News, articles and documents from
the Holy Land
Issue No. 122 - Saturday, 15 December 2001
Dear Friends, Brothers
and Sisters,
The meeting on the “Future of
the Christians in the Holy Land” ended last Thursday and a very good
declaration was published soon after by the spokesman of the press office of
the Holy See. The Patriarch will return back tonight because he continued to
Lyon where he gave another conference in France, therefore, I don’t have any
feedback from him or reactions to share with you, but it seems to me that there
is almost a complete symphony between the position of the Local Churches of the
Holy Land and that of the Holy See, which means that they know everything and they
understand the situation and the needs of the Christians of the Holy Land. We
do really hope that this commitment of the Holy See and that of the Churches
allover the world will be translated soon in a very practical way. I was in
particular very glad to hear Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, Vatican secretary
for relations with stating: “The Holy See will make every possible effort to
bring to an end the conflict in the Middle East, including the role of
mediation, if the parties involved request it”. I hope that they will do,
because all the other mediator, including USA lost their credibility and
ability to be an honest porker of the peace process, especially after their
Veto today at the Security Council against a force to protect the Palestinian
people.
You know very
well that what we are asking for is not that impossible, it is only the end of
the occupation. Some Israelis realized this and stated this on one sentence of
23 words long: "Israel proposes to immediately renew peace negotiations
based on recognition of the Palestinian right to establish a state in all
territory occupied in the Six-Day-War." The government knows that this announcement
would be enough to cause an immediate revolutionary change in
Israeli-Palestinian relations; a change which would start with a cease-fire and
end with a peace treaty. The government knows it, but keeps silent. Knows it,
but refuses. Since for this government defending settlements has priority over
peace and security of its own people (Gush Shalom). We thank them for this
statement and we hope that this awareness will grow more and more in the
Israeli society, because without the recognition of both sides’ rights we will
never have peace in this region.
You will find in
today’s Olive Branch some documents about the meeting of Rome and other
important documents about other issues:
1) “MEETING ON FUTURE OF CHRISTIANS IN HOLY
LAND” = This is a description of the meeting with some quotations of the
speeches.
2) “PEACE IN THE HOLY LAND AND THE FUTURE OF
CHRISTIANS” = This is more about the declaration issued by the Holy See Press
Office.
3)
Sabeel’s Christmas
Message 2001: Issued by Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem
and signed by Rev. Naim Ateek.
4) Letter from Pax Christi International to
the UN Security Council on behalf of the protection of the Palestinian People. Unfortunately
the American Veto destroyed this request and destroyed also the UN because is
seems that the is not any more UN but only the USA… Therefore, it is better to
quit from this International useless organization of chatting and waste of
time, money and energy which proclaims wars instead of promoting peace in the
world. And they give Mr. Kofi Anan the UN the Nobel peace price!? What a
shame!???
5) At the end, Dr. Maria Khoury will tell us
about the sad “Christmas Season in the Holy Land” the land of the birth of the
Prince of Peace don’t have peace nor joy maybe!!!
But, nevertheless
we will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem because “Everyday is Christmas
in Bethlehem” as the Holy Father said in his homily there. And we will “Welcome
the feast with all demonstrations of joy, in order to find in this joy the
strength to continue your long and laborious march toward the true liberty; and
"Praise the name of the Lord for He is good, his love is everlasting” (Ps
135,1) as the Patriarch said in his Advent message.
On the occasion
of Eid Afitr (the end of Ramadan), I would like to send to all our brothers and
Sisters Moslems my best greetings of an accepted fasting and Holy and Happy
Feast, hoping that this will be the Last Ramadan under occupation.
Best wishes from Jerusalem nearby Bethlehem Fr. Raed Abusahlia
MEETING ON FUTURE OF CHRISTIANS
IN HOLY LAND
VATICAN CITY, DEC 13, 2001 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican, the Holy Father presided over a meeting on "The Future of Christians in the Holy Land," which seeks, the Pope said, "to reaffirm, once more, the interest and concern with which the Holy See follows the situation in the Holy Land, sharing, through a particular spiritual closeness, the drama of those peoples, for so long tried by acts of violence and discrimination."
"Unfortunately, we find ourselves meeting in a moment which I do not hesitate to call 'dramatic', both for the peoples who live in those dear regions, and for our brethren in the Faith, who seem crushed by the weight of two diverse extremisms which, independently from the reasons that fuel them, are disfiguring the face of the Holy Land."
The Pope recalled that at the beginning of the Jubilee of 2000, the patriarchs and those responsible for the Christian communities of the Holy Land launched a "message of faith, of hope, and of charity," inviting "all of those living in the Holy Land and in the entire world to live in justice and peace. How we would have wished that this message had been promptly heard and carried out!"
"To you, dear brothers in the episcopate in the Holy Land, belongs the important task of continuing to be witnesses of the presence of the love of God in that land and the bearers of His message in milieux of Islamic or Hebrew majority."
John Paul II concluded his discourse affirming that the presence of a representation of various world bishops is "a testimony that, in this your difficult task, you are not alone: the entire Church is with you. The whole Church shares your concerns, supports your daily efforts, is close to the suffering of your faithful, and, through prayer, keeps hope alive."
After the Pope's discourse, Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano affirmed that "our first duty is to cooperate in restoring a climate of peace, between Israelis and Palestinians." The work of peace, he said, "has always been supported, in these sad years, by the entire Church and in particular by the Apostolic See."
The Cardinal recalled that the wounds of the Holy Land are "the fruit of more than 50 years of a painful tension, which dates back to the famous plan initiated by the U.N. in 1947 for the partitioning of Palestine. It is a story of tears and blood, which has always urged the supreme pontiffs ... to an intense activity to help those peoples to find a peaceful solution to their grave problems." Under the direction of this pontifical teaching, he said, "diplomatic action has been thus strengthened ... to propose concrete solutions to the present conflict insisting above all on the necessity of a truce and a resuming of negotiations between the parties, unfortunately brusquely interrupted a year ago."
Following this, the Secretary of State focused upon the theme of the meeting: the future of Christians in the Holy Land. "Statistics tell us," he said, "that (the number of Christians) is not many, due to the continual emigrations to which they are compelled by the difficult conditions of life: ... 117,000 Catholics, in Israel and the Palestinian territories, out of a population of 6,100,000 inhabitants. Beyond this we know that there is a considerable presence of other Christians, especially of the Greek-Orthodox Patriarchate. It is true," he continued, that "altogether Christians make up less than 3 percent of the population. ... The majority of Christians are of Palestinian origin and a small number are also of Hebrew origin. ... They live in a characteristic religious context and we must examine how to help them in their dialogue with the Hebrew and Islamic worlds. Many suffer, and therefore we must consider how to concretely assist them."
"The Holy See," he concluded, "has kept their situation well in mind in the two noted agreements which were signed, respectively, with the State of Israel in 1993, and with the Palestinian Authority in 2000. ... Together we will seek to bring our contribution of solidarity to our brethren in the Holy Land, and in particular to those so tried in Jerusalem. May they know that they are not alone!"
Various discourses are scheduled throughout the day-long meeting. His Beatitude Michel Sabbah, patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins, will speak on "The situation of Christians in the Holy Land since September 28, 2000" (the start of the second Intifada). Cardinal Francis Arinze, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, will address "Dialogue between Islam and Christianity since September 11, 2001." Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States, will discuss "The peace process and the status of the City of Jerusalem."
Cardinal Francois-Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace will then focus upon "The question of refugees," while, in conclusion, His Beatitude Cardinal Ignace Moussa I Daoud, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, will speak on "The specific contribution of the Catholic Church."
PEACE IN THE HOLY LAND AND THE
FUTURE OF CHRISTIANS
VATICAN CITY, DEC 14, 2001 (VIS) - Late yesterday afternoon, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls released the following declaration on the meeting presided over by the Pope in the Vatican on the theme: "Peace in the Holy Land and the Future of Christians."
Participating in the meeting were Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano and his collaborators, the cardinals responsible for various dicasteries of the Roman Curia, the heads of the different Catholic communities in the Holy Land, the presidents of various episcopal conferences and the pontifical representatives of that region.
Below are some extracts from the declaration:
"Attention was principally given to the presence of Christians in the Holy Land, as well as to the defence and the promotion of their rights, remembering in particular the two Accords undersigned with the Holy See, respectively by the State of Israel in 1993 and by the Palestinian Liberation Organization in 2000.
"The participants reaffirmed the desire of the Church, in the Holy Land and in the entire world, to continue in the commitment to reconciliation and peace, through religious dialogue with her Hebrew and Muslim brothers. A guarantee was given of a similar commitment to continuing the collaboration offered by numerous Catholic organizations of the churches throughout the entire world, which have - for some time and thanks to the generous and untiring work of their members - been bringing trust and hope to those peoples.
"As regards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it was observed that the two peoples directly concerned and their leaders must mobilize their energies in search of new and peaceful paths, which may resolve a conflict which has already lasted too long. At the same time the need was emphasized to respect International Law and the agreements already reached, in order to assist a return to the negotiating table. The involvement of the international community was considered a necessary initiative for helping both groups (Israelis and Palestinians) to renounce hatred and the spirit of vendetta. Peace between the two peoples, in fact, can only come about if the law and fairness are respected regarding certain fundamental questions: the security of the State of Israel, the birth of a State for the Palestinian people, the evacuation of the occupied territories, an internationally-guaranteed special statute for the most sacred parts of Jerusalem, and a fair solution for the Palestinian refugees. All of this must come about in the framework of what is already laid down in the stipulated agreements and in United Nations Resolutions. On this matter, the participants made a ringing appeal to the religious heads of Judaism and Islam for them to collaborate in assisting the Israeli and Palestinian leaders in their efforts for justice, for peace, and against violence.
"Finally, the concern of the entire Christian community was expressed regarding the authorization by the Israeli government for the construction of a mosque in proximity to the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth. The building of a mosque in that place would risk being considered a provocation and is seen as a grave lack of respect for the feelings of Christians and for a place of prayer rich in profound spiritual meaning for their faith.
"The Christians of the entire world ... in
spiritual union with (Christians of the Holy Land), send forth an urgent
invitation to end the hostilities, to resume negotiations and to make a
commitment to restoring the Holy Land's true character as a cross-roads of
peace and fraternity."
Sabeel’s
Christmas Message 2001
TO OUR FRIENDS AT THIS CHRISTMAS
TIME
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness – on them
light has shined (Isaiah 9:2).
The Sabeel family in Jerusalem and the Holy Land wishes to extend its
warmest Christmas greetings to all our friends everywhere. We hope and pray
that the joy, love, and peace associated with the coming of Christ will be our
strength and light in the days and months ahead as we continue to struggle for
a just peace in Palestine/Israel.
As you well realize, our land and its people have been going through the
most horrendous times. Israel has been stepping up its violence and state
terrorism in order to maintain its occupation, while some Palestinians, in
their despair, have been resorting to violence and suicide bombings. Our cry
that the source of the violence is the Israeli occupation has gone unheeded.
Violence has only been met with violence and terror with terror. The vicious
cycle has never been worse. We are caught in such a predicament where neither
side has the courage to take the high moral ground in curbing the violence.
It is important to emphasize that Sabeel has consistently condemned all
forms of violence. From our perspective of faith, all killing is wrong. The
killing of innocent people can never be justified, but extra judicial killing
is also wrong. Suspects must be brought to justice and given a fair trial. The
killing of Palestinians and Israelis is a crime whether perpetrated by the
Israeli extremist government through its army and settlers or by Palestinians
who are resisting the occupation of their country. We condemn both acts as
evil; and simultaneously reiterate our strong conviction that the Israeli
illegal occupation is the root cause of the problem. So long as it lasts,
violence and terror are likely to continue.
We believe that the evil and oppressive occupation must be resisted
consistently with nonviolent direct action. We at Sabeel stand for nonviolence
because it stems from our understanding of the Gospel. We, therefore, call on
people of good will throughout the world, who believe that justice is the true
basis for peace, to employ all the nonviolent means possible to bring the
Israeli occupation to an end.
Several weeks ago, many of us were encouraged with the statements of
President George Bush, Prime Minister Tony Blair, and especially that of the US
Secretary of State Colin Powell regarding the establishment of a viable
Palestinian state. In spite of the setbacks caused by the recent tragic suicide
attacks and the devastation caused by Israeli shelling, there is great urgency
to demand the full implementation of United Nations Security Council
Resolutions 242 and 338. Without the complete withdrawal of Israel from all the
occupied territories and the establishment of an independent and sovereign
Palestinian state, no lasting peace is possible. Nothing short of that can put
an end to the cycle of violence and terror.
Throughout this year, with the increase of Israel’s repressive measures and
Palestinian resistance, we have been walking through the valley of the shadow
of death. In fact the words of the funeral service are very apt, “In the midst
of life we are in death…”. Human beings created in the image of the one
merciful and loving God deserve a much better life. Their humanity, of which
they have been stripped by grave injustice, must be restored and their dignity,
trampled and denied by oppression, must be reaffirmed.
One of the great marks of Christmas is its note of hope. For in the midst of
the utter darkness of a world of sin and evil, God shines on humanity with the
gift of hope in the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ – hope for a life that
can be lived with God and neighbor fully and abundantly, in peace and in love.
The final words of the song of Zechariah have a special meaning for us during
this Christmas season, “…to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the
shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:79). This is
our prayer as well as our plea.
At certain times in the struggle for peace, our people were able to see a
light at the end of the tunnel. Many of us today see a tunnel that has no end,
shrouded with gloom and utter darkness – the darkness of injustice and
humiliation. In the midst of such despair, our prayer to the incarnate Lord is
to give us that ray of light that will restore hope and confidence for a
brighter future for all the people of our land so that our feet will be guided
in the way of peace.
At this Christmas, we share with
you our prayer and we plead that you will do everything you can to help put an
end to the occupation of our country. Our people are longing for a life of
security and peace in their own state and wish the same for their Israeli
neighbors.
May
the joy, love, and peace of Christ reside with us all throughout the coming New
Year.
Naim Ateek
Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem
Letter from Pax Christi International to the UN
Security Council
of behalf of the protection of the Palestinian People.
S.E. M. MoctarOUANE
Ambassadeur, Représentant permanent du Mali auprès des Nations Unies -
President of the UN SecurityCouncil
111 EAST 69th Street
New-York NY 10021 - USA
info@mali-un.org
Reference: 650PLE Brussels,
13 December 2001
Dear
Sir,
Pax
Christi, the international Catholic peace movement, unequivocally condemns all
violent acts in Israel and Palestine over the last weeks. We deeply mourn the many
innocent lives lost and extend our condolences to family and friends of the
victims. We reject as inexcusable all attacks against civilians, no matter who
carries them out.
The
urgent quest for an end to violence between Israelis and Palestinians requires
that leaders refrain from acts of force and retaliation, as well as stop terror
or other violent acts against innocent civilians by those under their command.
Neither victory nor security can be gained through violence in whatever form.
Only a path of negotiations, in conformity to international law will lead to a
just and lasting peace.
Pax
Christi International shares the position held by the Presidency of the
European Union in its latest statement of 4 December 21001, that “destabilising
the Palestinian Authority would not help stop the cycle of violence. On the
contrary, the Palestinian Authority should be helped to assume all of its
responsibilities under the agreements it has signed.”
The International
Catholic Peace Movement calls on the UN for immediate steps and initiatives to
stop the violence and military actions from whatever side. According to Pax
Christi, both parties should go back to negotiating based on the framework of
international law and all the relevant UN resolutions and Geneva Conventions. The
core of the question is the Israeli military occupation of Palestine and the
Palestinian claims for their freedom and land.
Pax Christi International has some direct partners
in the Holy Land. Our organisation maintains close contact and enjoys positive
relationships with peace and human rights organisations in both the Israeli and
the Palestinian community. Our movement will continue to monitor the daily
situation in Israel – Palestine.
As the
President of the Security Council, we call on you, to debate as a matter of
emergency, the situation in Israel – Palestine. With due urgency, we ask the
Security Council of the United Nations to work to create an international
monitoring and observer force in the conflict region as an immediate way of
discouraging further violence.
Yours
Sincerely,
Etienne
De Jonghe
International
Secretary
Christmas Season in the Holy
Land
By Dr. Maria C. Khoury
As the Holy Land is once again watered by blood, Muslims, Jews and Christians are preparing to celebrate holy days that traditionally bring joy and happiness into our lives. However, following endless days of closure, two weeks of children missing school, three consecutive days of Israeli bombings and brutal aggression, we are experiencing fear, terror and more bloodshed in the land where the Prince of Peace preached the golden rule love your neighbor as yourself.
We remain speechless and shocked as the Israeli army invaded all Palestinian territories and began a major destructive campaign. We have prayed and hoped for so long that the United States and the European Union could force Israel to recognize the human rights of Palestinians in this new millennium. But, this week, the lowest point since the Oslo Peace Agreement, we are left with death and destruction all around us as President Bush gave Ariel Sharon a green light to get the "terrorists." But sometimes the rockets fall on schools like the ones yesterday that destroyed eight classrooms at my children's school in Ramallah, an elite private Arab-American school famous for graduating leaders in the Palestinian community such as Dr. Hanan Ashrawi. Has CNN ever mentioned that over one hundred schools have had a direct missile hit this last year? I'm just grateful my children were stuck at home because of the siege but the little girl in the town of Jenin last month was not so lucky, she was killed sitting in her classroom at her desk as the rocket hit her school.
We are facing a Christmas Season disappointed that the Oslo Peace Agreement failed, frustrated that the Israeli Army continues to bomb us non-stop, angry that innocent people keep dying on both sides, fed up that the Americans keep supplying the missiles, helicopters and F-16's that continue to destroy the Holy Land, aggravated that most of us are prisoners in our own homes, and miserable with curfews enforced by tanks and armored jeeps in Palestinian streets. Rockets and bullets in our neighborhoods replaced the lovely Christmas decorations again this year. The beautiful Christmas music is replaced by constant bombing and shooting that leaves children with sleepless nights. Children are not receiving Christmas gifts because many parents have been without jobs for 14 months. There are no Christmas Day parades especially as is customary in our village of Taybeh where the boy scouts announce the birth of Christ to the beat of their drums. There are no Christmas murals painted throughout the village to express joy and happiness because too many martyrs have given their life to free Palestine. There is just mourning and sadness, day after day.
The Grace of God sustains most people and our faith for a better future in the Holy Land will maintain the inner peace we need to survive since there is absolutely no peace in our world. No matter where we live or who we are, God calls us to serve Him with all of heart, mind and all of our strength. We are called to do good works on earth that give Glory to God. "…I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." (Ephesians 4:1) This calling for me means bringing awareness to the Palestinian struggle for a homeland in the land of Christ's birth. As we celebrate this Holy Season with so many families having lost loved ones, we beg the international community to put pressure on Israel to end the military occupation of Palestine. For the love of humanity, we urge people to call their senators and representatives to end the bloodshed and tragedy in the Holy Land. The land of our Christian roots deserves better than the current atrocities. Please make a difference in our lives and know the Israeli army is denying three million Palestinians their human rights to self-determination.
A twelve-year-old student in Ramallah for the English Writing Competition has expressed this urgent need well: "As I am a Palestinian child I have my own wish. My wish is to have our rights as any other children who live in a free country. All children all over the world have a safe home, safe school and safe roads, but we have nothing. I wish we had safe roads to travel from place to place with no fear, with no threatening of death, with no guns that are aimed at our little hearts. I wish I could sleep with soft music playing around, not with voices of bombing and shooting. I wish I could wake up on sounds of birds singing happily not on sounds of destroying houses." (Lara Murrar, 6th grade) Another twelve-year-old student in Nablus wrote: "My wish is the wish of all the Palestinians, all the Muslims and the Christians. It's the freedom of Palestine."
In conclusion, during these holy days, please hear these voices in the wilderness crying for freedom and independence and pray with us for peace in the Holy Land. "…with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26). May your holidays be filled with all of God's blessings and may peace and eternal love abide in your hearts.
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Thank you for your understanding & with best wishes from
Jerusalem Fr. Raed Abusahlia |