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MARY BETH FOLAND : 1967 SIGNIFICANT, ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY HAND WRITTEN BY AN AMERICAN CHRISTIAN WOMAN TOURING EUROPE AND THE MIDEAST AND EYEWITNESS TO THE AFTERMATH OF ISRAEL'S SMASHING VICTORY AGAINST HER SEETHING, ANTAGONISTIC NEIGHBOURS

16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall. On offer is a superb, significant original manuscript diary of a visit to Israel mere weeks after the Six-Day War in 1967 when the State of Israel was compelled to attack her threatening Arab neighbours and thusly destroying their armies and repatriating her ancient homelands of Judea and Samaria and most importantly the Old City of Jerusalem. For a historian, this is an exceptional, primary-source document. Not only does it deal with the immediate aftermath of the war, it opens the door to examining the role of Christian groups in the United States vis-a-vis Israel and the rise of the religious right in American politics. In her trip, she confronts circumstances that underlie the critical issues that beset the region to this today. Mary Beth Foland is a 55 year old American tourist who travels to Israel 7 weeks after the conclusion of this war. [Born in 1912, she was 55 years old when she made this trip Foland passed away in 1988 at age 76.] She was part of a church group that organized this tour - the Eggleston Missionary Tour. For many Christians in the United States, Israel has a special draw and the Six-Day war made many more biblical sites accessible. Her trip encompasses visits to Tel Aviv Haifa, Akko, a Kibbutz, Jerusalem Rome, Athens, Create, Rhodes, Istanbul, Belos, Mykonos, Lucerne Dublin and Cork, Ireland. Foland's travel journal is packed with details. She is a keen eyed, erudite observer and prolific note taker. She is free with her opinions and observations - even if they are at times less than accurate and coloured by her religious views Her comments fully reflect the social circumstances of the late 1960s in affluent merica/California. She writes about war torn sections of cities, the ever-present military and refugee camps. She also writes about the historic aspects of each area with emphasis on religious sites and practices. In addition to her own observations, she notes conversations with local people who experienced the conflict first-hand. She begins her trip account after flying from Los Angeles to Washington, DC: Enroute to Intern'al airport of Wash DC. Talk with chauffeur (negro of limousine are serving God avoiding nervous breakdown by going to church (his idea) He's Baptist. ... Barbara told she [was] Schiziod - used Thorazine to come out of voices & Shock - still "sees" people they were "inside" now are "outside" [Aug 1] Her day ends with a prayer group meeting. ... In Boeing 707 with 129 others aboard. We rec'd a menu printed for Eggleston Missionary Tour and a red rose on tray of our grp ... A grp of orientals from Hawaii with us enroute .... [Aug 2] They stay in London for 2 days before heading off to Paris. Her notes are replete with descriptions of what she saw, mentioning Hogarth's House, Baden Powell statue, Buckingham Palace, a description of her visit to St. Pauls Cathedral Parliament, St. James Palace and Westminster Abbey among many others. She comments that the Tower of London was "The Bastille of England" . She certainly packed a great deal into those 2 days. There is a longer passage summarizing a talk on the history the Jewish people including a reference to Thoedor Hertzl, recognized as the "spiritual father of the Jewish State" Israeli Declaration of Independence). She spends a day and a half in Paris and is as much the active tourist as she was in London. Then, on to Tel Aviv. 'Our carrier at Tel Aviv was rather disorganized and we were the last through the customs. We followed a thin ascetic Jew we had seem in Paris at 11:00 am with his Phylacteries- on head & wrist & wrapped in black & white prayer shawl. At customs he was declaring several wigs etc some of his bags broke under the load. 2 taxis took 10 of us to Dan Hotel - rather shabby and county looks poor drab & brown. We stopped in route to see where some of Gen. Patton's tanks were sold to Jordan & King Hussein had been stopped by Israel. Saw 6 or 8 there Cabby couldn't understand why L.B.J. sold them to Jordan in the first place. [Aug 7] Her descriptions over the next few days are detailed, noting meals eaten, the geography of various locations, archaeology, history and conversations. Learn of pilgrimages of Israelis to places where their men reversed the tide of those coming during the 6 day war. They go to touch places saved. Tell of tanks in desert in sand, of the naval base in Syria ? deserted by troops when Isr came in. Of the Kibbutz fired on by tanks & Israel building a road around them in the rear. Of fact that Isr. literate whereas Arabs can't read to fix machines when break down. I see buses filled with younger people in uniforms or partial uniform - very few oldsters out and about. On Old Joppa Street men play backgammon ... [Aug 8] Haifa - Megiddo - Nablus Jerus, Road block of soldiers ( customs) to enter Jordan & former Samaria. Bedouin black tents ( 1 pix in distance). See refugee camp with block houses out in rocky area. US pays 70 % of their bill via UN. They said 1 1/2 mill but counted dead and brot Egyptians to swell no 15 mill dollars. US to build Jordan airport now in Israel hands. Guide asked Arab why Jordan didn't help refugees more & he said if we did it would solve your problem ( Israel probl) Propaganda better this way). ... [Aug 11] Jerusalem - Jerico Aug 12, 1967 Meet at 8:20 to go to Collegiate Church of St. Geo the Martyrs ( Episc) for welcome service, Read psalm 122 & I weep. At [ ] oh pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper that love thee. This church been thru wars 1914 - 1948 etc. In 1899 it founded - William II visited, recently Prince Phillip. school hit as it on Israel side. Shelled hard 48 hrs. got phosphorous bomb thru roof 6" in floor, windows out. Had chapel services every day during war & still very uneasy. Both Jew & Arab Chris ask why Christians did not help them. Used to pray for King Hussein now they pray " Oh Lord save this land" sch will open in Sept - ot all out safety. Most Jordanians not hostile to Jews. Only thing notice Israelis say "those dirty Arabs" ... [Aug 12] Men at hotel shop say they well off as Christians & can work for either Jordanians or Israelis. But Holy places defiled, Muslims not allowed in Holy places but Christians & Jews intermingle. In Church of Sepulchre a young Isr. girl in with only shorts & priest asked her to cover up - She talked back, priest upset, hit her - police called to take her to jail. They smoke, loud talk, go uncovered into holy places. The US must settle this - make an international city out of Jerusalem - this Arab Christian would like that "We depend on you & Pres Johnson to help us out "To save the city". I said we must depend on God & work out forgiveness for our brother. He said "You in U.S. more forgiving & don't know our problems here." ... [Aug 14] She leaves Jerusalem for Rome on Aug 15th. As in her other entries, she makes detailed notes of what she observes. This is an outstanding first-hand account of the early days following the Six-Day War. The conversations she records, such as the ones quoted above, are eerily similar to comments made today, over a half century later. The journal measures 6.5 inches by 4 inches. It contains 160 pages and is 60% complete. The cover, binding and pages are all in good condition. The handwriting is dense but legible. HISTORICAL NOTES: The Six-Day War was the third military conflict between Israel and her surrounding Arab neighbours. Faced with their stated objective of destroying the Israeli state and the immediate circumstance of Egypt closing the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping, Israel struck back and in 6 days smashed the combined armies of Egypt, Syria and Jordan. The ramifications continue to this day.. Illustr.: /. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good +

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