Tag Archives: Jerusalem

U.S. closes its 175-year-old consular mission in Jerusalem, further downgrading relations with Palestinians

Posted on March 2, 2019 by Tom Powers

An article published today by NPR correspondent Daniel Estrin notes the closing of the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem, a mission which represented the United States’ sole diplomatic outreach to the Oslo-created Palestinian Authority, and thus to the state-less Palestinian people. … Continue reading →

Posted in American Colony, Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, JERUSALEM, Jerusalem Places, Modern History, Palestinians, Politics, U.S. Foreign Policy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“May Your Home Be Destroyed”

Posted on January 22, 2018 by Tom Powers

Those were the words hurled at the US president by Mahmoud Abbas (aka Abu Mazen) in a rambling, defiant speech before the PLO Central Council on January 14th. It is said to be one of the milder curses in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel-Palestine Scene, Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, JERUSALEM, Palestinian Authority, Palestinians, Politics, U.S. Foreign Policy | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

5,000 Years of Jerusalem History–in Under 3 Minutes | VIDEO

Posted on January 15, 2018 by Tom Powers

OK, so there are a few gaps, and it’s a little short on details in places… BUT how would you do if presented with the same challenge? What would you include? More importantly, perhaps: What would you leave out? This … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology & Politics, For FUN (mostly), JERUSALEM, VIDEOS | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Get Ready to Ride the ‘Trump Train’ to the Western Wall Plaza! | VIDEO

Posted on January 13, 2018 by Tom Powers

Despite my somewhat snarky headline, this is NOT fake news but absolutely real. First, a few days ago Israel’s Minister of Transport, Yisrael Katz, announced a planned extension of the country’s new fast rail line. The projected final link carries … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel-Palestine Scene, JERUSALEM, Jerusalem Places, Jewish Quarter, Transportation, U.S. Foreign Policy | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Following the Road to Emmaus (before it’s too late)

Posted on April 16, 2017 by Tom Powers

It was the first Easter, two thousand years ago. Two confused, disheartened disciples are on their way out of Jerusalem, encounter a stranger on the road, and quickly find themselves as students in the infant Church’s first Sunday School class! — … Continue reading →

Posted in Antiquities, Easter, Jerusalem Antiquities, Josephus, New Testament, Roman Period, VIDEOS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Through the American Colony Lens: THE COLOSSAL STONES OF BAALBEK

Posted on June 21, 2016 by Tom Powers

Here’s a photo that sort of jumped out at me a while back, it was so striking: a great quarry stone at the ancient site of Baalbek in Lebanon. Look at the people, look at the scale! This stone, which was … Continue reading →

Posted in American Colony, Antiquities, Archaeology, Herod the Great, Jerusalem Antiquities, Photography, Roman Period, Temple | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

*UPDATED* Restoration Work Begins on the Edicule of the Holy Sepulchre

Posted on June 12, 2016 by Tom Powers

This post mostly reflects my own curiosity about the restoration work just getting underway at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s Old City. The specific focus is the edicule, the built structure which stands at the center of … Continue reading →

Posted in Church of the Holy Sepulchre, JERUSALEM, Jerusalem Places, Religion | Tagged , , | Leave a comment