The new Imperial Hotel where we are staying in Jerusalem is an iconic colonial era building at Jaffa gate, just inside the walls of the old city. The owners of […]

Our first outing today – a walking tour of the old city led by Mahmoud. We visited the Christian, Armenian and Muslim quarters, and within those the German, Spanish, Egyptian, […]

Yesterday we had a tour of Jerusalem, guided by Khalil from Grassroots Al quds ( Al quds is the Palestinian name for Jerusalem). Khalil is a lawyer and activist who […]

On Thursday night we went for a wonderful meal at the ‘sunset’ restaurant Shams Al Asseel in the Makhrool Valley.  We were hosted by Josie and Hazem and their two […]

      This is the link for the online gallery at the Walled Off Hotel.  Some amazing art by Palestinian artists and a special exhibition of work by artists […]

On Wednesday afternoon we travelled by bus to Checkpoint 300, the entrance to Bethlehem and the route taken each day by tens of thousands of Palestinian men who have permits […]

In a tranquil spot overlooking the valley in Bethlehem sits the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability, also home to the Palestinian Museum of Natural History – ‘an oasis of […]

Baktub Esmek Ya Bladi (I wrote your name my country), about a longing for your homeland, for those displaced by the Nakba and Intifadas (originally Lebanese), by Eli Shwiri.

Something about children in Palestine from my first visit here… we have met a number of adults who have said they are worried about their kids – many young people […]

Yesterday we travelled to Hebron along a new road cut into Palestinian farmland. I hope one of us will write about the roads here, about the brand new Israeli roads […]

Sunday was certainly a day of contrasts.  We spent most of our time at the Lajee Centre,  a lively cultural and community centre at the edge of Aida Refugee Camp.  […]

Safely arrived at beautiful Sebastia, in a gorgeous old guest house. However, a slightly eventful trip involving a breakdown, being towed a little bit and then our wonderful Sebastia host […]

Yesterday we bade a sad farewell to the friends we made in Aida Camp and visited Dheisheh Camp, also in Bethlehem. Originally designed for 3,000 people, there are now 15,000 […]

We spent Tuesday in beautiful ancient Sebastia 10km from Nablus. Woke to the delicious aroma of fresh filled breads being baked but then soon heard the terrible news of the […]

Yesterday our group went to visit the Jordan Valley.  Our host there was part of Jordan Valley Solidarity. I have read a lot about how Israeli settlers stole water from […]

While others joined the olive harvest, a couple of us took the opportunity to visit SEEDS in Nablus (we were advised it was safe). Our original plan involved us performing […]

What a joy it was to spend Thursday afternoon olive picking!  After the intense rollercoaster of experiences and emotions of our trip so far, it was great to be out […]

On Thursday morning we managed to fit in two joyful singing sessions with children in Sebastia. First stop was a kindergarten not far from the guest house, funded by Save […]

We had a wonderful experience performing at the Liwan Cultural Centre in Nazareth. You can watch the recording on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CkThyIOqXbq/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY= 

At the Nasijona Centre Nazareth.  Throughout Israel the teaching of true Palestinian history in schools is not allowed, but this academic year this has been extended to the whole of […]

We went to Adalah, a Human Rights Organisation in Haifa:  https://www.adalah.org/en/content/view/7189 They do incredible work fighting legal cases against house demolitions, evictions and many other issues. It can be soul destroying […]

On Sunday we had a very moving trip to a destroyed village just outside Nazareth. It was called Saffuriya. It had been a thriving village before 1948. In ’48 it […]

Our trip is almost over, 11 of us are currently traveling back to the UK; four are staying on to do volunteer work (read more here). Our stay in ’48 […]