By Joan Deming

If you are trying to find new insights into the current situation in Israel/Palestine, the following two articles are powerful and exactly on point – at least from our group’s perspective as we travel this land during this critical time.

We have been asking people we meet here, “How do you not lose hope?” Their answers are always similar: “What is the alternative?” We are seeing the results of the loss of hope every day in signs of violence and the aftermath of conflict. Our tour guides and driver have been incredible about moving through hot spots early in the day to avoid trouble. It has worked every time. There is SO much more to this story than our media is letting us see.

The checkpoint where these soldiers were waiting was the site of heavy protest activity later in the day.

Our trip continues to be eye-opening, heart-expanding, wonderful, intense, troubling, reassuring. Later today we will move into Israel, leaving the West Bank behind for this trip. I suspect it will be like moving to a new planet.

The articles for your interest:

“The Third Intifada – Six Things that You Should Know”
October 21, 2015 by Don Liebich , a member of Pilgrims of Ibillin’s Board of Directors
Originally published on Foreign Policy Journal

and

“Palestinian Lives Matter” – A Letter

by Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, Pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem and President of the Diyar Consortium and Bright Stars of Bethlehem.

Dr. Raheb is also one of Pilgrims of Ibillin’s “Peace-Building Partners.”