SPECIAL There is a palpable stillness in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Streets that until recently were thronged with tourists and pilgrims are now largely empty, their cobbled alleyways deserted. But this eerie silence reflects more than just the absence of tourism. Palestinian residents are staying indoors for fear of being shot or arrested. Meanwhile, armed Jewish settlers roam the hills surrounding the cities, asserting their presence with growing confidence. As tension rises on the ground, political developments are adding fuel to the fire.