David Merron

By The Damascus Gate David Merron

It is the late Sixties, and fed up with the sectarian divide of Belfast, Kate volunteers for a kibbutz in Israel with her friend Jill. While there she becomes attracted to Amos, a family man. When the Six-Day-War breaks out, he is conscripted into the army, and in the Kibbutz air-raid shelter, Kate becomes friendly with his wife, Miriam.

Following the ceasefire, on a visit to Old Jerusalem, Kate strikes up a friendship with Shafik, a Palestinian activist. When she brings his kid brother to visit the kibbutz, Motti, a hard-liner, objects and has the boy removed. Amos, having just returned from the war, supports Kate and they fall in love.

Having lost his best friend in action, Amos feels that his love for Kate is too strong, and breaks with Miriam. When this creates a spilt in the close community, Kate realises that having fled one conflict, she has become involved in another.

Suddenly receiving news that her father has been grievously injured in Belfast, Kate flies home, wondering whether her idyllic life with Amos could ever be.