...My husband and I were teachers at the Anglican International School in Jerusalem and lived in Israel for 3 years, from 1998-2001.

We were extremely involved with our work at the school and because of this and lack of quality time given to the subject, I cannot claim to be a great student on the Middle East but conscience demands that I must at least be a faithful witness...

...There was a terrible backlash of terrorist activities which escalated throughout the year 2000 - the year that many Palestinians as well as Israelis had hoped would bring greater prosperity to the country from an expected increase in tourism, to celebrate the Millennium

It was sad to see the newly built hotels lying empty and some only partly built.

It was even more painful to see and hear our neighbours' fears as their shops and cafes slowly went out of business, either through forced enclosures because of threats or just fear of reprisals if they did not show solidarity with their Arab brothers.

They also suffered through loss of visitors as the atmosphere worsened and the few visitors who came to Jerusalem, were too frightened to go to the old city. One young Palestinian we knew who worked as a waiter had hoped to go to university later that year. All such hopeful prospects must have died...