Summary

In Chapters 1 and 2, Rami, a 67-year-old Israeli man, rides his motorbike through the foggy hills of Jerusalem. He passes a sign that denotes passage into a zone under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority—forbidden to Israeli citizens without authorization.

In Chapter 3, the birds that fly above the hills of Beit Jala, on the outskirts of Jerusalem, are remarkably for their plentiful numbers and varied species, and their migratory patterns pass over a changing landscape of Israeli settlements, Palestinian apartment blocks, rooftop gardens, barracks, barriers, and bypass roads” below (4). Some of these birds, landing on walls, become targets for young children throwing stones.

In Chapters 4 and 5, the narrative then describes the ancient roots of stone slingshots, used in battle for territory in times of war. While these slings were used for invasions, some children would shoot down birds on the outskirts of the...