West Bank and Gaza Travel Blogs

Bethlehem
Aug 16, 1975 (23 photos)

For most of the year I lived near the road to Bethlehem. At three kilometers away, it was so close I could see it every day. On Christmas Eve, I made a trip to Bethlehem. Along with thousands of other pilgrims, of course. It's a very popular place ...

Jericho
Sep 16, 1975 (22 photos)

... ? Springs. Underground water supported an oasis out in nowhere. One of the country's top GNP - oranges. Also, tomatoes, cucumbers and olives are abundant here. Tourism is only the 3rd largest revenue producer in Israel. Next, down to the Dead Sea. ...

Soil
Mar 18, 2008 (29 photos)

... side" of the Wall are no longer able to drive on the major highways that cross their land.  Travel between towns in the West Bank, with all its checkpoints, can now take an entire day, when before it only took one hour or so.  Leaving your area ...

Whose Land is This?
Mar 20, 2008 (12 photos)

... --the Patriarchs and Matriarchs.  Jacob was renamed Israel by God, who made covenants with Abraham, Israel, and Moses about occupying the lands west of the River Jordan, Caanan.  These were the three covenants of which the New Mexican settler ...

Jezreel Valley
Jan 15, 1976 (20 photos)

... always been a strategically important region. It marks the intersection of three continents. There are political, economic, military and religious interests in controlling this area. Some of the biggest battles here have occurred in the Jezreel Valley. ...

The Dead Sea
Sep 4, 2005 (5 photos)

... little problem we had and are as a result both feeling much better! Tommorow we leave Jordans capital city of Amman and travel south to Petra. Love you all tons xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxAli and Matt xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Christmas in the Holy Land
Dec 26, 2004 (4 photos)

... Mail: "Israeli police detained nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu at a checkpoint Friday as he tried to travel to the West Bank town of Bethlehem, preventing him from attending midnight mass in the traditional birthplace of Christ, a police spokesman ...

Around the Sea of Galaliee
Oct 5, 2006 (19 photos)

... on them if Jesus so much as sneezed there. The highlights were Mt of Beatitudes (where Jesus chose his disciplines and taught the Beatitudes) This Church was financed by Mussolini which is rather strange but whatever..... Also we went to stairs Jesus ...

Dome of the Rock, Dead Sea, Mt Massada
Oct 8, 2006 (24 photos)

... meeting a bunch of other travelers. We all sat on the patio over looking the Dead Sea swapping travel stories over vodka and lemonade (while Israeli F-16 buzzed over head). Sleep that night was not that easy because we camped in an illegal spot and I ...

The Tabri Sisters
May 11, 2007 (1 photos)

... retired from the Ramallah Friends Boys School (FBS).  Salwa is a pianist who played accompaniment for student products, chapel and chorus.  After teaching a few years, she went to Germany for further musical study. She has MS now and is ...

An Izmekneh Engagement Party
Apr 21, 2007 (8 photos)

... It was something to watch!  The strength and energy of these men to celebrate their joy!   The dancing continued and in between when I danced, I held some young girls and even danced with one!   As the time began winding down, ...

Border crossing
May 29, 2009 (7 photos)

... gate, then the cockroach-infested border control waiting hall in Egypt, when we finally crossed the invisible line into Gaza and were totally and completely embraced by the Gazans with smiles, hugs, cold water, and media attention, I felt the rage. Not ...

End of Israel
Dec 18, 2004 (8 photos)

More pictures from the last leg of our trip.

springtime flowers
Mar 10, 2007 (6 photos)

... stop and catch my breath. Here is the view from the balcony before I go in the front door. So different from the first photo of the snow! I am becoming accustomed to the time change and I am sleeping through the 4 am call to prayer. 

Prayer at the rock and then on to Jericho
Dec 19, 2007

... this for National Security. Some people I met there took me to Ballata which is the most hostile Refugee camp in the West Bank. After walking a few minutes in the main street of the slum they signalled that we should turn back because some people were ...

Goodbye, Gaza
May 31, 2009

... that I haven't had time to digest the past 6 days here. I head to northern Israel, Fureidis, tonight, then cross over to the West Bank on the 2nd or 3rd. I'll talk in more detail about Gaza and the comparison between all three regions then. So when I ...

Carter Book Forum
Mar 7, 2007 (1 photos)

... , at the Friends International Center. Limited quantities of this book are available and yesterday all book warehouses in Jerusalem and the West Bank were empty. Because only a handful of people had read the book, the first speaker outlined the ...

Music Day at Friends Girls School
May 13, 2007 (8 photos)

... Schools.  Here are photos of two different grades that incorporate the special needs students without making any fuss!  And they are enjoying performing!   After 3 hours, the 6th graders sang the finale.  Even though only ...

The book is started!
Apr 23, 2007

... to Jerusalem..... ******* So Enduring Hope, the book, is becoming words on paper. The interviews are continuing as I collect more data and the inspiration for writing is being supplied.  Thanks for all your prayers -- keep them coming! 

Turkish Baths
Mar 25, 2007

... they found out I was from the US they were very interested in me.  Next thing I know, the other group is singing and dancing, Palestinian style, to welcome me. Then they started trying to give everyone a turn - including me having my first lesson in a ...

I Met Peter Yarrow
Mar 26, 2007 (3 photos)

... into the classrooms of America. Working closely with Educators for Social Responsibility, their goal has been to train teachers and administrators to resolve conflict creatively as a way of doing things, not a subject. They are teaching educators to ...

the christmas trip to bethlehem
Dec 25, 2007 (1 photos)

Bethlehem won eternal renown,as the sacred and dear to the hearts of millions of christians, because in here where was Jesus was born in one of the old caves........ to be continued,,,,,,,,,

Friday the 13th
Apr 16, 2007

... nbsp; Imagine what they had in full display in the veggies --- kohlrabi's!  They were also of great interest in my Dad's garden and when they were ready, he would sit outside and peel it with his pocket knife, cutting off pieces for all of us hungry, ...

81 Students Graduate in Ramallah
May 28, 2007 (5 photos)

... , this was graduation!     The smiles were big, the parents and teachers were proud, the joy was mixed with tears as the chapter of their Friends school education concluded and the future opened up before them. Congratulations!

Independence Day in Israel
Apr 24, 2007 (5 photos)

... I'll see them again at Ramallah Friends Meeting!)   Alan had had a hard day because a 15-year-old Palestinian boy in a village just west of Ramallah was killed by the IDF. When I read the news report today, it said he was shot in the stomach and an ...

Bethlehem
Oct 4, 2008 (24 photos)

... to have been born in a manger. Going to Bethlehem means going to Palestine. The little town of Bethlehem is in the West Bank--only a few miles outside of Jerusalem--but on the other side of a high wall. Israel is building a wall--separating ...

Ramallah Friends Meeting
Apr 30, 2007 (6 photos)

... two hymns towards the end and that was very welcome to my spirit as a way to recenter and then go forth.   Derek Lamson from West Hills Friends Church, Northwest Yearly Meeting was there to play his guitar and sing following worship.  He ...

Palestinian Territory
Feb 10, 1998

Jericho

Herodion
May 25, 2008 (7 photos)

... palace and fortress in the Judean hills.  Herodion is well worth a visit, even though it means venturing into the West Bank about seven miles south of Jerusalem.  The site of Herod's palace is one of the many Israeli-controlled holes in ...

Bethlehem
Dec 23, 2007

Bethlehem