Hebron

Today we took a field trip to Hebron, where Abraham lived and was buried. This city of roughly 200,000 people, over 90% of whom are Muslim, is in deep conflict because of the impact of 400 Jewish settlers. According to Israeli law, the Palestinian Authority has direct control over the city of Hebron. However, in the past years, Jewish settelers have bought property and are developing Jewish neighborhoods in the midst of old hebron, near the tomb of Abraham. Hebron is the only Palestinian city that has Israeli settlers living in the heart of its built up area, side-by-side with Palestinians.Somehow, the Israeli government hasn't removed the settlers but, instead, is at pains to protect them. There are hundreds of soldiers stationed in Hebron to protect the settlers. The settlers houses rise up and over the old market. In order to protect the people in the market from falling debris thrown by settlers at people in the market, fencing material was stretched from roof top to roof top.

It was distressing to see the level of hostility in Hebron. How could the sitation be allowed to develop?