Our final visit in the Jordan Valley

Our final visit of the day was to a very isolated community. We left the road and drove up a rocky track to arrive at a camp with two tented families. The families live in tents because they are not permitted to erect a building. 

Rashid took us to this small building and sat down. We knew that there was a story here and so we listened. This is the new school! Rashid and other JVS supporters have erected this building using mud bricks, timber and plastic sheets.

The children of this community have to travel many miles to get to school. The school bus stops on the road up the steep hillside from the camp. The bus is not allowed to wait if the children are late, and the families are wary about the children waiting on the road with settlers passing by. There are 50-70 children who would use this tiny building as their school. 

The problem is that, until the school is finished, it is at risk of being demolished. Rashid told us that the Israeli military knew that about the building. As this is an isolated area, we asked how they knew. He pointed to a hilltop and a mast, with a camera. All areas are watched by the Israeli military. The delivery of the building supplies was a complex logistical exercise to avoid them being confiscated.

As Abu Mohammad brought out the tea, I began to understand how Jesus and his disciples managed to travel around the land. Hospitality is universal. Abu Mohammad told us his story. He moved here from the Southern hills of Hebron following harsh treatment from the military there. He keeps sheep and goats in partnership with his neighbour, but life is proving difficult. 

There is no water supply or electricity. Abu Mohammad has to buy the water and needs two tanks per week (cost £24). He has experienced rocket attacks when grazing sheep and tells us that the military is now using wild animals and birds of prey to attack the sheep. In winter the ground is waterlogged and no-one can leave the site. Water and animal food is brought by tractor (at extra cost). 

The day draws to an end, and we leave these communities to return to Bethlehem. We thanked Rashid and Adrielle for all they had told us about this area. 

With so many hardships, it would be easy to be angry. Yet we see no anger, just resolution to stay in this land. Adrielle told us that she had never seen anyone even throw a stone. Now we understand the headline we saw as we arrived at "To exist is to resist". It has been a privilege to travel the road with these brave people.

I have often heard it said that there are always two stories. After what I have heard today, it is difficult to find another valid story. People in the settlements live a wonderful life at minimal cost to them, but the State not only subsidises them, but pays the moral cost of discrimination, apartheid and ethnic cleansing. Maybe the cost is not so low after all.  

Visiting a community in the Jordan Valley

Rashid and Adrielle took us to visit two small communities to the north. As we drove, Rashid explained.

There are few roads in the Jordan Valley. Highway 90 goes down the middle and is the arterial road. Access to all the villages and settlements is via this road. There are a few roads which climb up through the mountain to the West Bank cities (Ramallah, Nablus etc). There are 5 checkpoints, plus the entry point to the West bank on highway 90. With the strategic closing of minor roads (by tipping a load of rocks in the road) Israeli controls all movement in and out of the Jordan Valley.

Treatment is random and unpredictable at the checkpoints. Palestinian trucks loaded with produce may be delayed, or asked to unload the whole vehicle (for checking) before being allowed to pass. Trucks carrying building supplies can be stopped and confiscated. We were initially refused entry at one of these checkpoints - in a hired Israeli vehicle. After waiting for 20 minutes we were allowed to pass. Rashid and Adrielle were held for 3 hours on their previous occasion (and for no reason other than "security").

We saw several roads and miles of ditches, all designed to isolate the Jordan Valley from the rest of the West Bank. 

Some roads are in a poor state. Rashid told us that they are "not allowed" to repair the Palestinian roads.   

We passed a Mosque - Rashid told us that the military has cleared the people from the village as it has been designated a military zone. The military are using the Mosque as their office.

We stopped by the roadside and called in to see this delightful family. We sat and listened to their story, while they served us with coffee, then tea, then cold drinks

The family have no electricity and no water. At the back of their house is a large Israeli well pumping water out of their land to the settlements. They have 10 goats and 2 sheep - the children took great delight in showing us the animals.

Unfortunately, this is not sufficient to keep the family, so two of the women work in the settlement picking fruits and vegetables. The work is hard and not reliable as they work as and when required. They get paid £13 each for a full days work. The Israeli court has ruled that the settlements must pay a minimum of £4 per hour, but they don't. 

And finally, we were invited to stay for lunch. We were embarrassed to receive so much from this family that had so little, but Rashid told us it would not be considered polite to refuse, so we gratefully accepted. They brought a huge plate of chicken and stuffed vine leaves that were delicious. We ate while the women and children watched; we wondered if we were eating their meal.

Finally, after lots of shaking hands and thanks, we were back on the road. I have never experienced such grace and generosity anywhere We were strangers on the road, and they gave their very best to us.

May God bless this lovely family.

"The Jordan valley is the key to the peace"

Rashid said "The Jordan Valley is the key to the peace"

I asked him to explain this statement. The Jordan Valley is the only international connection of the West Bank. Palestinians are not permitted to use Ben Gurion airport. If they wish to fly, they must first obtain a permit from the israeli government, and then must travel out of the West Bank across the Allenby Bridge checkpoint to Jordan to fly out of Amman. 

If Israel retains the Jordan Valley, then all entry and exit to Palestine will be controlled by Israel, just as is the case for Gaza. All exports, all imports will be controlled by Israel. Israel will be able to slowly strangle Palestine, just as it is doing with Gaza. Of course, Palestinians can choose to leave, but they can never choose to return, as Israel does not permit this. 

Then I understood what Rashid meant.

Incredible day in the Jordan Valley

Fasiyil Community

We spent six hours with Jordan Valley Solidarity (JVS) learning about the issues in this part of the West Bank. 

The Jordan Valley is an area 75 miles long by 9 miles wide, fringed by the River Jordan to the east and the mountains to the west. It constitutes 30% of the area of the West Bank and is extremely fertile. 

Jericho is in Area A, which means it is administered by the Palestinian Authority. Most of the remainder of the Jordan Valley (88%) is designated Area C, which means that it comes under full Israeli Military control. 95% of this area is not accessible to Palestinians - 49% of which has been declared "State Land", 46% closed military area, and 20% nature reserve. Some land is taken directly, some is fenced off as a military area for 3 years, and then confiscated as it has not been cultivated (under Ottoman Law). Nature reserves can be reclassified as State land when required. 

Jordan Valley Solidarity

We met JVS at Fasiyil, which is just north of Jericho. Their HQ is the oldest house in the village being over 80 years old. This is important as it helps to refute the Israeli claim that this is Jewish land to which the Palestinians have recently moved.

Rashid

Rashid is a passionate Palestinian. His family was displaced - like many Palestinian families they moved into the city and now live in Tubas. 

Adrielle is Brazilian. She is spending some time here providing practical help and support to the Palestinians. They both told us the story of the people here.

Adrielle

There are around 60,000 Palestinians living in the Jordan Valley. The vast majority live in Jericho. Around 10,000 live in 20 scattered communities through the area. 

Around 10,000 Settlers live in 39 agricultural settlements, on the land taken from the Palestinians. The vast areas of crops require water. Israel extracts water from the River Jordan and from deep wells which have been dug all over the Jordan valley - 28 out of the total of 42 Israeli wells are in the Jordan Valley. The volume of water in the River Jordan is now reduced to a muddy stream, being only 2% of the flow in 1945, due to extraction by Israel and Jordan. This means that the settlements have 45 million cubic metres of water per annum. 

Palestinians living in the few Area A villages receive piped water - just 64 litres per person per day. You can see their crops dying in the fields for lack of water. A few communities survive as they have long-standing wells.

Palestinians who live in area C do not get piped water. They have to buy water in tanks like this, which hold 3 cubic metres,  at £4 per cubic metre - an average family with a few animals requires 2 tanks per week - £24. It is too expensive to water crops with this water. The Israelis sometimes turn up and confiscate these water tanks. 

The Israeli wells are 700 metres deep. The JVS well is 60 metres deep and has run dry because of the water extraction. JVS has approval to deepen the well to 150 metres and we watched the work - they do not know yet if they will find water at this depth.

Mud bricks

All Palestinian buildings in Area C are deemed illegal and therefore subject to demolition. Part of JVS's work is to assist Palestinians to rebuild their homes when this happens. The Red Cross has, until recently, provided tents, but the military returns and confiscates these, so they have, for the time being, stopped providing tents. 

JVS is using the sustainable technique of making bricks from mud and straw. They are using these to build new structures. These are illegal without a building permit. No Palestinian gets a building permit. Israelis do not need a building permit. 

Fasiyil School

This amazing building is a school, built using mud bricks. The small communities lacked schools and so the children faced long journeys (25 kilometres) to and from school. JVS  has built this school in Fasiyil. Under the Oslo Accord, the Israeli military cannot demolish an operational school, so these are vitally important for the community. JVS has also built a health centre using the same technique of mud bricks. 

After a look around the village, we set off to visit a couple of the communities in the Jordan Valley. 

Tear gas in the apartment today

Lots of military activity in the street outside. A tear gas canister just hit the blind and filled the bedroom with gas. Everyone carries on as if this happens all the time (because it does). One international (American lecturer) arrived and took refuge here, but has gone now. Another has his own gas mask so is out on the street taking photos. 

The wall starts coming down

On Thursday night, young people in the Aida Camp drilled a small hole through the wall. Yesterday Israel retaliated by entering the camp last night with a huge force of soldiers firing tear gas into houses and in the street. Several people were injured and one international photographer was hit in the head by a rubber  bullet. One of the internationals in our house has just left to visit her in hospital. 

As they gaze at the beautiful Bethlehem land on the far side of the wall, these young people dream that one day they will have the freedom to escape this prison. The fulfilment of this dream lies with the international community. While it stays silent, the injustice will continue. 

The cry "Let my people go" echoes a Jewish cry of long ago, but today it is not the Egyptians who are the oppressors. 

Travels in the Galilee

We set off from Ibillin this morning and headed east for Tiberias. We were pleased to see our hotel as we arrived in Tiberias around 45 minutes later. Then we turned north alongside the Sea of Galilee. 

We called in to see the boat which was found exposed when the lake was at a very low level. It has been beautifully restored. Then we drove up to the Church of the Beatitudes and sat on the hillside overlooking the lake to read the sermon on the mount. We all enjoyed the moment thinking about Jesus teaching here over 2000 years ago. Not much has changed in this area since then. 

Onwards again to see Capernaum, the town where Jesus spent the early part of his ministry. This is nicely presented as an excavated site showing the synagogue and Simon's house. 

Marianne and Lloyd paused for a paddle in the Lake at the Church of Simon Primacy, where Jesus forgave Peter and commissioned him to lead the Church.

Then we drove back to Tiberius and settled in to the hotel. After a short respite we were off into the centre of Tiberius to have a meal. We had a lovely meal together.

Back at the hotel we are still working on the arrangements for tomorrow. We are expecting to meet Adrielle, a Brasilian lady, who will show us around the Jordan Valley. 

Future plans

I started to panic this afternoon as we had no accommodation and no confirmation of our plan for Friday. The hotels in the Galilee area are extremely busy and most were completely full. After a lot of work on the internet and telephone calls, we have booked into a hotel in Tiberias, in a good location. 

Tomorrow we will leave after breakfast to visit the Galilee. It is about 40 minutes drive from here. We hope to visit Capernaum and take a boat out on the Sea of Galilee. Weather looks good, so excited about that. 

On Friday we are planning to join with Jordan Valley Solidarity for a guided tour of the Jordan Valley. This is the main focus of the trip for me. We are still waiting for confirmation of that tour, but God has not let me down so far, so trust that he is working on this. I have the Holy Land Trust working on it as a back-up.

Meeting some great people

In the morning, we were fortunate to join a group from the US who were visiting the school and had arranged to meet Elias Chacour.

When we got back from the talk, another group was just arriving and they came and had lunch in the guest house where we are staying. In the afternoon they had a tour of the school and returned for the evening meal. We joined them for both meals. 

As they had been unable to visit a class, the school had arranged for some of the senior pupils to come along and share the meal and conversation with us. The photo is of Lama, Noor and Rema. All the young people were charming, full of life and wonderful advocates for the work of this school. They are Israeli citizens, and either Muslim or Christian. Life is OK for them and they have great aspirations for the future. Elias was certainly right when he said that the future of the Palestinians is in the hands of the young people, and today I feel more hopeful. These young people are proud to be Palestinian and have something to be proud about.  

Meeting Elias Chacour

I think Elias Chacour is one of the wisest people I have ever met. He spoke to us this morning and I was spellbound by this amazing man. He is a wonderful example of how to behave amidst this difficult conflict. I will always treasure my visit here.

He said so much that I want to capture. I will try to share some of the key points. 

He said that it is not wise to be in a hurry to give answers. "When you have been here a few weeks, you feel that you want to write a book, and after being here a few months you feel you should write something and after a few years, you no longer know what to write." I am finding this to be so true.

Elias told us he is full of contradictions. He is proud to be a Palestinian. He is an Arab. He is a Christian - now Archbishop of all Galilee for the Melkite Church (but has his retirement party today.) He is an israeli citizen. He had learned 11 languages and said that now he just tries not to forget what he knows. How is it that such great men are so humble and modest?

He told us that we should not come to tell the Jews, Muslims and Christians how to live together. They know how to do that, and have done that for thousands of years. The past 67 years are the exception and we just need to return to the situation we knew before.

He is a living example here. The school he founded has 2,300 pupils and draws pupils from all over Israel and Palestine - even to the Negev in the far south. The children are Muslims and Christians. They had Jewish Children as well until the state required the school (as for all Jewish Schools) to have pre-army training. The school refused and so they were not permitted to have Jewish pupils. They do have Jewish teachers though, and organise summer camps for Jewish, Muslim and Christian young people.

Elias told us how he came to Ibillin. He was ordained in 1965 at the age of 24. He was assigned to Ibillin. He had been given an elderly VW and set off for the village. He missed it and arrived at the Sea of Galilee many miles away. He turned round and finally found it, late at night, near Haifa on the west coast. At that time movement was restricted, there were no proper roads, no electricity and no water in the village. He knew that the priest would have a house and asked where his house was - there was no house, no bedroom, no toilet, nothing. So he lived in the VW for 6 months! His Bishop forgot him and he was there for 38 years, until called by Pope Paul II to become the Archbishop. 

This is a young community - 50% of the people are under 14. Elias realised that he needed to focus on the children. He arranged summer camps. In 1981, the movement restrictions were lifted and 5,000 children signed up for the summer camp. He did not know how to feed them, so prayed for a miracle. Then he realised that every children has a mother and he visited every one of the 30 villages to organise the mothers. 300 mothers came every day to feed the children and he had his miracle. 

The elderly in the village told him they needed a school. So he started building one. He could not get a building permit and the police came and told him "you need a building permit to build a  school". He replied, "no, I don't. I need sand and cement." He was summoned to court 37 times, but still he continued. The school started with 80 pupils and 4 teachers. The child were taught in the morning  and helped build the school in the afternoon. In 2,000 they had 4,500 pupils from 73 towns and villages. The school covers primary, junior and secondary teaching. 

He was trying to build a further building and had been waiting 6 years. he had spoken to everyone, but none could help. So he flew to America and called on James Baker, Secretary of State, at home. Susan Baker answered the door and asked him if he had an appointment. "No," he said, "We don't do appointments, just appearances!" He was given a drink before being asked to leave, when Susan told him she was expected a group of ladies for a Bible study. Elias asked what they were studying and she told him the Beatitudes. He told her that this was written by a neighbour of his and asked how she would understand what he meant when she did not come from Palestine. He was invited in and talked to the group. So started a friendship. He returned to Palestine without mentioning the building permit. Susan Baker contacted him and they prayed regularly together over Skype - as he put it, they spoke to God on the telephone. Then he rang the Bakers and said he needed help over the building permit. James Baker flew to Israel and petitioned the Prime Minister - Elias got his building permit the next week. 

Elias told us that, if we wanted to take sides, please not to bother, because Israel and Palestine do not need any more enemies. First and foremost we are not born Jewish, Muslim, Christian - we were all born equal, as babies. We need to continue to treat all with equality, dignity and respect and to support the people of Israel/Palestine in finding their common future. 

The population of Israel/Palestine

On February 2nd, the day before I arrived (but probably not connected), the Palestinian Authority announced that religion was being removed from the Green ID card carried by all Palestinians. The decision has raised various reactions, some in favour as being non-discriminatory, others fearing that this is connected with the peace negotiations and the possibility of Jews living in Palestine legally.

One of the questions asked of Palestinian Christians at the Conference last week was "When did you become a Christian". They normally looked puzzled at the this question. Religion is still assigned at birth - mainly Muslim, Christian or Jew. 

Of course, the Christians have been here from the beginning of the Church. In 1922, there were just under 760,000 people living in Mandate Palestine (i.e. present Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories combined). 78% were Muslim, 11% Jewish and 10% Christian. The UK Government completely ignored these people and gave away their land. Quoting from Sir Anthony Nutting on the  Balfour Project website:-

‘The weak point of our position’, Balfour wrote to Lloyd George in February 1919, ‘is of course that in the case of Palestine we deliberately and rightly decline to accept the principle of self-determination’.[14] If the existing population were consulted, he added, they would ‘unquestionably’ return an anti-Zionist verdict. And in reply to Curzon, Balfour stated quite categorically that

‘in Palestine we do not propose even to go through the form of consulting the wishes of the present inhabitants of the country …. The Four Great Powers are committed to Zionism. And Zionism, be it right or wrong, good or bad, is rooted in age-long traditions, in present needs, in future hopes, of far profounder import than the desires and prejudices of the 700,000 Arabs who now inhabit that ancient land’.

By 1945, this had risen to 1.76 million people (60% Muslim, 31% Jewish, 8% Christian). There were 34,000 Christians around Haifa (where I am now), comprising around 47% of the population. 24% of the people in Nazareth were Christians. 

And now there are 8 million people in the State of Israel, of which around 20% are arabs - those who were here gained citizenship in 1967. Those out of the country have never been allowed back. The population has grown enormously. Towards the end of the British Mandate, the Palestinians were offered the West Bank and refused to accept it. Looking back, this seems strange, as it now looks like a good offer. However, the arab perspective was that they were the majority and owned the majority of the land - why should they accept only 43% of the land. They were slow to realise or anticipate the huge immigration of Jews that would reverse the ethnic population shares, or the strength of international support for the Jews. 

Here in northern Israel, there are no walls, no checkpoints and life appears relatively normal, certainly compared with the tensions in the West Bank. Jews, Muslims and Christians all live here. The school here was 50% Christian 50% Muslim, but is now 75% Muslim, 25% Christian. This reflects the simple fact that Muslims tend to have many more children than the Christians. Of course, the story here is probably more complicated, as it always is. 

Thank you and goodbye!

I am hugely grateful to the people who have set aside time to read my blog and to grapple with the issues it raises, especially to those in my family, whose support means everything to me. 

If you are a regular reader, you will understand that I intend to take this blog off the air early next week. So do not be surprised if you find it has disappeared. I will reinstate it when I get home. I guess that you will understand the reason for this - if not have a word with Tracy about my preparations for coming home.

Still some exciting stuff to report and I am still happy to answer any questions by email, or via this blog. Also happy to meet up with anyone who would to talk through some of the issues with me when I am back. For me the trip is coming to an end, but the real work is just starting. 

Looking forward to seeing all my friends and family on my return. 

In the Galilee

Elias Chacour is well known in the UK for his book "Blood Brothers". I have travelled here to Ibillin to see the work of Chacour in creating educational facilities for Christians and Muslims. 

It took us 3.5 hours to drive from Bethlehem to Ibillin, which is near Haifa in the North of Israel. We are staying in the Pilgrims of Ibillin Guest house on the top floor of the building in the photo. 

I should not rave about personal comforts but I have a lovely quiet room with a heater, an en-suite bathroom, hot water, a shower, a desk, and wifi - heaven. We are here for two nights and will then visit some of the sights in Galilee before going into the Jordan Valley on Friday - more about that in due course.

Tomorrow we hope to here the story from Elias Chacour himself - looking forward to that. 

Link between Peace Talks and the Jordan Valley

The Palestinians have asked Israel to vacate the Jordan Valley, as part of the peace talks.

Netanyahu has refused, saying the the Jordan Valley is a key security area. It grows nice dates too! If it is so important for security, how come Israel populates the area with settlers who grow fruit and vegetables. The Jordan Valley serves to deny Israel's case for security.

The Israeli export income from the Jordan Valley fell by 14% ($29 million) in 2013, due to the International Boycott Campaign. The Co-op has joined this by boycotting all Israeli Goods produced in the Settlements. The head of the (Israeli) Jordan Valley Regional Council said that they are no longer, in effect, selling produce to Western Europe. It is having a significant effect. 

Kerry has threatened a harsher boycott if the peace talks fail.  

Another amazing event

I have spoken several times in this blog about times when I feel that God is close. Another such time occurred today. 

Yesterday I was thinking about possible new stories which I might tell when I return. I know something of the situation in the Jordan Valley and decided that this would be a good story to tell. However, I have only passed through on the coach (last year) and have taken no relevant photos. Then I realised that Lloyd and Marianne are going to Galilee over the next couple of days. I wondered whether I might ask them to stop and take some photos for me.

This is why the Jordan Valley is important to Israel and to Palestine

The Jordan Valley

The Jordan Valley is in the West Bank and thus part of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. It lies between the River Jordan to the East and the mountains to the West, and between Lake Galilee to the North and the Dead Sea to the south. Is is over 300 metres below sea level, is very fertile and has a warm climate. It has the best agricultural land in the West Bank. However... 

Quote from Jordan Valley Solidarity
"Benyamin Netanyahu, 2001: “Nobody said what defined military zones were. Defined military zones are security zones; as far as I am concerned, the entire Jordan Valley is a defined military zone.” (1)

In total, 95% of the land in the Jordan Valley is off-limits to Palestinians: 50% is controlled by Israel’s illegal settlements, and the other 45% is military bases, ‘closed military zones’ and ‘nature reserves’ (areas controlled by the occupation, that Palestinians are refused access to). This matrix of oppression suffocates Palestinian life in the Valley and stifles traditional forms of subsistence farming and grazing undertaken by the Bedouin throughout history.

Today, out of the blue, Lloyd and Marianne called in to the office for a chat, and told me that they plan to visit some of the Palestinian villages and Bedouins in the Jordan, and would I like to come! I was really emotional as it seems that God is guiding me every step along the way he has chosen for me. I have been so blessed to have found such good friends here. So I leave with them tomorrow for a 2-3 day trip.

After visiting I'Blin, we will visit the Galilee and then come back down through the Jordan Valley. We need some help with the visit, as the Palestinian villages are not easy to get too (with roadblocks and settlements) so we are trying to arrange for a guide to show us around. I am waiting to hear the details. Another opportunity for me to trust in God that he will sort this out for us.

Back to work today

I am delighted to say that I am much better today and so was able to go along to the Holy Land Trust as was my previous routine. 

Mahmoud Abbas with Barack Obama

I was expecting to visit a family who are threatened with demolition of their house. However, the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, is in America today for probably the most important meeting of his life. People here were out on the streets for a big rally to support him and to encourage him to stand firm under the huge pressure being exerted by the Israelis (and the Americans too). Please think of him carrying the burden of responsibility for the future of his people and pray for him, if you feel able.

Cali's parents arrived today to join her for a while. If you are a regular reader you will know that Cali has been a good companion to me on several trips, including the one to Tel Aviv. The family are from Canada and it was lovely to meet her parents, here for the first time. They know the story through Skype, but are now here to see it first hand. Super that they have come to support Cali.

I have arranged to visit the settler I met on Wed 26th. I will have to drive to the settlement, but will probably not be allowed in, so he will need to collect me. We have spoken this afternoon and he seems to be going to a lot of trouble for me, so am very grateful.

Elias Chacour

Lloyd and Marianne, from Seattle, who I have made friends with, today invited me to join them on a trip to Galilee for a few days. As this was not in the specification, I had to consult the management, and am pleased to announce that I am allowed to go. We will be visiting I'biln, the village of Elias Chacour - for those who have read his book Blood Brothers. If you haven't, it is in the Church Library (and Tracy has a copy) so you might like to read it before I come home and ask questions. Will write more about the story as I hear it. 

Quote from Aljazeera on marriage restrictions

By Tania de Ildefonso Ocampos

Tania de Ildefonso Ocampos is a Spanish journalist based in Tel Aviv who specialises in the Arab-Israeli conflict, along with Israeli history and politics.
Published: 6th May 2013

On April 29 [2013], the non-profit organisation Hiddush - Freedom of Religion for Israel, which advocates religious freedom and equality in Israel, released a comparative online world map that examines the current status of freedom of marriage in 194 countries. The study, which is the first-of-its-kind, revealed that "although Israel is a democratic and liberal state, it ranks among some of the most fundamentalist countries in the Islamic world on this issue". 

The countries examined are graded on a scale of 0-2, based on the degree to which freedom of marriage is guaranteed to the given country's citizens. The study shows that only in 93 (48 percent) of the countries in question there is complete or almost complete freedom of marriage (grade 2). There are partial restrictions on freedom of marriage (grade 1) in 56 (29 percent) of the countries and in 45 (23 percent) - including Israel - there are severe restrictions on freedom of marriage (grade 0). From those 45 countries where there are severe restrictions on freedom of marriage, 33 are Islamic countries.

According to the study, "Israel is the only Western democracy in the world that received the lowest grade. Its restrictions on marriage places Israel, in this regard, alongside its neighbouring Muslim countries: Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia (...)." North Korea, an officially atheist country in which inter-class marriage is forbidden, received the same grade as Israel: a zero.

Lovely video made by Holy Land Trust

Listen to Sami Awad talking about peace - it lifted my heart.