Opinion: Pictures of Ramallah

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Seeing the West Bank from the back seat of an armored SUV is not an enjoyable experience. The windows are smaller (because of the armor), and if there are bumps in the road, which there are, you will smack your head on the roof, which is low (because of the armor). But it was worthwhile.

I could try and describe everything: The professor at Bir Zeit University who has a stunning view of the hills from his office that is ‘almost ruined,’ he said, by a settlement atop one of them. (I was encouraged, actually, by the adverb.) The careful Palestinian government spokesman who kept one eye on my notebook and one on the BBC as he talked, then explained (proudly or apologetically, I couldn’t tell) as he was ushering us out of his office that he knew a lot more than he told us. The man hanging out in a mosque in downtown Ramallah who said he hasn’t worked in eight months and has eight children at home. (He lives off ‘philanthropy,’ he said, looking at me expectantly.) The nervousness of our Palestinian translator as we approached a heavily fenced Israeli settlement.

Or I could just post a few photos, with captions....

That’s me standing in front of what will be the tomb of Yasir Arafat. It’s all being paid for by the Japanese, our translator told us.

Some graffiti of Arafat on a wall in the Palestinian government compound in Ramallah. His image is everywhere; this one has fuller lips than most. Too bad it’s slightly out of focus.

Here Abu Mazen, Arafat’s successor, is slowly lowered into place in Ramallah. I will let the symbolism of this photo speak for itself.