Submitted by Vic, Dec 29, 2006 03:05

I had no trouble passing into Bethlehem from my home for the previous 4 weeks, the Kings Hotel in Jerusalem. I was in Jerusalem attending a course at yad Vashem. Everyone that attended the course were asked not to pass into the West Bank/Gaza - or not so vocally expressed - visit the Mount of Olives. Though we were treated to many trips thoughout Israel from a kibbutz in the Golan Heights to the treasures of Old Jaffa, which left us with memmories we will treasure forever. Though most of our group were Christian - I assume - no one ever bothered to ask - we were always treated with the same respect and hospitality that one would expect from visiting any other civil and friendly country.

However, the course being over and my partner meeting me in Jerusalem, I felt quite at liberty to visit Bethlehem - the birth place of Jesus Christ (I had no idea King David had been born there also!). And I must say quite unequivocably that it was the most terrifying experience of my life. We passed through the Israeli checkpoint with no trouble at all - they didn't even bother to look at our passports; my partner offered them to the checkpoint guard saying 'Ausies', and the guard just waved his hand saying 'go'.

In retrospect I should have advocated for a return to the other side of the green line once we were pursued and driven-down by a Palestinian taxi driver who screamed at us through his window during the pursuit, "You come with me: better for you, better for me!" Of course the cost of a taxi ride was going to be better for him, but why would it be better for us! - And, yes, that is an expanation mark, not a question mark! To tell the full story I'd need to make this 'comment' into a short story. But surfice to say that it will be a long dark day before I ever pass into the Territories ever again. And it had nothing to do with Israeli obstacles, etc. - I'm still thinking about the Mount of Olives!

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