Battir’s footpath runs by an elegant 2000-year old Roman stone pool, fed by an aqueduct from one of three village water springs not yet blocked by Israel. The hillside terraces stepping down to the tracks are lush with gardens. But across the tracks, the villagers can get spring water only from an old, rusting pipe they aren’t allowed to repair, limiting their agricultural success.
Read MoreWe’ve been in Palestine for a week now. Every day has brought new people and experiences but at the same time, much that is not new. This is my fourth trip to Palestine, and I still find the preceding statement to hold true but reinforced with each trip. Two qualities of the Palestinian people which particularly impress me is the quality of “sumud”, meaning “stalwart” or “steadfast”.
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