www.brightonpalestine.org

As a newby to Palestine (and indeed the Middle East) I have to admit I didn’t know what to expect. People back at home had painted a fairly grim picture, several people being convinced I would be shot, cavity searched or just not allowed into the country. But it really wasn’t that bad. I passed through the airport with ease and my journey commenced. From the bus to Jerusalem I saw the first rolling hills and oddly shaped settlements. As I said, I didn’t know what to expect, but I was taken aback by the beauty of the landscape. The experiences continued with my entry into Jerusalem. The atmosphere is truly exceptional; so lively and bustling. It was clear from the outset that the military are a huge presence and that you can never really escape them but to a certain extent you can get used to them (although as a westerner it is a whole different ball game). In the evening we walked around the winding streets of the old city. It was only a brief expedition but we still saw all the shops and people that made the area so full of life. (more…)

As hordes of tourists flocked to the holy sites of Jerusalem to carry Palm leaves through the Old City hundreds of Palestinian Christians were prevented from passing through the Bethlehem terminal.

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Thousands of Palestinians were detained at Qalandiya checkpoint yesterday as they tried to reach Al-Aqsa mosque to pray.

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