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10th of March-West Bank rural area

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Israel has closed i ts borders to incoming flights because of the Virus. I leave to go home tomorrow, 6 days early. Today my notes will come from my tour guide, who is a Palestinian living in Israel, he has residency, but not citizenship. There were four of us who were touring with Mohammad, who drove and provided us information. Those Palestinians who lived in Israeli territory before 1948 have full citizenship including the right to vote. Those Palestinians who live in East Jerusalem are under civil law so have residency, but not citizenship; they pay taxes but can't vote. Those Palestinians who live in the West Bank or Gaza Strip have no legal rights, limited movement, but pay taxes.  Just as a reminder: The Oslo II Accord, which was never a signed agreement divided the Israeli-occupied West Bank  into three administrative divisions:  Areas A, B and  C . The distinct areas were given different statuses, according to their governance pending a final status acc...
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March 9-East Jerusalem

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My multi-day tour of 8 days was to begin today; however, with the virus restrictions, Green Olive Tours had to make some changes in the itinerary. Since Friday, the Israeli government closed down the West Bank. Essentially nobody within the towns and cities of the West Bank can leave their town/city limits.   Today began with an explanation of the Palestinian -  Israeli Conflict/ Situation.  There were 8 tourists and we traveled in a small van from location to location. We had a driver who probably was Palestinian with Israeli work permit (I am speculating; we just were introduced to me simply by his name.) The following is information from my notes from our Israeli Jewish tour guide with Green Olives Tours and supplemented from the information that is distributed in the booklet produced by Green Olives Tours. Israel is homeland of two national movements. Before WWI, it was a Syrian/Damascus province of the Ottoman Empire. With the Ottoman picking the wrong side...
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March 8: West Mediterranean Sea Coastline of Israel-

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The Mediterranean Sea Acre (Akko): Important walled port city with continuous settlement from Phoenician period. The Crusader town remains 1104-1291 with intact layout of medieval Crusader Kingdon of Jerusalem. The present town is a fortified Otoman town 18-19 Century. Large Palestinian population from Otoman time Pope Urban II is credited with beginning the Crusades around 1095 where at the Council of Clermont, he rallied the nobles and bishops from Italy, Burgundy, and France to take back the Holy Land. The first crusade failed but the 2nd Crusade with knights and peasants sacked Constantinople and caught Muslems by surprise. They made it to Jerusalem and gathered outside Mountain of Happiness.  Akko was in the next wave and was captured by the Crusaders. Jews and Moslems were massacred. The Muslems regrouped under Saladan and retook Jerusalem and coastal cities except Akko.   Al-Jazzar Mosque , which is known in Arabic as  Jama El-Basha, ...
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March 7 Nazareth and Sea of Galilee

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I began early morning looking out my hotel's sitting room window at Nazareth. We began in Nazareth at the Basilica of Annunication.  The first church was established during the Byzantine times, probably around the year 427. One of the entry door panels. On the lower level is the Mary’s cave, the cave in which, according to the Catholic-Christian tradition, Mary was visited by Archangel Gabriel and told her she is destined to carry Jesus in her womb. The cave is located in the center of the lower floor The main church where mass was occurring.   Mosaic painting by the Italian painter Salvador Puma, describing Jesus, Virgin Mary and St. Peter. The lower level is also where the remains of previous churches are preserved. The stone wall along the church and behind the cave has remained from the Crusader-era church from the 12th century. Excavations have revealed some Crusader-era artifacts.   We then w...
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