During my five-week sabbatical in the Middle East, most of my photos were taken for either Mennonite Central Committee or Questscope, the two organizations that sponsored my trip. Most of those photos were of the people who participate in the projects and partner organizations they support, but I also tried to take a good number for my own use. Now that I’m finally done with all of the captioning, keywording, and retouching of their images, I’ve been able to give some attention to “my” pictures. Here are a few of my favorites from Palestine and Israel. I hope to post more from Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria before too long.

Palestinian grape leaf vendor and Israeli soldiers, Old City of Jerusalem.

Israeli soldiers on patrol, Old City of Jerusalem.

Israeli soldiers on patrol, Old City of Jerusalem.

Road sign for Jerusalem at Kalandia Checkpoint.

Palestinian families fill water jugs from a public tank at Aida Refugee Camp, because the water to their homes is controlled by Israel, and frequenly shut off.

Israeli separation wall in Bethlehem.

Palestinian woman living in a tent after Israeli settlers took over her home.

Church of the Holy Sepulchre, traditional site of the grave of Jesus. (We checked—it’s empty. It is empty indeed.)

+See the rest of the gallery