlehem
checkpoint, but Palestinians must…

299. Uprootedpalestinian.wordpress.com

300. www.departurediaries.com

301. www.flickerriver.com

302. djmattwerner.blogspot.com

303. Some scholars dispute that Jesus was born in
Bethlehem (no census records, Jesus of Nazareth).
Revisionist history to fit Messianic prophecy???

304. Matthew and Mark are the two gospels with accounts of the birth of Christ.

305. Mark speaks of the shepherds Matthew speaks of the Wise
Men
and angels.
(why 3? The gifts?)
In our imagination of Christmas,
we have blended the accounts.

306. There are 167,000 Arab Palestinian
Christians in the West Bank.
10,000 in Gaza; 123,000 in Israel.

310. The Church of the Nativity:
Shared by two Christian sects.

311. Considered to be the oldest continuously
operating Christian church in the world.

314. Descending to the birth site and manger.

317. Birth site

318. Manger

319. In the 380s, St. Jerome
Translated the Bible
(Vulgate edition!)
from Hebrew and Greek
into Latin.
It took him 30 years,
and he did it from
this basement.

329. Max and Daoud Nasser, Tent of Nations

330. www.tentofnations.org

333. Wahat al
Salam
Neve
Shalom

342. Sea of Galilee

343. Jesus Walks on Water (Matthew 14:22-36; Mark 6:45-56; John 6:16-24)

345. St. Peter’s spot

346. Mount of Beatitudes

350. Jesus is said to have
given the Sermon
on the Mount from
here.

351. Tabgha

354. Haifa

359. Bahai Gardens

363. Abuna
Elias
Chacour

390. Note our bus…

392. Mt. Hermon: Israel, Lebanon, or the Occupied Syrian Golan Heights?

395. Looking into Lebanon

396. Lior at Kibbutz Snir

399. Security bunker…it freaked me out

400. Bunkbeds at Auschwitz -Birkenau

403. Mirtha’s lovely home…by contrast

406. Banias Springs

407. Ruins above the Spring

413. I HEART RAMALLAH!

414. Founded in the mid 1500s by five
Christian families from what is today
Jordan, Ramallah (it means “God’s
hilltop”).
Nighttime population: 50,000
Daytop population: 150,000
It’s majority Muslim, but here are still
many Arab Christians in Ramallah.

415. The Manarah

416. Quakers have been in
Ramallah since 1869
(during the Ottoman
Empire) by
Eli and Sybil Jones
(Rufus Jones’s
relatives)
A 14 year old Arab girl asked them to start a school, and they did!

417. Entering Ramallah,
Qalandia Checkpoint

418. Going in is easier than coming out!

419. On the Wall: Yassir Arafat (former President of the PLO)
and Marwan Barghouti, considered the leader of the 1st and 2nd Intifadas, He is
currently imprisoned in an Israeli jail.

420. 8 meters high!

424. Traffic going in.

425. Traffic going out.

426. The wait can take hours as Israeli border security reviews documents.

427. I’m walking here!
Traffic Ramallah style!

430. After the Oslo Accords
in 1993, money poured
into Ramallah because
people thought there
would be peace.,

431. A once sleepy resort
town boomed with
Investment.

433. Signs of the West.

434. Ramallah’s bustling
commercial feel
surprised me at first.

440. Notice stock ticker.

441. Don’t like banks?
There’s always 22K gold to invest in!

446. Note the way her hijab is pinned.

448. Maher Hanania, Guilford
parent

449. Musa Hadded, mayor

450. This sign is ironic. Placed on a wall in town by locals
after the date Palestine obtained member nation status at the UN.

451. How do you know you are in an Palestinian neighborhood?
These black water tanks on the rooftops!

452. The water agency pumps water to homes about twice per week.
when you run out, you run out. Sometimes neighbors
will share, creating poor water pressure and even more scarcity.

453. Yellow Israeli plates.

454. Green and white Palestinian plates.

455. Traditional style Ramallah home.

456. Ramallah is only 7 miles from Jerusalem, the de jure capital of Palestine.
Politics makes Ramallah the de facto capital.
Tons of NGOs, consulates, international aid groups have their HQ here.

457. Ustaze Don Hutchison,
retired RFS English teacher

463. HOSPITALITY

464. At Walid’s House

465. Michael Khayyat’s home, his mom is a
RFS administrator

467. Both families are Arab Christian.

468. Jean Zaru’s home.

469. This is a street sign named
after her disappeared older brother.

470. The Ministry of Hospitality.

473. Max Carter,
Worked at RFS for two
years for his alt.
Service as a CO in
1970.

474. Max has taken
groups to
Israel and
Palestine ever
since .

475. Sam Bahour.
Taught us the pizza metaphor.

476. Fajr Harb.
RFS grad and Carter Center
employee. Got a black eye
during an occupy-style
protest of E-1 settlement.

477. Jad Isaac and
Mohammed Ishtayeh.
Ishtayeh is a minister
in the PA cabinet. Both
deemed the 2-State solution
“DEAD”.

478. Zawaii, RFS grad and our chaperone and guide
to preparing for Friday prayers at
Al-Ein mosque in Ramallah’s majority Muslim
twin city, Al-Bireh.

479. Ben MacDonald, Guilford alum studying in Jerusalem.

480. Al-Ein Mosque

481. The women’s area. Note the low ceilings and the TV broadcast.

483. In hijab.

485. Jamal Abdel-Naser's Mosque
http://www.palestineremembered.com/GeoPoints/Ramallah_527/Picture_11638.html

486. My experience of Friday prayers.
The sacred and the secular collide.
www.paramio.com

492. Our home!

495. The entrance to our apartment.
The scene of the crime.

502. Images from school.

504. Images from an IB class.
My experience in 10th grade English class;
Malcolm X’s “Ballot or the Bullet” essay.

510. Dictionary skills.

534. The Moqata. Arafat’s tomb. Laser
light on tower points to Jerusalem,
the long hoped-for capital.

539. What famous Islamic structure does this tomb resemble?

540. Arafat dies in 2004
after being poisoned.

541. Arafat’s body was exhumed for forensic analysis
to determine how he was poisoned.

547. NAZARETH:
Church of the Annunciation

548. Luke 1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of
Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph,
of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in
unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed
'art' thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying,
and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said
unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou
shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name
Jesus. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord
God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the
house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary
unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35And the angel
answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power
of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be
born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she
hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who
was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said,
Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the
angel departed from her.

575. Mount Tabor is located in the Jezreel Valley. Har Megiddo
(Armageddon), is across the Jezreel Valley.
Mount Tabor is the site of the Mount Tabor Battle between
Barak (under the leadership of the Israelite judge
Deborah), and the army of the Caananites in the mid 14 th c.
BCE (Kings Chapter 4)

576. Many Christians think it is also the site for the Transfiguration of
Jesus.
On the mountain, Jesus begins to shine with bright rays of light.
Then the prophets Moses and Elijah appear next to him and he
speaks with them. Jesus is called Son by a voice (assumed to be
God) coming from the sky.

578. NABLUS AND ENVIRONS
Israeli checkpoint on the road to
Nablus, pop. 250,000
At various points since 2000, Israel
has blocked off Nablus Road, the
main artery. Once part of the Silk
Road.

579. Leaving Ramallah to Nablus, you pass by
Jelazone Refugee Camp. Sadly, I do not
have any pictures. Built to house 2,500,
now holds 14,000. Tear gas experience.
Israeli military installation looking over
Palestinian village.

581. Dr. Adel Yahya,
Archeologist

583. Security fence on Nablus
Road.

584. Palestinian village of Lubban. Note
that it is built on the shoulders on
the hill and not the top. More
sustainable for agricultural heritage.
Closer to water sources and closer
to valley below the hill.

585. This is the 20 year old Israeli
settlement of Ma’ale Levona
overlooking Lubban. These folks
commute to Jersusalem to work in
service sector jobs. Water
pumped up the hill.

587. Israel subsidizes settlements: land, mortgage loans, roads, electricity, water provision,
lowered tax bills, and SECURITY.
Very expensive for Israel. One estimate: $16,00/year/household to maintain settlements.
Some settlers are “ideological”. Most are what they call “economic settlers” seeking a
comfortable and affordable suburban lifestyle.

594. The Patriarch

601. Joseph’s Tomb. As in the technicolor dream coat (Genesis).
It’s actually a mosque. There’s the niche that shows the
direction toward Mecca.

604. TELL BELATA

605. This Cannanite Temple and village dates back
5,000 years. It’s one the best examples from
the middle bronze era in the world.

606. The site sites in Shechem, the shoulder of the
mountains. One mountain is called Mt. Ebal (fire) the
other Mt. Gerzeim (water). Which is this one?

608. Notice how the town comes right up to the edge.
The PA does not have a lot of money for archeology projects.

610. That’s Mt. Gerzeim.

611. The walls are 6m thick.
Designed to keep out invading Pharaohs.

612. The Keys
Soap Factory

613. 100 years old., only 4 factories left.
This building was once a caravan stop (caravan serai)) on
the Silk Road.

614. Key ingredients
are olive oil
and a plant
derivative
called kiffy.

615. Every surface
and floor in
the factory
was slippery!

622. Note the bullet holes.

623. Posters from the
second intifada.

624. Yasir Arafat;
Shahid.

631. Clock Tower and Mosque donated by the
Turks during the Ottoman Empire to make
nice with the locals.

633. Al Nasser Mosque.
The mosque is on the edge of the Kasbah.

634. KANAFE! The famous sweet from Nablus!

638. Little pancakes…eaten all
year, but esp. at Ramadan.

639. Costs 15 NIS 2 days a week
for a bath; for women; 5
20 NIS for a days a week
for men.
massage.

642. Today, there are only
about 800 Samaritans in
existence.

643. The Samaritans
resisted Christianity,
and were considered
outsiders, but in the
Bible, Christ presents
them in a very
positive light.

644. This Samaritan village is quite prosperous compared to nearby Arab villages.
They are interfaith go-betweens on all kinds of business deals!

648. Only women can convert to becoming Samaritan, but it’s not
easy being a Samaritan woman.
Women are not
equal to men.
After delivering a
boy baby, the
Mother is
considered impure
for 40 days. If it’s a
girl, it’s 80 days!

654. JERICHO, TELL ES SULTAN, AND QUMRAN

659. ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS OUTSIDE JERICHO, “C” AREA

660. Located on the hilltops, more green…

662. Red roofs, relatively prosperous…

663. Palestinian village, less affluent, less green, on the “shoulders” of the hillside.

665. JORDAN RIVER VALLEY…GOOD FOR ISRAELI AGRICULTURE,
NO SO GREAT FOR THE JORDAN RIVER

666. HILLSIDES ARE JORDAN!

668. ISRAELI DATE PALM
FARM

670. ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN
MONASTERY OF THE TEMPTATION

672. NEIGHBORHOOD ABUTS HISTORIC SITE….
Note the staging…this is in Palestine…

677. cistern

679. Mud bricks.

682. Reinforcement
walls.

686. Note the staging…this land is controlled by Israel.

711. THE DEAD SEA:
1,300 below sea level!

714. JAMAL

716. Inshallah…God willing