Until 1995, a feature of Bethlehem's Manger Square was the Israeli police station, a constant reminder of the occupation. Tour buses came and went decanting pilgrims to visit the Nativity Church. The square was also a car parking area, where small mop headed boys managed to extract shekels from me to guard the car.
One child named Ibrahim, a persuasive entrepreneur, who was no more than eight or nine years of age, inevitably succeeded in charming ten shekels from me. Even though the regular price was no more than one or two, I always succumbed. Thinking that perhaps his family were poor and the money would at least buy some bread and milk. It is just as likely that was spent on or some other item. It mattered not, the urchin had charm.
We always haggled, and Ibrahim faithfully protected the car, even though I was sure that was never really necessary. Ours was a game that we played out, and Ibrahim had the dignity of earning his shekels. From a cafeteria vantage point next to the Tabash brothers shop, I observed Ibrahim ply his trade, with great success. On one occasion, I offered him twenty shekels, a gift for the Eid feast. Ibrahim refused, saying it was too much. We eventually settled on fifteen. Ibrahim will be a young man now imprisoned behind a wall - Israel's propaganda security barrier.
One child named Ibrahim, a persuasive entrepreneur, who was no more than eight or nine years of age, inevitably succeeded in charming ten shekels from me. Even though the regular price was no more than one or two, I always succumbed. Thinking that perhaps his family were poor and the money would at least buy some bread and milk. It is just as likely that was spent on or some other item. It mattered not, the urchin had charm.
We always haggled, and Ibrahim faithfully protected the car, even though I was sure that was never really necessary. Ours was a game that we played out, and Ibrahim had the dignity of earning his shekels. From a cafeteria vantage point next to the Tabash brothers shop, I observed Ibrahim ply his trade, with great success. On one occasion, I offered him twenty shekels, a gift for the Eid feast. Ibrahim refused, saying it was too much. We eventually settled on fifteen. Ibrahim will be a young man now imprisoned behind a wall - Israel's propaganda security barrier.
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