In Israel--Visiting a new Prospective--and Visit to Hebron

On Sunday, Sept 21--the three of us (Clay, Clint, and myself) flew to Tel Aviv and took a sherut to Jerusalem. While the both of them were able to get around a lot to do some filming of the Old City of David, Hezekiah's tunnel, Kidron Valley, Garden of Gesthemmene, Garden Tomb, Western Wall/tunnels, Temple Mount, and the Mount of Olives--I spent a good bit of time with a new person that was interested in the Church of God.

Rahm is a young man that was brought up Jewish, a native Israeli, but has had much experience and study in US/BC issues and Christianity. We spent many hours visiting and talking over the 3 days. One day, Rahm convinced us to take a bus to Hebron. This area is of vital significance, as it is the early HQ of King David. Many of the patriarchs are buried there (and we visited the locations, albeit around barbed wire and with gun-toting Israeli army surrounding us!

Recent HISTORY: On February 25, 1994, Baruch Goldstein, an Israeli physician and resident of Kiryat Arba, opened fire on Muslims at prayer in the Ibrahimi Mosque, killing 29, before the survivors overcame and killed him. This event was condemned by the Israeli Government, and the extreme right-wing Kach party was banned as a result.

Hebron mayor Mustafa Abdel Nabi invited the Christian Peacemaker Teams to assist the local Palestinian community in opposition to what they describe as Israeli military occupation, collective punishment, settler harassment, home demolitions and land confiscation.

An international unarmed observer force—the Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH) was subsequently established to help the normalization of the situation and to maintain a buffer between the Palestinian Arab population of the city and the Jews residing in their enclave in the old city. (we saw the THPH many times...) (this DARK picture I took as we waited for our bus--Israeli soldiers were going out for a "sweep" of Arab neighborhood...)

Anyway, getting back to the recent background--on February 8, 2006, TIPH temporarily left Hebron after attacks on their headquarters by some Palestinians angered by the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy. TIPH came back to Hebron a few months later. In December 2008 Hebron settlers angry at the eviction of occupants from a disputed house rioted, shooting three Palestinians and burning Palestinian homes and olive groves. Video footage of the attacks was recorded, leading to widespread condemnation in Israel. The attacks were characterized as "a pogrom" by then Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who said he was ashamed "as a Jew".

NOTE: This is the political and media view of things recently--not my assessment!; however, the "divide" is palpable as you walk the streets. Area "A" -- Arab/muslim....Area "B/C" mixed and Jewish. All barbed wired and Israeli Military surrounding you. We visited Jesse's tomb high on a hill but had to go through a military outpost to get there. It wasn't orginally on our intinerary--but was a good afternoon having a local/Rahm take us there and see both the conflict and divide--coupled with the patriarch "holy" sites that abound in Hebron.

All in all...a fascinating day and afternoon there. As you can tell, I've included some Misc pics from Jerusalem and Hebron. (this picture of Clint looking through wall in area "C" over barbed wire to area "A" (arab section))

In any event, we had a very productive 3 days in Jerusalem. Visiting with Rahm, and giving Clint and Clay a chance to see some of the more significant sites in and around Jerusalem (and video tape). It’ll be good to be home tonight and see my wife and look forward to the Feast!

~D. Horchak