By Bill Aldrich

Hebron’s permanently closed shops. This was formerly a gold and silver market.

Arriving in Hebron early, we walked through the souk and witnessed the permanently closed shops and wires strung above the street over some of the open shops to prevent settlers from throwing objects down into the street, both the result of having settlers actually living in the city itself, a unique aspect of the Occupation that is in Hebron. We visited the Moslem and Jewish sides of the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs.

Our group and another from Colorado in the Ibrahimi Mosque, Hebron

The soldiers were friendlier than several members of our group remembered from a previous visit, and a settler stopped to ask a shop keeper a question. Two welcome signs. We left Hebron quickly in order to avoid a planned demonstration later in the day, stopping only to briefly visit a glass-blowing and ceramic factory.

After lunch at the International Center, we listened to a presentation about Diyar Consortium, a partner organization of Pilgrims of Ibillin, which works to empower people of all ages to “have life and have it abundantly.” After that we went to see a wine shop in the Cremisan Monastery. The road to the monastery provided a panoramic view of the Cremisan Valley, much of which is being taken from the Palestinians and being annexed to Jerusalem. We walked on a short section of the path where the barrier that is being constructed will run.

Witnessing the future route of the Wall through the Cremisan Valley

The last stop of the day was at the Palestine Museum of Natural History that is promoting an awareness of the natural history of Palestine. Upon returning to the hotel, we were greeted by small amounts of tear gas that were drifting from a demonstration that was distant out of sight, our guide being excellent at avoiding demonstrations. And so ended our day.

Painting of The Last Supper, gracing the restaurant at The International Center – the Diyar Consortium’s guesthouse.