Hanaq:

Is that the mosque of Al Maliha to the right side of your placemark?

I take it that you were in the neighborhood. Does it look like the Mosque is just empty?

It might be nice to post a picture of the mosque or houses in the place mark.

You mention Deir Yassin. I live in the Etzion Bloc, which was overrun during the war of 1948 and its inhabitants were all killed after surrendering. Some would say this was a retalliation for the events of Deir Yassin.

The Jordanian Army that was here, on the ruins of Kfar Etzion, erected a mosque...that now houses a museum. This is not a simple thing to accept, i imagine. (We also used it as a synagogue for a while.)

The problem of holy sites that represent other people's real past and present dreams is very problematic. The Arab population of East Jerusalem is known for saving synagogues after 1948. The events after the Israeli pullout from Gush Katif took a different turn..but i think i can see where that came from, even if i don't justify it.

I am attatching a placemark of what i believe is the mosque of Zakkariya..now a small villiage of Jews who came from Kurdistan. I understand that the people of Zakkariya have made pilgrimages to the village that created some tension with the new residents. (On the other hand I have heard of interesting and positive relationships that have developed between the original Arab dwellers and the new Jewish dwellers in a number of places.)

May memories persist...but may we walk into a better future.

Myron