If anyone’s in any doubt about the effect of the political turmoil in Israel/Palestine on the lives of ordinary people, a chat with someone from that country is a real mind-opener. I interviewed George Rishamwi, a Palestinian non-violence peace activist from Bethlehem when he was visiting Liverpool and Manchester the other week and found what he was saying fascinating.
For anyone who won’t get that kind of opportunity, I’d highly recommend a travelogue type book I’m reading at the moment, Prickly Pears of Palestine, which talks about exactly this from an outsider’s point of view.