Wadi Qilt trip, March 2007

Deir St George - a 6th century monastery in the Wadi Qilt near Jericho.

"You look up when you desire to be exalted. But I look down because I am exalted.

Who among you can at the same time laugh and be exalted?

He who walks upon the highest mountains laughs at all tragedies, both real and imagined."

A ha ha ha ha ha

The valley bottom and the monastery gardens

A funky olive tree in the monastery grounds

View from the balcony of the monastery

Bedouin with goats.

Nick strolling along the cliff path, from the monastery to Jericho

Jericho in the distance

Michael - wondering about in the desert, brandishing a guitar. As you do.

Dinner at Abed Nasser's place. Note beautiful t-shirt of Michael - a gift from our hosts.

Manic Dubka dancing with Argillah smoking marathon runners in Jericho

Nick and Michael at St George's Monastery, Wadi Qilt

Gillingham Olive Trees

Um Salamona Protest, Friday March 10th

Building the Wall at Um Salamona

Villagers gather on Friday to pray and protest. Their orchards are being bulldozed and 70 % of their land will be behind the wall, annexed to Efrat settlement

They march the route the wall will take through their lands, before dispersing peacefully. Many families, dependent on agriculture, will be ruined and impoverished.

Second international Olive Tree Planting Day - March 3rd 2007

Report at:

http://www.jai-pal.org/content.php?page=490

The land owner, Johnny Ateek (left) has lost 50 dunums of land since the construction of the fence. 200 of his trees were bulldozed to make way for the fence and military road; many more are now out of reach on the other side.

Nachy and I plant an olive tree

The fence around Har Homa has annexed hundreds of dumums of prime agricultural land and thousands of olive trees. Bethlehem farmers were initially told they would be allowed to access their land via a gate in the fence, but this has not materialized. Instead they are scarcely allowed to approach the fence, even on the land that remains to them.

Abu Gnaim (Har Homa Settlement), and an Israeli Occupation Force Jeep on the military road beside the fence.

Spring flowers and razor wire by the 'Security Fence' on Olive Tree Planting Day

Monkey Mating Rituals

Making a Pie

Pie is tasty
Pie is good
If you don't like Pie
Then you should!