Insightful piece in the other day’s Independent newspaper on the early morning scramble for Palestinian men who work in Israel, and the pointlessness of the pope’s visit. I spent two mornings crossing over the same checkpoint during my time in the West Bank (I’ve never heard it called Gilo…Palestians call it the Rachel’s Tomb checkpoint) and found it just as degrading. My piece is here.

As Mazin Qumsiyeh – an academic and activist I met during my time near Bethlehem – points out: “The pope will not meet with local Christians. He will be prevented from standing next to the Apartheid wall and much more.”