PHOTOGRAPHY | PALESTINE

The Road to Bethlehem

Bethlehem became inaccessible. Christians wishing to reach it from Ramallah were condemned to Wadi an-Nar, or Hellfire Valley, a narrow, dangerous, and accident-prone route that circumvented Jerusalem down the eastern slopes, halfway to the Dead Sea

My Journeys in Palestine: photo essays narrated using quotes from Fugitive Dreams

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Jerusalem from the Monastery of St. Theodosius, east of Bethlehem (Photo by the author, 2017)

In anticipation of Christmas, I am releasing a series of photo essays about Bethlehem. Enjoy this first installment.

Church of the Nativity and Manger square, Bethlehem, Palestine (Photo by the author, 2019)

With (a Jerusalem permit)

“Soon, we found out that Israel bans men younger than 45 years of age from entering Jerusalem before 2 PM on Fridays, the Muslim day of prayer. The soldiers at the second checkpoint refused us entry, but allowed Charlene in. Never mind that my ID said “Christian,” that our final destination was Bethlehem, or that my permit was issued for reason of “Christian religious holiday.” The whims of the person with the rifle override logical arguments.”

Standing in line at the Beit Hanina checkpoint (Photo by the Author, 2004)

“Determined to go, we waited, a line building behind us. Some balked at the line and left with the intention of walking around the checkpoint, perhaps across the fields. Others warned us from following suit, pointing out the Israeli patrols on the side roads. That day, as on nearly every Friday for the last four years, Palestinian Muslims were denied the right to pray in Jerusalem, and, this time, Palestinian Christians were kept from praying, on Good Friday, at the site where Jesus walked the via Dolorosa 2000 years ago.”