Savonarola

Ramone explains a Roman settlement in Israel.

I'm getting questions about the photo ..

I took a trip to Israel on September 11, 2001.
The Twin Towers had been attacked when I landed in
Telivi .. I asked Ramone at the airport what had happened.
He said "Your country is under attack."
I queried, "Russians?"
Ramone smiled, "No. Moslems attacked the Twin Towers."
Ramone led me to a white mini tour bus and asked if I would
like to continue with the tour. I did.
He explained that he and his driver were Palestinian Catholics,
and did not support the "Moslem attack."
There was a large KEY TOUR sign on either side of the minibus.
I asked if we could drive in a plain unmarked car.
Joe the driver said it was safe that, "This place is a police state."
I noticed that the airport had army soldiers in it with assault rifles.
Every street had military trucks and jeeps and tanks patrolling them.

Nevertheless, I felt I could be shot.
I wanted to see where Mary Magdalene lived, but her town was under
siege .. There were Israeli tanks blocking the roads.
Ramone shrugged, "Someone in the town shot a soldier. We will go
to Bethlehem to see the Church of Jesus' creche."
We went to the grotto where Jesus was born.
An alter was over the spot and I reached down a hole under the alter
and touched the spot where the baby Jesus lay.

Bethlehem is in the West Bank and there are many confrontations
between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian protesters there.
I did not feel safe riding past burned out cars in a tour bus.
It was a leap of faith for Ramone.