The Hebron mosque (presumably like all mosques,) asks that all women are bare-footed and covered up .... so we borrowed red-riding-hood type capes ... and covered up !
The tomb of Abraham is actually (like all ancient places) now below ground level, but this marks the place ...
We then walked to visit a synagogue, which was next to the mosque .... note the closed up shops, and the barrier, and the Israeli soldiers ...
The synagogue seemed much more friendly than the mosque, with lots of families (and soldiers) inside. The Jewish women told us what was happening and why they were there .... an eight-day old baby boy was about to be circumcised, which we really didn't want to observe. So several of us decided to leave the synagogue and wait outside. However, the door was locked ! Soldiers on the inside told us that there was a shooting threat outside, so we were all locked in for our safety ... what a choice, being shot or watching a baby being 'trimmed' !!
However, we were let out quite quickly, and there was no danger.
* * * * *
There was one tourist type shop open whereas all other shops in Hebron seemed to be closed; the guide told us that 'the authorities' kept them shut 'for security reasons'. Hmmm......
Our group buying 'souveneirs.'
Hebron felt very strange; a bit like an abandoned, almost empty town; very few children or young people, all shops barricaded and windows everywhere closed .... where were all the people ?
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