The Tzurs knew exactly what they were doing in settling Beit El. Yoel Tzur is one of the managers of Arutz Sheva radio and an administrative head of the yeshiva there, and a reserve major in the Israeli army. In other words, Tzur is one of the field commanders of the Israeli right wing, on the frontline in the fight to create facts on the ground at the expense of the Palestinian population. The Tzurs of the West Bank are virulently opposed to the peace process, although not adverse to using it for political propaganda. Here we go again Meanwhile, in 'Oslo haven of refuge' Ramallah, it's clear that we are not going anywhere as we set out onto the streets.
Exams are on at the moment.
Taxi drivers stand around drinking coffee. Cathi recounts a story of some international students who came up to her on the way to my house, complaining about not being able to get to the university and how worried they were that the road might suddenly open and they might not know. I suspect this is because the lecturers might be able to notice all by themselves that the university campus is like a ghost town, that is is if they even got these and weren't turned back at checkpoints. I don't blame her. She has more to worry about this morning.