Reflections Under House Arrest

By Rev. Sandra Olewine

A Candle of Joy – Day 24 – 15 December 2002

Today, like yesterday, the people of the Bethlehem area are ‘being let out’ of their homes for 8 hours as curfew restrictions are eased.

From 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, yesterday people rushed about the city apprehensive that like Tuesday curfew would suddenly be re-imposed. Thankfully, this time it was not. As I took one friend home around 4:30 pm, though, the IDF soon followed, throwing sound bombs to get people completely off the street. I was going in the opposite direction when cars and people came rushing at me, vying for space as they rushed down a side street to get away from the explosions. There were a few moments of panic as we all looked for ways to get out of the jam and away from the soldiers safely. Around 10:00 pm last night, word came that Sunday curfew would be lifted again. This meant that for the first time in 4 weeks, Christians would be able to get safely to their nearby churches for worship. Amazingly, it also meant that we’d have more time outside in these two days than in the all the 22 days prior.

I walked to the church around 9:00 am and found the streets busy, already teeming with people and vendors. Nearing our offices, I saw two of our congregation’s young adults coming my way. Glad smiles broke out on our faces as we greeted one another. Too early for worship, I asked where they were going. “To the University,” they replied. Even though it was Sunday, Bethlehem University decided to hold classes all day again today, trying to help the students get caught up on the 3 weeks they’ve missed so far. I told them we’d miss them in church. “Us too, but we have to grab whatever chance we have to be in class,” they answered as they hurried past, waving goodbye.

The church bells rang at 10:00 am urging our community to gather. Their ringing was mixed with the buzz of saws and the whining of drills from inside the new Conference Center as the workers returned yet again. This morning, there was no discord between the competing sounds. The bells called me to worship, the saws and drills called me to rejoice in the determination of people here to work – a morning concert of sacred sound. The bells again rang out at 10:30 announcing the beginning of worship. This Sunday the pews were full at Christmas Lutheran Church.

For the first time this Advent, the majority of our congregation was together, making lighting the third candle on our wreath - the candle of joy - a remarkable experience.

Many reporters have been asking the Christians of Bethlehem whether there is any joy this year, any Christmas spirit. If we measure joy by feelings of happiness or gaiety - by parties and gift-buying - the answer is no. There is no frivolity in Bethlehem this year, no happy expectation of choirs on Manger Square or thousands of visitors on Christmas Eve. The distress is great. But, true Christmas (and Christian) joy is deeper than those things.

As we greeted one another in the congregation this morning, there was joy in Bethlehem. Not a superficial holiday cheer, but a real joy that comes from beholding each other’s faces, being together as a community, expressing care and concern for one another. A holy sacrament of fellowship. As people reached out to lovingly touch the face of an elderly member or to pat the head of a small child, as people shook hands and kissed checks, as eyes lit up catching sight of a dear friend across the terrace, the essence of Christmas joy was made manifest. Sisters and brothers - our family in Christ - gathering together, worshipping God, joining hearts in prayer, singing hymns of praise, growing in faith, seeking healing for our grief, drawing strength to meet the challenges ahead, preparing ourselves once again to share the Good News of Christ in all we do.

Just as the Roman occupation did not stop the in-breaking of Joy, neither will this current one. God still bends down to the earth, loving us. Even in a cold, seemingly endless night of suffering, new life is brought forth because God always finds a way to reach us. Christmas will come – no army in the world can stop it. Such is the source of our joy, the core of our peace, the spirit of our hope.

Gratefully, then, we lit the candle of joy this day!

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Curfew Continues - Day 22 - 13 December 2002

Dear Friends,

Bethlehem begins its 4th week under curfew. In the last 22 days, we have been 'granted permission' to be out of our homes a total of only 10 hours. Since 22 November, though, 400,000 - 500,000 Palestinians have been under these conditions across the West Bank.

Below I have included the link to the page from the United Nations Office for The Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, which details for you the numbers of Palestinians living under curfew/closure each day. You can see which cities and how many people are affected. The graph which shows the period from June – December 2002, shows the daily reality of no less than 300,000 people living as prisoners in their own homes.

http://www.reliefweb.int/hic-opt/curf1.htm

I urge you to go this site to get a feeling for how widespread the impact is of this Israeli policy.

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Fulfilling Christmas Wishes - Day 19 - 10 December 2002

Monday night around 8 pm, an announcement appeared on local TV that curfew would be lifted today from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Phone calls began as people planned how to get the most out of the six hours. At ICB many of us were in the office by 09:00 and everyone was there by 10:30. For the first time in 3 weeks, the construction workers returned to try yet again to put the finishing touches on the new Conference Center.

As usual, the atmosphere was almost electric as people outside and in rushed about - shopping, going to the bank, checking in at schools and universities, planning meetings, calling volunteers, writing articles. Believe me, the sensation is not a pleasant one of holiday bustle but of sheer anxiety, rushing to cram as much of life as possible into a few short hours, not knowing when the next time we’ll be allowed out will be.

ICB’s marketing coordinator, Lara, has been coming to the office even under curfew in an attempt to fill the Christmas orders which people have placed for craft items from our Al-Kahf Gift Store. Despite the closure, she has put a priority on not disappointing either the customers or the artisans. This has often meant sneaking past soldiers for her and sending the packed items out through all sorts of back roads in order to be mailed from Jerusalem. Two new large orders were placed yesterday so she was glad the craftspeople would be able to drop off their items, as well as have the opportunity to pack and send it without the added strain of clandestine shipping!

But, as too often happens, nothing one plans here works out quite how one expected.

For what reason no one seems to know yet, the Israeli military suddenly re-imposed curfew. By 1:30 pm in Beit Jala, Beit Sahour and Bethlehem, soldiers screamed over loud speakers, “Mamnou’ attajawul.” (wandering is prohibited!) In numerous places around the area, the soldiers threw tear gas and sound bombs. Bedlam broke out as parents rushed to schools to get children, university students dashed trying to pick-up assignments from professors, people hurried to buy food, our construction workers stopped their projects, and shop owners began slamming their doors.

But what were we to do about fulfilling the Christmas orders? Lara kept packing, recruiting anyone nearby to lend a hand. The phone was buzzing as new arrangements were made to get these latest orders out of a military-closed Bethlehem. Even as we encouraged her to head for home, she kept on giving instructions on how to properly pack the goods to be sent. When she was finally convinced we could get the items out, she left. Now, we’ll sneak the goods to a taxi to get them to Jerusalem.

Part of what keeps people’s spirits alive is the desire to do the best at their work. Over and over again, the International Center of Bethlehem staff display a dogged determination to not let the Israeli occupation or invasions or curfews steal that spirit from them. Because of that Lara and others here are still able to fulfill people’s Christmas wishes.

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Lighting the Candle of Peace – Day 17 – 8 December 2002, Curfew Again

As we gathered in worship this morning, Pastor Mitri commended those of the congregation who made their way to the sanctuary despite day 17 of our re-invasion and the on-going curfew. He reminded all of us that we were there because God’s word was stronger than the ‘law of man,’ and certainly stronger than the Israeli occupation. Thirty-eight people, including 5 visitors who came into Bethlehem with Bishop Munib Younan, defied the Israeli military to worship God in spirit and in truth.

Later, as I stood to light the second Advent candle, I recalled that last Sunday we lit the candle of hope, that doing so was an act of faith, believing that even one small candle helps light the way in the dark. As I was about to light the second candle - the candle of peace - outside of the sanctuary a blaring call over a loudspeaker came from Israeli soldiers, “Whoever is breaking our curfew will be punished.” Again and again the cry was repeated. Mitri translated the shout for the visitors, and when it stopped, we continued.

“Today, we come together again under curfew to light the second candle of Advent. We dare light the candle of peace, even when it is so far away. The world we live in today is as far from peace as at any other time. Yet, we recall the words of Jesus from John’s gospel, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

The peace of Jesus is a peace that gives us courage to face each day; it is a peace that strengthens our faith; it is a peace that lightens our burdens. We light a candle of peace because we trust that God is greater than all the powers and principalities of this world. As we lean on the peace which Jesus gives, we have the courage then to face each day and to dare to believe in and work towards a world of peace. As an act of faith and an act of resistance, we light the second candle of Advent!”

Never has lighting the Advent wreath been as important to me as it is this year. Watching the light multiply, easing back the shadows. Proclaiming hope and peace when all around is despair and war. Surely, this must be what Jesus meant when he said,

”I do not give to you as the world gives.” So, we continue on.

Pictures by Bob May

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Curfew Lifted in Bethlehem Area - Day 15 - 6 December 2002

This morning around 07:30 an announcement appeared on one of the local television stations that curfew would be lifted in the Bethlehem area today from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. Thirty minutes later a similar announcement appeared on another station. Vendors would be allowed to set up at 09:00. As my colleagues and I made our way to the office a little before 09:00, already people were out. No one was waiting until 09:00 or 11:00.

By 09:30, the International Center of Bethlehem and Christmas Lutheran Church were bustling with activity. Church council members came to get work going on refurbishing the church office and to try to get more done on the installation of the new heating and air conditioning system in the sanctuary. A few of our participants in the Youth Leadership Training Program came to help move books and furniture from one office to another. ICB staff came to continue work on all our various programs. Center artisans arrived, dropping off work they had completed at home and to pick up more supplies. Outside, it sounded almost normal as cars and people passed.

But, the sense of normality was rudely disturbed around 10:40. Suddenly, the sounds outside were overwhelmed by the sound of a blaring jeep siren. Into Madbassah Square came one jeep and out jumped four soldiers. Shouting from the loud speaker, once again, that curfew was in place. Initially people seemed to ignore them, walking calmly by. Then, the soldiers got out of their jeeps, pointed their guns and threw a number of sound bombs. Bedlam ensued. People were running into open shops, vendors left their goods unattended and the Square emptied within minutes.

One could see faces peering from shop fronts. People again took refuge inside the entrance way to our Center. After about 10 minutes, the soldiers and the jeep proceeded down the street on the south of the Church, still calling out that curfew was in place. Some folks came out of shops and began rushing away. Some store owners began to move their goods back inside their stores

At first, no one was sure whether the soldiers meant that the lifting of curfew had been cancelled completely or not. But, as the soldiers moved further into the Suq, and didn’t come back, everyone figured this little episode was just to scare people. Why? The only possible reason for the soldier’s behavior was that people had come out earlier than they were ‘supposed’ to. So, for being in the market 20 minutes before the ‘official army time’, women, children and men who were trying to get vegetables, clothing or just out for a walk after 5 days, were terrorized for 15 minutes, just to show who was in control.

But, Palestinians are remarkably resilient. Within 10 minutes of the soldiers leaving, the area was again bustling with activity.

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Another Day Like the Others - Day 13 – Wednesday, 4 December 2002

Another day like the others…. Curfew remains in place.

Monday night at 10:30 pm, a building near by in Beit Jala was a scene like many others. Jeeps and soldiers surrounded the building. I could hear the loud speakers from my house, calling for the people to come out. All the women were gathered into one room and all the men (and male youth) were herded outside, ordered to strip to their underwear and left in the cold for over an hour as the soldiers interrogated them. Eventually a couple of young men were taken away by the soldiers and the rest were allowed back to their homes.

Yesterday, Beit Sahour was particularly difficult. ICB staff members who live there said it was the hardest day since this new incursion. There were soldiers throughout the village and walking, even in their own neighborhood, was not possible. As I stopped at my grocery store on my way back home in the mid-afternoon, they laughed, saying, “You’re bad luck – every time you come, the soldiers show up! They just left again.” Not long after I reached home, I could hear the jeeps in the nearby streets. Small explosions went off over the next few hours – sound bombs, I imagine – as soldiers screamed over the loudspeakers their daily mantra, “mamnouh at-tajawal.” (wandering is prohibited!)

Today goes on like the others. A few people come out. A few grocery stores, bakeries and pharmacies crack their doors. Some neighborhoods can’t move at all for a few hours, then the next one can’t. Guessing when the soldiers will be in your area is the most entertaining game around. Tragically, it can be a deadly game, particularly if one guesses wrong….

Eid al-Fitr will begin for Muslims either tomorrow or Friday, depending on tonight’s moon. The big question now is whether curfew will be lifted at all during the 3-day feast. Even if it is, though, many have said to me that the Feast is ruined. They have spent half of the month of Ramadan locked inside. There is no money for alms-giving, for feasting, for buying new shoes or sweaters for the children. There is no rejoicing left in them.

Will tomorrow be just like today? We’ll have to wait and see…

From office window as people are chased by Israeli soldiers for people breaking curfew, 3 December 2002

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Curfew Lifted for 4 hours - Day 11 – Monday, 2 December 2002-12-04

Finally, it seems that the Bethlehem area’s house arrest will be lift from 1:00 – 5:00 pm today. After 11 days of being locked up, the opportunity to walk about ‘officially’ is a relief. To walk without looking over one’s shoulder wondering whether the approaching vehicle is a jeep or listening for the sound of an APC or tank around the corner is an odd gift for which to give thanks in these circumstances.

I made my way up to the Cinema and through to Madbassah Square around 9 am. Already, vendors were setting up on the street. They weren’t supposed to be out until 11:00, so I worried that the soldiers would come and chase them away. Luckily for those along Paul VI St., this did not happen. For others, however, going to the Central Market near Deheishe Refugee Camp, tear gas and sound bombs welcomed their attempts to go out early.

As the hour drew near to 1:00 pm, the scene from our offices windows was unimaginable. Cars, trucks, and people jammed every possible open space. Near the end of Ramadan, as people prepare for the Eid, this area is often packed, but today was unlike anything I’ve ever seen here. People coming to the office said it took 20 minutes to walk from the Cinema to us, usually a journey of 4 – 5 minutes - if you walk slowly. Not knowing when curfew would be lifted again, people poured out of nearby villages and from the city areas getting what ever they could. No shekels existed anywhere – not at the banks, not at the money changers, not even in the few ATMs in town. If you don’t have shekels you’re just out of luck.

For the first day since the re-invasion, the majority of the International Center of Bethlehem’s staff was able to gather. Like many other places, we called a meeting to discuss ways in which we can continue our programming, even under these circumstances. For both the Youth Leadership Training Course and the Volunteer Training, we made the decision to try to move to on-line education to allow the courses to continue even under curfew. The energy in the office matched the energy on the street as folks rushed to write articles, to call students, to update the web page, to make 2 or 3 contingency plans for upcoming events. It was an exhaustive few hours.

As dark fell around 5:00 pm, most people were off the streets. When my ICB colleague and I made our way home around 5:45 pm, only a few vendors were still out, putting away their remaining goods. Around 7:00 pm, I heard the first sound of a jeep with a loudspeaker blaring.

Curfew – house arrest - is again in place.

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Lighting a Candle – Day 9 – Saturday, 30 November 2002

As we enter day 9 of the 5th incursion into the Bethlehem area this year, more and more people are breaking curfew and moving around. Certainly, curfew is not being as strictly imposed here as in other Palestinian cities, as the number of tanks, APCs and troops are less than during previous incursions.

On Thursday afternoon, the confusion about whether curfew was lifted or not gave way to pandemonium as people moved out into the streets to find food around 2:00 pm. Suddenly the deserted market area was impassable as people and vehicles jammed the narrow roads. Some brought home-grown produce to sell and all of it was gone in less than an hour. Lines for bread quickly materialized. However, since curfew was not officially lifted, no supply trucks from other towns were let in, so the store shelves quickly emptied. Basically the Israeli army stayed clear, allowing folks to get what they needed. Around 5:30 pm, an hour or so after the vast majority of people had returned home, the jeeps again drove around town announcing that curfew was in place.

Each day there are questions about the ‘rules.’ No one knows what is happening. Today, there have been no soldiers shouting that curfew is in place, although APCs were driving up and down Hebron Rd. and Manger St. all morning. There are certainly more people out today than other days, but the overwhelming majority are clearly staying close to home. It is on days such as these, days of uncertainty about the ‘rules’ in place, in which people have been shot and killed. Can we move? Can we not? Can I walk on my street? Can I walk across town? Each moment an experience of uncertainty and risk!

We have decided to have service here at Christmas Lutheran Church tomorrow regardless of curfew, calling on members to come to worship no matter what the army says. It is important for us to gather for the first Sunday of Advent, to begin a new year of our journey, lighting the first Advent candle even in days of despair and darkness. The promises of this season are what sustain us in times when we cannot see beyond today, even beyond the next hour. We may be few; we may be many. We may gather under the turret of a tank or in empty streets. But, we will do our best to gather, to rejoice in the reality of a God who loved the world so much that a child was born to proclaim a new heaven and a new earth.

May we live trusting in the sureness of God, even when all around us is uncertain.

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Day 7 – House Arrest Continues for Hundreds of Thousands – Thursday, 28 November 2002

On this day, people in the US are celebrating Thanksgiving. One of my favorites hymns on this day is, "We Gather Together to Ask the Lord's Blessing." As we begin day 7 of the curfew in the Bethlehem area, those words have poignant meaning as we are not able to gather together!

Last night around 10 pm an announcement appeared on local TV stations saying that curfew would be lifted today from 1:00 - 5:00 pm for people to be able to restock food. However, by 9:00 am this morning that word had been revoked. Curfew would continue today unabated. For Bethlehem area residents, it is day 7, for Hebronites it is day 11, for those in Nablus it is day 8. Hundreds of thousands of regular folks are locked into their homes, unable to get to doctors, to schools, to work, to shops, to worship.

As I made my way through the empty streets towards the office, though this morning, I noticed that one pharmacy and two grocery stores had cracked their doors. A few minutes later one truck loaded with produce appeared. Those near enough to get safely to the truck and stores are able to get a few things. But, for those in neighborhoods where tanks, APCs and jeeps are present, such movement is not possible. After seven days without being able to shop, everyone is running out of everything.

The young man who runs the store where I go told me that his family is going to open everyday from 9 - 3 regardless of what the army says. "People have to eat. Our dairy products will go bad. So, we're going to keep opening no matter what the curfew situation is until there is no more food available on our shelves." He turned from me and began to call customers to let them know he would be there today and that they should come. Out came their little account book as one person with no money came to get food - "Don't worry, pay later." Khader explained, writing down the family name and the amount owed.

Curfew - house arrest - none of these words really describe the reality of 24 hours/day, day upon day, of everyone being closed in their houses. One man was shot and killed near Bethlehem yesterday as he was riding in a car, breaking curfew. Another woman, prohibited from getting to the baby hospital in Bethlehem, lost her baby. The daily lives of people are completely arrested. And that is just here in our locality. The stories multiply countless times across the West Bank and Gaza.

Yet, even in these situations, I still give thanks to God. Even under curfew, people do gather together to help each other. So, today I lift up people like Khader who are willing to risk their own safety to allow others to get food. I give thanks for doctors who risk getting to their patients when their patients can't get to them. I give thanks for truck drivers who risk being shot to bring necessary produce to people under siege. I give thanks to neighbors who come by my house with fresh fruit from their gardens, because they are afraid I don't have any.

Today, the only Thanksgiving parade I may see will be one of armored vehicles. But, the spirit of God is greater than these things and so, able still to rejoice, I wish you and yours a blessed Thanksgiving!

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Day 5 of the ‘curfew’ – or house arrest – continues in the Bethlehem area – Tuesday, 26 November 2002.

When I left the office yesterday afternoon, many more people were in the market. A couple of the grocery stores and pharmacies had cracked their doors so people could get in to get supplies. I too stopped at the market, but not long after stepping inside, the owner slammed the door shut and shouted the army was coming. So we waited. One of the sons went out to check where the soldiers were. Word was that the army had shot tear gas at people in the market in Beit Jala and were headed our way. Everyone who was out hurriedly finished their shopping. Soldiers were then near the French hospital in Bethlehem. I finally left the market, walking with others down a side street and alley as we made our ways home. For the next hour or so, jeeps drove back and forth while soldiers shouted that curfew was in place.

As I made my way to the church this morning I only passed 3 other people on the street. Within a few minutes of arriving to the office, I could hear the loud speakers on jeeps again shouting that curfew was still being imposed. For the last hour, I’ve heard the announcement again and again. At this point, 3 hours since coming to the office, no one is outside in the market area of Bethlehem.

Curfew is being imposed on the majority of Palestinian cities again. The impact of the on-going siege on Palestinian areas is enormous…

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Day 4- House Arrest – Monday, 25 November 2002

As you most certainly know by now, Israeli forces did re-enter the Bethlehem area early Friday morning. Today is day 4 of the ‘house arrest’ of the whole area and the streets are eerily quiet.

‘Breaking curfew’ this morning to go to work, I passed a few others walking in the streets, a few children riding bikes. As I rounded the corner near Shepherd’s Hotel, there was one truck loaded with vegetables. A dozen or so people gathered around buying potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers and assorted other produce. Among them was Zoughbi Zoughbi. He said, “We’ve been around trying to convince people to come out, to break the curfew. But, few are willing to risk it.” With the numbers of people killed and injured in the northern West Bank in the last week for breaking curfew, I can imagine people are afraid. With any sound of approaching traffic, people walking look nervously over their shoulders. Is it a jeep? Relief is evident when it is only a news van.

As I neared Christmas Lutheran Church, I noticed that the Silesian bakery was open and a large number of people huddled inside trying to get bread. Many people thought the curfew would be lifted today for a few hours to allow grocery stores and bakeries to open. But, such is not the case – at least not yet. After four days, people are running out of supplies, especially vegetables, fruit and bread.

Throughout the last 3 days, approximately 9 homes have been destroyed. I have no idea how many people have been detained. Off and on through the day and night, you can hear explosions as houses are blown up. Other smaller explosions or short rounds of gunfire occasionally go off. Every once in a while you can hear the sound of a high speed bullet whizzing by. Occasionally, helicopters fly overhead or we’re buzzed by F-16 jet fighters. There has been no armed Palestinian resistance in the area.

As across most of the West Bank, Muslims in the area were not able to gather for Friday prayers and are prohibited from gathering for the important evening Ramadan prayers. Families can not gather together to observe the daily breaking of the fast. And one has to wonder whether any one will be able to celebrate the Eid in approximately 12 days. Most Christians also were unable to gather for worship on Sunday. And as Catholics and Evangelicals look towards the beginning of Advent this Sunday, we wonder whether we’ll begin it together in church or not.

Here at the International Center of Bethlehem we were rapidly approaching the inauguration of the new Conference Center, planned for the middle of December. Postponed from May after the 21/2 months of invasion from March-May and more delays from the mid June – September invasion, exciting plans were underway. Now again, construction has halted and we’re left to wonder when we’ll be able to complete the building and continue with our programming. An important International Media Consultation planned for this week to help establish the new Bethlehem Media Center was moved to Jerusalem. While Rev. Raheb was able to get out in order to host the gathering, our coordinator of the Media program, and coordinator of the Consultation, was not.

So, people wait – will their houses be demolished or damaged? Will their neighborhood be surrounded while house-to-house searches are conducted yet again? Yet again, schools, shops, and businesses remained shuttered. Lives are put on hold.

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Waiting in Bethlehem, Thursday, 21 November 2002

Over the last few weeks there has been concern that the Israeli forces were preparing to come back into Bethlehem. There have been a number of occasions when small number of forces has entered different parts of the larger Bethlehem area searching for people, arresting some. Almost every Thursday for the last 5 weeks, Bethlehem has been closed with roadblocks. Some days there have been the big bulldozers or APCs at the main checkpoint. Early Tuesday morning, Israeli forces went into the village of El Khader (just south of Bethlehem) and arrested a man allegedly connected to the Tanzim. Attack helicopters circled overhead for a couple of hours in the early morning and the Bethlehem checkpoint and tunnel road were closed until around 10 am.

When I came home last evening from Jerusalem, my colleague Doug picked me up at the checkpoint. As we drove we were blinded by 2 very bright lights which were perched on top of a vehicle. They were so bright one couldn’t tell what was there. As we made the turn towards Caritas Street, I glanced back and could see 1 APC and what looked like a tank or an APC with two tall chambers on top.

This morning, again in the early hours, Bethlehemites reported that soldiers came into the area just south of Nativity Church and arrested a number of people.

When word came about the bombing in Jerusalem this morning, everyone I ran into said, “Just wait – for sure, they’ll announce he is from Bethlehem. The Israelis have just been waiting for an excuse to come back in.” Sure enough, this was the announcement. The latest report is the bomber was a member of Jihad Islami and had been living in the area of Bethlehem just south of the Church of the Nativity. Whether this report will hold, we don’t know yet.

But, the market area is abuzz. People are rushing to get supplies for their homes. People at work places are backing up files. Others are trying to just plod through their work as if nothing is going on around them. But, the tension is palpable. Many are angry that once again a Palestinian has acted against a bus full of Israelis. Some said to me, “It is as if they are working in collaboration with Israel, giving Sharon excuses to invade towns and villages. Do they not care even for our children? What good will this do? It damages everything.”

The Israeli Cabinet is scheduled to meet at noon today. So, we wait… Will the soldiers come back? If so, when? If so, for how long? And the vicious cycle of violence continues…

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