Went today on an exploratory trip to Dheisheh Refugee Camp, which is on the edge of Bethlehem (birthplace of Jesus) and only 10 kilometers from Jerusalem, where I live. Short trip into the West Bank, but worlds apart. The usual downer through the checkpoint, in this case a whole warehouse, but almost no human authorities visible, all hiding behind one way glass or peering thru security cameras.

Hung across the main entrance to the camp, the usual proud banners, but look closely at the one they had up today. Anniversary of the death of the hero on the right, humiliation of the villain on the upper left.

Later, coming back thru the checkpoint, passed crowds of Palestinian day workers coming back to Bethlehem, being grilled by the guards behind glass. Me, I just had to flash my U.S. passport, didn’t even ask me to open it, and I strolled through …God Bless America.