Sea of Galilee. #HolyLand pic.twitter.com/E5TgxE2g3R
— Bobby Ross Jr. (@bobbyross) March 11, 2019
The New York Times had a front-page story this week on the strong partnership between Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Times described Trump as Netanyahu’s secret weapon in his “increasingly uphill re-election battle.”
The Associated Press, meanwhile, reported that Trump sees advantages in the current American debate over Israel and anti-Semitism.
I read both stories with a different perspective — and a heightened interest — after spending the past several days in Israel, my first visit ever to the Middle East.
I’m typing this post from my hotel room in Jerusalem. I’m here with a group of about a dozen U.S. religion journalists as part of the American Jewish Committee’s Project Interchange. The project aims to give participants an enhanced understanding of issues in this part of the world and make them think about tough questions. For me, it certainly has done that!
Rather than do a normal post while I am traveling, Terry Mattingly invited me to share a bit about the trip. Honestly, I’m still processing much of what I have seen. But I’ve learned so much as we’ve traveled via helicopter and bus to visit key sites all over Israel and heard from speakers representing a variety of perspectives.
We’re still in the middle of our itinerary — with a trip to Ramallah on today’s agenda — but here, via Twitter, are a few virtual postcards:
View from my Tel Aviv hotel window. Rested and ready for my first full day in Israel. #reporterlife pic.twitter.com/zvzIqTJUJb
— Bobby Ross Jr. (@bobbyross) March 10, 2019
Visited Jaffa and saw the whale that swallowed Jonah. Actually, I’m not sure it was the same whale. #reporterlife pic.twitter.com/zClmCOdoOO
— Bobby Ross Jr. (@bobbyross) March 10, 2019
Fellow addict @kjwinston11 has tracked down #DietCoke and kept me caffeinated in Israel. #reporterlife @ReligionReport pic.twitter.com/mf02htfKxi
— Bobby Ross Jr. (@bobbyross) March 10, 2019
Good Monday morning! Peaceful start to the day in Tel Aviv before helicoptering to sites such as northern Israel, Mount Tabor and Capernaum. Our group of a dozen U.S. religion journalists will end up in Jerusalem tonight. #reporterlife pic.twitter.com/7CyOyHmTwe
— Bobby Ross Jr. (@bobbyross) March 11, 2019
First helicopter flight with @janariess and @bobbyross from Tel Aviv toGolan Heights @projinterchange pic.twitter.com/pBc5V0A2H2
— Kimberly Winston (@kjwinston11) March 11, 2019
In helicopter en route to northern Israel. #reporterlife pic.twitter.com/SikoEZQNM7
— Bobby Ross Jr. (@bobbyross) March 11, 2019
I’m in Israel this week, and here’s a bit of video from a helicopter ride, going over Mount Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration of Jesus. pic.twitter.com/a2RiatEvz3
— Michael J. O’Loughlin (@MikeOLoughlin) March 11, 2019
At Mount Bental lookout near Israeli borders with Syria and Lebanon, we heard from a military commander. #reporterlife pic.twitter.com/MrrmuA2VzB
— Bobby Ross Jr. (@bobbyross) March 11, 2019
Religion News Service (@RNS) national reporter @emmillerwrites covering (not so) breaking news at the Sea of Galilee. #HolyLand #reporterlife #projectinterchange pic.twitter.com/e3q2gMaWW6
— Bobby Ross Jr. (@bobbyross) March 11, 2019
At the Jordan River. #HolyLand pic.twitter.com/KseP06mEwd
— Bobby Ross Jr. (@bobbyross) March 11, 2019
Final helicopter ride ends with a safe landing in Jerusalem. #reporterlife pic.twitter.com/U6zgKIYFkH
— Bobby Ross Jr. (@bobbyross) March 11, 2019
Good Tuesday morning from Jerusalem! Today our group of U.S. religion journalists travels to Bethlehem to hear from Palestinian Christian leaders. #Israel #reporterlife #projectinterchange pic.twitter.com/99xsSep4xj
— Bobby Ross Jr. (@bobbyross) March 12, 2019
I came to Israel framing the state of Israel solely in the context of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. While that is a clear+necessary framework to understand what’s happening here, this area is so much more complex and layered.
— Candice Marie Benbow (@CandiceBenbow) March 10, 2019
1. The Defense Wall, or Defense Fence, is what the Israelis call the wall separating Jerusalem from Bethlehem. To the Palestinians, it’s the Apartheid Wall, or Separation Fence. International media describe it as the Israeli West Bank Barrier.#reporterlife pic.twitter.com/wYCGd3LMRh
— Bobby Ross Jr. (@bobbyross) March 13, 2019
I got nothing profound to say right now. All I got right now is what I feel. And I feel a way.
— Candice Marie Benbow (@CandiceBenbow) March 12, 2019
West Bank @ProjInterchange pic.twitter.com/OlZF2PgxYF
— Kimberly Winston (@kjwinston11) March 13, 2019
Had about a 15-minute crisis where I thought I lost my notebook with four days (so far) of notes from everything I’ve learned this week. But found it on our bus! Crisis averted! #Israel #reporterlife #projectinterchange
— Bobby Ross Jr. (@bobbyross) March 13, 2019
Church of the Holy Sephulcre, Jerusalem @projinterchange pic.twitter.com/urKQ4kWkB1
— Kimberly Winston (@kjwinston11) March 12, 2019
Israel in a nutshell (Orthodox, Muslim, and who knows? all on the same bus) @projinterchange pic.twitter.com/OUaGZOtW51
— Kimberly Winston (@kjwinston11) March 13, 2019
At the Western Wall. #Jerusalem #Israel #HolyLand pic.twitter.com/dN1Vui8jSJ
— Bobby Ross Jr. (@bobbyross) March 13, 2019
Seen in the Old City, Jerusalem @projinterchange pic.twitter.com/tWc86GBRtQ
— Kimberly Winston (@kjwinston11) March 12, 2019
I know the feeling. #reporterlife pic.twitter.com/eSlZyk0t2h
— Bobby Ross Jr. (@bobbyross) March 13, 2019
Thanks for reading! I’ll share more at some point.
Update: Bobby Ross Jr. wrote this post before rockets fired from Gaza at Tel Aviv made news Thursday night. His group originally intended to visit Gaza today, but that plan was changed in light of the attack and the Israeli military response.
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