Mohammed with the two houses

This is my friend Mohammed. He has half an eye, one wife, two houses and three children. Mohammed is a Palestinian man, 38 years old. He makes his living from a garbage dump on the outskirts of the Palestinian town 'Anata.

Mohammed and sons in front of their house, 'Anata, April 2018

Yasser and his razor knife

I'm not a masochist, but I don’t have a problem with Yasser stroking my neck with a razor knife. Yasser has a barber shop in that area of Jerusalem, which is just behind the wall. This is on walking distance from my home; for me it’s easy to get there, and his price is far below what I would have paid elsewhere.

Ten years wait for US visa

Ahmad is waiting for almost a decade to join his wife and children in the US. This does neither coincide with US law, which gives special consideration to immediate relatives of US citizens, nor with the understanding that there is no waiting list for immigrants who are immediate relatives.

Where is Ma'ale Eizariya?

Ma’ale Adumim is a city with a population of over 40.000 inhabitants. It is a commuter town for Jerusalem and the third-largest Israeli settlement in the West Bank.

Last week, the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee discussed annexing Ma’ale Adumim to the State of Israel (see also: Bennett vows to pursue Ma’ale Adumim annexation this month). Annexation of Ma’ale Adumim would strengthen the occupation of Palestinian lands. Moreover, plans to connect Ma’ale Adumim to Jerusalem create a barrier between the northern and southern parts of the West Bank, and complicate traveling and transport by Palestinians even more.

Ali Baba and his four daughters

My good friend Ali studies for a Masters degree in English translation at the AlQuds University in Abu Dis, a suburb of Jerusalem. At the same time, he makes a living as a building contractor in Israel. He is a bright, ambitious and lovable guy. However, that’s not the whole story…

Ali is learning to believe in himself. June, 2016

Checkpoint bluff

Israeli army checkpoints are present on all roads around Jerusalem leading to or through the Palestinian Authority. They are the official and regulated holes in the wall separating between “us” and “them.”

Can it keep out danger? Checkpoint near Jerusalem, Nov. 2015

It's not that I'm a traitor

Recently, I posted on Facebook info on a campaign against Israeli police violence, including this picture. I considered that almost anyone would be able to support this call. However, only three of my Jewish Israeli friends "liked" it.

Ethiopian protest against police violence. Tel Aviv, May 2015 (Activestills)

Hizma - Example of oppression

The Palestinian village Hizma, where I have several friends, is the location of many of the events in my posts. Though yesterday there was a bomb attack at its entrance in which an Israeli army officer was seriously wounded, it's mostly a quiet village. 

On this Day of Remembrance, I want to tell you a bit more about Hizma; a village suffering badly from the occupation. With the imposed hardships, it is not surprising that anti-Israeli sentiment is on the rise, in this village like in many others.

Gone with the phone...

A few months passed since my last post. It's not that I didn't have anything to write; things were too delicate to share. However, here I have a story I can tell you...


My car was in the "Bedouin Garage" - this time not since it needed repair, but because I came to fetch something from Ali, the garage manager. He hadn't arrived yet and in the meantime I went to buy some vegetables next door. For some reason, I left the car open; something I usually don't do, but the car was at the entrance of the garage, surrounded by people I knew and I considered it pretty safe. On exit of the greengrocery - just minutes later - I saw a small crowd near my car. I hadn't even realized that I left my telephone inside; now it was gone. I couldn't believe it. Someone stole my phone from within the garage.

An old Palestinian lady

This wasn't behind the wall - the old Palestinian lady was walking in front of the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem, while Ahmad and I were having coffee. Ahmad spotted her from far in the crowd, because she looked tiny and ancient, somewhat bent, leaning on a broken stick. What struck me most at that point was her beautifully embroidered dress.

Still Tense?

A friend and colleague asked why I used the phrase "still tense" when referring to the situation in Jerusalem, mentioning that she doesn't see an indication of improvement. Another friend told me that "tense" is an understatement, adding that the situation is "crazy".

They are both right. Although I have a couple of other posts ready to be published, I felt I cannot simply pass by the present political state without addressing it directly. This crazy state, though not called "war", certainly feels like war. Moreover, there is no real sign of improvement.

The occupation continues to take its heavy toll. I cannot put it strong enough: Though on the Palestinian side, aggression is essentially the consequence of oppression; on the Israeli/Jewish side, aggression is fueled by fear (and not by reason)!

Support by friends

This wasn't my week...

The situation in Israel/Palestinian Authority is terribly tense between Arabs and Jews, everywhere, but especially in and around Jerusalem. Stone throwing, riots, violent attacks, destroyed property, wounded people and occasional deaths occur on a daily base. The neighborhood I live in, French Hill, is in the North of Jerusalem, just near the separation wall. It is inhabited mostly by Jews, but also Muslims and Christians live there. French Hill is surrounded by three Arab neighborhoods, Issawiya, Shuafat & Beth Hanina. As a result, violence is for me on walking distance, and police and soldiers are all over, even in the air. It's awfully depressing.

The village Al-Za'im

Close to Jerusalem, along the highway to the Israeli settlement of Ma'ale Adumim and the Dead Sea, one can find the Palestinian village Al-Za'im.

In previous posts I have mentioned that I visited Ahmad's village. So, let me tell you somewhat more about the village itself.

Getting arrested as a normal thing

Tuesday afternoon. It's close to 40° C (over 100° F) and I feel a flu is coming up. Ahmad calls to tell he got arrested at the Qalandia checkpoint.

I immediately send a fax about his mental state to the police, in the hope this will get him out. However, the next day he's not yet released and my feeling of helplessness increases. I find out that he was moved to the Russian Compound in Jerusalem; a place where Palestinians are often treated harshly, and sometimes even tortured. After some investigation, I get hold of the name of the lawyer provided to him by the Public Defense, who tells me that Ahmad is charged with driving a car without an Israeli driving licence, use of drugs, impostering and entering Israel. My heart drops. The lawyer informs me that he will not continue with the case and it's unclear who will take over. The next morning Ahmad was supposed to take a couple of American visitors to a tour of Bedouin life, both to share the hardships about life in the West Bank and make a little money. I cancel the tour last minute and also rearrange the hours of my clients.

Ramadan Kareem!

Coming out of my meeting with a client, I see three unanswered calls from my Palestinian Bedouin friend Ahmad, so I return his calls. He says "I'm opening the restaurant today, and I need some money to buy food for the guests"