Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 100 - Saturday, 22 September 2001

• 1)      The Arab Educational Institute is preparing a nonviolent pacific program AGAINST DESPAIR: AN ACTIVATION PROGRAM FOR PALESTINIANS.

• 2)       A Moslem Pacifist writing about the situation: This is a contribution from our friend Noah who is living in Deheisheh refugee camp and teaching in Hebron University.

• 3)      Children of a lesser God? Written by Afif Safieh, the Palestinian general delegate to the United Kingdom and to the Holy See.

• 4)      Dr. Maria C. Khoury shares with us her experience the day of the Enthronement of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch.

• 5)      U.S. Bishop´s Letter to Bush: "That You Will Find Just, Wise and Effective Ways to Respond". I hope that he will hear their prophetic voice.

• 6)      Statement from Bishops´ Conference of England and Wales: "Military Action Must Be a Last Resort".

• 7)      Special Report: Peace activists stand against violence written by MARGOT PATTERSON.

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 99 - Tuesday, 18 September 2001

• 1)      A Call to the People of Israel: Messages of Peace, President Yasser Arafat addressed representatives of the local and international press today 18 September after meeting with representatives of the diplomatic core in His Excellency’s office in Gaza City.

• 2)      “Not in Our Son's Name” is a very touching letter written by Phyllis and Orlando Rodriguez's son Greg who is one of the Trade Center victims, sent to NY Times and to the White House, asking Mr. President not to revenge their son’s death in a brutal way.

• 3)      “An American point of view” written by Rev. Sandra Olewine from the United Methodist Liaison – Jerusalem, in which she explains how she lived the latest sad events and what was the Palestinian reaction on it.

• 4)      “High Holy Days Amid the Ruins” While the Jewish people is celebrating a lot of feast in the next days and weeks, Marc H. Ellis try explain to them how they should live it.

• 5)     Finally, our dear friend, Dr Harry Hagopian is trying to share with us his own reading of the latest sad events in his very well written article: “Violence, Blood, Violence!”

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 98 - Saturday, 15 September 2001  

• 1)      Sister Mary, who returned from her vacation, wrote her Jerusalem Journal # 29 in which she will give us a real and true report about the reactions on the attacks.

• 2)      A report about the vigil of prayer and solidarity.

• 3)      How Americans living among Palestinians in the Holy Land lived the tragic events? You will find that in the “Thoughts of an American couple in the Holy Land” written by Elizabeth and Marthame Sandars who are volunteering in my home village.

• 4)       Statement of the Presidents of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM) and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) In Response to the Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001.

• 5)      And here, the situation is deteriorating, therefore, Grassroots International Protection for Palestinians is necessary as you see in the press release.

• 6)      Upon here return from her vacation, Dr. Maria C. Khoury, realized that she Returned to the Land of Bloodshed, and this is true, but what shall she do?

• 7)      Finally, I send you the last article of Uri Avnery about the tragic collapse of the “Twin Towers” which is ended with this prophetic sentence “Instead of the destroyed New York edifices, the twin towers of Peace and Justice must be built”. Isn’t it true?

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 97 - Wednesday, 12 September 2001

• 1)      John Paul II Horrified at ´Inhuman Terrorist Attacks´ in U.S.
  Sends Telegram of Condolence to President Bush

• 2)      A message of solidarity and condolences from His Beatitude Patriarch Sabbah to the American People and the church of America for the terrorist attack against the innocent people, which took place yesterday in New York and Washington.

• 3)      STATEMENT From The ANGLICAN CHURCH IN JERUSALEM

• 4)      A letter of condolence, sympathy and condemnation sent by Bishop Munib Younan to the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, George Anderson following terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

• 5)      Thoughts and Prayers From Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center

• 6)      Palestinians Grieve Over USA Tragedy written by Rev. Mitri Raheb 12-Sep-01

• 7)      Middle East Churches "Horrified by Violence" by Rev. Dr. Riad Jarjour
  General Secretary The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

• 8)      Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation Expresses its Sorrow

• 9)      Statement of Pax Christi International who’s president is our Patriarch Michel Sabbah.

• 10)  “Prayers from the Holy Land” by  Dr. Maria C. Khoury from Department of Education, English Language Studies

• 11)  STATEMENT OF THE LAITY COMMITTEE OF THE HOLY LAND IN JERUSALEM

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 96 - Saturday, 1 September 2001

• 1)      Statement about the recent events in Palestine in particular in the Beit Jala and Bethlehem area, written by Toine van Teeffelen from the Arab Educational Institute.

• 2)      Mr. Ghassan Andoni, from the Palestinian Centre for Rapprochement Between People will give us some more about “Beit Jala lessons”.

• 3)      Dr. Hanan Ashrawi is attending the World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa, and gave a very interesting and complete briefing about “Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerances”.

• 4)      If you don’t know all the story of the Palestinian people we send you the last 22 points document which tells you “What to know?”

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 95 - Tuesday, 28 August 2001

• 1)      A letter from Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem written by Pastor Mitri Al-Raheb.

• 2)      Resolution on Solidarity and Advocacy for Middle East Peace adopted by the Catholic Conference of Major Superiors of Men’s Institutes, August 26, 2001 during their National Assembly, Baltimore, Maryland.

• 3)      Three documents from the campaign of prayer for peace: The first written by Daniel Rossing, a Jew who took part in the prayer service in the Church of Scotland and said a prayer for peace in English and Hebrew from the Jewish tradition. The second a prayer said by Rizek Abusharr a member of that same Church. The welcoming word by Fr. Aldo Tolotto, director of the Pontifical Institute of Notre Dame Center.

• 4)      ALL OF US HAVE A STAKE IN BRINGING ABOUT PEACE IN MIDEAST: A letter written by Archbishop John Vlazny to the Catholic people of Portland, which was published on July 13, 2001 in the local Catholic newspaper called the Catholic Sentinel.

• 5)      “Statement of Conviction” written by the Christian Peacemaker Team in Hebron.

• 1) Thehe texts of two of the homilies that were given at the Dormition Benedictine Abbey and at St Anthony Coptic Orthodox Church. 

• 2)  A news from Jordan which endorses the appointment of Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, since it should be approved by the government and the parliament.

• 3)  A short reflexion written by our dear friend Dr. Harry Hagopian, but this time, it is A NOCTURNAL CHAT WITH GOD.

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 93 - Tuesday, 21 August 2001

• 1)     Article of  Dr. Hagopian “Citizen’s Choices, Politicians’ Madates!” in which he proposes a new creative initiative which might help to find a way our of the dilemma of the violence.

• 2)      Saad G. Hattar is a journalist in the THE JORDAN TIMES, who advertises the church renovation of our church in Fuheis- Jordan by the Community and outside donations.

• 3)      But another different story for you on the siege by Samia Khoury who is a very active women in the social and ecclesiastical field. A short story but a very interesting one.

• 4)      Two texts from the prayer for peace at the Lutheran Church:

• 5)      A new book in English about Male and female circumcision will be published within a very short time by my brother Dr. Sami Aldeeb Abu-Sahlieh.

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 92 - Saturday, 18 August 2001 

• 1) We send you a “Statement of Solidarity” written by the The Conference of Major Superiors of Men and Women Religious, and sent to us from Fr. Stan De Boe, OSST.

• 2) The Homily of Archbishop Sewerios Malki Murad which was given during the prayer for peace in the Syrian Orthodox Church.

• 3)  Letter to our brothers Israelis, Jews and their friends, written by my colleague in San Francisco, Fr. Labib Kobti, who is the publisher of http://www.al-bushra.org

• 4)  Another strong article written by the Israeli Journalist, Amira Hass. Let us see how she describes “the real balance of power”.

• 5)   A French article written by my brother, Dr. Sami Aldeeb, who is warning of a biologic war if the situation of injustice continues like this, because oppression will generate extremism and terrorism in both sides. For more articles from my brother visit his http://go.to/samipage 

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 91 - Tuesday, 14 August 2001    

• 1)   Patriarch Michel Sabbah addresses over 6000 Catholics at the Diocese of Sioux Falls, SD. 13-Aug-01

• 2) An article witten by Don Lattin, a Chronicle Religion Writer, in San Fracisco Chronicale, last    Sunday, August 12, 2001:  Michel Sabbah, Catholic prelate looks at Jerusalem from Arab perspective. He discusses land dispute on Bay Area visit.

• 3)  GREEK ORTHODOX IN HOLY LAND ELECT NEW LEADER 13-Aug-2001 -- EWTN News Brief

• 4)      An article written by Dr. Harry Hagopian who is still out of the country since long time but he is still interested about our situation and asking: Can We Retrieve Our Humanity?

• 5)      I send you also the last article of the Israeli Peace Activist Uri Avnery commenting about the occupation of the Orient House: “Orient House is in Our Hands!”

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 90 - Saturday, 11 August 2001    

• 1)      Why pilgrims should come and visit the Holy Land? I try to answer this question in this difficult time. Imagine what can I say?

• 2)      The World Council of Churches in Geneva held a consultation about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. You find the press release they issued with interesting practical actions and decisions 

• 3)      I send you the press release issued from the Orient House after it’s closure. This is a key subject in these days which makes me sick

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 89 - Tuesday, 7 August 2001  

• 1)      The call of prayer for peace BY THE HEADS OF CHURCHES IN JERUSALEM with the proposed program in many churches in the city of Jerusalem.

• 2)      A letter from Sister Miriam Ward to the USA Consul General in East Jerusalem. Sr. Miriam is a very active member of Pax Christi Movement in the USA who was visiting the Holy Land lately and she gave me the permit to publish this strong letter.

• 3)      “A drop in the ocean” is an article written by journalist Patricia Golan for the International edition of Jerusalem Post and was published last August 3^rd. It is about the work and presence of the Missionary Sisters of Charity (sisters of Mother Teresa) in the Holy Land and in Jerusalem.

• 4)      I send you also two very touching documents written by Israelis expressing their feelings after discovering the truth of what is going on in the occupied territories: 1^st written by American student living in Israel, Rebecca Elswit, who witnessed the events of the past few days. It is a real human document, bringing the feeling of the time and the place. 2^nd written by Tziporah Ryter An Israeli Woman's Personal Testimony: Living in the Occupied Territories.

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 88 - Saturday, 4 August 2001  

• 1)  Two news about the late visit of Mr. Arafat to Castel Gondolfo were he met the Pope.

• 2)  I send you also the Archbishop of Canterbury’s address at St George’s Anglican Cathedral, when he visited Jerusalem last 28 July 2001.

• 3)  I send you the press release of the INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT in which they are calling for an International Protection Force for Palestinians.

• 4)  Randy Engel covered the meeting of the American bishops and filed this report that I send you after obtaining her permit to publish it since she is speaking about the Olive Branch Fund 

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 87 - Saturday, 28 July 2001

• 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

• 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.

• 1) Patriarch  he gave an interview to EWTN TV, which will be broadcasted next July 27 as you will see in the first news.

• 2)   The Jerusalem Journal # 26 of Sister Mary in which she is telling us about the assassination of the three people in Bethlehem last days.

• 3)   The Bethlehem Diary # 34 of Toine van Teffeleen gives some more details about the same story but tells us how is it like to live nearby a refugee camp.

• 4)  Fr. Stan De Boe, wrote after this visit in  “Solidarity with the Christians in the Holy Land”.

• 5)   Marthame and Elisabeth Sandars,  return from the States after a one month absence and they write "A Sort of Homecoming..." that they wanted to share with us.

• 6)   The Robbed Cossack is a strange tile of the latest article of  Uri Avnery, who is a courageous Israeli peace activists who dares to tell the truth, even to his fellow Israelis.

• 7)   At the end you will find the image of our Lady Queen of Palestine, with a campaign of prayer for peace in the Middle East and in the Holy Land.

• 8)   I send you also the picture of the three months baby Boy Dia-Al-Din who was killed near Hebron by the settlers.

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 85 - Saturday, 14 July 2001

• 1)      In her Jerusalem Journal # 25, Sister Mary will give an idea about the death of a baby on a checkpoint

• 2)      Dr. Majed Nassar, Deputy Director/ Health Work Committees, updates us with the last events in Beit Sahour and elsewhere.

• 3)      The election of the Orthodox Patriarch is making news because it is until now delayed since seven months and awaited impatiently, especially that some names of the 15 candidates was cancelled from the list by the Israeli government. This is what Ibrahim Hazbon is reporting from the Associated Press.

• 4)      It seems that Bedouins are also suffering. Gideon Levi, in his article “ No Water in the Pipes” is telling us how homes of hundreds of Palestinian shepherds and their children in the south Hebron hills were demolished last week. This time, the only source of water the people had was destroyed, too.

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 84 - Tuesday, 10 July 2001

• 1)   In his Bethlehem Diary # 33, Toine van Teeffelen tries to analyze the rhythms of Palestinian life with the social and cultural values through short daily stories and experiences lived in Bethlehem area.

• 2)   “Wild Cards in Conflict Resolution?” is the last article of Dr Harry Hagopian, LL.D, It is a complete analysis of the EU role on the actual conflict in our country. 

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 83 - Tuesday, 7 July 2001

• 1) “The Church and Poverty in Palestine” is a report about the work of the church in the fields of Health, Education and Social cases. This report gives and idea about all the relief agencies and NGOs working in this field.

• 2)  The Jerusalem Journal # 24 of Sister Mary, in which she tells us her experience during a protest visit to an Israeli prison with some other Israeli peace activists where a lot of minor children are held in very difficult conditions.

• 3)  The American bishops write a  letter to Mr. Sharon and Mr. Arafat that I send you with another letter sent by The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold, Presiding Bishop and Primate pf the Episcopal Church, addressed to Mr. Colin Powell. 

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 82 - Tuesday, 3 July 2001

• 1)  Introduction to the project “Olive Branch Fund”.

• 2)  The Bethlehem Diary # 32 of Toine van Teeffelen.

• 3)  The Jerusalem Journal # 23 of Sister Mary.

• 4) A letter from Rev. Sandra Olewine in which she shows ”The True face of occupation”

 Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 81 - Tuesday, 26 June 2001

• 1) I send you the news and information about the forthcoming peace camp, or better, camp for nonviolent resistance, to be set up in Al Khader July 1st to 5th.

• 2) My brother, Dr. Sami Aldeeb, writes about a strange and creative ideas: A radical and non-violent Solution of the Palestinian Refugees Problem.

• 3) Dr. Harry Hagopian's article about the “Imperatives of Peace”. 

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 80 - Saturday, 23 June 2001

• 1) I send you the full and final version of the USA Bishops Conference resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian Crisis, which was adapted during their last meeting in Atlanta.

• 2) I send also an opinion piece from the Israeli newspaper, Ha'aretz, written by Elia Leibowitz who is a professor of astronomy at Tel Aviv University.  The article of An honorable withdrawal outlines a plan for a full withdrawal of Israelis from settlements in Gaza and the West Bank.

• 3) I send you an article written by George N. Rishmawi Projects' Coordinator of The Palestinian Centre for Rapprochement Between People. Pay attention to settlers this is the title of the article.

• 4) You will find also the Jerusalem Journal # 22 of Sister Mary in which she is reporting us about the Caritas Baby Hospital in Bethlehem.

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 79 - Tuesday, 19 June 2001

• 1) the Bishops Urge Israelis and Palestinians to Return to Negotiations, Express Solidarity with Christians in Holy Land. 

• 2) the presentation given by Father Drew Christiansen, S.J. about the Vatican and U.S. Catholic Conference Policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian Crisis.

• 3)  The Jerusalem Journal # 21 of Sister Mary.

• 4)   The Bethlehem Diary # 31 of Toine van Teeffelen

• 5)  You will find hereby an article written by the Israeli Russian writter Israeli Shamir who is teeling us more details about the Olives of Aboud.

• 6)   We have some news from Jordan, about Kids summer camp is mix of East and West by Omar Tesdell;  article of Fr. Rifat to Jordan Times newspaper “I left my heart in..."

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 78 - Tuesday, 12 June 2001     

• 1)  You will see the press release of the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF) announcing a special programme of the foundation were the Patriarch will be the honor guest. You will find also the speech of the Patriarch for the American Bishops giving them an overview of the situation in the Holy Land.

• 2)     You will find also a protest letter addressed to the Iaraeli Defence Minister for cutting thousands of Olive trees in the village of Aboud.

• 3)      Dr. Maria C. Khoury is describing us the actual situation and reach the conclusion that there are no “No Pleasant Stories in the Holy Land”, unfortunately!

• 4)      Toine van Teeffelen continues the same discribtion in his Bethlehem Diary # 30 and tells us more details of the complicated daily life of our people.

IMPLICATIONS THEOLOGIQUES

DE LA SITUATION ACTUELLE EN TERRE SAINTE

- le point de vue d’un Palestinien chrétien -

P. Rafiq Khoury

Die theologischen Implikationen 

der aktuellen Situation im Heiligen Land.

Aus der Sicht eines christlichen Palästinensers

Fr. Rafiq Khoury

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 77 - Saturday, 9 June 2001

• 1) The German section of Pax Christi International is holding their annual national congress on the situation in the Middle East. Our Patriarch, the president of PCI sent them a letter from Jerusalem that you will find hereby, 

• 2) and delegated Fr. Rafiq Khoury to represent him share with some thoughts about the concept of double solidarity. We send you aslo the full text of this very interesting talk which is really very clear and courageous, especially that Fr. Rafiq is the brain worker of the Latin Patriarchate and one of the best theologians in the middle East.

• 3) You will find here a news report about the meeting of U.S. Church leaders with Secretary of State Powell, 

• 4) and the letter they delivered which was signed by many other heads of U.S. churches. 

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 76 - Tuesday, 5 June 2001

• 1) We send you the text of the interview done with the Cardinal Pio Laghi after his arrival to Rome with the Vatican Radio.

• 2)  The latest article of Dr. Harry Hagopian in which he begins with a Prologues of Pessimism since the title is “The Valleys of Death ... Revisited!”

• 3)   A very short letter to the editor of the Daily Telegraph written by Mr. Afif Safieh.

• 4) The Bethlehem Diary # 29 of Toine van Teefleen..

• 5) A full report about Tourism in the West Bank, that you find by clicking on:  http://www.arij.org/paleye/tourism/index.htm

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 75 - Saturday, 2 June 2001

• 1) During the Pentecost Feast. The Patriarch will preside the traditional annual mass which will take place at the Dormition Abbey and   will give the homily in German, but I have the pleasure to send it to you hereby in French.

• 2)  The news about the Papal special envoy who came last Wednesday with a special letter from the Pope to be handed to Mr. Sharon and Chairman Arafat.

• 3) Elizabeth and Marthame write us from Iraq about their experience "Tongues of Fire".

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 74 - Tuesday, 29 May 2001

• 1)      The Bethlehem Diary # 28 of Toine van Teeffelen who is telling us the last updates from the Bethlehem area.

• 2)      The article written by Uri Avnery in his article “The Russian Revolution” in which he compares between what happened with the crusaders and how they finished after their occupation of Palestine, and between what might happen with actual Israel.

• 3)     The article of Amany Hajyassin, very interesting with details you might need to know about “What the Media does not tell you about Israel”.

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 73 - Saturday, 26 May 2001 

• 1)      CARDINALS CALL FOR PEACE IN THE HOLY LAND: The College of Cardinals today made public a Message for the closing of the sixth extraordinary consistory, held in the Vatican from May 21 to 23.

• 2)      Sister Mary in her Jerusalem Journal # 20 reports us about The Christian Peacemaker Team living in Hebron. I myself, I didn’t know about their presense before this report.

• 3)      The Homily of Fr. William Shomali, in Swizterland during the investiture ceremony of some new Knigts and Ladies of the Equester Order of the Holy Sepulchre.

• 4)      Internationals set up protection camp in West Bank, in solidarity with the Palestinian people. You will find hereby this interesting news with their press release.

• 5)     I have the pleasure to send also the monthly newsletter of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and Palestine written by the Lutheran Bishop in Jerusalem, Most Rev. Munib A. Younan. You will find in it several news such as:  The Bishop’s Visit to Iran; School Anniversaries in Beit Sahour and Talitha Kumi; Swedish Theological Institute Anniversary; Present Political Situation. 

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 72 - Tuesday, 22 May 2001

• 1) A fact-finding delegation from the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF) arrived yesterday from Washington and will meet tomorrow our Patriarch HB Michel Sabbah and the other heads of Christian churches in Jerusalem.

• 2) We often send you documents from Palestine/Israel, but you know that our diocese extends over Jordan and Cyprus also. This time we send you a brief presentation about Christianity in Jordan which was prepared by my young colleague Fr. Rifa't Bader, parish priest of the only totally Christian village in the southern desert of Jordan: Smakieh.

• 3) In his BETHLEHEM DIARY (27), Toine van Teeffelen briefs us with all what happened during the Nakba memory and the escalation after Natanya-Nablous events.

• 4) Dr. Maria C. Khoury will bring to our attention the Voice of Christian Students in Gaza. This will be very special because it is not easy to live such a big prison like Gaza.

• 5) Joint Israeli-Palestinian Press Conference in Jerusalem: joint statement:

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 71 - Saturday, 19 May 2001  

• 1) The Pope urged Mideast leaders to take the "courageous decisions" that will commit their peoples to "undertake the road to peace”.

• 2)      Sister Mary in her Jerusalem Journal # 19 gives us a clear idea about the fears of both sides as well as the sufferings of both peaoples.

• 3)      You find also a resolution which was taken by the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church at their recent May meeting.

• 4)      Fr Stéphane Joulain couldn’t support that his country be part of this dirty game, and he protested and wrote to his government in order to stop this new deal.

• 5)       Dr. Harry Hagopian who is traveling through the United Stastes thinks that we are deadlocked in Bloody Violence.

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 70 - Tuesday, 15 May 2001  

• 1)  The Pope himself spoke last Sunday and wants the chain of Mideast violence broken and entrusts peace in the Holy Land to our Lady of Fatima.

• 2)      “Not to Begin at the End” is a translation of the full text, written in Arabic by Palestine's great poet Mahmoud Darwish, for May 15, the 53rd anniversary of the creation of  Israel, and the beginning of the Palestinian Nakba (Catastrophe).

• 3)      In BETHLEHEM DIARY (26) of Toine van Teeffelen we find a lot of strange stories, which happen, in daily life of our people in Bethlehem area.

• 4)     For the Nakba Memorial 2001, BADIL Resource Center sends OPEN LETTERS to UN Secretary General Kofi Anan, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, foreign governments and the European Union.

• 5)      “Sharing the Shelling” is an article written by Donald J. Moore, S.J. from Pontifical Biblical Institute of Jerusalem, in which he tells us his experience during his visit to Beit Jala when it was heavily shelled. 

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 69 - Saturday, 12 May 2001

• 1)  The Jerusalem # 18 of Sister Mary is a personal testimony about Olive trees uprooting in one of our villages.

• 2)      I send you an article by Fuad Giacaman to be submitted to Al Quds newspaper and the Jerusalem Times. Mr. Is the principle of the Freres College in Bethlehem and the director of “the Arab Educational Institute”, he is calling for more Inter-Religious Dialogue…

• 3)      Appeal by 350 Israelis for International Peace Force.  May 10, 2001

• 4)      I send you finally, an interview with our Patriarch, which was done by a French journalist, and will be published in the near future.

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 68 - Tuesday, 8 May 2001

• 1) Story and Photos of Nicola Abu Ghanam, one of our students in Beit Jala who lost his left arm

• 2) The Jerusalem Journal # 17 of Sister Mary, reporting about her visit to Beit Sahour telling us about some damaged houses and disperate families.

• 3) An article by Samir Hoday commenting on the subject of the continous accustions of Anti-Semitism labeled to anybody who criticise the Israelis or the Jews. He wonders if we are note also Semistes as Palestinians like them.

• 4) A Declaration of the International Catholic-Jewish Liaison Committee Protecting Religious Freedom and Holy Sites, after their meeeting in New York - May 4,2001.

• 5) I send you also The Pope’s Prayer for Peace in Qunaytera because it was very impotant in these special days and was said in that specific and significant place.

• 6) I send you aslo two readers letters.

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 67 - Tuesday, 1 May 2001

• 1) The Patriarch delivered a good homily in French at the Benedictine Abbey of Abou-Ghosh for their 25th anniversary and the restoration of the Church.

• 2) I send you the detailed schedule officially announced by the Vatican the forthcoming visit of the Pope to Greece, Syria and Malta.

• 3) The Jerusalem Journal # 16 of Sister Mary in which she makes a reflection about and a connection between the Israeli Independence day and the ongoing occupation through a quotation of a beautiful poem written by an Arabic Poet.

• 4) Do you believe in miracles? Is a story written by Dr. Maria Khoury in which she tells us her experience during the Good Friday in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher. It seems that a miracle happened in front of her, and she is an eyewitness!

• 3) Palestinians & Israelis ... in Jerusalem? Is the last article written by Dr Harry Hagopian, in which he gives us a good résumé about the actual situation in Jerusalem… 

 Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 66 - Saturday, 28 April 2001

• The Catholic bishops of England and Wales call for “Just Peace” in the Holy Land in a press release given after their annual meeting.

• 2)      Another press release from Bethlehem University which continues to face difficulties. It is signed by Brother Vincent Brother Vincent Malham, FSC, President-Vice Chancellor.

• 3)      Letter to President George Bush from Fr. Ibrahim Ayyad who is a 92 years old priest from the Latin Patriarchate.

• 4)      The BETHLEHEM DIARY (25) of Toine van Teeffelen is as usual full of small stories from Bethlehem area.

• 5)      Marthame and Elizabeth are American couple volunteering in my village Zababdeh, they share with us their Easter reflections in the following article: “He Is Not Here".

• 6)      Interview with Mr. Fuad Giacaman: The following questions were submitted by the Dutch peace movement IKV to Fuad Giacaman, director of the Arab Educational Institute in Bethlehem, and actual principle of Freres’ College in Bethlehem.

• 7)      Finally, since long time we didn’t send you any article written by our friend Dr. Harry Hagopian who is almost lost, but now I have the pleasure to share you his last article about his and my favorite subject: Seasons of Political Violence? In which he calls for nonviolence and pacific resistance.     

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 65 - Saturday, 21 April 2001

• 1)       I send you the complete text of the speech of the Patriarch at the UNESCO.

• 2)     I will send the press release of Pax Christi presenting the report of the delegation who visited the Holy Land last January. You will find  the whole report hereby also.

• 3)      The Jerusalem Journal # 15 of Sister Mary, and this time she is writing us about the role of the Israeli women who are moving forward in the direction of peace.

• 4)      An article about “Jerusalem” written by my friend George Sahhar who is also from Jerusalem… It is very interesting to hear what this Jerusalmite feels and thinks about his beloved hometown.

Report of the Delegation of Pax Christi International Delegation to the Holy Land    18 April 2001

Au-delà d’Oslo, comment reconstruire
le processus de paix au Moyen-Orient ?

Rapport de la délégation de Pax Christi International,
Pax Christi Pays-Bas et Pax Christi Flandre

Olive Branch from Jerusalem  Issue No. 64 - Tuesday, 17 April 2001

• 1) The press update on a World Council of Churches call to church partners in Europe to contact their governments to support a draft resolution on the violation of human rights in the Occupied Arab Territories including Palestine at the 57th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights.

• 2)      The Bethlehem Diary # 24 of Toine van Teffeleen. As usual you will have the last update of what is going in Bethlehem area, and this time he will tell us how difficult is to move from Bethlehem to Hebron and what kind of adventures you have to face during this trip to another planet even if it is only 30 Km far not thousand of solar years!!! 

• 3)