December 24, 2002

Curfew Lifted, but Soldiers Stay

[Bethlehem, West Bank] Curfew has been lifted in Bethlehem for a couple of days now. For Christmas, I suppose. I think it would be very bad international press to have Bethlehem under curfew on Christmas day. So it's Christmas, but it doesn't feel much like Christmas. But I think people are in a fairly good mood -- just thankful to be able to leave their homes. It's crazy -- people being happy for just being able to leave their houses and walk the streets of Bethlehem.

Last evening JZ and I went for dinner at "the best chop house in the Middle East" -- Abu Shanab. First time either of us had been there, and it was delicious lamb. After dinner we walked down Manger Street to catch a taxi. I turned the corner of a building, and suddenly an Israeli soldier raised his rifle and pointed it at me. Whoa! I thought the soldiers had left the town, but they hadn't. They were making another of these "pinpoint" operations to catch suspected militants in a furniture store. Caught no one. Curfew is lifted, but the soldiers have stayed.

BBC Report: Israeli Army says no troops will enter Bethlehem this week.