As Meryl points out, Israel has eased restrictions on travel to Bethlehem for the Christmas holiday. Fox News just showed a rather nasty report by Laurie Dhue (of all people), announcing that, as the palestinians see it, it's all just "too little, too late." Since Israel does this "easing" thing every year at the considerable peril of her own citizens' life and limb, you'd think a little bit of credit would be forthcoming, especially from the likes of Fox News. No can Dhue.
But here's a little observation of interest. For the last few years, as Yasser Arafat has been unable to attend Midnight Mass in Bethlehem due to his confinement in the Mukata, a keffiyeh-draped empty chair has been prepared for him. That's the kind of thing commonly done to honor a deceased person, and I always thought it was overly dramatic and a little bit odd, but there it was. Now that Arafat is actually and officially dead, though, Arafat's chair will no longer be empty, but will be filled with the ample ass of the current PLO Chairman, Mahmoud Abbas. Read into that whatever you will.
May we see true peace on earth speedily and in our days.
Merry Christmas and
Shabbat Shalom.
