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Hello All

The 12 hour detention at the airport, including a full body search, and some rather interesting use of sleep deprivation, interrogation and politesse was clearly petty and an attempt at itimidating me, internationals and Israeli and Palestinian activists. It was nothing however when one sees the kind of intimidation and harrasment of Palestinians that goes on, even here in Jerusalem. My respect also goes to Greg for sticking it out for so long. More of this later. It all had a rather interesting, somewhat Kafkesque and humourous denoument in that when I was released at 3:00 AM, totally wiped, I had to get to Jerusalem, a phone and a bed. The shuttle driver from Tel Aviv was clearly instructed to take me near to the hostel, the Golden Gate in the old city where the other CPT folks were. Instead and perhaps with a little prompting from security they deposited me abruptly at a hotel once called Jerusalem Gold and recently renamed it the George W. Bush Hotel. (I'm not kidding!!)At 4:30 or 5:00 AM I couldn't wander Jerusalem looking for an alternative so ended up being charged by "George W. Bush" $150 (US) for a room with no drinking glasses, without an operating phone, and 3 hours sleep. Neat huh? (if your from the Israeli Ministry of the Interior.)

More later,

Peace and cheers
Colin