I haven't seen the refugee camps, but I have heard that they are bleak, hopeless places. I was favorably impressed by Jericho and Bethany and Bethlehem on the West Bank, and by the territory along the Jordan Valley. Our tour guide told me that Ramallah is also one of the nicest cities in Palestine. Along the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, there were some housing areas that looked like barrios in Mexicali - dirt floors and rooftops of corrugated metal. I couldn't tell if these were permanent homes, or if they were temporary quarters for sheepherders.
But I get the feeling that the Palestinians are taking real pride in themselves as a nation. I think that's a great sign of hope.
We went to the Christmas tree lighting in Manger Square in Bethlehem. It was a chance for Palestine to show off their stuff, and they did a good job of it with an animated LED Christmas tree and high-tech lighting, and great fireworks. The Prime Minister of Palestine spoke, and the mayor of Bethlehem. There was an element of small-town corniness to it, but I liked it.
-Joe-