Everything alright?

Raid on Hizma grocery shop, April 16, 2019

Tuesday morning, I got up with quite bad pain in my joints and I could hardly stand on my legs. A few days before, a client told me about the sudden paralysis of her son, and I wondered if I will be paralyzed too, or simply die. I checked with Dr. Google and found out that there were other options regarding my health state. (My family doctor was not available.)

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.

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

Jabal Al Baba - Not ready for evacuation!

This tragic story is about the Palestinian Bedouin village Arab Al Rass ("Arabs who came from the village Rass"), located on Jabal Al Baba ("Hill of the Father"). 

Jabal Al Baba is home to about 40 families, close to 320 people, mostly children, from the Jahalin Bedouin tribe. The village is built of huts made of aluminum and wood, though in the last years the European Union has provided basic housing structures. Living conditions are poor. Villagers live primarily from their flock of animals. The separation barrier hampers their life severely, but since it is not yet closed, they still have ways to go around. 

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.

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)!

All in the Bedouin family

Though most Israelis would say that I'm crazy going to a Palestinian village, endangering my life, I feel at home in Al-Za'im.


I drove to Al-Za'im for two good reasons. My tire was leaking air and, because of the recent sand storm, I wanted to have my car washed. However, my main motivation was my bad mood; I secretly hoped my visit to the village would elevate it.

The huge metal gate in the concrete wall happened to be open, and - for me - it was easy to cross the soldiers at guard. At the entrance of the village, I passed the petrol station of Ahmad's brother. The petrol station is not functioning, since the brother is in administrative detention for almost half a year. The family was recently informed that he'll remain in jail for another half a year. The idea of administrative detention is just incredible. One night he was taken away from his bed, without any charges, and just disappeared behind locks. (My efforts to do anything about it were of no avail.)

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.

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"