Sunday 15 February 2015 Walk through the Kidron Valley, lunch in Jericho with Carol and Nabil Jabari

Blaine and I walked down the Kidron Valley.  We started at the bottom of the hill outside the lower gate.

We walked through a cemetery with wild flowers growing profusely,

and an olive orchard.

 

We walked past the Golden Gate which is sealed.  According to all three faiths, it is here that the Messiah will enter Jerusalem.

 The Church of All Nations at the Garden of Gethsemane



South east corner of the city wall, near the Temple Mount



This is the village of Silwan which is mostly on the east side of the Kidron Valley. On the west side is the City of David.  There are burial caves which have been excavated under the neighborhood.  There has been concern by the Palestinians living there that the under cutting of the excavations is compromising the foundations of their homes.

The homes hang on the side of the hill.  Silwan is where we taught English last year.

A Palestinian living at the bottom of the City of David invited us  to visit and have a drink of water. Hospitality is everywhere.

That afternoon we went with Carol and Nabil Jabari to the Lemon Restaurant in Jericho. They have a big brick oven where they baked their bread. 

Carol works at Patients Friends Society at Augusta Victoria Hospital.  It's an educational  program and support service for women who have had cancer.  Nabil is a dentist and the CEO of the board of directors of Hebron University.  He told us about being arrested and put in prison during the 1980's because the IDF suspected him of inspiring terrorism.  He was in prison for 4 months without being charged.  Nabil was handcuffed, blindfolded, given little food, and assaulted by the prison guards.  At one point, one of the prison guards tried to provoke him.  He acted like he couldn't understand or hear him and they left him alone. There was a write-in campaign for his release from embassies, government  officials, and movie stars ( Haley Mills being one of them.)  They finally released him still with no reason given for his arrest.

For dessert they served us fresh fruit which they skillfully prepared.