september journey

September journey part 22: Future tense

Staying on the move in Israel and the Palestinian territories through a month of trial. And today: a special farewell double-feature with lots and lots of photos from a really cool town! Jerusalem is eerie this morning. The two days of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year, are to be followed immediately by shabbos. I…

By Yuval Ben-Ami September 30, 2011

September journey part 21: Biblical hummus

Staying on the move in Israel and the Palestinian territories through a month of trial. And today: heading north, “for terror from the north will boil out on the people of this land.” (Jeremiah,1:14) There’s a town in northern Israel \ with dreams, comfort, memory to spare \ and in my mind I still need…

By Yuval Ben-Ami September 29, 2011

September journey part 20: To walk away from Omelas

Staying on the move in Israel and the Palestinian territories through a month of trial. And today: almost arrested again, this time for reporting to the police station as told. Morning has broken. turning on the computer I find that the incredible Charlotte Gremmen translated another portion of this travelogue into Dutch. She does this…

By Yuval Ben-Ami September 26, 2011

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September journey part 19: Travels in disharmony

Staying on the move in Israel and the Palestinian territories through a month of trial. And today: from the family home to Hamas valley. Saturday begins with a visit to my folks. They live in an outlaying eastern suburb of Tel Aviv named Ganei Tikva. From their 13th floor window a huge chunk of central…

By Yuval Ben-Ami September 25, 2011

September journey part 18: The drinking game

Staying on the move in Israel and the Palestinian territories (and beyond) through a month of trial. And today: Spanish sojourn ends. Autumn begins. Take a bunch of secular Israelis on a trip to a land exploding with pork products, and you’re going to witness some excitement. Here is Maoz showing off the chorizo rojo…

By Yuval Ben-Ami September 23, 2011

September journey part 17: Deja vu

Staying on the move in Israel and the Palestinian territories (and beyond) through a month of trial. And today: the Spanish excursion becomes trying for the heart. A short walk from Atocha station to the hotel, upon returning from Cordoba to Madrid, serves to show just how close to home this place is. On the…

By Yuval Ben-Ami September 21, 2011

Second September journey interlude: A serious prayer

Staying on the move in Israel and the Palestinian territories (and beyond) through a month of trial. And today: wishing for peace. Today is September 20th: the famous date on which the Palestinian statehood bid was supposed to move into full gear, stirring violence in its wake. In action, very little happened. The Palestinians are…

By Yuval Ben-Ami September 20, 2011

September journey part 16: Hierosolyma est perdita

Staying on the road in Israel and the Palestinian territories (and beyond) through a month of trial. And today: Mi casa, su casa I came to Spain to look for my country, and am beginning the trip by looking for my suitcase, lost at the airport. The lost luggage personnel frown at the mention of…

By Yuval Ben-Ami September 19, 2011

September journey part 15: A confidence problem

Staying on the road in Israel and the Palestinian territories through a month of trial. And today from the Moshav’s green glens to arid Castillia la Mancha. Two interesting invitations arrived over the past few days. One is to the police station in Hebron, where I am to be interrogated about the events described in…

By Yuval Ben-Ami September 19, 2011

September journey part 14: Who runs the show?

Staying on the move in Israel and the Palestinian territories through a month of trial. And today: reflections on a troubling billboard. Friday is Ruthie’s birthday. We’re having a picnic with friends at Jaffa’s “crest” park. The view of Tel-Aviv and the sea from here is spectacular, and the guilt factor limited. While it’s true…

By Yuval Ben-Ami September 17, 2011

September journey part 13: Where the heart is

Staying on the move in Israel and the Palestinian territories through a month of trial. And today: trying to relax. The arrivals hall at Ben-Gurion airport is overwhelmingly spacious. Stone columns rise over 20 meters to support its ceiling, a ceiling that is beautifully littered with helium balloons that were released by people awating their loved…

By Yuval Ben-Ami September 17, 2011

September journey part 12: The wasteland

Staying on the move in Israel and the Palestinian Territories through a month of trial. And today: both tents and prejudice come in different shapes and sizes. When Tine and I got arrested by the Palestinian Police, we were trying to find a way to leave the West Bank and reach the city of Beer…

By Yuval Ben-Ami September 13, 2011

September journey part 11: Day of arrest ends

Staying on the move in Israel and the Palestinian Territories through a month of trial. Well, trying to, but being held in custody. Start here if you wish to see how the trouble began. Sitting in the back of the Palestinian police’s pick up van as we rattled up hill on the gravel path, sandwiched…

By Yuval Ben-Ami September 11, 2011