News,
articles and documents from the Holy Land
Issue No. 181 - Saturday, 30 November 2002
Dear Friends, Brothers
and Sisters,
We had last
Wednesday a small group from Japan in Taybeh. It was very interesting to know
that our brothers and Sisters in Japan are worried also about the Christian
presence in the Holy Land, therefore they formed an association to help our
children in our schools, and since they receive also the Olive Branch and
translate some of the news and documents in Japanese, they wanted to come and
visit us and see they reality with their own eyes. I was very touched by their
simplicity and kindness, especially during the prayer, they are really very
pious.
I was also very
glad to sell them the first product of our “Taybeh Olive Oil” that we began to
produce now and put in battle with special home made labels. Now we don’t have
only “Taybeh beer” but also “Taybeh Olive Oil”. You know we do this? I am not a
businessman, but when I saw that many of our students are paying their school
tuition with oil, and that I have now more than 150 (17 liters) olive cans, I
decided to do this and prepare a big quantity of battles in order to sell to
the few pilgrims or visitors who come to visit us in these days. I hope to find
another markets anywhere else, because we have the capacity to produce thousands
of battles if we want to help our community to sell their oil.
Everybody is
worried about what is happening in Bethlehem area since it was recently invaded
for the eight time, and the curfew is imposed since more than eight days
without lifting it even for some hours to let the people go to by their food
from the markets. I had lest Wednesday to go to Beit Jala and leave my car
outside the town and infiltrate through narrow roads in order to reach our Seminary
at the center of the city and give my History of Philosophy lessons to our
Seminarians.
Many are
discussing if the invasion and closure will end before Christmas. Some of them
are speaking are speaking about the cancellation of Christmas celebrations in
Bethlehem in this years as a sign of protest against the invasion and the reoccupation
of the Town of the birthplace of Jesus. You will find herewith the news about Arafat
saying: Christmas has been cancelled in Bethlehem, and the answer of the
Custody of the Holy Land saying: “Bethlehem will celebrate Christmas after all”.
We don’t have any official position about this subject because our Patriarch
was absent during the last week attending the annual spiritual retreat of our
priests in Jordan, but my personal opinion is the following: If the Israeli
army will stay in Bethlehem until Christmas and if Bethlehem will remain under
curfew, this will mean that celebrating Christmas will almost impossible under
these circumstances when our own community will not be able to go to the
Nativity Church, which will mean also that this is a clear violation of our
right religious freedom and the free access to our Holy Places. Therefore,
pressures should be exercised from the International community and the worldwide
churches in order to oblige Israel to leave the city in peace and let our
people celebrate Christmas. I think that such pressure will give fruits because
Israel don’t want a scandal or give a bad image in front of the world.
Any way, we have
the right to celebrate our religious feasts especially in these difficult days
and in particular in Bethlehem and we will try our best to do that even if it
will be under curfew and closure. This is a very logical simple right given to
every human being in this world by God himself and by the International law.
You might say: why you are making out of this a big story? But I say that it is
a big story when you see a whole population under curfew and closure since long
time in front of the eyes of the world and nobody is saying or doing anything
as if it is normal… My dear friends, this doesn’t exist anywhere in this world
in the modern time, it exists only here in this Holy Land by the last force of occupation
in the world.
Almost all today’s
documents are about this issue:
1) Letter from Bethlehem (40) from Toine van
Teeffelen describing the life in Bethlehem under curfew and asking at the end: “When,
and what, will be the end of all this?”
2) An Urgent Appeal from Bethlehem District
signed by the municipalities of Bethlehem, Beit Jala, Beit Sahour, Doha and
Al-Kader.
3) The news about Arafat saying: Christmas
has been cancelled in Bethlehem, and the answer of the Custody of the Holy Land
saying: “Bethlehem will celebrate Christmas after all”.
4) Fr. Robert Waller is writing “Plenty of
Room in the Inn” which is his own reflection after his last visit to the Holy
Land and to Taybeh also.
As we begin the
advent time which prepares us to Christmas, we call you to join us in a deep
prayer for peace in the Holy Land hoping that the Price of Peace will grant us
and his land HIS PEACE.
Best wishes from
Taybeh Fr.
Raed Abusahlia
Letter from Bethlehem
(40)
Toine van Teeffelen
November 30, 2002
The problem with
curfews is not just that you can't leave your house but also that you don't
know how long they last. Early this week the foreign press announced that the Bethlehem
curfew would stay until December 30 but yesterday local TV said that it might be
till December 10. "So it's after the Moslem Eid al-Fitr and before
Christmas," Mary comments, "They want to drive a wedge between the Moslems
and the Christians." The real lifting of the curfew, as well as the
shopping hours, are usually announced at only the last moment, and only then
people start planning. After Wednesday night opening hours were announced for
Thursday afternoon. Immediately the head of the local branch of the Ministry of
Education called all school students to go to school during those opening
hours. Next day morning, in a routine play with people's nerves, the army
called off what they earlier had announced to be the opening hours, apparently
because they did not want to have young people gathering at schools. Then at
one o'clock the same opening hours were announced once again but of course too
late for organizing the school lessons. Psychological warfare. Anyway, tells
Fuad, many parents do not want to have their children going to school under
these circumstances. He too wants to continue the institute's work as much as
possible during the limited time available by doing remedial teaching for
students and visiting the families who have been hard hit, including those
whose house has been demolished, or a son arrested. Father Louis, too, is making
such visits in the community.
The economy is
going from bad to worse. Shopkeepers see that they might be unable to sell
their Eid al-Fitr and Christmas wares. One shopkeeper tells Mary that she
should not be afraid for a curfew during Christmas. For sure the feast will be
celebrated, and therefore she should see and buy his decorations. But Mary observes
that shopkeepers increasingly play with the prices. The number of robberies
increases as well. The shop for mobile telephones of Fuad's son in law was
robbed for over 10.000 dollar during the first day of the curfew when people
were yet unprepared to arrange their shops while rushing home. Elias sometimes
tresspasses the curfew to check whether nothing happened to the computers at
the institute. His son, who studies in the northern West Bank, has run out of
money and Elias looks for special ways to bring him money since the banks are
closed.
Obviously, the
political situation, the fact that youth don't have much to do and are closed
up (imagine the many big families who can't leave their small rooms), the
poverty, and a host of other factors add to the enormous pressure which
presently falls upon the community relations. While walking up into the main
Madbasseh street, Mary saw a toshe (quarrel) at a falaffel place; about
nothing she later heard, but the atmosphere and people's faces were so
threatening that she decided not to do shopping and return home. The tension is
also palpable in the refugee camps which are crowded and bear a large share of
the arrests. Opposite my house I observe, through the window of the room where
I am working on the computer, the youth of 'Azza camp throwing stones to
passing tanks from the top of their crowded apartment buildings. The tanks or
jeeps sometimes stop, soldiers come out to shoot in the air, then go back in
their vehicles, and continue their way. Afterwards the youth come out again.
Day in day out doing nothing else than throwing stones at one another or at tanks
must no doubt affect them psychologically. At one point a group of youngsters entered
our courtyard and somebody threw the plants from our veranda on the ground. I
heard one boy shouting adjnabi (foreigner) while another, as I could see
while peeping out of the window, imitated shooting a machine gun. I phoned Mary
who came and immediately went into the camp to speak with the sheikh who
often helps her carrying her shopping bags home. On her way the kids threw pebbles
at her (Jara later commented: "Why didn't they throw them at the
Israelis?") They called her masikhiyeh, Christian. Mary told them
that we had respected each other for two years and that we wanted to continue
to keep the relation like that. Later, when I myself received some pebbles while
walking to my family in law, I approached the kids and started talking with
them. Yes, they wouldn't do it again. Hundred meters down they put on small
fires and even took old stones out of the street walls to create obstacles for the
passing army jeeps. Also windows at the end of the street were broken; the
distinction between resistance and vandalism barely existent. It is obvious
that with each new long curfew such behaviour will increase. I wonder whether
it is the army's aim to head for a community break-down, which is not
unthinkable. I decide to make plans to have more contacts with the camp and see
whether we can involve them in one of the institute's projects. When I tell
this to a friend, he says "Typically you, thinking that projects solve anything."
*
* *
I am glad to
hear the neighbouring cock crying. During long moments of the day a complete
and unnatural silence reigns. The muezzin echoes sound louder than
normal. As always during curfews you have to discipline yourself in a daily
rhythm because otherwise you loose your idea of time, the hour, the day. Mary
sometimes tresspasses the curfew to get out or to have the feeling of getting
out. She is only afraid for tanks, not for military jeeps, she says. Two days
ago she happened to walk along a tank at the university hill which stopped an
ambulance car. Fortunately the soldiers let Mary, her mother and Jara pass by
undisturbed. In such circumstances Mary always immediately tells Jara that she
shouldn't be afraid. She was "a little" afraid, Jara said afterwards
but it otherwise didn't seem to bother her. Tamer also wants to go out, he moves
or removes everything nearby when seeing the sun rays through the door window. Mary
walks with him in the garden. His laugh sounds like "gh…gh", as Ernie's
in Sesame Street, a laugh which is very dear to us.
*
* *
At our family in
law we decorate the Christmas tree, to the great excitement of both Tamer and
Jara. Jara wants to hear at least three long fairy tales a day and preferably
act them out as well, she the princess and I all the other roles. During the
first five days of the curfew, just before going asleep, and after many treasure
hunts, dangers and weddings, she was used to ask Mary "Bukra fi
madrase?" (Is there school tomorrow?), breaking my heart each time. Then
she resigned, stopped asking, which gas been even more painful.
Staying the
night at my mother's in law I hear the peaceful, regular sighs of Tamer, Jara
and Mary around me, and also the soft winter rain outside. I stare at the
ceiling. When, and what, will be the end of all this?
Urgent Appeal from
Bethlehem District
Date: 11/29/2002
At the time when we are preparing to receive the Holy Feast of Ramadan and the Glorious Christmas Season with all the noble meanings and values carried by these two holy occasions that inspire tranquility and peace in the souls, and as we are trying to replace the smile on our children’s lips and heal the wounds caused by the grave human and physical losses after five Israeli previous incursions to Bethlehem Governorate, the Israeli troops surprised us at dawn of Friday 22/11/2002 with a new incursion to Bethlehem disregarding the feelings of believers ,Moslems and Christians alike and nullifying the Bethlehem First understanding concluded last August with our Palestinian National Authority.
The Israeli tanks and armored
vehicles invaded the cities, the villages and the refugee camps of Bethlehem
devastating, killing innocents and launching a wide detention campaign amongst
their people. The Israeli troops have demolished houses, destructed
organizations and infrastructure, diffused fear and imposed collective
punishments, in particular curfew the matter which led to tragic deterioration
in the living conditions of our people and a total paralyzation to all aspects
of life in Bethlehem governorate to include factories, commercial and tourist
shops, hospitals, schools, universities, churches and mosques.
Added to that comes the declaration of Bethlehem as a closed military zone until the 30th of December 2002, and what this declaration implies of risks represented in the Israeli government’s intention to continue and escalate its aggression on Bethlehem. This will certainly deprive our people from performing their religious and social duties during this festive season and will prevent pilgrims and tourists from reaching the town of the Nativity to celebrate Christmas, which we consider an unprecedented measure in the history of our Holy town.
As we strongly condemn this flagrant aggression on Bethlehem which has no
justification except to achieve Israeli internal interests according to a
programmed plan on the eve of the Israeli elections, and as we denounce these
brutal practices that contradict with simple human rights and all international
conventions, we appeal to the U.S government, to the European Union, the United
Nations Organization, to the religious bodies and to both the Islamic and the
Arab worlds to assume their historical responsibilities towards our Palestinian
just cause. We call upon them to quickly and effectively intervene with the
Israeli government for the sake of immediate withdrawal of its forces from our
cities, villages and refugee camps and to stop this oppression and this savage
attack perpetrated in front of the whole world against a people who’s only
guilt is his yearning to live in freedom and dignity on his own land under a
just and comprehensive peace according to the security council resolutions and
the international legitimacy.
The Municipality of Bethlehem – The Municipality of Beit Jala – The Municipality of Beit Sahour – The Municipality of Doha – The Municipality of Al Khader
Arafat: Christmas has been cancelled in Bethlehem
Posted on Thursday, November 28
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat announced on
Wednesday that this year's Christmas celebrations have been cancelled in
Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, because of Israel's military closure of the
holy town
News 24, Nov, 27, 2002
"The most dangerous escalation is the closure of Bethlehem, which will
last until the end of December. There won't be any Christmas," Arafat told
reporters outside his battered compound in the West Bank town of Ramallah.
The re-occupation of Bethlehem constitutes an "international crime"
about which "the world is staying silent, it is hard to believe!" he
said.
The Israeli army re-occupied Bethlehem, in the southern West Bank, last Friday
after a suicide bombing left 11 Israelis dead on Jerusalem commuter bus.
It was later declared a closed military zone under an order which is valid
until December 30. Residents are under curfew and journalists are not supposed
to have access to the town, although both measures have only been loosely
enforced.
The vice-governor of Bethlehem, Mounir Salameh, confirmed that most Christmas
celebrations have been officially cancelled, but that the traditional midnight
mass at the Church of the Nativity was still likely to go ahead.
Arafat traditionally attends the mass, but was prevented from doing so last
year by Israel. There was also a prolonged standoff between the army and
Palestinian militants holed up inside the church, which eventually saw 13 of
them sent into exile.
Bethlehem Expects to See Religious Celebrations for
Christmas
JERUSALEM, NOV. 29, 2002 (Zenit.org).- Bethlehem will celebrate
Christmas after all.
After Yasser Arafat announced the cancellation of secular Christmas festivities
in Bethlehem due to the Israeli occupation, the spokesman of the Franciscan
Custody of the Holy Land clarified that the religious feasts will be observed.
Father David Jaeger told Vatican Radio, "There is no intention on our part
to suspend religious observances in Bethlehem for Holy Christmas."
"These celebrations," he said, "are protected by the juridical
regime of the status quo guaranteed especially by Article 4 of the basic
agreement between the Vatican and the Palestine Liberation Organization, as
well as by the analogous Article 4 of the fundamental agreement between the
Vatican and the state of Israel."
Plenty of Room in the
Inn
In
a few weeks we will remember that Mary wrapped Jesus in swaddling clothes and
laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
If
Mary and Joseph were carrying the pre-born Jesus to Bethlehem today, they would
find that there would be plenty of room in the inn, but they wouldn’t be able
to get into Bethlehem, because it would be under military closure and curfew.
And if, by good luck and sheer determination, they were able to skirt around
the military checkpoints and roadblocks by climbing over hills and through
fields, they would find the inn closed – not full, but closed for lack of
visitors.
Christmas
Eve will be a silent night, but not a holy night. All is not calm; all is not
bright in the not-so-little town of Bethlehem. It hasn’t been for a couple
years. The city of the birth of the Prince of Peace is abandoned and tense. War
and violence hover over the Church of the Nativity and the Shepherd’s Field
like the heavenly host of angels once did.
The
Christian Palestinians in Bethlehem, and in the surrounding villages of Beit
Jala and Beit Sahour, might be allowed out of their homes for a couple hours to
walk to church on Christmas, en sha’allah (God willing), but they most
certainly will not be joined by any Christians who live outside the immediate
Bethlehem area. The few Christians who still live in Palestine (or the West
Bank or the occupied territories or Samaria and Judea, depending on your
political persuasion and who drew the map that you are using) are separated and
isolated, divided by Israeli settlements and by-pass roads, and thus are kept
from moving about freely. An image that helps me understand this is that of a
piece of “Swiss cheese.” Bethlehem, Taybeh, Bir Zeit and the other towns and villages
in which there are Christians, are like the holes in the Swiss cheese that are
kept from connecting with one another. Even the Christians who live in
Jerusalem, just a few miles from Bethlehem, will not get to Bethlehem for
Christmas, as the Christians who live in Bethlehem were not able to get to
Jerusalem for Easter.
May
the Prince of Peace, himself born in the town when it was under military
occupation, be born anew in Bethlehem at Christmas, so that his presence –
along with our concern for the believers and our efforts on their behalf – will
bring peace through justice in the land where Jesus first cried, where the
angels first sang, where the shepherds were first struck with great fear, and
where Christians first believed.
May
there be good news of great joy for all people, and on earth peace to those on
whom God’s favor rests!
(Father Rob Waller is pastor at St.
Andrew, Milford. He can be reached at rwaller@eos.net.
On his parish’s website, www.standrew-milford.org, find his
most recent Holy Land journal and slide show. To sponsor a Christian child of
the Holy Land, visit The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation website, www.HCEF.org.)
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