Today is Friday prayers in Bethlehem. Usually, this means that many of the shops owned by Muslims are shuttered. Muslim men flock to the mosques for required prayers at noon. For those who can't attend, sermons blast from loud speakers. Families take the day off to relax and dine together.
But today is not like the many Fridays I have spent in the West Bank. Today, tensions are running high. People are on edge. Instead of meeting in the mosques, men are gathering in the streets and sidewalks for prayer. Rumors of violence are flying.
What is going on?
Last Friday morning, there was an attack on Israeli police who secure the area around Al Aqsa Mosque where the Dome of the Rock is located in Jerusalem. Three Arab Israeli Palestinian assailants and two Arab Israeli police officers were killed in an armed shoot-out. Israel immediately closed this holy compound last week, canceling access for Friday prayers, something that had not happened since 1969.
Initially, the Palestinians were measured in their response. Although there were calls for a day of rage on Wednesday, not much happened in the public sphere. With Palestinian friends, we drove through some of the hots spots in the West Bank - Jenin and Nablus were both calm on Wednesday. And yesterday, a friend guided a political tour of Hebron and all was calm.
But then Israel implemented additional security measures for people entering the site. Without the permission of Jordan, the official custodian of Al Aqsa, Israel installed metal detectors and cameras. Early this morning, and against the advice of their security forces, Israeli government officials decided to make these measures permanent.
Muslim Palestinians see this as the State of Israel encroaching and taking control of their holy area. Because of regular calls from Israel's right-wing to commandeer and install a "third" Jewish temple on this site, this is not far-fetched. Palestinians fear what happened in Hebron will happen in Jerusalem. (google Hebron if you want to know more) This is an explosive issue and any change to the status quo by Israel is perceived as a threat.
Today, throughout the West Bank and Israel, worshippers gathered near the entrances of the Old City of Jerusalem to pray and protest. There were violent clashes not only there but here in Bethlehem as well. Tear gas, stink bombs, and bullets are used to keep the rock-throwing crowds in order.
Of course, all of this is deeply concerning. People all over the city are wondering if this is the beginning of the third intifada, a sustained violent uprising against the Occupation. And if this triggers such a conflict, it will have a brutal physical, social, and fiscal impact on the people here.
Apart from the concern for these this region, I hold a more personal concern for the many friends I have here.
Khalil and his family live in Azza Camp, the smallest and most proximate refugee camp to the Bethlehem protests. He and his wife left town today with their 7-month baby over concerns that breathing the tear gas would have fatal consequences on one so young. Their other children stayed home with the grandparents in a somewhat airtight room in order to limit their exposure. Can you imagine?
Hashem and Alyan, friends of mine in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, have had their shops closed by military order for much of the week. The economic ravages of the conflict impact those who simply want to make enough money to feed their families. They have few alternatives should the situation escalate.
My dear friends in the tour industry, Iyad, Issa, and Elias to name but a few, will be reeling should the violence escalate. Even though tours never go near these types of contained protests, fear will keep many from making pilgrimages here.
That is too bad. Tonight as reports of earlier protests emerge, it is very quiet here in Bethlehem. Charlotte and I had a great dinner and went out for ice cream. We enjoyed the cool evening breeze after sweltering in daytime temps that approached 100 degrees. It really is safe and even serene here. Yes, the larger context is chaotic but the Palestinians and their legendary hospitality bring a resilient joy and warmth to their their interactions with all of us.
None of my dear friends have or will ever contribute to the violence here on the ground. Each person is peace-loving. Each one follows the call to love their enemy. They embrace the best values in their faiths - be it Muslim or Christian. And each one abhors the injustice of the occupation.
This is a place of terrible injustice as well as a wonderful place of peaceful hospitality. It boggles the mind.
No wonder the angels are crying.
My lament continues to decry the suffering. My prayers of praise give shape to hope that this horrible occupation cannot and must not continue.
But today is not like the many Fridays I have spent in the West Bank. Today, tensions are running high. People are on edge. Instead of meeting in the mosques, men are gathering in the streets and sidewalks for prayer. Rumors of violence are flying.
What is going on?
Last Friday morning, there was an attack on Israeli police who secure the area around Al Aqsa Mosque where the Dome of the Rock is located in Jerusalem. Three Arab Israeli Palestinian assailants and two Arab Israeli police officers were killed in an armed shoot-out. Israel immediately closed this holy compound last week, canceling access for Friday prayers, something that had not happened since 1969.
Initially, the Palestinians were measured in their response. Although there were calls for a day of rage on Wednesday, not much happened in the public sphere. With Palestinian friends, we drove through some of the hots spots in the West Bank - Jenin and Nablus were both calm on Wednesday. And yesterday, a friend guided a political tour of Hebron and all was calm.
But then Israel implemented additional security measures for people entering the site. Without the permission of Jordan, the official custodian of Al Aqsa, Israel installed metal detectors and cameras. Early this morning, and against the advice of their security forces, Israeli government officials decided to make these measures permanent.
Muslim Palestinians see this as the State of Israel encroaching and taking control of their holy area. Because of regular calls from Israel's right-wing to commandeer and install a "third" Jewish temple on this site, this is not far-fetched. Palestinians fear what happened in Hebron will happen in Jerusalem. (google Hebron if you want to know more) This is an explosive issue and any change to the status quo by Israel is perceived as a threat.
 |
| Praying outside of the newly installed metal detectors |
Of course, all of this is deeply concerning. People all over the city are wondering if this is the beginning of the third intifada, a sustained violent uprising against the Occupation. And if this triggers such a conflict, it will have a brutal physical, social, and fiscal impact on the people here.
Apart from the concern for these this region, I hold a more personal concern for the many friends I have here.
 |
| Khilil and his baby girl |
Hashem and Alyan, friends of mine in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, have had their shops closed by military order for much of the week. The economic ravages of the conflict impact those who simply want to make enough money to feed their families. They have few alternatives should the situation escalate.
My dear friends in the tour industry, Iyad, Issa, and Elias to name but a few, will be reeling should the violence escalate. Even though tours never go near these types of contained protests, fear will keep many from making pilgrimages here.
That is too bad. Tonight as reports of earlier protests emerge, it is very quiet here in Bethlehem. Charlotte and I had a great dinner and went out for ice cream. We enjoyed the cool evening breeze after sweltering in daytime temps that approached 100 degrees. It really is safe and even serene here. Yes, the larger context is chaotic but the Palestinians and their legendary hospitality bring a resilient joy and warmth to their their interactions with all of us.
 |
| Angels crying - Church of the Holy Sepulchre |
This is a place of terrible injustice as well as a wonderful place of peaceful hospitality. It boggles the mind.
No wonder the angels are crying.
My lament continues to decry the suffering. My prayers of praise give shape to hope that this horrible occupation cannot and must not continue.
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