Ramallah ->El Bira ->7th century A.D. synagogue ->Jericho

October 7, 2011

This morning we drove to Ramallah to view this city’s new housing developments and visit the grave of and memorial to Yasser Arafat at the Palestine National Authority Presidential headquaters. From the Arafat memorial (guarded by soldiers) we could see the building (and room) where Arafat was during the building’s siege. 

A’be gave us a very full and helpful explanation of Palestinian history esp. in modern times, explaining that the PLO (begun by Arafat and friends) began in the early 1960s (1964) and exists still today, representing or working on behalf of Palestinians who live all over the world.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine_Liberation_Organization. The PA (Palestine National Authority), formed in 1994 as the PA (Palestinian Authority), represents and acts on behalf of the Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_National_Authority and http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Palestinian_National_Authority.htm. 

See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasser_Arafat

Next to the memorial compound we visited a large square around which are flagpoles and flags of the many countries that have stated their support of Palestine’s bid for U.N. recognition as a state. While still in an early stage of development, the square with the many flags blowing in the light breeze is impressive. See also the State of Palestine.

On the way to Ramallah we went through El Bira, an older and smaller city. We also went to an old synagogue near Jericho, discovered about 20 years ago when a family was excavating to build their house. From the 7th century A.D., the synagogue has a mosaic on the floor that is beautiful with interesting and colorful (blue and red and white) geometric, etc. designs. Steve and I both took photos. A few designs were “hearts” and others with a “menorah” in the mosaic’s center.

After eating lunch in Temptation Restaurant (a buffet style and very good food) in Jericho, we then saw a short film re Ain-es-Sultan, then visited the archeological site quickly because the temperature was very hot. (This is also the site of Elisha’s Spring.)

 From there we drove on a very short way to Hisham’s Palace, an amazing Islamic site built in the 8th century A.D. and destroyed by an earthquake in 747, only about 40 years after it was completed. The Caliph never even saw it finished! Saw a short film about this site before driving toward the hotel, via short stops at the Sycamore tree (Zacheus) and central market in Jericho (bustling and with signs and peaceful demonstrators supporting the Palestinian bid for state status in the U.N.

Hisham's Palace: Tree of Life mosaic

Conversation topics along the way during our travels this day:

• Israel settlements in former Palestinian land.
• Bedouins who were displaced from Petra (?) in Jordan or Trans Jordan will get moved again.
• PLO and PA
• The Wall
• Areas A, B, and C, and check points
• The Oslo accord that should have resulted in a Palestinian State in (year?)
• All the garbage in Palestinian cities. Why and what is being done? What could be done? Why this has happened?
• “Pilgrims” and what they prefer to see.
• What OAT travelers see and why.

Other notes for 10/7/11:

·       Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish quoted at Arafat’s memorial

Ramallah, city center

·       Palestinian soldiers at Arafat memorial

·       Guards (three, one of whom followed us around and who was a guard at Arafat’s funeral)

·       At old Jericho synagogue there were Israeli (?) soldiers/guards to unlock the door and make sure we didn’t do anything wrong.

·       Old print of a painting by Sliman Monsur, "The Camel of Heavy Burdens" (correct translation from the artist's Arabic title (or “Carry On,” the title superimposed by the publisher) in the Temptation Restaurant in Jericho.

   Palestinian Key – symbolizing the keys to houses from which Palestinians were driven, indicating their desire and intention to return to their property (whether or not the house building remained).









Back to the hotel by 4:50 p.m., to relax before 7:00 p.m. supper. We were all tired, mainly because it was so hot today. Evelyn planned to do some laps in the pool before dinner.