From one Wall to the other

I landed in Tel Aviv on Sunday evening and spent two days in the Old City of Jerusalem before moving to Bethlehem. It was very special to be back in Jerusalem and to walk the streets of the Old City again; as if our little EAPPI group had left yesterday! The sun was bright and hot, the stones were cool and preserved some shade. Within the Walls, the Old City appears to be a protected space where tourists can wander. Yesterday, I moved to Bethlehem; the idea of moving behind the Separation Wall weighed on me and I experienced a feeling of enclosure right away. I am making plans: when can I return to Jerusalem? And then, of course, I realize that having the freedom of making such a plan is a luxury... I can go back and forth between the Walls! From my terrace, I have a beautiful view of Bethlehem's surroundings; in the distance, I can see the bridge that allows those who can drive back and forth (mostly Israeli settlers) to by-pass the Separation Wall. It will be part of my landscape for the next four weeks, a reminder that bridges don't always unite. However, walls always separate!