Hello Friends and Family,

Yesterday we traveled to Hebron to meet with the Chhristian Peacemaking Teams there.  Some people said we were brave to go, but it was worth the risk.  Hebron is one of the worst areas of conflict, since many settlers (Israelis) have settlements inside the city.  The Israelis here in Hebron are extremists.  This is an important city for both Muslims and Israelis, because it is the site where Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Rachel, Rebecca and Leah are buried, in the Tomb of the Patriarchs.  Also, from where King David ruled before he was able to go to Jerusalem.  It is the second most holy place for Jews.  Most of Hebron was Christian at one time, so it is also important to the Palestinian Christians there. (Arabs coming from Ishmael's line and Christians coming from Jacob's line.) Much of the tension exists because Israelis massacred 16 young men as they were worhipping at the Mosque.  Now the Mosque is split into two, one half Synagogue and one half Mosque.  There are two separate entrances. Hebron is in the West Bank and therefore, Palestinian territory, but occupied by Israel.

The purpose of the Christian Peacekeeping Team is to "maintain a violence-deterring presence between Israeli settlers, soldiers and Palestinians. We have been told by contacts here that our presence on the streets helps to decrease violence.  If harrassment or attacks occur, we intervene when possible, even physically, but always in a nonviolent way.  Some of our ongoing activities include: visits to homes at risk of demolition, school patrol (some Palestinian children must pass through checkpoints and settlements to reach their schools and are harrassed and abused along the way, so the CPT teams accompany them), accompaniment of farmers at planting and the monitoring of Israeli soldiers as they search homes. We photograph and document our activities in hopes of increasing awareness."

Retha, CPTer John Lyons from Britain Yearly                  Two men standing: CPTer Paul Reed from Abany,

Meeting and Allan Dynes from World Vision                    New York Monthy Meeting and John Lyons again.

They were based in a small apartment in the Old City of Hebron with a roof that can look out over the city.

View from the roof top.  When they first put the flag up, soldiers came and ordered them to take it down or they would. 

After taking it down, they waited a few months, put it back up and have not been bothered since.

There is an Israeli settlement above this Palestinian street and the mesh is there because they are constantly being stoned from above. This is in a street in the market.

Walking through the old city.  Care for a slice of meat?  The hooves are still on.  We actually saw a camel hanging from a  hook with the head and neck still attached.  This was on the way out of the city on the bus, and again, the bus driver didn't see the need for stopping so we could take a picture, and it was the best one, yet. We missed the opportunity to gross you out.

This is another member of the CPT team.  She has been in Hebron for 5 months.  The teams member stay for 3 months, go home for 1 month and back again for 3 months at time.  She was in the middle of her second term.  She stated that in this time she has been spit on, tear gased, life threatened by soldiers and settlers, stoned, (we actually had a stone thrown at us by a Palestinian boy), detained for hours, shot with a grenade and generally pushed and shoved.  The second picture is of the street to the left of their apartment exit, which has now been blocked off to a street that can only be used by settlers.

Checkpoints throughout the city and part of the checkpoints as we left Hebron.  Notice the amount of cameras on the tower.

On the way home we stopped at a Hebron glass blowers and ceramic shop.  They had some beautiful things I couldn't resist.

On the way home we saw examples of terrace farming,                This is a picture of the separation wall around Bethlehem we could see from the bus.

which is so common here.

Sorry this day was not as detailed as other days.  You can tell we're getting tired and anxious to see you all.  This morning we went to a Sunrise Service at 5:30am on the Mount of Olives and a Service at 9:30am at the Garden Tomb.  Both were wonderful!!!!  We couldn't believe we were in Jerusalem on Resurrection Day. It is 3:40pm here.  We have experienced our Easter morning and will be speaking to you this evening. Your morning!  There are some pictures on the web page titled, "Resurrection Day" already.  Hopefully some of them can be shown at South Salem Friends during your service.  Bless you all as you celebrate our Risen Lord.

Jeanne and Jim