News,
articles and documents from the Holy Land
Issue No. 87 - Saturday, 28 July 2001
Dear Friends, Brothers
and Sisters,
I send this Olive Branch from my small village Zabbadeh which is in
Samaria 25 Km far from Nablous (Jacob’s well) where I spend only three days as
my annual vacation. As everywhere in our country it is not very easy to reach
this small village which is 104 kms far from Jerusalem. It’s always an
adventure to move because of the closures, the checkpoints. Imagine that I
stayed more than two hours and 35 minutes waiting at the checkpoint in order to
convince the soldiers to let me in to my village. The problem is not that I cannot
enter but is that I have an Israeli car with yellow plate. It is for my own safety
that I cannot enter because they are afraid that my car would be attacked by
the terrorist Palestinians! I have said always, that I am adult enough to be responsible
for my safety. I insisted for all that time and said that I have the right to
enter and even if I have to remain for the whole night I will stay and sleep in
my car. In fact, after discussing all these things with all the patience that I
have they let me in at 9.00 p.m while I arrived at 6.00 p.m.
I don’t know how I had the same intuition that this will happen with
me. In fact, I have the same morning written my Sunday weekly article for
Al-Quds newspaper about the same subject: borders and checkpoints that I hate
and hope that we will see the time in the near future to live without it at
all. I have suggested a mechanism how to deal with the soldiers at the
checkpoints which consists on dealing with them as human beings not as enemies so
that I oblige them to deal with me as human being not as terrorists… In fact, I
practiced this new plan at the checkpoint and I have succeeded to win the
battle even if after three hours of waiting. You see what kind of life we live
in this country!?
While I am writing you now this evening, I am very worried that
tomorrow (Sunday) will be another difficult day in Jerusalem especially that
the Israeli High Court allowed some extremist Jews to lay down the corner stone
of the so-called third Temple.. This is a real provocative step which might be
more dangerous that the step Mr. Sharon did when he entered the Mosques,
especially that the Haram El-Sahrif and Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest
place in Islam after the Mecca and the Medina. I thank that religion has always
played a negative role in this whole conflict, especially that religious
leaders were always involved in incitement instead of calling down the
situation. I will give the two last examples: Chief Rabbi Isarel Lau Gave
Religious Backing to Assassinations (as you see in the enclosed article); Rabbi
Ovadia Yousef attacked also the Arabs another time saying that they procreate
like ants and should go to hell. Imagine that one of our priests or heads of
the churches in Jerusalem say such things, what will be the reaction of the
world?!
You will find in today’s Olive Branch several documents:
1)
The Jerusalem Journal # 27 of Sister Mary telling
us about the experience of her visit to the village of Aboud that we told you
about before.
2)
Fr. William Shomali, our general administrator,
wrote us about the Medicine
program for the poor in the Holy Land which he is running since months.
3)
JOINT ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN DECLARATION: The
declaration is the result of meeting held two weeks ago, which
was initiated by Dr. Yossi Beilin and Yasser Abd Rabbo. Signatories
to the declaration include about 30 intellectuals and prominent political
activists from each side. Among the Israeli signatories are: Yossi
Beilin, Haim (Jumes) Oron, David Grossman, Amos Oz and A.B. Yehoshua. The
declaration is the first joint Israeli-Palestinian document drafted since
the start of the Intifada that addresses the core issues of a future
peace agreement. It also calls for specific measures aimed at ending the
violence and resuming negotiations.
4)
We send you a report and a press release about
the idea of the “Human shields in Beit Jala”.
5)
The news of the Chief Rabbi who gives Religious
Backing to Assassinations.
6) Friends and Partners Newsletter From the Lutheran Bishop in Jerusalem Bishop
Munib A. Younan The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and Palestine.
I am sure that I am storming you will all theses news and documents,
but, as I say always, I feel the duty to communicate it with you so that you
know and try to do whatever to help ending this abnormal situation which should
finish as soon as possible.
With my best wishes from Jerusalem the city of conflict. Fr.
Raed Abusahlia
Jerusalem Journal # 27
Sister Mary
July 28, 2001
There is a Christian hymn which has as its refrain:
"The rocks would shout if we kept still
and fail to preach the word
It
is the Lord's insistent will
that truth be told and heard."
It is in this frame of mind that news has come to you weekly about what is
happening, especially to the Christians of this land, who have endured so
much under the violence of the Israeli Occupation Forces. As I
have traveled through the Israeli controlled checkpoints from village
to village, I have hardly been able to comprehend the scope of the evil that
intrudes on the lives of the Palestinians. If "truth be told" it is
evil: assassinations (or liquidations, as they are called by the Israeli
government), confiscation of land, destruction of Palestinian agricultural
groves, orchards and fields, or the preventing of the Palestinians from
harvesting their crops, the closing off of their villages by blocking all roads
in and out, making major roads " for Jewish drivers only", settlers
destroying homes and terrifying families.... The list goes on and on.
This past Sunday I went to the lovely Christian village of Aboud, where all the
above is happening. In spite of the devastation of their olive groves,
the confiscation of their lands and the building of settlements on them,
or the complete isolation of the village - due to the Israeli blockage of
roads in and out, despite being shot at, there is such an inner strength and
dignity about these Christians, as they undergo the Israeli Occupation of
their land. It is a strength and dignity that reminds me of the Christian
martyrs, both in the early Church and through-out the ages. Perhaps it was the
ancient shrine to St. Barbara, high on the hilltop above the village, the
caused the connection in my mind. Yes, over the centuries, the
Palestinian Christrians have know persecution in this land, many have fled
for their lives, but some have stayed to keep the faith alive here in
the land of the birth, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Without them
the churches would be just museums for the pilgrims from other countries to
visit; there would be no living indigenous community of Christians in the
land. Even so, they are not allowed by the Israeli Occupation Forces to
travel to the major churches of our faith: the Basilica of the Holy
Sepulchre, the Basilica of the Annunciation, the church of the Nativity, the
church of the Dormition. Yet they have celebrated the feasts in
their village churches, lived the very truths that Jesus spoke about here
in this land. When they speak, I hear the sorrow of their souls, but they
do not harbor hatred in their hearts. Rather they personify a courage and
forgiveness toward their
oppressors, as
well as those who provide Israel with the weapons and money to confiscate their
land and build villas for settlers on it. The Palestinian Christians continue
to baptise their sons and daughters, pass on to them by faith and actions
what it means to be a Christian in this land; and they continue to allow their
children to enter the priesthood or religious life. It is an honor to be
part of their faith community as they struggle to make ends meet and hold on to
an inner peace in the most trying of circumstances.
We Catholics all over the world owe the Palestinian Christians of the Holy Land
a great deal of gratitude. Please keep that in mind as you read or see the
news coming out of this land. The situation here has deteriorated to such
an extent that now even the mainstream media are beginning to write about
certain events which for the past ten months only got the attention of the
church, of human rights and peace groups.
"It is the Lord's insistent will
that truth be told and heard."
Medicine program for the poor
in the Holy Land
By Fr. William Shomali
During the last
sad events in the Holy Land, the Order of the Holy Sepulchre and especially the
German Lieutenancy moved quickly to offer humanitarian help to the needy in the
Holy Land. Besides distributing food and and repairing the destroyed houses,
there was a need to offer medicines to those in need. In cooperation between
the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Mr Bassem Khoury, chairman of Dar Ashifa
pharmaceutical company and especially thanks to the financing offered by Mr
Michael Wirtz, Commander of Aachen section and chairman of the famous German
pharmaceutical company called Grunenthal, a new fund was created to distribute medicines
through 6 pharmacies in Ramallah, BirZeit, Bethlehem, Beit Jala, Beit Sahour
and Jerusalem. 5 centers (LP, Caritas Bethlehem and Jerusalem, Sisters of
charity and sisters of Saint Joseph in Bethlehem) are authorized to give to the
poor patients a filled form which allows them to go to one of the
above-mentioned pharmacies to pick the medicine without paying. Dar Ashifa pays
for them from the fund of Mr Michael Wirtz.
The conditions
are simple: it is for the poor, given according to a medical prescription, with
preference given to the locally made medicine - they cost less-. The medicine
is given for one month and renewable if the disease is chornical. If the
presciption is high, the patient is advised to go to an ensurance company.
It is good to
mention that the pharmacies dealing with that program accepted to get the minimum
of earning.
So far around
400 patients took advantage of the program. We are still at the beginning.
Nicolas Abu
Ghannam
16-4-2001: While
he was playing near his house in Beit Jala, Nicolas Abu Ghannam, 5 years old,
unique brother to his 6 sisters and student in the Latin Patriarchate
kindergarten, received an Israeli bullet in his hand. Hospitalized in the
AlMakased Islamic hospital in Jerusalem, he had a 7-hour operation during which
doctors tried to save his hand. After several days, it was sure that the
operation failed, the gangarene penetrated the bones and Nicolas hand had to be
cut. Transferred to Hadassa hospital, the doctors cut his hand to save the
patient.
Nicolas is now
in Beit Jala. He tries to live his childhood. He participated in a summer camp
the last days. But he is not the same and does not feel as any other child. He
knows that he is without one hand and that he has to cope with this reality all
his life.
The catholic
organization gave an emergency help to Nicolas. May be the help should
continue. It would be good if he can have an artificial arm. His cousin Amal
who is theurapist can give more details. She teaches at Bethlehem University.
Her number phone is 0097222765532.
JOINT ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN
DECLARATION
July 25th, 2001
Leading Israeli and Palestinian intellectuals and political activists met today
to present a joint declaration addressing the core issues of the conflict.The
full text of the declaration follows
NO TO BLOODSHED, NO TO OCCUPATION
YES TO NEGOTIATIONS, YES TO PEACE
We, the undersigned Israelis and Palestinians, are
meeting in the most difficult of circumstances for both our peoples. We come
together to call for an end to bloodshed, an end to occupation, an urgent
return to negotiations and the realization of peace between our peoples. We
refuse to comply with the ongoing deterioration in our situation, with the
growing list of victims, the suffering and the real possibility that we may all
be drowned in a sea of mutual hostility.
We hereby raise our voices and implore all people of goodwill to return to
sanity, to re-discover compassion, humanity, and critical judgment and to
reject the unbearable ease of the descent into fear, hatred, and calls for revenge.
In spite of everything we still believe in the humanity of the other side, that
we have a partner for peace and that a negotiated solution to the conflict
between our peoples is possible. Mistakes have been made on all sides, the
trading of accusations and pointing of fingers is not a policy and is no
substitute for serious engagement.
The impression that exists in both communities that 'time is on our side' is
illusory. The passage of time benefits only those who do not believe in peace.
The longer we wait, the more innocent blood will be spilt, the greater will be
the suffering and hope will be further eroded. We must move urgently to
re-build our partnership, to end the de-humanization of the other, and to
revive the option of a just peace that holds out promise for our respective
futures.
The way forward lies in international legitimacy and the implementation of
UNSCR 242 and 338 leading to a 2-State solution based on the 1967 borders,
Israel and Palestine living side-by-side, with their respective capitals in
Jerusalem. Solutions can be found to all outstanding issues that should be fair
and just to both sides and should not undermine the sovereignty of the
Palestinian and Israeli states as determined by their respective citizens, and
embodying the aspirations to statehood of both peoples, Jewish and Palestinian.
This solution should build on the progress made between November 1999 and
January 2001.
The immediate need is for the full and accurate implementation of the
Recommendations of the Mitchell Committee, including: the cessation of
violence, a total freeze on settlement activity, the implementation of
outstanding agreements and a return to negotiations. This process needs to be
monitored by an objective third party.
We see it as our duty to work together and each of us in their own communities,
to put a halt to the deterioration in our relations, to rebuild trust, belief
and the hope for peace.
Palestinian signatories:
Yasser Abed Rabbo, Minister of Culture and Information;
Hisham Abdul-Razek, Minister of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs;
Nabil Amr, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs;
Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, PLC Member, Secretary-General of the Palestinian Initiative for Global Dialogue and Democracy;
Hakam Balawi, PLC Member;
Dr. Sari Nuseibeh, President, Al-Quds University;
Dr. Gabi Baramki, Bir Zeit University;
Hafez al-Barghouti, Editor, al-Hayat al-Jadida Daily;
Dr. Nazmi al-Ju'beh, Director-General, Riwaq;
Dr. Salim Tamari, Director, Institute for Jerusalem Studies;
Suleiman Mansour, Director, Al-Wasiti Art Center;
Dr. Mahadi Abdul-Hadi, director PASSIA;
George Ibrahim, Director, Al-Qasaba Theater;
Sufian Abu-Zaideh, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Civil Affairs;
Jamal Zaqout, Director-General, Ministry of Civil Affairs;
Sama'an Khoury, Director-General, Palestine Media Center;
Dr. Samir Abdallah, Director, Pal-Trade;
Samir Hulieleh, Manager, Nassar Investment Co.;
As'ad al-As'ad, Writer;
Abdul-Rahman Awad, Writer;
Samir Rantisi, Media Advisor to the Minister of Culture and Information;
Nisreen Haj-Ahmad, Lawyer;
Rami Shehaded, Lawyer;
Ghaith Al-Omari, Lawyer
Israeli signatories:
Dr. Janet Aviad, Peace Now;
Chaim Oron, former Minister, Meretz;
Prof. Arie Arnon, Peace Now;
Yossi Beilin, former Minister, Labor;
Prof. Menachem Brienker, Hebrew University;
Prof. Galia Golan, Peace Now;
David Grossman, author;
Dr. Yossi Dahan;
Prof. Moshe Halberthal, Hebrew University;
AB Yehoshua, author;
Prof. Yirmyahu Yovel, Hebrew University;
Prof. Dan Yaacobson, Tel Aviv University;
Prof. Ephi Ya'ar, Steinmatz Institute for Peace;
Daniel Levy, ECF;
Ronit Matalon, author;
Prof. Avishai Margalit, Hebrew University;
S. Yizhar, author;
Prof. Sami Samuha, Haifa University;
Amos Oz, author;
Ron Pundak, ECF, Peres Peace Center;
Yair Tsaban, Former Minister, Meretz;
Dr. Nissim Calderon;
Prof. Ephraim Kleinman;
Dr. Menachem Klein, Bar Ilan University;
Dr. Aviad Kleinberg; Adv.
Tzali Reshef, Peace Now;
Prof. Yuli Tamir, former Minister, Labor
Further information: Uri Zaki, 972-53-690631
Human shields in Beit Jala
The
International solidarity movement in cooperation with PCR and the National and
Islamic emergency committee in Bethlehem district, organized a home stay for 15
internationals from Europe, USA, and Canada in Beit Jala for the past two
nights the group is staying with families in the homes that are regularly
bombarded by the Israeli Army. The group is taking a practical action to
demonstrate the urgent need for protecting Palestinian civilians from the
Israeli war machinery. The following press release explains their action and
believes.
As official
international protection is not in function. we invite more groups to form
peoples human shields in all areas subject to Israeli military aggression.
PRESS RELEASE
Beit Jala
24. July 2001
In the last few weeks, the Palestinian population of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip has been suffering a sharp escalation of Israeli military aggression and colonial settler violence. This includes heavy shelling of civilian targets from land and air, territorial incursions, systematic assassinations of Intifada activists, their family members and bystanders, indiscriminate shooting of unarmed demonstrators, as well as home demolitions, destruction of agricultural land, trees and crops, continuous restriction of movement and harassment at checkpoints - as a part of a deliberate economic blockade and deprivation of basic services.
The Palestinian people and its
political leadership, the Palestinian National Authority, by no means have the
capabilities to defend themselves and their property against the extremely
superior Israeli army apparatus. The Palestinian people have been consistently
calling for an international force of protection, under which to implement the
mutually agreed upon recommendations of the Mitchell Commission.
The heads of the G8 member states
recently responded to this urgent request with the suggestion of dispatching
international observers. But the Israeli government, however, only accepts an
expansion of the CIA mission, being a part of the existing trilateral security
committee, has rejected even this request.
In the absence of an official force
of international protection, which is desperately needed under the present
circumstances, a group of European, Canadian and American citizens living in the
Occupied Palestinian Territories have felt the need to address the Emergency
Committee of National and Islamic Forces in the Bethlehem district. They asked
to spend one week with affected Palestinian families in the village of Beit
Jala, which has been at the forefront of confrontation against aggression and
land confiscations used for the establishment of the settlement of Gilo.
Thereby they wish to act as a ”human shield” for the protection of the
Palestinian civilian population there.
We believe that the urgency of the
deployment of an international protection force for the Palestinians is the
first priority at this moment, in order to avoid any further painful and
useless bloodshed. However, the international guests and their Palestinian
hosts agree to support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to full
political independence and self-determination. In particular, this includes
their right to resist against occupation in all its forms, by means of popular
resistance in accordance with the 4th Geneva Convention, and the
evacuation of the Israeli settlements established in all parts of Palestinian
territory conquered in the 1967 war. It also includes the Palestinian demand
for an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the recognition
of the right of return for Palestinian refugees.
Chief
Rabbi Gives Religious Backing to Assassinations
Jordan
Times July 27, 2001
TEL AVIV (AP)- Israel's much-criticised practice of
assassinating Palestinian activists has the full backing of Jewish
religious law, according to a statement Thursday from Israeli
Chief Rabbi Israel Meir Lau.
The policy has been condemned by the US State Department and
human rights groups. The most recent
case was Wednesday, when
Israeli occupation forces assassinated Hamas activist Salah Darwazeh
by firing five anti-tank missiles at his car near Nablus in the West Bank.
Lau has been lecturing around the country in recent
days, explaining the religious justification for
"defensive"
actions taken by Israel's government, according to the statement. It uses the
terms "foiling" and "interception" in reference
to Israeli military measures.
Lau's spokesman, Yitzhak Rath, said "those are just synonyms for targeted
killing."
In 10 months of clashes, 132 people have been killed on the
Israeli side. During the same period, 533 people have been killed on the
Palestinian side, many of them children.
Quoting ancient sages and Biblical passages, Lau explained that
Israel is now fighting a "war of commandment,"
mandated by God. He said that those engaged in the
war are exempt from other commandments, a highly unusual ruling.
Lau referred to an often-quoted Jewish precept, "He who comes to kill
you, rise up and kill him first." He added, "this applies only
to murderers and those who send them, not to innocent
civilians." While justifying whatever
action the government adopts in its struggle against the Palestinians
living under the yoke of Israeli occupation, Lau stated that private
citizens must not take up arms. Last week three Palestinians, including a baby,
were shot and killed in the West Bank, apparently by Israelis. Some
suspect that it was retaliation by Jewish settlers for Palestinian
ambushes.
Since May, Israel has been following a policy it calls
"restraint," avoiding large-scale military operations and air
strikes against Palestinian targets, but carrying out smaller
operations, like targeted killing of activists.
Palestinians say more than 40 people have been assassinated in such
Israeli operations.
Ran Cohen, an ex-army colonel and a leader of the secular Meretz Party, said
Lau went too far in his ruling.
Cohen said stopping "terror" attacks
and intercepting activists is legitimate, but "targeted killing
is a crime."
Cohen praised Lau for telling civilians not to attack
Palestinians, but added, "I regret the fact that he did not have enough
courage to decide what the limits of government policy are."
Lau said that according to a passage in the Talmud, a sacred
collection of ancient commentaries on
the Bible,
if enemies approach a border village even just to steal, an army must be
mobilised against them, even on the Jewish Sabbath. "All the more so when
it is a matter of life and death," Lau concluded.
(c) AP and Jordan Times
Friends and Partners
Newsletter
From the Lutheran Bishop in
Jerusalem
Bishop Munib A. Younan
The Evangelical Lutheran Church
in Jordan and Palestine
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
http://www.holyland-lutherans.org July 2001
- Results of the 12th
Grade Exam -Tawjili
- Permit of our
Pastor in Amman
- Memorial Service
of Faisal Husseni
- Youth Retreat
- Reflections and
an Appeal
Results of the 12th Grade Exam
One hundred of our students sat for the Palestinian twelfth grade governmental
exam called Tawjili. They are from
our three Lutheran high schools at Talitha Kumi, Beit Sahour, and Ramallah. As a bishop, I feel thankful to God
that 97 out of a hundred received passing marks and 28 got marks higher than 90
out of 100. This gives us a boost
that our schools are giving a high quality education. We are grateful to the Lord for their results but we are
also thankful to all of you who are assisting the students at our schools. We are proud of our headmasters and
teachers.
We
have written earlier concerning the difficulties for our students this year.
The difficulty in concentrating on studies with nightly shellings especially in
Beit Jala. The difficulty even in
reaching schools with many barriers and roadblocks placed on the main
roads. The difficulty caused by
worry over completing tuition payments at a time when our people are living on
an average of $2.00 a day. We say to all of you, your work did not go in
vain. Personally, if I may show
that I am a proud father, I am also grateful to God that my son Andrea received
a 90.4% score.
We
are also pleased with the graduation of 30 graduates from the Lutheran World
Federation Vocational Training Center.
The students completed a two-year technical training program, which will
make them competitive in the job market and able to contribute to the
Palestinian economy. Next year the
center will graduate the first group of women completing their two-year
program. The women are training in telecommunications and electronic skills,
and may enroll in any of the programs available to the men. Nearly all of this year’s graduates
have already been offered jobs in their chosen field.
Permit
of our Pastor in Amman
One month ago, our
pastor in Amman, pastor Samer Azar was not permitted to re-enter Jordan for ten
days. The reason is that the
Jordanian authorities launched a new law not allowing West Bank Residents to
stay in Jordan for more than one month at a time. I was obliged to go to Jordan and meet my contacts with the
Ministry of Interior and the Officials in the Palace as well as the Grand Judge
of the Islamic Court, who is in fact the Minister of Religion. Our argument was based on historic
status quo agreements, which allow Christian clergy unrestrained deployment
without any hindrances. They can obtain
a special permit. We are thankful
that the Jordanian officials were cooperative and heeded to our plea. I hope this matter will be over soon,
otherwise, there will be a crisis concerning the pasturing of our congregation
in Amman.
Memorial Service
of Faisal Husseini
On July 17, 2001, the
Husseini family and Orient House invited us to the memorial service held after
forty days of the death of the late Faisal Husseni, the former holder of the
Jerusalem portfolio. Professor
Fred Strickert from Wartburg College, Iowa and myself left at 17:45 hours to
Orient House to represent the Lutheran Church. The church car was stopped near the American Colony Hotel
and made to wait for ten minutes until the Israeli security allowed the car to
pass. After parking the car, the
security at one of the entrances forbade us to enter by claiming, “There are
problems.” I said, “We are not
going to problems but to pay our condolences.” “No, it is forbidden, please, go
from the other entrance”, the border police said. As we complied, the officer there told me, “It is forbidden
to enter”. I naively said, “Why,
who ordered?” “Our captains”, he
said. They allow only the
diplomatic corps and the press but no one else. I said, “I cannot understand, that the minimum basic human
right is to pay condolences to the bereaved. There is no state in the world that forbids the clergy to
pay condolences except you. To pay
condolences is not political but merely a religious act.” He insisted no entry to us. Then Prof. Strickert attempted to show
a U.S. Religious Press card. The
officer did not recognize it. My
VIP status card from the State of Israel also was not recognized. Both of us stressed the necessity of
our entrance and continued to appeal.
After
twenty minutes, the Armenian Patriarchate Representative, Archbishop Aris
Shirvinian arrived with his car and joined the debate with them. One of the soldiers tried to be lenient
to allow us to pass but the officer came forward and said, “Didn’t I tell you,
half an hour ago that it is forbidden.”
Archbishop Shirvinian insisted that we must enter and said, “You did not
invite us and therefore should not forbid us from entering. Now both of us will
enter.” The officer with many
soldiers formed a human chainlike barrier that was inches from our faces and
even brushing up against us. Archbishop said, “We will enter”. I said, “Do not dare to use any
violence against us.” The officer
was yelling, “Well, we have been kind to you.” Someone standing by said, “Isn’t yelling at a Church leader
disrespectful and violent?”
This
tension continued until the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, the Spanish Consul
General, the European Consul Generals and the USA Deputy Consul General
arrived. I told them the
situation. They were so livid that
they started calling to make contact by cell phone. Furthermore, they insisted that they would not enter the
memorial service without the Lutheran Bishop and the Armenian Archbishop. After another half-hour standoff, one
of the police generals finally announced that we could enter but not Prof. Strickert. Then we waited until the Arab Israeli
Knesset members said that the Mufti of Jerusalem was forbidden to enter. Then with shouting debates and
arguments, more Israeli forces gathered as if we were in a battlefield. After a long time, entry was secured
for the Mufti. We exchanged kisses
and held the hands of the two bishops, the Arab Knesset members entering
triumphantly to observe this traditional memorial service.
I,
myself ask, “Why should we be harassed in this way?” If we the religious leaders, who are people of peace, are
treated in this way, how are the grassroots treated? Why should we go through such an ordeal? After one and a half hours of arguments
and hard feelings, one enters to a memorial service where only less than 1/10th
of the invited are present? Where
is the confidence building? This
does not bring peace nor justice, but creates hard feelings and even animosity.
Israeli security should learn that sovereignty is not by force and power, but
only by justice and confidence building.
Youth Retreat
As
we were planning to have our annual retreat, we found out that we cannot meet
in the West Bank nor in Israel proper, due to the closures and permits. The only place where we could meet
would be in Amman, Jordan. It is
strange but that is the reality.
As we were planning, even that option did not hold as the bridge
crossing was forbidden to the West Bank I.D. holders. What to do?
This is part of our every day suffering.
Reflections and an Appeal
Some
may ask me, “How do you look at the situation?” I would like to reflect the general feeling of the people. Although the senior Israeli ministers
are giving a declaration that no military strikes will take place, the people
feel different from the everyday practice. They are afraid of a heavy military strike or that the Israeli
Military will occupy Palestinian Authority areas. Everyday, we are witnessing assassinations or
shellings. It seems there are
continuous low-intensity attacks aimed to strike directly to the heart of
Palestinians, which creates a great deal of pain and fear. Sheikh Najeeb
Jaabari called me last week asking for material and medical aid. He told me that the settlers were
occupying some houses in Hebron and the Israeli Army was negotiating that they
may leave. Then the settlers burnt
the house they occupied and left.
Today, a group that calls itself “Safety on the Road”, an unknown
movement of settlers, killed 3 Palestinians, including a 3-month old baby. We are afraid of revenge and counter
revenge. We are afraid of a
massacre. We are also repeating
the question raised by the Israeli Channel 1 News: “Why are the perpetrators of
the crime not being held by the authorities?”
We
ask you to take responsibility for what is happening in our country and not
just participate as spectators. We
must act deliberately to stop the massacres and a potential genocide. We must act holding the hope that
implementing the international legitimacy is the path to a just peace and
reconciliation. As a church leader
in Jerusalem, I call upon the living conscience in Israelis and Palestinians
and good will of politicians and religious leaders to assume their prophetic
role. Please, do not allow hatred,
animosity, and revenge and counter revenge to deepen. Please think of our future generations. They deserve just peace, each in their
own state. Are you ready to join
us in working for this goal?
May God bless you all.
+ Bishop Munib A. Younan
The Lutheran Bishop in
Jerusalem
-----------------------------------------------------
The Evangelical Lutheran Church
P.O.Box 14076
JERUSALEM 91140
Tel: +972 - 2 - 6276111; Fax: 6285764
E-mail: ga_elcj@netvision.net.il
Website: www.holyland-lutherans.org
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Important note to our dear readers We really hope
that you enjoy what we try to send you and find it useful, and if you need
any further information, please feel free to contact us:
nonviolence@writeme.com * But, you have to take in consideration
that this newsletter is not an official newsletter of the Latin Patriarchate
of Jerusalem; * Only the documents signed by the
Patriarch himself, express an official position, but all the other news,
articles and documents express the personal opinion of their authors; * I remain the only responsible of the
presentation and the editorials of this newsletter, which is wanted to be a
simple instrument of information without any pretension; * We don’t side with anybody, we only
side with the truth, and strive for human rights, justice, peace and
reconciliation for everybody as usual. Thank you
for your understanding & Best wishes from Jerusalem Fr. Raed Abusahlia |