Dome of the Rock, Al-Aqsa Mosque, Temple Mount - A Picture Journal

Having had been here for over a year, I decided that it was time to go to the most important religious sight in Jerusalem, the Temple Mount area, on which is located the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque. This is a place holy to three religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. It is the sight of Judaism's first two temples, a place that Jesus frequented during his ministry, the place where Abraham sacrificed Isaac (for Christians and Jews) and Ishmael (from Muslims), and the place where Mohammad ascended to heaven. It has become a place of much tension within the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Despite the controversy, I found myself in awe of the peacefulness and holiness of the place.

The Western Wall
The Western Wall where Jews gather to pray.

Al-Aqsa Mosque

We are not allowed inside, but Muslims from Jerusalem enter these doors daily to pray.



The Dome of the Rock

First view of the Dome of the Rock.

I love the way the clouds look in this one.

Proof that I was there

Beautiful Calligraphy and Tile Work!

Sitting back and enjoying the view.

Surrounding Islamic Architecture




The local community gathers to Picnic and Play
East Jerusalem does not have many parks. It was wonderful to see that there was some place to go where people could enjoy themselves and relax.

Israeli Activists at Sheikh Jarrah

Last Friday afternoon, February 12, I attended for the first time a weekly protest that is now taking place in Sheikh Jarrah.

Sheikh Jarrah is a neighborhood located in East Jerusalem that is under threat by Israeli settlers. In 1956, 28 Palestinian refugee families were given homes in this area in Jerusalem (then under Jordanian rule), agreeing to give up their status as refugees. Since the 1970's, a group of Sephardic Jews has been trying to take over this area. This settlement activity has resulted in the evictions of four families in the past year.

Normally, these evicitions are forced and unexpected. The home of the Al-Hanun family evicted last November was stormed by settlers in the middle of the night. They and many of their belongings were thrown out onto the streets. A family of settlers then moved in and the Al-Hanun was forced to sleep outside on their lawn. This was the fourth eviction that happened in a years time.


Police gather to keep protestors from entering disputed territory.

After the eviction of the Al-Hanun family, weekly protests began. These protests are organized by a coalition of Israeli Peace Activist organizations. In the beginning, each protest began with a march from West Jerusalem to the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. For many weeks, the protestors were met with force by police and many were arrested. At times over 700 people, mostly Israelis have been present at these weekly protests.


The leaders of the group play rhythms and chants.

Last week, when I went, the protest was relatively calm. The Israeli court determined that these protests are legal, so police can no longer arrest the protestors. Activits are no longer allowed near the home of the settlers, but gather in a small park near the Sheikh Jarrah area.



Settlements in Sheikh Jarrah and other areas of East Jerusalem undermine diplomatic efforts to come to a peaceful resolution to the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. The Israeli government claims that they are interested in discussing peace, but continues to create facts on the ground that inhibit a lasting peace that will be agreed to on both sides. Settlements in East Jerusalem seek to increase the Jewish presence in this side of Jerusalem, which hinders a final status solution in Jerusalem which divides it so that it the capital for both nations in a Two-State solution.


This sign is so true. Only will Israel be completely safe and at peace, if Palestine is free from oppression.


Protesting settler violence and extremism on the Israeli side that moves Israel and Palestine further away from a peaceful resolution.

Early that day, I attended the weekly Women in Black demonstration, a group of Israeli women that meet every week to protest the occupation. Some weeks I have gone to this demonstration and received no reaction to the protest. This week, there were many people who shouted, made angry faces, thumbs down, shook their fists, and flicked us off. I asked my roommate, who is Jewish and familiar with Israeli society, why we received these angry reactions. Was it because they thought we were lying or because they didn't like to be reminded about the bad things their government is doing about which they are trying to forget? She said it was neither of these. It was because people thought anybody who protested the occupation are anti-Patriotic and against the government of Israel.


A large crowd has gathered and many people hold up signs protesting the occupation and violence in Sheikh Jarrah.

While some Israeli activists are anarchists, many protest against the occupation and settler violence as a way to be patriotic. They believe that for the security of Israel, the occupation needs to end, the government needs to stop oppressing the Palestinian people. Many want their country to live up to its words and be a state of justice, rather than oppression and war.


Police blocked off the road to the disputed houses. Settlers gather nearby.


It was very encouraging for me to see so many Israelis gathered to speak out against the injustices of their government. They may have been their for many reasons, but it was great to see that some seek to do something against the actions with which they don't agree, instead of staying silent and trying to forget or ignore. I again asked my roommate why there was such a good turnout for this protest, as it was one of the largest amounts of people I have seen at a protest since I have been here. She said it was because Sheikh Jarrah was one of the facts that finally began to wake Israelis up. The normal excuse of security cannot be used here. Evicting families out of their homes in the middle of the night in an area that is not even behind the wall in the West Bank cannot be hidden under the guise of security.

For more information on Sheikh Jarrah, read these articles:
Eviction in Sheikh Jarrah
Why are Israelis demonstrating in Sheikh Jarrah?
The legal battle over Palestinian ownership in Sheikh Jarrah

Why should the Palestinian/Israeli conflict matter to us?

One time I was talking with my brother and he said to me: "Bethany, the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is just so far away." Even when I was back in the US over Christmas break, I could feel just how far away this issue is from everyday life. I got used to the rythm of visiting friends, reading, cross-country skiing, with few reminders about the checkpoints, wall, and difficulties of living in Bethlehem.

With the Palestinian/Israeli conflict so far away, why should we in the US care? The US government gave $2.75 billion dollars in military aid to Israel for the year 2010. President Obama has just included a record amount of $3 billion dollars in military aid for Israel in is FY2011 budget. This is all a part of the $30 billion dollars that was promised to Israel last year for the next 10 years. The USA is already dealing with many issues that are straining us for money health care issues, education issues, and housing issues, which is all excentuated by the economic crisis. If only we could use some of the military aid we give to Israel, which often goes to human rights violations of the Israeli army and frees up money that Israel can spend on expanding illegal settlements in the West Bank and build the serperation wall through Palestinian land, we could fund many critical needs in the USA.

The US Campaign to End the Occupation is an organization in the States that deals with the issue of stopping military aid to Israel, or at least limiting it and making sure it goes to the appropriate places. They have come up with a new website that tells how much military aid will come from YOUR state and YOUR county and go to Israel between 2009 and 2018. They have also detailed what else could have been done with this money. The following information is for Minnesota and Martin County. To checkout other places in the USA, please click HERE. For more info from the US Campaign, click HERE.

Minnesota

Military Aid to Israel, Total FY2009-2018: $886,428,240.21
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This money could have been spent instead to:
Provide 10,763 households per year w/affordable housing grants OR

Provide 14,715 job seekers per year w/green jobs training OR

Provide 26,210 children per year w/ earlyreading education OR
Provide 717,872 people per year w/primary health care.


Martin County, Minnesota

Military Aid to Israel, Total FY2009-2018: $1,981,592.90
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This money could have been spent instead to:
Provide 24 households per year w/affordable housing grants OR

Provide 33 job seekers per year w/green jobs training OR

Provide 59 children per year w/ earlyreading education OR
Provide 1,605 people per year w/primary health care.

Tell your Members of Congress to spend your tax dollars wisely by clicking here.

Supermarket and Snow - A Little Excitement

When living in Palestine, things are very different than they are from the USA and Minnesota. Mostly I have gotten used to the differences, but every once in a while, reminders of home and things out of the ordinary in Bethlehem offer a little bit of excitement.

Last week I went to a new grocery story that opened up in Bethlehem. Most grocery stores in Palestine are small markets. There is a fruit market, a meat market, a spice market, and the small corner store where you go to get dry goods. Sometimes one corner store will have one thing you want and a different store another thing you want. There are certain stores that cater to Westerners as well, so they will have comfort foods such as peanut butter, oatmeal, mac & cheese, taco shells and spice. I have gotten used to know which store has certain things that I want and making several stops throughout the week to get different items.

If I go into West Jerusalem or Israel, I can find supermarkets that are near to what I would find in the USA and with more options. Every once in a while, I'll go to these stores to get special things.

Well...

Recently, JUMBO opened up in Bethlehem. It is the closest thing to an American supermarket to be found on this side of the wall. It has isles, dry goods, toiletries, fruit, spices, meat, fish, cheese, and housewares. Following are some pictures of my first visit to JUMBO.






It was quite exciting to get a small taste of the US. Although, I do not know if I will continue going, since I've gotten used to going to specific stores for specific items.

Today, we also had snow in Bethlehem. It was nothing compared to Minnesota. In fact, it was actually small pellets of hail, which landed for about 1 hour. Most of the ground wasn't covered, but here's a picture of a bit that collected on a roof.



It wasn't much, but it got everybody running through the pellets yelling: "talj, talj" - meaning "snow, snow" - and added a little bit of excitement to everybody's day.