On the evening of April 3, 2002, US Federal Embassy Security Agents rescued me from Bethlehem. The entire episode felt comical. And it pretty well summed up my impressions of the US’s involvement in the Israel/Palestine conflict. Read more about Rescue from Bethlehem - April 3, 2002 (epilogue) 

The main event in the small world in which we live is the announcement of the temporary lifting of the curfew. On Friday afternoon Mary makes a list of things to buy and we divide the work since we can go out only a few hours and neighbours may pass by for a visit. Read more about 'As though we are slowly dying' 

It is inevitable that children want to go out after being closed up in the house for a whole week, especially with the beautiful spring weather. The birds whistle their inviting songs. Some gardens are explored, hesitatingly. My four year old daughter, Jara, has made contact with the neighbours’ children and wants to play with them. Read more about An unusual siren 

Friday morning, I go out to sniff the air in the garden. Suddenly a group of Israeli soldiers appear and ask whether I am from the University. “No, I am from Holland,” I say illogically, thinking that the word “Holland” helps to keep them out of the house, our main worry. Read more about 'How to find a way of talking to Israelis after all that has happened?' 

It is early in the morning, the third day of the occupation. Should I say: “Good morning” to the family? I take a walk of fifteen meters to peep through a gate. The tank at the university hill is still there. On the roof of a nearby doctor’s home Israeli sharpshooters have taken up position. Read more about 'We have many tanks here. Do you have them, too?' 

The nicest thing about the morning of April 3 was the discovery that electricity existed again. This meant working television. Television meant news. News meant information from outside the confines of the Bethlehem Star Hotel. Read more about The Invasion - Part III 

Two children dragged the broken metal frame of a cart across the road. They arranged it next to a pile of plastic milk crates and some other small pieces of garbage and stone debris. Read more about The Invasion - Part II: April 1-2, 2002