News,
articles and documents from the Holy Land
Issue No. 174 - Saturday, 12 October 2002
Dear Friends, Brothers
and Sisters,
Our Patriarch has just come back from Rome today after
a one-week visit in which he took part in the annual meetings of the CELERA
(The conference of the Latin Bishops of the Arab world). The theme of this year’s
meeting was the Christian culture in the Arab world. We will provide you with
any documents which will be published in the near future.
The Patriarch will be leaving next week to Washington
for two reasons:
1)
To take part in the Fourth International Conference on the Christians of
the Holy Land, which will be about the theme: “The Divine Light Still Burns: The
Holy Land Christians Endure”. He will be the mean speaker and will obtain the
annual award of the Foundation. (See bellow more details about this conference
and visit the HCEF Homepage: http://hcef.org/index.cfm
)
2) At the same time, the
Patriarch will be the honorary guest of the annual meeting of the Knights of
Colombus, and he will receive their very important award called “Gaudium et
Spes” given normally once every five years to a key-personality in the world
and was only given until now to five people.
Here in Taybeh, everything is going very good, even if the
main and only road leading to the village was totally closed by the Israeli army
with a huge amount of dirt, but it was partially opened by that same night by
young people, because it is the only road to go out from our big prison in
which we are living since months in the biggest prison in the world called the
West Bank. Tomorrow, we will at our Sunday mass a 40-person group of French knights
and ladies of the Holy Sepulcher who will spend the whole day with. We deeply
appreciate their courage, and invite all our brothers and sisters from all over
the world to have the same courage and come to visit the Holy Land and visit us,
because this is the best sign of solidarity with the small Christian Community
living in the Holy Land in this difficult time.
You will find in today’s Olive Branch the following documents
dealing with several subjects, especially the case of the threats of demolishing
100 houses in Beit Sahour.
1) Israel has ordered the
demolition of over 100 houses and apartments built by the Orthodox Community Of
Beit Sahour: Urgent appeal in the name of the citizens by the Myor of Beit
Sahour.
2) Update on threatened
home demolitions in Jabal Al Diek – 100 houses by Suzan Sahori.
3) “Refuge” by Marthame
and Elizabeth Sanders the American Presbyterians working in the Palestinian
Christian village of Zababdeh. http://come.to/zababdeh
4) Declaration from the Arab
Educational Institute about Fallwell's recent statements about Islam.
5) Dr. Maria Khoury is
writing us about the “Greek Women in Ramallah”.
6) The Fourth International
Conference on the Christians of the Holy Land, which will be about the theme: “The
Divine Light Still Burns: The Holy Land Christians Endure”.
We need you
support to stop the Israeli measures of closures and the policy of house demolitions
which is one of the toughest and more strange in the world.
With my best
wishes from Taybeh-Efraim Fr.
Raed Abushalia
Israel Has Ordered The Demolition Of Over 100 Houses And Apartments
Built By The Orthodox
Community Of Beit Sahour
09-Oct-02
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Attached is a letter from the Mayor of Beit Sahour in Palestine. Beit
Sahour (home of the Biblical Shepard's fields) is a predominantly Christian
village next to Bethlehem. The local community there continues to be adversely
affected by Israeli invasions and land confiscations. The Israeli
authorities are now going to demolish a new housing project built by the Beit
Sahour Orthodox community. They claim it was built too close to the Jabal Abu
Ghaniem (Har Homa) illegal settlement block- a settlement that was built
on land originally confiscated from the Beit Sahour Orthodox community! I
hope this letter will move you to do your part to help these Christian brothers
and sisters of ours in Beit Sahour.
Rateb Rabie, KHS
President of the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation
Urgent
appeal in the name of the citizens of Beit Sahour
Israel has ordered the demolition of over 100 houses and apartments located at Jabal Al Diek (Beit Sahour) - adjacent to the illegal settlement built on Jabal Abu Gnaim (Har Homa). Most of the houses are part of the Greek Orthodox Community Housing Project and the remainder are located nearby. Over 600 people will be made homeless.
The land in question is owned by the Greek Patriachate in Jerusalem and an
agreement was signed between them and the head of the Greek Orthodox community
in Beit Sahour, Father Ibrahim Khoury. This agreement runs for 50 years and the
terms state clearly that it is automatically renewable with the same conditions
when it expires. The land area is 20 dunams (1 dunam = 1/4 acre) and the
agreement stipulates that it is to be used explicitly for the construction of
homes. On 28 September, 1995, Beit Sahour Municipality issued building permits
under the authority of the Beit Sahour Municipal Urban Planning Committee.
* The Greek Orthodox Housing Project was established in 1996 and comprises of
15 buildings, each having four stories with two apartments on each floor. These
apartments will house 120 families. As of today, 7 buildings have been
completed and are home to 23 families. One more is under construction and the
remaining 7 are yet to be built. Conditions of membership apply and one needs
to be married, a resident of Beit Sahour, of limited income and not own a house
to be eligible.
The objectives of the society are as follows:
* provide suitable housing for the Greek Orthodox Community in Beit Sahour;
* strengthen their association to their land, limiting emigration;
* stop Israeli land confiscations;
* strengthen community relations and cooperation between members;
* improve both social and economic standards of members;
* provide work opportunities;
* Cooperate to overcome economic difficulties in the Occupied Territories.
Infrastructure work up to date:
* The Beit Sahour Municipality is working on asphalting the road that leads
to the houses.
* Both electric and sewage systems have been established.
In March and April, the city of Beit Sahour, along
with other Palestinians cities and refugee camps, were under total Israeli
invasion and imposed siege. On 29 May, 2002, the Israeli army served papers on
each homeowner in the project which notified them that their homes are
scheduled for demolition and that they should cease building work immediately.
There are three reasons stated for this action being taken:
1) That the homes are in close proximity to Har Homa (the illegal settlement
built on land confiscated from Beit Sahour in 1995)
2) That the new Israelis-only road which is being constructed passes too close
to the homes.
3) The homes are located in an area declared as C under Oslo II. This agreement
states that building permits for new homes should only be issued from Beit El
(Israeli authority) although the land itself is within the boundary of the
Municipal Council of Beit Sahour.
The families have engaged a lawyer to act on their behalf collectively. Objections were filed in court and the first hearing was held on 25 June. At this hearing the judge declared the case adjourned and set a new date for 25 July. This case was again adjourned. Even using the legal system has proved difficult due to the restrictions of movement imposed upon Palestinians. An international volunteer working at the Municipality has been going to and from Jerusalem to deliver the necessary documents and papers. Although foreign, she too is subject to arbitrary searches and abusive practices by soldiers at the checkpoints.
On 17 September, 2002 the Israeli Authority from Beit El issued the order to demolish over 100 homes. On 29 September, 2002 the case was submitted to the Israeli Military Court for Urban Planning in the West Bank. Documents of ownership of both the land and houses were presented, we are waiting for the decision.
Having witnessed so much land already confiscated in this area and having made numerous attempts to prevent the Israelis from taking our property through the legal channels, we are not hopeful. Although we are given leave to appeal against these decisions, we never win. This is indicative of all cases between Israel and Palestinians.
The community of Beit Sahour is a strong community and well known for its unity during times of trouble. We have arranged solidarity meetings at the location of the project and formed committees to follow up on this issue. Two solidarity demonstrations have been held where many citizens of Beit Sahour joined the families who have put so much hard work and money into building theses homes. We do not wish see their efforts reduced to rubble nor do we want to see the continued plunder of our land. In addition, we have appealed to all consulates and embassies to ask for their solidarity and support to prevent this threatened destruction becoming a reality.
Please, your immediate intervention and action is needed to prevent this.
Fuad Kokaly
Mayor of Beit Sahour, on behalf of the Beit Sahour community
Update on threatened
home demolitions in Jabal Al Diek – 100 houses
10-Oct-02 – By Suzan
Sahori
October 9, 2002: The lawyer representing the families whose homes are threatened with demolition, Jawad Bulos, met with the Mayor, Fuad Kokaly, and representatives of Beit Sahour citizens involved in the case.
Mr. Bulos informed us of the actions taken by him in this matter and the response of the Supreme Court. On October 6, 2002 the Supreme Court, presided over by Judge Brokatshah, heard the objections to the demolition order. The following decision was made: In response to the objection filed on behalf of Beit Sahour residents, an injunction order was issued to temporarily halt the demolitions. The Israeli government is required to provide substantiation for their orders within 5 days. There will be a further 30 day period where all evidence presented to the court will be examined before a final decision is made.
The Municipality of Beit Sahour is preparing a detailed file containing proof of orders previously issued by the Israeli authorities concerning the jurisdiction of the land. Based on a map issued and signed by the Israeli Authorities in 1975, order number 418, the borders of the district are clearly marked and shows that the land in dispute falls within the municipal boundary of Beit Sahour.
We know that we have a long battle ahead against the Israeli Authorities, but we will fight very hard and use all means available to us to save the homes of our relative’s and friends. The Israeli authorities are extremely careful when issuing orders. It is common for us to receive only verbal decisions, thereby ensuring that at a future date they can rescind on any previous orders they have passed.
We know that there are many officials concerned with this case, particularly form the consulates, and we urge you to continue with your efforts. The lawyer is more than happy to discuss the case with any interested party.
The Community has set up a tent for solidarity supporters to come and share our struggle to fight against the colonist policies of Israel and together to prevent any further home demolitions and plunder of our land.
Suzan Sahori
International Public Relations Officer
Beit Sahour Municipality
Beit Sahour
Tel:00972-2-3666/7 or 00972-2-2774111
Direct line: 00972-2-277-3830
Fax: 00972-2-2773520
http://www.beitsahourmunicipality.com
Refuge
10-Oct-02
Revs. Elizabeth and Marthame Sanders
From Psalm 46: God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Come behold the works of the Lord; see what desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. "Be still and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth." The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. It was a restless night for us, the hours perforated by bursts of gunfire, the heavy grinding of tanks, and Hebrew-accented Arabic barked from military loudspeakers. We had finally drifted off when the blast literally shook us out of bed. As we grabbed for the camera and some borrowed slippers, our host rushed into the room to see if we were OK and if the windows were broken. "Whose house is that?" exclaimed his wife, staring out the window as she held their startled sleepy boys. We ran up to the second floor to get a better look, and saw tanks rumble away from a neighboring home engulfed in flames. After the flames were put out and the tanks gone, we went to see what had happened.
Our friend consoled neighbors who had been aroused at 3:00 am and ordered to evacuate their home and stand in the street - hence the interminable loudspeaker announcements in the night. For the next few hours, scores of neighbors - men women and children - waited as soldiers set explosives in a nearby building - we were told the as-yet uninhabited new home of a Hamas activist's father. The blast broke windows, destroyed grape arbors, sent metal doors through fences and damaged stone walls of the neighbors' homes.
No one was hurt, but everyone was shaken, including us. A typical Sunday morning in Jenin. Hardly a week earlier, and only a few blocks away, one of our eleventh grade students was doing her homework in the room she shares with her younger two sisters. Tanks rumbled through the street below, announcing curfew and sending off warning shots. Suddenly the "warning" shots burst through her bedroom window, shattering glass over her sister's bed, flying across the room and lodging in her bookshelf and wall.
Our student was not hurt, but she and her family were very shaken. Across town, another student was not so lucky, shot in the side as he opened a window during curfew. Repeatedly denied access to medical care, Mohammad Zeid was 16 years old when he bled to death. Another quiet news day in the "Holy" Land. Amid the uproar of war, where is the place of refuge?
Nablus, the Biblical city of refuge known as Shechem, has been under a suffocating curfew for almost four months. Schools have been open barely a few days in the last month. The same is true of businesses and places of worship. Marthame spent three days there, helping to insure the delivery of emergency supplies, particulary medicine and food to a city cut off from the world and from itself. The support of international aid agencies, even with the explicit permission of the Israeli military, is not always enough to guarantee arrival - two other deliveries from Save the Children and Caritas were turned back this week. It was there that another pre-dawn blast rousted us from our beds and away from the windows. Even though our friends in Nablus have gone through much worse this spring and summer, they and their kids were still shaken by this explosion. Through slats in the shutters, we watched tanks prowling the deserted streets, their gun turrets moving ominously and firing regularly, their loudspeakers broadcasting the morning order: "Stay in your homes or you will be shot." There isn't even safety at home in the haven of the Anglican church compound - its outer wall has been demolished by Israeli tanks, its windows broken by bullets and the deafening booms that accompany tanks and F-16s. The twin mountains of Gerizim and Ebal which surround Nablus echo and tremble with the sound.
It feels like they're moving closer together together, such is the claustrophobia. When Marthame left that shattered, burnt hull of a city, it was by ambulance through the deserted streets. Emergency vehicles are one of the few ways to get in or out or around in Nablus. And even these are no guarantee of safety. In the last two years, the Israeli military has attacked Palestinian ambulances 205 times, killing or injuring 182 medical personnel, including the head of the Red Crescent office in Jenin.
Amid the uproar of war, where is the place of refuge? As we write this, news comes of another suicide bombing in Israel, killing at least one woman. The man tried to enter a bus near Tel Aviv intending to blow up himself and all its passengers, probably in revenge for the 16 killed in Gaza earlier this week. Luckily, the brave driver and some passengers were able to stop him, holding him down to keep him from detonating his explosive belt and allowing passengers to run away. Most escaped with their lives. Fear permeates Jewish Israel. When and where will the next bomb be? On the bus? At the restaurant? At university? Amid the uproar of war, where is the place of refuge? It has been proven to humanity time and time again, both here and elsewhere, that refuge cannot be found in our nations, our homes, our institutions, even in our places of worship. These are fleeting and vulnerable; they totter and tremble. Our real refuge cannot be found not in the Holy Land, but rather in the presence of the Holy One. Amid the beating drums of war, the rumbling of tanks, the blasts of bombs, the blaring of news, we are instructed to be still and know that God is God, that God breaks the bow and shatters the spear of war, that God wreaks desolations on the war-makers of the earth. In a world of refugees, let us take refuge in the psalm and solace in this promise. Let it give us courage to be among the peacemakers of the world. We will be richly blessed.
Salaam al-Masiih (peace of Christ), Marthame and Elizabeth
Marthame and Elizabeth Sanders are American Presbyterians working in
the Palestinian Christian village of Zababdeh. http://come.to/zababdeh
Declaration from the Arab
Educational Institute
about Fallwell's recent
statement
The Arab
Educational Institute would like to draw attention to what has become an
intense public discussion in the Palestinian media these weeks. Reverend Jerry
Falwell, interviewed for a religious website in the United States, was recently
quoted as saying that the Prophet Mohammed had been a "terrorist" and
that Falwell knew from both Moslem and non-Moslem sources that the Prophet had
been a violent man and a man of war, and that he was therefore fundamentally
different from Jesus Christ and Moses who both preached love. Falwell also
implied that Islam was a backward religion when he said that Mohammed had
married ten wives of whom the last was a girl of ten years. Similar statements
were made by some of Falwell's colleagues.
It is
regrettable that we get fairly accustomed to such hostile statements over the
past years, but Falwell's are even more serious for several reasons, and
therefore fully deserve the present media attention in Palestine. Firstly, he
is a major television reverend. His words and those of his fundamentalist
colleagues have a considerable bearing upon the gut feelings of millions of
American believers and TV viewers who literally take for granted what their
charismatic leaders are saying. Secondly, Falwell echoes the simplifying and
nefarious thesis about civilizations irreversibly opposed to each other. His
scheme brings together Judaism and Christianity and puts them in negative
opposition to Islam, contrasting a good Western "us" to a bad
non-Western "them." Bush himself similarly makes use of a
quasi-religious vocabulary when denouncing an "axis of evil."
Thirdly, Falwell says it at a moment that his statements can only serve to
underpin the present American and British war effort against Iraq.
Unfortunately, nothing is able to feed the flames of war more than hostile
ideology put in religious cloak. The implication of Falwell's utterances is
that each and any follower of Islam is a follower of violence and backwardness.
On such a view making war against Islamic believers, even killing them, can be
fairly easily justified. Fourthly, Falwell is a Christian fundamentalist
(Christian Zionist) who is in close alliance with the pro-Israeli lobby in the
US who itself has become increasingly anti-Palestinian over the years.
Especially under Bush, both movements have strengthened their ties and now have
a direct ideological and tactical influence upon US policy in the Middle East.
It is not only that we as
AEI strongly condemn the accusations and attacks uttered by Falwell, as we
consider these attacks and curses have nothing to do with the spirit of
Christianity and its values and principles of faith, hope and love. It is also
that such statements, if not sufficiently countered in the West by our
Christian brethren and sisters, become part of the media image Middle
Easterners will have of Western Christianity. For organizations like ours it
will then become more and more difficult to convincingly build our vision and
mission on a shared peace spirituality and common principles between Christians
and Moslems. It will become more difficult for Arab Palestinian Christians in
particular to fulfill a bridging role between what is simplifyingly called the
"West" and the "East." We therefore think it is not enough,
as many of our friends in Europe tend to do, to dismiss such statements as
being out-of-mainstream or just "fundamentalist," and not to take
them seriously. With American global dominance, certainly in the field of
communications and TV, Falwell's words have the power to kill.
In view of these
dangers, let us all exert more efforts to promote better understanding and
mutual respect in order to reach security, justice and peace in the region and
the world. Such understanding and respect require strong and principled
criticism and self-criticism.
Arab Educational
Institute
Community Center
in Bethlehem
Greek Women in Ramallah
By Maria C. Khoury, Ed. D.
"It should
not be worse than April," announced the new General Consul of Greece to
Jerusalem, Ms. Eleni Sourani speaking to the Greek Women's Association in
Ramallah this week as Greek women married to Palestinians gathered to greet her
in the new post and arrange for emotional support and solidarity during crisis
times. The new consul general is
very worried about a major panic and fear that might occur in the Holy Land if
the United States initiates a war with Iraq. Her major concern is not that Greek citizens would want to
leave the Holy Land and the Greek government would not help them instead she is
extremely worried about a major siege and curfew that would leave mothers and
children of all ethnic groups starving in their homes if curfew is prolonged in
Palestinian communities that are difficult to reach under military
occupation. A war on Iraq would be
very tragic for all of us already living under horrible military conditions.
I had just finished
spending seventeen days of curfew in Taybeh myself because Ramallah was
completely closed during the Jewish holidays. Completely closed means people stuck at home without being
able to leave the house and in Nablus the curfew has reached over 100 days. It is so unfair and unjust that one
group in the land celebrates holidays and continues life as normal while the
other group is totally locked up like animals. The children are constantly missing school and this is a way
that the Israeli army steals the rights of students to have education. I was completely overwhelmed with my
father-laws funeral, Mr. Canaan Khoury, officiated by the Greek Orthodox
Patriarch His Beatitude Patriach Ireneos that curfew meant very little this
time.
All European
countries are cooperating to have the same plans for a war emergency but each
country is responsible for negotiating safety for their particular
citizens. The tragic news is that
if Greek citizens receive help from the Greek government to leave under war
conditions they will not have a right of return just as in l948 and 1967. Thus, Sharon is really going to take
advantage of any attack on Iraq and empty out the land of Christ's birth. People of Jewish heritage have a right
to return to Israel even if they have never lived here before. But, someone like my husband who was
born in Jerusalem, his father and grandfather were born in Palestine and have
personal and business properties has no rights whatsoever. During the twenty three years my
husband spent outside Palestine, he returned each and every single year to
always renew his Palestinian identity card or else he would not have a right to
return to his birthplace. Not
every Palestinian can afford to go through this procedure. Thus, it is truly a miracle that some
Christians even continue to live in the Land of Christ’s birth. This might not be true fifty years from
now if Sharon continues his state terrorism against the Palestinian people who
seek their basic human rights.
The Greek
government with the help of the Greek Women's Association headed by Margarita
Kapetanea will help prepare a list of Greek citizens throughout Palestine
believed to be about 250 individuals to facilitate evacuating them in case
Sharon is planning another Sabra and Shatila massacre. May God have mercy upon us and can you
please pray for our world leaders to use peaceful methods and non violent
resolutions to solve international problems. War is not the answer.
The Greek Consul
appeared to be a very kind hearted human being with the intention to help the
local people and to honestly serve the Greek community in the Holy Land. Immediately I asked her for help for
the housing project of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Taybeh to support
Christians stay in the village by having affordable housing and she mentioned
the awful circumstances with the new Beit Sahour housing project built by the
church that the Israelis want to demolish in the Bethlehem area. It is so difficult to do any productive
work in the Holy Land for any few steps forward, the Israelis send us backwards
with their military policies. We
are surrounded by illegal Israeli settlements that continue to grow by the
hundreds and the Israelis want to knock down one little housing unit built by
the church. Where is justice in
this land…I go crazy thinking of the discrimination and suffering Palestinians
experience to survive as a nation.
How to you feel about your new
post in Jerusalem?
Greek Consul:
It is quite challenging and interesting.
What do you think of the
Christians in the Holy Land?
Greek Consul:
The Christian presence is the balancing factor between the two major
conflicting sides. I find the
Christian community very soothing, it balances the extreme.
How important is a Christian
presence in the Holy Land?
Greek
Consul: Extremely important. How can you have Holy Land without
Christians, without life, without heart?
It is not enough to have churches, shrines and monasteries. Of course we
need the Christians to stay here.
How can we keep Christians here
with the terrible economic conditions?
Greek
Consul: By having projects that would support
them, keep them in their land. It
is the necessity that makes them leave; no one wants to be an immigrant. People usually want to live with their
families, their relatives in their own land.
Following a
wonderful gathering with a dozen Greek women, the general consul reassured us
that she cared about us very much and wanted to support us with projects that
would keep the Greek language alive in the Ramallah area by having classes on
Thursdays and Saturdays and also by promoting music events and programs that
provided humanitarian aid to all people under these difficult economic
conditions where so many families suffer from basic needs.
The Greek Women’s
Association was established in l999 in Ramallah but actively began to work with
the Palestinian Uprising in the Fall of 2000. The first goal is to provide support and cooperation among
Greek women in the area to further pursue Greek values and traditions and
function as a solidarity group.
However, it also works with The Greek Caravan of Solidarity to help
orphans by fundraising 50 euros each month for Palestinian children that do not
have a father. In addition, the
group cooperates with many Greek organizations to help families having
unemployed parents that need tuition money for their children’s education. Currently, schools in Palestine are
being matched up with schools in Greece to have greater cooperation and
cultural understanding not just financial support through non-government
educational organizations. Also, Margarita and Maria Vekou keep in touch with
isolated Orthodox monasteries in the Holy Land like the one at Jacob’s Well in
Nablus where Fr. Ioustinos has had seventeen assassinations attempts on his
life. The previous abbot was
assassinated in the 70’s.
Fourth International Conference on the Christians of the Holy
Land
The Divine Light Still Burns:
The Holy Land Christians Endure
October 18, 19, 2002
The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation announces its Fourth International Conference on the Christians of the Holy Land entitled The Divine Light Still Burns: The Holy Land Christians Endure.The Conference will be held at the National Presbyterian Church, 4101 Nebraska Avenue, Washington, DC on October 18, 19, 2002.An Awards Banquet at the Capital Hilton Hotel will honor Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem, Reverend Craig Barnes of the National Presbyterian Church, the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit accepted by Adam Cardinal Maida and Peach Tree Presbyterian Church accepted by Reverend Victor Pentz.The Cultural Night on Saturday night October 19, 2002 will feature a Palestinian Dance Troupe, a fashion show of Palestinian dress, traditional Palestinian music and a video of the recent events in the Holy Land.
The Conference will provide speakers who will discuss the impact that the present situation has on Christians living in the Holy Land. Most of the speakers are from the Holy Land and have had direct experience with the military occupation, invasions and violence occasioned by the Israeli military intervention in the Palestinian areas. A panel of three speakers (Dr. Manual Hassassian, Vice President, Bethlehem University, Father Majdi Siryani, Legal Advisor, Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem; Bishop Munib Younan, Lutheran Bishop of Jerusalem (invited) will discuss the events that have affected the lives of Palestinian Christians living in the West Bank and Gaza. A panel of three women living in Palestine (Claudette Habasch, Director, Caritas International, Jerusalem; Nora Kort, Director, International Orthodox Charities, Jerusalem; Mother Maria Stephanopoulos, Mother Superior, Convent of St. Mary Magdalene, Jerusalem) will give their views on the crisis as it affects Christian women’s lives. A major presentation will be given by Professor Jad Isaac, Director General of the Applied Research Institute in Jerusalem regarding the Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah will give his views on ways to seek peace in the Holy Land. A panel consisting of The Honorable Affif Saffieh, Dr. Shibli Telhami and Attorney Michael Terazi will review American, European and Palestinian reactions to the crisis in the Middle East.The Conference will offer workshops about working with the media, supporting Holy Land education, creating jobs for Christians in the Holy Land, and forming partnerships with Holy Land Christian congregations through the Holy Land Christian Support network (HCSN).For more information call our HCEF toll free number 1-(866) 871-HCEF.
To have an idea about the Conference Program,
please visit the HCEF Homepage: http://hcef.org/index.cfm
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