I'll start out today by telling you I got "Conned" out of a few shekels today. I'll tell you how and where a little later...

We started out the day with a visit to West Jerusalem and the offices of "B'tselem"

The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, where Ronen Shimoni, the Data Department Manager told us about how this Israeli organization works to document human rights abuses and then hold Israeli officials accountable for investigating and prosecuting these violations, which include everything from harassment to imprisonment and even to murder. He admits however to limited success in part because there is little motivation for the military or the police to investigate themselves or each other.

Once again we heard stories about how the "Separation Wall" (which you can see from miles away if you have the right view by the way) is impacting the lives of Palestinians and how the occupation is grinding them down and is a violation of International Law. B'tselem bases it's work on International Law and uses that framework to measure the violations that go on constantly nearly unabated.

I learned some things today that really caught my attention and I think they might interest you as well.

First, there are many Israelis that are against the occupation and are actively working against it! Something that isn't often reported in the US.

These people are often risking their freedom, their livelihoods and perhaps even their lives struggling against their own government and a majority of their own people to stand up for the rights and freedom of the Palestinians.

Perhaps there is much more debate regarding these issues in Israel then there is (or maybe even allowed...) in the United States. But here are some things that you might not know...

Construction on the Separation (or as it is sometimes called) the Suppression Wall has stopped.

Why?

Because the Israeli government says that it has run out of funding for it. This wall that was allegedly so critically needed to keep the people of Israel safe from "Terrorists" is sitting with huge gaps in it and at least for now it isn't going to be finished.

Ronen Shimoni saves that he believes the Israeli military has taken the money after complaining that the reason it failed in it's war against Hezbollah in Lebanon is that it was under funded and so now it needs the money and "The Wall" can wait.

Shimoni and others say that the occupation is destroying Israel as well. He works weekends as an EMT and tells us of the drug abuse, domestic violence, homelessness, cuts in education and social services that he sees taking place, not for Palestinians, but for Israelis!

We learned about government corruption, officials charged with stealing, misappropriation of funds, sexual harassment and even rape. And we learned of a public that is so overwhelmed that all it wants to do is shop and watch TV, while ignoring the occupation and it's other social ills.

Sound familiar?

Here's some of what Ronen Shimoni had to say... click here to meet Ronen Shimoni, Data Department Manager of The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories about how this Israeli organization works to document human rights abuses and then hold Israeli officials accountable for investigating and prosecuting these violations.

Oh did I mention that the high school teachers have been on strike for three months?

One begins to think if this society is going down this fast, how much longer can it last!

I'm not an expert in Israeli history, but I have been studying it quite a bit lately and it seems that this society has moved very quickly from the principles on which it was founded.

We then went to the Old City of Jerusalem (and yes this is were I got conned!) We started out in the Muslim Quarter of this city that is holy to the three great monotheistic religions of Islam, Judaism and Christianity.

For Islam it is home to "The Dome of the Rock" where Muhammad ascended into heaven as well as the Al Aqsa Masjid.

Here's a picture of the Dome of the Rock
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It is the site of the Via Dolorosa upon which Jesus carried the cross after being condemned to death leading to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, built upon the site of Golgotha where Jesus was crucified.

Here is the alter built over the site of the crucifixion.

And last but not least the holiest site for followers of Judaism, The Western or Wailing Wall.

But even in the Holy City the occupation continues.

This is a picture of a Jewish settlement in the Muslim Quarter of the City
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We also went to the Burg Al Luq Luq Social Center located in the Muslim Quarter and heard the story of how the center was nearly confiscated by the Israelis, but survived.

The Burg Al Luq Luq Social Center
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The center now tries to provide facilities for the quarter's children to have a place to get educated and also get help with the damaging effects of the occupation and the disintegration of Palestinian society. The Burg Al Luq Luq Social Center remains under a demolition order as does at least one of the houses next door.

The Old City is home to perhaps 35,000 people which includes people living in near hiding because they don't have the appropriate identification papers to live there or to travel between various areas in the country and the occupied territories.

Here are a few of the pictures I took in the Old City of Jerusalem throughout the day....
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Finally I went to the Wailing Wall...

I put on a Yamuka so I would be allowed to approach the Wall of the Old Temple. I was invited to come into an inner chamber by one of the Rabbis, told to take pictures and look at old manuscripts.

The Western or Wailing Wall
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While there, I was informed that one of the Rabbis wanted to bless me and my family even though I wasn't a Jew. Before I knew it the Rabbi was praying for me and I thought, "Wow I'm at the holiest site in all Judaism and a Rabbi is praying for me!" This of course while the other one was telling me how great America was and that they just loved George Bush and Condoleezza Rice.

After it was all said and done the Rabbi's partner hit me up for cash! I gave them three and a half Shekels and walked away from the Wailing Wall saying "I know some professional street panhandlers and carnie workers that could take a few lessons from these guys!"

As comedian Will Durst says: "You can't make this S*#T up!!!

Tomorrow we're off to the West bank to visit Hebron and stay one night with some local families and then one night in one of the Palestinian refugee camps.

From Jerusalem and the Old City
(a few Shekels lighter)
I'm Mike Thornton