M. takes me to the neighbouring village to buy some fruit today. He tells me a curious anecdote about this village: the church was very old and needed repairs, and the Muslims insisted on paying for half the cost. I observe that everyone dresses in the same style as in the rest of Palestine and I ask him where the Christians are.
“What do you mean?”
“The Christians. The women who do not need to cover their heads. Where are they? Everyone is dressed as a Muslim”
“Ah. No. The Christians wear the same.”
“So covering their heads is not a religious thing, but a cultural custom.” And I go on about how surprised I am by the fact that Christians and Muslims live together in the same village.
“Well, yes, and Jews too.”
“You mean in some settlement.”
“No, not in settlements. In the village.”
“Jews in the occupied territories?”
“Yes.”
“But, did they not throw them all out, the Romans?”
“Some managed to stay, never left. But the Israelis treat them the same as Palestinians. They are just Palestinians for them.”
