A different kind of commute.

Driving home through the shtachim (territories) from Jerusalem tonight was an eerie experience. Usually I like to look out at the hills, or notice the lights, or, in daylight, watch the Arab residents traveling along the highway, in ‘their’ cabs, with ‘their’ license plates. I like to imagine sometimes the only reason we don’t mingle with them on the morning commute is because of the language barrier.

But after a terrorist attack in Jerusalem, it’s a lot different. Army trucks patrolling; I spotted a new one every kilometer or so. Husan, a village with a bit of a notorious reputation, was completely dark, shut in. The machsom – or checkpoint – was buzzing with hard-helmeted boys and a long, slow line into Jerusalem, every car being reviewed, fancy or not.

There are things I am more afraid of these days than rocks or bullets hitting the panels of my car. The things I fear include my offspring and visions of bleak futures.

In that, I know that if we tried – language barrier or not – the Arab people and my own would unilaterally agree.


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  1. thejook Avatar
    thejook

    I don’t often get random Skype spam, but today I did. And I found it especially disturbing (SkypeSturbing?). I dunno. I tried opening a dialog, because I *really* was curious:

    hamasa71
    10:30 PM
    Israel death
    Jook
    10:30 PM
    hi!
    Jook
    10:30 PM
    Israel death
    Jook
    10:30 PM
    can I help you?

    Nothing. Weeid. But I couldn’t close the window.

    Jook

Whadya got: