24 dec 2013
One of the most influential Catholic Bishops in the Middle East is expected to criticise Israel during the Christmas Eve midnight mass in Bethlehem. It is thought the Latin Patriach of Jerusalem, Archbishop Fouad Twal, will label Israel's continued construction of illegal settlements in the Palestinian Territories an obstacle to regional stability.
Thousands of pilgrims across the world will gather to hear the mass, delivered at the Church of the Nativity, built on the site where Jesus is believed to have been born in a stable more than 2,000 years ago.
The Archbishop will also call for an immediate end to conflict in Syria and to the persecution of Christians in the region.
But with negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority now resumed after years of stagnation, he is expected to take the opportunity to address the talks directly.
At a news conference last week, Archbishop Twal said the efforts of US Secretary of State John Kerry to find a peaceful resolution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict were being "hampered by the continuous building of Israeli settlements".
Archbishiop Twal added: "As long as this problem is not resolved, the people of our region will suffer.
"While the attention has shifted from the situation in the Holy Land to the tragedy in Syria, it must be stated that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains crucial to the region and is a major obstacle in the development of our society and stability in the middle east."
Israel's approval of new settlement housing units since August, when the latest round of talks began, has been criticised by many western diplomats, including John Kerry.
Father Jamal Khader, Director of the Catholic Seminary in Bethlehem, who is close to the Patriach, told Sky News he expects the message to be reiterated later today.
"What we need is freedom," he said. "What we need is independence and what we need is an end to the occupation. I think the Patriarch will call for an end to the occupation."
Bethlehem, which lies around 10km (six miles) south of Jerusalem, is governed by the Palestinian Authority but is surrounded by Israel's separation wall, check-points and numerous West Bank settlements, which are deemed illegal under international law.
Construction of the separation wall began in 2002 as a security measure in response to waves of suicide bombings in Israel during the Second Intifada. But critics say it is also being used as a means of extending Israel's borders and confiscating Palestinian land.
While more than a million tourists have visited the town in 2013, the movement restrictions faced by those resident in the Palestinian Territories can make it difficult for Palestinian Christians to visit the Church in normal circumstances.
Over the Christmas period these restrictions have been eased, with Israel putting in place measures to allow Christians from elsewhere in the West Bank and Gaza to join the celebrations.
This will include permits for 500 residents of Gaza, aged under 16 or over 35, who will be authorised to travel to Bethlehem until the end of January.
Lt Col Eyal Zeevi, Head of the Israel Occupation Forces' Bethlehem District Coordination Office, said: "Israel is making a significant effort to safeguard freedom of religion in the area, facilitate participation in religious ceremonies and ensure that Christians in the region enjoy the holiday spirit."
Similar measures are also likely to be implemented in May 2014 when Pope Francis is due make a brief visit to both Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
The visit is being seen as an attempt by the Catholic Church to draw attention to the growing persecution of Christians in countries across the region.
But for Bethlehem's tourism-dependent economy, it also promises to be a blessing, with the likelihood of thousands more pilgrims heading to the town, where the Pope will hold the only public mass of his visit.
In his Christmas message, President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, said he welcomed the visit and hoped the Pope would "spread the message of justice and peace for the Palestinians".
Thousands of pilgrims across the world will gather to hear the mass, delivered at the Church of the Nativity, built on the site where Jesus is believed to have been born in a stable more than 2,000 years ago.
The Archbishop will also call for an immediate end to conflict in Syria and to the persecution of Christians in the region.
But with negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority now resumed after years of stagnation, he is expected to take the opportunity to address the talks directly.
At a news conference last week, Archbishop Twal said the efforts of US Secretary of State John Kerry to find a peaceful resolution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict were being "hampered by the continuous building of Israeli settlements".
Archbishiop Twal added: "As long as this problem is not resolved, the people of our region will suffer.
"While the attention has shifted from the situation in the Holy Land to the tragedy in Syria, it must be stated that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains crucial to the region and is a major obstacle in the development of our society and stability in the middle east."
Israel's approval of new settlement housing units since August, when the latest round of talks began, has been criticised by many western diplomats, including John Kerry.
Father Jamal Khader, Director of the Catholic Seminary in Bethlehem, who is close to the Patriach, told Sky News he expects the message to be reiterated later today.
"What we need is freedom," he said. "What we need is independence and what we need is an end to the occupation. I think the Patriarch will call for an end to the occupation."
Bethlehem, which lies around 10km (six miles) south of Jerusalem, is governed by the Palestinian Authority but is surrounded by Israel's separation wall, check-points and numerous West Bank settlements, which are deemed illegal under international law.
Construction of the separation wall began in 2002 as a security measure in response to waves of suicide bombings in Israel during the Second Intifada. But critics say it is also being used as a means of extending Israel's borders and confiscating Palestinian land.
While more than a million tourists have visited the town in 2013, the movement restrictions faced by those resident in the Palestinian Territories can make it difficult for Palestinian Christians to visit the Church in normal circumstances.
Over the Christmas period these restrictions have been eased, with Israel putting in place measures to allow Christians from elsewhere in the West Bank and Gaza to join the celebrations.
This will include permits for 500 residents of Gaza, aged under 16 or over 35, who will be authorised to travel to Bethlehem until the end of January.
Lt Col Eyal Zeevi, Head of the Israel Occupation Forces' Bethlehem District Coordination Office, said: "Israel is making a significant effort to safeguard freedom of religion in the area, facilitate participation in religious ceremonies and ensure that Christians in the region enjoy the holiday spirit."
Similar measures are also likely to be implemented in May 2014 when Pope Francis is due make a brief visit to both Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
The visit is being seen as an attempt by the Catholic Church to draw attention to the growing persecution of Christians in countries across the region.
But for Bethlehem's tourism-dependent economy, it also promises to be a blessing, with the likelihood of thousands more pilgrims heading to the town, where the Pope will hold the only public mass of his visit.
In his Christmas message, President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, said he welcomed the visit and hoped the Pope would "spread the message of justice and peace for the Palestinians".
The Christian Sectarian that goes by the Western Calendar celebrates the Christmas holidays on Tuesday.
Since the early hours of the morning, the Bethlehem residents gathered in the Manger Square to participate in the Christmas festivals, which culminate upon the arrival of the convoy of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal on Tuesday afternoon, who will be welcomed in an official ceremony and will participate in the midnight mass.
Hundreds of policemen have been deployed on the Manger Square and near to the Nativity Church and on the main roads of the city to organize the traffic movement.
The number of police officers around 600, including 100 who were brought from outside the city, in addition to 7 ambulances and two fire trucks.
Since the early hours of the morning, the Bethlehem residents gathered in the Manger Square to participate in the Christmas festivals, which culminate upon the arrival of the convoy of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal on Tuesday afternoon, who will be welcomed in an official ceremony and will participate in the midnight mass.
Hundreds of policemen have been deployed on the Manger Square and near to the Nativity Church and on the main roads of the city to organize the traffic movement.
The number of police officers around 600, including 100 who were brought from outside the city, in addition to 7 ambulances and two fire trucks.
21 dec 2013
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As Christians from all over the world get ready to celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem, the cradle of Christianity, Palestinian Christian residents of this holy city are busy fighting to protect their land and their homes from Israeli takeover. Since its occupation in 1967 by Israel, the landscape of the biblical city of Bethlehem and its area towns such as Beit Jala to west and Beit Sahour to the east, all Christian towns, has changed dramatically.
Bethlehem is now surrounded by not only an 8-meter high concrete wall with barbed wire on top that separates it from its historical northern neighbor, Jerusalem, and most of its fertile agricultural land, but also by a series of Jewish only settlements that have suffocated the city and expropriated almost all its land. |
The segregation wall Israel has build since 2003 has separated Bethlehem from about 12 percent of its land. Residents of Bethlehem cannot access their land in the area behind the wall without a special Israeli army permit, which is rarely given.
The Cremisan monastery to the northwest of Beit Jala found itself gradually losing most of its land to that wall, and so is the Salesian school and monastery, which is waiting for an Israeli court to decide if the wall is going to cut right through church land or not. Under the pretext of security, the court is expected to rule in favor of the wall.
In addition to the 12 percent taken from the Bethlehem district to the segregation wall, almost 76 percent were expropriated over the years to build four major town-like settlements – Har Homa, Gilo, Har Gilo and Givate Hamatos, not mentioning the cluster of smaller settlements built on land taken from Bethlehem-area villages, including the Gush Eztion settlement block that is gradually growing to reach Jerusalem.
As a result, what is left for Bethlehem today is a mere 13 percent of its original area, and even that much Israel is trying to reduce with checkpoints, army installations and major highways to facilitate movement of Jewish settlers to Jerusalem and maybe in the future to the Dead Sea.
An area of Beit Sahour known as Oush Ghurab (Crow’s Nest) is under threat of takeover as settlers from a movement known as Women in Green are trying to build a new settlement in that area, a former military outpost, claiming the settlement would prevent Arab expansion near a road settlers use to connect them to two nearby settlements, Tekoa and Nikodim, where Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman lives.
George Shoumali, whose house is close to that area, said that efforts to salvage that land, the only area left for Beit Jala to expand, are facing many obstacles.
The municipality built a recreational park there and opened a concrete access road to it to protect it. But not more construction is allowed since that area is considered Area C, according to the Oslo classifications of West Bank land, which means it is under full Israeli military control.
Oush Ghurab remains today scarcely populated as an army tower and small post stand on that land as the Israeli military government is contemplating whether or not to allow a settlement to be built there.
Standing on what was once an area of Beit Jala and where Mar Elias monastery is located on the northern outskirts of the town, Father Ibrahim Shoumali, a resident of Beit Jala, said the area of his town has until recently extended all the way to where the monastery is located.
“For over 160 years, the procession of the Latin patriarch coming from Jerusalem on Christmas Eve would stop at Mar Elias on its way to the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem,” he said.
The tradition was that the mayor of Beit Jala and other town officials and town residents would greet the patriarch there and join the procession to Bethlehem.
But today, after Israel had cut off that part of Beit Jala and annexed it to Jerusalem and after building the wall that separated it from the town center, none of the Beit Jala residents are able to welcome the patriarch at Mar Elias anymore.
Most of that area, all church-owned land, was transformed into major settlements, including Har Homa and Gilo.
According to Suhail Khalilieh, from the Bethlehem-based Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem (ARIJ), because only 13 percent of the area of Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour is left for these towns to expand, construction has been limited horizontally while it increased vertically causing over crowdedness and many social problems.
Many of the Bethlehem area towns’ Christian residents opted to immigrate to Western countries to avoid the hardships of the new realities created by the Israeli occupation and expropriation of their lands.
Standing at Herodion tourist site overlooking the entire Bethlehem district and which Israel claims as an Israeli park and part of its national heritage sites managed by the Israel Parks Authority and protected by an army post, Khalilieh pointed at a vast of area of land that Palestinians are not allowed to access.
“While we look at his vast empty land that belongs to the Bethlehem district,” he said, “yet we are not allowed to build on it.”
He expressed fear that if Israel goes ahead with plans to build a major highway through that land to link the area settlements to the Dead Sea, “it will cut up the West Bank into pieces” and destroy any chance of having a contiguous Palestinian state.
The Cremisan monastery to the northwest of Beit Jala found itself gradually losing most of its land to that wall, and so is the Salesian school and monastery, which is waiting for an Israeli court to decide if the wall is going to cut right through church land or not. Under the pretext of security, the court is expected to rule in favor of the wall.
In addition to the 12 percent taken from the Bethlehem district to the segregation wall, almost 76 percent were expropriated over the years to build four major town-like settlements – Har Homa, Gilo, Har Gilo and Givate Hamatos, not mentioning the cluster of smaller settlements built on land taken from Bethlehem-area villages, including the Gush Eztion settlement block that is gradually growing to reach Jerusalem.
As a result, what is left for Bethlehem today is a mere 13 percent of its original area, and even that much Israel is trying to reduce with checkpoints, army installations and major highways to facilitate movement of Jewish settlers to Jerusalem and maybe in the future to the Dead Sea.
An area of Beit Sahour known as Oush Ghurab (Crow’s Nest) is under threat of takeover as settlers from a movement known as Women in Green are trying to build a new settlement in that area, a former military outpost, claiming the settlement would prevent Arab expansion near a road settlers use to connect them to two nearby settlements, Tekoa and Nikodim, where Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman lives.
George Shoumali, whose house is close to that area, said that efforts to salvage that land, the only area left for Beit Jala to expand, are facing many obstacles.
The municipality built a recreational park there and opened a concrete access road to it to protect it. But not more construction is allowed since that area is considered Area C, according to the Oslo classifications of West Bank land, which means it is under full Israeli military control.
Oush Ghurab remains today scarcely populated as an army tower and small post stand on that land as the Israeli military government is contemplating whether or not to allow a settlement to be built there.
Standing on what was once an area of Beit Jala and where Mar Elias monastery is located on the northern outskirts of the town, Father Ibrahim Shoumali, a resident of Beit Jala, said the area of his town has until recently extended all the way to where the monastery is located.
“For over 160 years, the procession of the Latin patriarch coming from Jerusalem on Christmas Eve would stop at Mar Elias on its way to the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem,” he said.
The tradition was that the mayor of Beit Jala and other town officials and town residents would greet the patriarch there and join the procession to Bethlehem.
But today, after Israel had cut off that part of Beit Jala and annexed it to Jerusalem and after building the wall that separated it from the town center, none of the Beit Jala residents are able to welcome the patriarch at Mar Elias anymore.
Most of that area, all church-owned land, was transformed into major settlements, including Har Homa and Gilo.
According to Suhail Khalilieh, from the Bethlehem-based Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem (ARIJ), because only 13 percent of the area of Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour is left for these towns to expand, construction has been limited horizontally while it increased vertically causing over crowdedness and many social problems.
Many of the Bethlehem area towns’ Christian residents opted to immigrate to Western countries to avoid the hardships of the new realities created by the Israeli occupation and expropriation of their lands.
Standing at Herodion tourist site overlooking the entire Bethlehem district and which Israel claims as an Israeli park and part of its national heritage sites managed by the Israel Parks Authority and protected by an army post, Khalilieh pointed at a vast of area of land that Palestinians are not allowed to access.
“While we look at his vast empty land that belongs to the Bethlehem district,” he said, “yet we are not allowed to build on it.”
He expressed fear that if Israel goes ahead with plans to build a major highway through that land to link the area settlements to the Dead Sea, “it will cut up the West Bank into pieces” and destroy any chance of having a contiguous Palestinian state.
20 dec 2013
Roles for Social Change Association (ADWAR) concluded five seminars involving enhancing Bedouin women participation in social life in partnership with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) within Civic Participation Program (CPP), which was funded by the American Agency for International development USAID.
ADWAR said in a press release Thursday that those seminars took places in Bedouin communities southeast of Yatta; Al Zweideen, Um AlKhei and Al Hathaleen, in the presence of 135 participants; 30 young men, 105 young women.
Those seminars aimed to enhance the participation of Bedouin women in social life and empower them to express their basic needs for local councils and ministry of Local Government. They also aimed to express youth's role in work and cooperation with local councils in Bedouin communities in order to upgrade the fact of different social services of health, education, and transportation.
The achievements of the seminars, according to the young men and women, helped in developing and raising awareness towards the importance of education and making social movement by Bedouin society and joint action to meet educational needs; therefore people donated 5 acres of their land to build a school for girls.
Sahar Al-Kawasmeh, ADWAR's General Director, confirmed that the project has accomplished the desired achievements through making an effective social movement in targeted Bedouin societies which combined young men and women, local councils, and relevant ministries to upgrade the fact of introduced services by local councils.
ADWAR said in a press release Thursday that those seminars took places in Bedouin communities southeast of Yatta; Al Zweideen, Um AlKhei and Al Hathaleen, in the presence of 135 participants; 30 young men, 105 young women.
Those seminars aimed to enhance the participation of Bedouin women in social life and empower them to express their basic needs for local councils and ministry of Local Government. They also aimed to express youth's role in work and cooperation with local councils in Bedouin communities in order to upgrade the fact of different social services of health, education, and transportation.
The achievements of the seminars, according to the young men and women, helped in developing and raising awareness towards the importance of education and making social movement by Bedouin society and joint action to meet educational needs; therefore people donated 5 acres of their land to build a school for girls.
Sahar Al-Kawasmeh, ADWAR's General Director, confirmed that the project has accomplished the desired achievements through making an effective social movement in targeted Bedouin societies which combined young men and women, local councils, and relevant ministries to upgrade the fact of introduced services by local councils.
Few days before Israel, the occupying power, takes a final decision on the annexation Wall issue at Cremisan Valley, in Beit Jala, the local Christian community will host a pre-Christmas celebration with hundreds of children that will be affected by the Israeli Wall. Fr. Ibrahim Shomali, Beit Jala's Roman Catholic parish priest, will lead the prayers.
The event will take place at the Cremisan Valley in the West Bank city of Beit Jala, on Friday December 20, 2013 at 15:30 PM.
It's worth mentioning that the Beit Jala community has conducted open air prayers in the Cremisan Valley on a weekly basis for over two years in order to pray for Justice. If Israel builds the Wall, 58 Palestinian Christian families will be separated from their land, a monastery and a convent will be divided, a kindergarten will be surrounded by military fences and the Bethlehem Area will lose one of its last green areas to Israeli settlement activities.
The annexation Wall in the area is plan of a network of settlements aimed at sealing occupied East Jerusalem from the rest of the occupied State of Palestine.
The event will take place at the Cremisan Valley in the West Bank city of Beit Jala, on Friday December 20, 2013 at 15:30 PM.
It's worth mentioning that the Beit Jala community has conducted open air prayers in the Cremisan Valley on a weekly basis for over two years in order to pray for Justice. If Israel builds the Wall, 58 Palestinian Christian families will be separated from their land, a monastery and a convent will be divided, a kindergarten will be surrounded by military fences and the Bethlehem Area will lose one of its last green areas to Israeli settlement activities.
The annexation Wall in the area is plan of a network of settlements aimed at sealing occupied East Jerusalem from the rest of the occupied State of Palestine.
19 dec 2013
Catholic pontiff's truncated trip dashes hope of believers expecting papal-led Mass in Jerusalem. Israeli officials ask Vatican to reconsider holding service only in Bethlehem
Pope Francis will arrive in the Jewish State for a whirlwind visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories on March 25, 2014. The trip will last less than 48 hours, as the Roman pontiff will arrive in the morning hours on Sunday and leave the following night.
The forward delegation sent on behalf of the Vatican finished its initial visit to Israel on Tuesday, and preparations are underway for the Bishop of Rome's trip.
This will be Francis' first visit to Israel, and his first visit outside the Vatican – aside from a trip to Brazil which was scheduled by his predecessor. The visit to the Jewish State is essentially the first one initiated by Francis, though there is much disappointment in Israel because of the brief nature of his stay.
The timetable for the visit is loaded: Francis will be in Jordan on Saturday and fly on a helicopter Sunday from Amman to Ben Gurion Airport where he will receive the official State reception. During his visit, the Pope will meet with President Shimon Peres and with various religious leaders in Israel.
The pope will tour Yad Vashem, the Western Wall, and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. Unlike previous pontiffs, Francis will not visit Christian sites in northern Israel. To the disappointment of many, Pope Francis will not host Mass for believers within Israel. The plan to host Mass in Jerusalem was cancelled because of the short nature of the visit. However, the pope will host a large Mass in Bethlehem – the headline event of his trip to the holy land.
The Palestinian Authority will be the main beneficiary, as it will gain international prominence. In Israel, officials are still hoping the Vatican will reconsider its decision and have the Pope host a second Mass within the country.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet the pope at Notre-Dame Church in east Jerusalem. At the Prime Minister's Office, officials are not pleased with the fact that Netanyahu has to come to the pope, but they have been told that this has been done for previous popes. Pope Francis' trip will be significantly shorter than the two past visits by a leader of the Catholic Church. Pope John Paul II visited the holy land for 6 days, holding mass in Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Jerusalem during his 2000 trip. Pope Benedict XVI stayed in Israel for 5 days in 2009.
Pope Francis will arrive in the Jewish State for a whirlwind visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories on March 25, 2014. The trip will last less than 48 hours, as the Roman pontiff will arrive in the morning hours on Sunday and leave the following night.
The forward delegation sent on behalf of the Vatican finished its initial visit to Israel on Tuesday, and preparations are underway for the Bishop of Rome's trip.
This will be Francis' first visit to Israel, and his first visit outside the Vatican – aside from a trip to Brazil which was scheduled by his predecessor. The visit to the Jewish State is essentially the first one initiated by Francis, though there is much disappointment in Israel because of the brief nature of his stay.
The timetable for the visit is loaded: Francis will be in Jordan on Saturday and fly on a helicopter Sunday from Amman to Ben Gurion Airport where he will receive the official State reception. During his visit, the Pope will meet with President Shimon Peres and with various religious leaders in Israel.
The pope will tour Yad Vashem, the Western Wall, and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. Unlike previous pontiffs, Francis will not visit Christian sites in northern Israel. To the disappointment of many, Pope Francis will not host Mass for believers within Israel. The plan to host Mass in Jerusalem was cancelled because of the short nature of the visit. However, the pope will host a large Mass in Bethlehem – the headline event of his trip to the holy land.
The Palestinian Authority will be the main beneficiary, as it will gain international prominence. In Israel, officials are still hoping the Vatican will reconsider its decision and have the Pope host a second Mass within the country.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet the pope at Notre-Dame Church in east Jerusalem. At the Prime Minister's Office, officials are not pleased with the fact that Netanyahu has to come to the pope, but they have been told that this has been done for previous popes. Pope Francis' trip will be significantly shorter than the two past visits by a leader of the Catholic Church. Pope John Paul II visited the holy land for 6 days, holding mass in Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Jerusalem during his 2000 trip. Pope Benedict XVI stayed in Israel for 5 days in 2009.
13 dec 2013
Pope Francis received on Thursday, the credentials of the new ambassador of the State of Palestine to the Holy See, Issa Jamil Kassasieh.
The ceremony was made according to the protocol of the Holy See for accreditation of representatives of states at the Clementine Hall.
On the occasion, Pope Francis saluted the President of the State of Palestine Mr. Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian people, saying that every day he "prays for peace, justice and dignity in the Holy Land."
Ambassador Kassasieh also briefed the Vatican Secretary of State Archbishop Pietro Parolin on the difficult situation of the people of Palestine under the Israeli occupation, and particularly about the hardships being faced by Palestinian Christians.
Ambassador Kassasieh called upon the Holy See to work together with the State of Palestine in order to preserve the historic Christian presence in Palestine, the Holy Land.
Ambassador Kassasieh said that the event represented a formal recognition of the Holy See to the State of Palestine and gives an important signal to the Palestinian people and the rest of the Arab world.
The ceremony was made according to the protocol of the Holy See for accreditation of representatives of states at the Clementine Hall.
On the occasion, Pope Francis saluted the President of the State of Palestine Mr. Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian people, saying that every day he "prays for peace, justice and dignity in the Holy Land."
Ambassador Kassasieh also briefed the Vatican Secretary of State Archbishop Pietro Parolin on the difficult situation of the people of Palestine under the Israeli occupation, and particularly about the hardships being faced by Palestinian Christians.
Ambassador Kassasieh called upon the Holy See to work together with the State of Palestine in order to preserve the historic Christian presence in Palestine, the Holy Land.
Ambassador Kassasieh said that the event represented a formal recognition of the Holy See to the State of Palestine and gives an important signal to the Palestinian people and the rest of the Arab world.
12 dec 2013
For the first time since Israel was established in the historic land of Palestine in 1948, and the destruction and displacement of hundreds of villages and towns, a group of Palestinians managed to set up a Christmas Tree in the displaced village of Kufur Birim, in the Galilee.
The Sonara News Agency has reported that, despite the extreme cold and the snowstorm especially in mountain areas, and despite repeated empty promises by Israeli officials including the Minister of Minorities, the remaining displaced villagers were never allowed back.
Four months ago, a group of young Palestinians started sleeping in the village, as part of an extended campaign to affirm their right in their own lands, and recently installed a Christmas tree in the yard of a local church, affirming their Right of Return following 65 years of displacement.
Talking to the Sonara News Agency, Zatam Zahra, a member of one of the displaced families, said that this Christmas tree, the first in 65 years, is a symbol for the Right of Return of all refugees, displaced from their lands, villages and towns.
He added that the tree is also a symbol of hope to the millions of externally displaced refugees living in dozens of refugee camps in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and several Arab countries.
“We demand a solution to Kufur Birim refugees”, he said, “The Right of Return is a right not only to the living, but also to the dead”.
The Sonara News Agency has reported that, despite the extreme cold and the snowstorm especially in mountain areas, and despite repeated empty promises by Israeli officials including the Minister of Minorities, the remaining displaced villagers were never allowed back.
Four months ago, a group of young Palestinians started sleeping in the village, as part of an extended campaign to affirm their right in their own lands, and recently installed a Christmas tree in the yard of a local church, affirming their Right of Return following 65 years of displacement.
Talking to the Sonara News Agency, Zatam Zahra, a member of one of the displaced families, said that this Christmas tree, the first in 65 years, is a symbol for the Right of Return of all refugees, displaced from their lands, villages and towns.
He added that the tree is also a symbol of hope to the millions of externally displaced refugees living in dozens of refugee camps in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and several Arab countries.
“We demand a solution to Kufur Birim refugees”, he said, “The Right of Return is a right not only to the living, but also to the dead”.
4 nov 2013
Palestinian activists decorated a Christmas tree in Manger Square in Bethlehem with teargas grenades and rubber-coated bullets. Dozens of Palestinian youths in Bethlehem have collected tear gas grenades and rubber-coated bullets, fired by Israeli forces during clashes, and used them for the decoration of the Christmas tree.
One of the activists told the PIC reporter that this action is meant to send a message to foreign tourists coming from all over the world to celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem that this city is subjected to an Israeli racist, repressive occupation.
These tear gas grenades and rubber-coated bullets were made in the United States and provided to the Israeli occupation to be used against Palestinian children, elderly people and women in different parts of Palestinian towns, cities, and refugee camps, he continued.
He explained that this is a straight message to the international community and the US administration to support peace instead of continuing to support the occupation.
One of the activists told the PIC reporter that this action is meant to send a message to foreign tourists coming from all over the world to celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem that this city is subjected to an Israeli racist, repressive occupation.
These tear gas grenades and rubber-coated bullets were made in the United States and provided to the Israeli occupation to be used against Palestinian children, elderly people and women in different parts of Palestinian towns, cities, and refugee camps, he continued.
He explained that this is a straight message to the international community and the US administration to support peace instead of continuing to support the occupation.
3 nov 2013
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This Sunday, the 1st of December, Bethlehem kicked off the Christmas Season with HCEF's 10th Annual Journey to Bethlehem for Peace, which was conducted this year with the Bethlehem Local Youth Council, Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF) said in a press release Tuesday.
Over 1000 children from all over Palestine poured into the city, promoting peace and solidarity as they marched along the traditional Pilgrimage Route--the path followed by Joseph and Mary on their journey, and today followed ceremoniously each year by Christian Patriarchs at Christmas-- to the Church of Nativity, which was recognized in 2012 as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. For many, this was their first time setting foot in the Church and observing the birthplace of Christ. The children, along with Parish leaders and teachers, first arrived early on Sunday to attend |
Mass in churches throughout the local Bethlehem area. Afterwards, they gathered together at the Catholic Action Club where they were treated to a show. Later in the evening, the city of Bethlehem held its Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.
With the fresh impression of over 1000 Palestinian children in the city, and the giant Christmas tree now alight in Manger Square, the Christmas season has officially begun.
It was an inspiring sight to see children from Beit Jala, Beit Sahour, Jericho, Ramallah, Jifna, Birzeit, Ein Arik, Taybeh, Nablus, and the SOS Children's Villages International set off from the Catholic Action Club and take to the old streets of Bethlehem bearing messages of peace, hope, and love for the people of the Palestine and the rest of the world. "Unfortunately," said Sir Rateb Rabie, President/CEO of HCEF, "the children of Gaza could not join in this Christmas celebration, though most Palestinian children in Gaza have never visited the birthplace of our Lord. Gaza is under even more severe restrictions, and it's inhabitants are confined to Gaza."
Nonetheless, HCEF is determined to include the children of Gaza in the celebration of Christmas. On December 14th at 5:30 PM, HCEF will be conducting its Simulcast Christmas Message of Peace at the Nativity Church in Bethlehem. Bethlehem, Washington D.C. and Gaza will be brought together through a simultaneous video feed to share in singing, prayer, and messages of encouragement in the spirit of Christmas. For more information on this special event, click HERE.
As this year marks the 10th Anniversary of HCEF's Journey to Bethlehem for Peace, the Journey has firmly secured its place as part of the deep tradition, enabling children to take part in an act whose roots go to the very origins of Christianity itself. To date, HCEF and its partners have been able to bring over 10,000 Palestinian children to the Holy City of Bethlehem, many of them never having been there before due to the restrictions all Palestinians face from ongoing military occupation. Sir Rateb insists that it is imperative: "Jesus' message was clear. He said 'Let the children come to me,' and this message is to every leader, whether religious, civil, or political, whether on the world stage or in the local community. They must never ban children from coming to celebrate Christmas, regardless of any conflict. We pray that 2014 will be a year of peace, harmony & understanding."
In regards to the significance of the Journey to Bethlehem for Peace, Vice Mayor Issam Juha stated, "This program is one of the most important things HCEF and its partners conduct, especially this year as it coincides with the lighting of the Christmas Tree. Everyone can see that Christians exist all over Palestine, and that they represent an essential aspect of Palestinian identity. It should also be known that, despite the walls Israel has put up, the city of Bethlehem remains open to everyone who wants to visit and worship at the birthplace Christ the Lord."
Eng. Anthony Habash, HCEF's Regional Director said, "Despite the challenges and obstacles we face as Palestinians, with God's help we managed to bring more than 1000 children from parishes and cities throughout Palestine to visit Bethlehem, creating an opportunity for the children to build relationships with one another and experience the spirit of Christmas where it all began."
Father Issa Musleh the spokesman of the Orthodox Church said, "The march of the children of Palestine is a message for the whole world to work toward the rights of the oppressed and the removal of injustice represented by Israel's occupation of the Palestinian people."
Samer Makhlouf, General Director of OneVoice Palestine, reflected on his organization's mission during the event, stating, "We have been supporting the Journey to Bethlehem for the last three years, and every year we have a message to share. This year the message and campaign of OneVoice is 'Wake Up.' The campaign's goal is to get the youth of Palestine active in building up their country and promoting a two-state solution through non-violence."
The success of this year's Journey to Bethlehem for Peace is due in no small part to HCEF's many passion-driven partners. This year is particularly special as it marks HCEF's new partnership with the Bethlehem Local Youth Council.
Iyad Handel, Chairman of the local Youth Council in Bethlehem said, "This event, carried out in collaboration with HCEF, is meant to bring focus to the message of Jesus Christ, especially on the day of the Christmas Tree lighting. In fact, the real Christmas decoration comes from the smiles of these beautiful children of Palestine.
The Bethlehem Local Youth Council is committed to helping HCEF conduct this event in the years to come."
As they marched, the children were joined by the St. Joseph and Terra Santa Scout Troops, and led by prominent Palestinian leaders and community members including: Minister Abdel Fatah Hamayel, the Governor of Bethlehem; Vice Mayor, Eng. Issam Juha; Bethlehem City Chief of Police, Major Mohamed Abu Al Rab; Father Issa Musleh, spokesman for the Greek Orthodox Church, Eng. Anthony Habash, HCEF's Regional Director; Iyad Handel, President of the Bethlehem Local Youth Council; Samer Makhlouf, General Director of OneVoice Palestine; Imad Al Tawil, President of the Tawil Company, Jamileh Aranki, HCEF's Birzeit Representative; Kamal Hazboun, former Scout Leader; Aida Baboun, St. Joseph Scout Leader, and an array of community leaders representative of the Palestinian cities mentioned above.
Along with the Bethlehem Local Youth Council, HCEF is deeply grateful for all of its Bethlehem Heart of Christmas partners: the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Armenian Patriarchate, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, Bethlehem Municipality, Catholic Relief Services, St. Catharine Latin Parish - Bethlehem, USAID, Global Communities, OneVoice Palestine, Palestinian News Network (PNN), Inad Theatre, World Vision Jerusalem, Caritas Jerusalem, Good Shepherds Parish - Jericho, Terra Santa and St. Joseph Scout Troops, SOS Children's Villages International, Alofoq Volunteer Organization, Pontifical Mission of Jerusalem, German Association for the Holy Land, Cairo Amman Bank, Bank of Palestine, Al Tawil Company, Al Junedi Company, Golden Bakery, Ika Company, Nissan Souvenir Shop, Catholic Action Club, RAI House of Art, Carpet House, Milano, Divano, , the Youth Councils of Taybeh, Birzeit, Beit Jala, Beit Sahour, and to the many others who support and share in the vision of HCEF.
With the fresh impression of over 1000 Palestinian children in the city, and the giant Christmas tree now alight in Manger Square, the Christmas season has officially begun.
It was an inspiring sight to see children from Beit Jala, Beit Sahour, Jericho, Ramallah, Jifna, Birzeit, Ein Arik, Taybeh, Nablus, and the SOS Children's Villages International set off from the Catholic Action Club and take to the old streets of Bethlehem bearing messages of peace, hope, and love for the people of the Palestine and the rest of the world. "Unfortunately," said Sir Rateb Rabie, President/CEO of HCEF, "the children of Gaza could not join in this Christmas celebration, though most Palestinian children in Gaza have never visited the birthplace of our Lord. Gaza is under even more severe restrictions, and it's inhabitants are confined to Gaza."
Nonetheless, HCEF is determined to include the children of Gaza in the celebration of Christmas. On December 14th at 5:30 PM, HCEF will be conducting its Simulcast Christmas Message of Peace at the Nativity Church in Bethlehem. Bethlehem, Washington D.C. and Gaza will be brought together through a simultaneous video feed to share in singing, prayer, and messages of encouragement in the spirit of Christmas. For more information on this special event, click HERE.
As this year marks the 10th Anniversary of HCEF's Journey to Bethlehem for Peace, the Journey has firmly secured its place as part of the deep tradition, enabling children to take part in an act whose roots go to the very origins of Christianity itself. To date, HCEF and its partners have been able to bring over 10,000 Palestinian children to the Holy City of Bethlehem, many of them never having been there before due to the restrictions all Palestinians face from ongoing military occupation. Sir Rateb insists that it is imperative: "Jesus' message was clear. He said 'Let the children come to me,' and this message is to every leader, whether religious, civil, or political, whether on the world stage or in the local community. They must never ban children from coming to celebrate Christmas, regardless of any conflict. We pray that 2014 will be a year of peace, harmony & understanding."
In regards to the significance of the Journey to Bethlehem for Peace, Vice Mayor Issam Juha stated, "This program is one of the most important things HCEF and its partners conduct, especially this year as it coincides with the lighting of the Christmas Tree. Everyone can see that Christians exist all over Palestine, and that they represent an essential aspect of Palestinian identity. It should also be known that, despite the walls Israel has put up, the city of Bethlehem remains open to everyone who wants to visit and worship at the birthplace Christ the Lord."
Eng. Anthony Habash, HCEF's Regional Director said, "Despite the challenges and obstacles we face as Palestinians, with God's help we managed to bring more than 1000 children from parishes and cities throughout Palestine to visit Bethlehem, creating an opportunity for the children to build relationships with one another and experience the spirit of Christmas where it all began."
Father Issa Musleh the spokesman of the Orthodox Church said, "The march of the children of Palestine is a message for the whole world to work toward the rights of the oppressed and the removal of injustice represented by Israel's occupation of the Palestinian people."
Samer Makhlouf, General Director of OneVoice Palestine, reflected on his organization's mission during the event, stating, "We have been supporting the Journey to Bethlehem for the last three years, and every year we have a message to share. This year the message and campaign of OneVoice is 'Wake Up.' The campaign's goal is to get the youth of Palestine active in building up their country and promoting a two-state solution through non-violence."
The success of this year's Journey to Bethlehem for Peace is due in no small part to HCEF's many passion-driven partners. This year is particularly special as it marks HCEF's new partnership with the Bethlehem Local Youth Council.
Iyad Handel, Chairman of the local Youth Council in Bethlehem said, "This event, carried out in collaboration with HCEF, is meant to bring focus to the message of Jesus Christ, especially on the day of the Christmas Tree lighting. In fact, the real Christmas decoration comes from the smiles of these beautiful children of Palestine.
The Bethlehem Local Youth Council is committed to helping HCEF conduct this event in the years to come."
As they marched, the children were joined by the St. Joseph and Terra Santa Scout Troops, and led by prominent Palestinian leaders and community members including: Minister Abdel Fatah Hamayel, the Governor of Bethlehem; Vice Mayor, Eng. Issam Juha; Bethlehem City Chief of Police, Major Mohamed Abu Al Rab; Father Issa Musleh, spokesman for the Greek Orthodox Church, Eng. Anthony Habash, HCEF's Regional Director; Iyad Handel, President of the Bethlehem Local Youth Council; Samer Makhlouf, General Director of OneVoice Palestine; Imad Al Tawil, President of the Tawil Company, Jamileh Aranki, HCEF's Birzeit Representative; Kamal Hazboun, former Scout Leader; Aida Baboun, St. Joseph Scout Leader, and an array of community leaders representative of the Palestinian cities mentioned above.
Along with the Bethlehem Local Youth Council, HCEF is deeply grateful for all of its Bethlehem Heart of Christmas partners: the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Armenian Patriarchate, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, Bethlehem Municipality, Catholic Relief Services, St. Catharine Latin Parish - Bethlehem, USAID, Global Communities, OneVoice Palestine, Palestinian News Network (PNN), Inad Theatre, World Vision Jerusalem, Caritas Jerusalem, Good Shepherds Parish - Jericho, Terra Santa and St. Joseph Scout Troops, SOS Children's Villages International, Alofoq Volunteer Organization, Pontifical Mission of Jerusalem, German Association for the Holy Land, Cairo Amman Bank, Bank of Palestine, Al Tawil Company, Al Junedi Company, Golden Bakery, Ika Company, Nissan Souvenir Shop, Catholic Action Club, RAI House of Art, Carpet House, Milano, Divano, , the Youth Councils of Taybeh, Birzeit, Beit Jala, Beit Sahour, and to the many others who support and share in the vision of HCEF.
30 oct 2013
The Greek Orthodox Archbishop Alexios in Gaza stressed that the Hamas movement and its government is very keen on the security of the Church and Christians in the Gaza Strip. Alexios hailed in an interview published by DW Arabic the security situation of the Christians in the Gaza Strip, under the Palestinian government headed by Ismail Haniyeh, and pointed out that the cooperation between the Church and the ruling authority has not changed.
"We live in safety now, especially after the outbreak of the second Palestinian Intifada in 2000. Before the rule of Hamas there was security chaos and disorder in the Palestinian street, but currently we are not facing any problems," he added.
For its part, the Palestinian government in Gaza asserted that there is no difference between Muslims and Christians in the Gaza Strip.
Media advisor to Gaza Premier Taher al-Nunu told DW Arabic: "Christians in Gaza live in safety just like the Muslims, and we always meet with officials to listen to their problems and demands in order to help them."
The Greek Orthodox Church is considered the largest and oldest of the three remaining churches in the Gaza Strip. It goes back to the era of Constantinople Emperor Arkadiusz in 402.
"We live in safety now, especially after the outbreak of the second Palestinian Intifada in 2000. Before the rule of Hamas there was security chaos and disorder in the Palestinian street, but currently we are not facing any problems," he added.
For its part, the Palestinian government in Gaza asserted that there is no difference between Muslims and Christians in the Gaza Strip.
Media advisor to Gaza Premier Taher al-Nunu told DW Arabic: "Christians in Gaza live in safety just like the Muslims, and we always meet with officials to listen to their problems and demands in order to help them."
The Greek Orthodox Church is considered the largest and oldest of the three remaining churches in the Gaza Strip. It goes back to the era of Constantinople Emperor Arkadiusz in 402.
14 oct 2013
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Entering the Beer Yacoub church in Nablus, one feels the grandeur and awe of its historical significance and embodiment of the land.
Beer Yacoub, which is over a thousand years old, is located east of Nablus city, and is considered to have witnessed Jesus Christ. According to the Johanna bible, on his way from Jerusalem to Galeel, Jesus asked a Samarian woman to feed him water. The pastor of the Beer Yacoub Orthodox church, Father Postinous, told a PNN reporter that the well is approximately 40 meters deep. In the fourth century A.D., during the reign of Queen Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, a large church was built above the Beer Yacoub well. Father Postinous added that the church was demolished during the Fatimid Era in 1009 A.D. and rebuilt by the crusaders during the twelfth century A.D.. |
It was demolished again in 1187 A.D. following the crusaders withdrawal from the region. Construction on the church's current structure was started in 1908 and stopped abruptly in 1914 due to the start of the World War I. It remained in this condition until the Palestinian National Authority took over the rule in 1994.
Beer Yacoub is a tourist destination that is visited by many local and international delegations daily. Father Postinous gives detailed explanations about the church's history to tourists.
Beer Yacoub is a tourist destination that is visited by many local and international delegations daily. Father Postinous gives detailed explanations about the church's history to tourists.
1 oct 2013
For the second time in two days, extremist Israeli settlers broke a gravestone in a Christian Cemetery that belongs to the Latin Patriarchate in occupied East Jerusalem. Extremists also slashed tires of six cars.
Resident Amjad Ka’mash, stated that dozens of settlers were celebrating in Nabi Daoud area, and later on, some of them infiltrated into the area, destroyed Christian gravestone, and wrote racist graffiti, such as “Revenge”, and “Price Tag”, on a number of walls and cars.
He added that the settlers slashed tires of six cars that belong to the Palestinian families of Zanada, Halaby and Olewaat, in addition to slashing tires of a car that belongs to an Israeli guard working in the Boraq Wall area.
Ka’mash further stated that the attack was caught by surveillance cameras, and added that local residents noticed the settlers, and chased them away.
Jawad Siyam, head of the Wadi Hilweh Information Center, in Silwan, stated that the land where the attack took place belongs to the Latin Patriarchate, and is used as a parking lot for residents and visitors of the neighborhood.
Describing it as cowardice, Father Firas Hijazin slammed the attack, and said that extremist Israelis repeatedly attacked Christian sites in the occupied territories, and denounced the inaction on the part of the Israeli police.
On Sunday [September 29, 2013] a number of Israeli extremists invaded a Christian Cemetery in occupied Jerusalem, and destroyed 15 gravestones before Israeli police officers chased, and apprehended them.
Nearly a week ago, Price Tag graffiti was also found on the outer walls of a Church in the Old City of Jerusalem. Settlers also punctured tires of 28 Palestinian cars, and wrote racist graffiti in Abu Ghosh.
A month ago, a Christian Monastery in the Deir Jamal area, between Jerusalem and Ramla, was attacked by a Molotov cocktail, while racist graffiti, used by Price Tag extremist Israeli groups, were found on its exterior walls, the Arabs48 news Website has reported.
In mid-June, a number of extremist settlers wrote racist graffiti on some graves at the Christian Greek Orthodox graveyard in Jaffa.
Resident Amjad Ka’mash, stated that dozens of settlers were celebrating in Nabi Daoud area, and later on, some of them infiltrated into the area, destroyed Christian gravestone, and wrote racist graffiti, such as “Revenge”, and “Price Tag”, on a number of walls and cars.
He added that the settlers slashed tires of six cars that belong to the Palestinian families of Zanada, Halaby and Olewaat, in addition to slashing tires of a car that belongs to an Israeli guard working in the Boraq Wall area.
Ka’mash further stated that the attack was caught by surveillance cameras, and added that local residents noticed the settlers, and chased them away.
Jawad Siyam, head of the Wadi Hilweh Information Center, in Silwan, stated that the land where the attack took place belongs to the Latin Patriarchate, and is used as a parking lot for residents and visitors of the neighborhood.
Describing it as cowardice, Father Firas Hijazin slammed the attack, and said that extremist Israelis repeatedly attacked Christian sites in the occupied territories, and denounced the inaction on the part of the Israeli police.
On Sunday [September 29, 2013] a number of Israeli extremists invaded a Christian Cemetery in occupied Jerusalem, and destroyed 15 gravestones before Israeli police officers chased, and apprehended them.
Nearly a week ago, Price Tag graffiti was also found on the outer walls of a Church in the Old City of Jerusalem. Settlers also punctured tires of 28 Palestinian cars, and wrote racist graffiti in Abu Ghosh.
A month ago, a Christian Monastery in the Deir Jamal area, between Jerusalem and Ramla, was attacked by a Molotov cocktail, while racist graffiti, used by Price Tag extremist Israeli groups, were found on its exterior walls, the Arabs48 news Website has reported.
In mid-June, a number of extremist settlers wrote racist graffiti on some graves at the Christian Greek Orthodox graveyard in Jaffa.
30 sept 2013
Christian Graves Defaces In Jaffa - File
A number of Israeli extremists invaded a Christian Cemetery in occupied Jerusalem, and destroyed several gravestones before Israeli police officers chased, and apprehended them.
The Radio Bethlehem 2000 has reported that four students of a Jewish Yeshiva in the area carried out the attack. Their ages are between 17 and 26.
It added that the assailants destroyed 15 gravestones in the Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in the King David Tomb.
The Israeli Police said that two of the apprehended Israeli assailants are members of the Hilltop Youth Movement, an extremist group of Israeli settlers responsible for numerous attacks against Palestinian lands and property.
The two have previously been apprehended by the Israeli Police in the West Bank, and were ordered out of the area due to their illegal activities, but they violated the order and the police failed to apprehend them.
Earlier on Monday, the Police apprehended two Israeli teenagers, 14 and 16 years of age, on suspicion of being involved in defacing and damaging eight Palestinian cars, near Nabi Saleh Graveyard, in occupied Jerusalem.
Nearly a week ago, Price Tag graffiti was also found on the outer walls of a Church in the Old City of Jerusalem, punctured tires of 28 Palestinian cars, and wrote racist graffiti in Abu Ghosh.
A month ago, a Christian Monastery in the Deir Jamal area, between Jerusalem and Ramla, was attacked by a Molotov cocktail, while racist graffiti, used by Price Tag extremist Israeli groups, were found on its exterior walls, the Arabs48 news Website has reported.
In mid-June, a number of extremist settlers wrote racist graffiti on some graves at the Christian Greek Orthodox graveyard in Jaffa [on Wednesday at night].
On Friday [June 14 2013] Israeli extremists set ablaze two Palestinian cars in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, in occupied East Jerusalem, and wrote racist graffiti, including Price Tag.
The extremists also wrote racist graffiti on some graves in the Christian Greek Orthodox graveyard in Jaffa. They further wrote “Price Tag”, “Revenge”, and drew the Star of David on a number of graves.
Racist graffiti was also found on a wall of a building inhabited by the head of the Orthodox Society in Jaffa, and even wrote graffiti on the wall of the home Khaled Kaboub, an Arab District Court Judge in Tel Aviv.
There have been hundreds of similar attacks, that also included burning and trying to burn Churches and Mosques in different part of Palestine, in addition to numerous attacks targeting both Islamic and Christian graveyards.
Those attacks are part of ongoing violations that also targeted Palestinians lands and orchards in which the settlers uprooted and burnt hundreds of Palestinian trees, and flooded farmlands with waste-water.
Palestinian institutions condemn Jewish desecration of Christian cemetery
Two Palestinian institutions condemned on Monday the Jewish desecration of a Christian cemetery in occupied Jerusalem. Four Jewish fanatics of the so-called “Price Tag” gangs destroyed on Sunday the headstones of 15 graves in the Christian cemetery in occupied Jerusalem in a Wakf land owned by the Dajani family.
Other groups of Jewish fanatics attacked and damaged eight cars owned by Arabs in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in occupied Jerusalem also on Sunday.
The Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage described in a statement the attack on the Christian cemetery as “terrorist and cowardly”.
It said that the Israeli occupation authority was responsible for not adopting firm positions against those gangs, which encouraged them to launch more attacks.
The foundation said that the Jewish attacks on Islamic and Christian holy places in Palestine would only boost “our insistence on preserving and defending them”.
For its part, the Islamic Christian commission in support of Jerusalem and holy sites called for an end to such practices, noting that attacks on the Islamic and Christian graveyards had increased recently.
It said that the Judaization schemes in Jerusalem were on the rise as evident in the building of synagogues, Talmudic parks, and public utilities coupled with the forced dislocation of Jerusalemites and razing their homes and the daily storming of the holy Aqsa Mosque.
A number of Israeli extremists invaded a Christian Cemetery in occupied Jerusalem, and destroyed several gravestones before Israeli police officers chased, and apprehended them.
The Radio Bethlehem 2000 has reported that four students of a Jewish Yeshiva in the area carried out the attack. Their ages are between 17 and 26.
It added that the assailants destroyed 15 gravestones in the Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in the King David Tomb.
The Israeli Police said that two of the apprehended Israeli assailants are members of the Hilltop Youth Movement, an extremist group of Israeli settlers responsible for numerous attacks against Palestinian lands and property.
The two have previously been apprehended by the Israeli Police in the West Bank, and were ordered out of the area due to their illegal activities, but they violated the order and the police failed to apprehend them.
Earlier on Monday, the Police apprehended two Israeli teenagers, 14 and 16 years of age, on suspicion of being involved in defacing and damaging eight Palestinian cars, near Nabi Saleh Graveyard, in occupied Jerusalem.
Nearly a week ago, Price Tag graffiti was also found on the outer walls of a Church in the Old City of Jerusalem, punctured tires of 28 Palestinian cars, and wrote racist graffiti in Abu Ghosh.
A month ago, a Christian Monastery in the Deir Jamal area, between Jerusalem and Ramla, was attacked by a Molotov cocktail, while racist graffiti, used by Price Tag extremist Israeli groups, were found on its exterior walls, the Arabs48 news Website has reported.
In mid-June, a number of extremist settlers wrote racist graffiti on some graves at the Christian Greek Orthodox graveyard in Jaffa [on Wednesday at night].
On Friday [June 14 2013] Israeli extremists set ablaze two Palestinian cars in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, in occupied East Jerusalem, and wrote racist graffiti, including Price Tag.
The extremists also wrote racist graffiti on some graves in the Christian Greek Orthodox graveyard in Jaffa. They further wrote “Price Tag”, “Revenge”, and drew the Star of David on a number of graves.
Racist graffiti was also found on a wall of a building inhabited by the head of the Orthodox Society in Jaffa, and even wrote graffiti on the wall of the home Khaled Kaboub, an Arab District Court Judge in Tel Aviv.
There have been hundreds of similar attacks, that also included burning and trying to burn Churches and Mosques in different part of Palestine, in addition to numerous attacks targeting both Islamic and Christian graveyards.
Those attacks are part of ongoing violations that also targeted Palestinians lands and orchards in which the settlers uprooted and burnt hundreds of Palestinian trees, and flooded farmlands with waste-water.
Palestinian institutions condemn Jewish desecration of Christian cemetery
Two Palestinian institutions condemned on Monday the Jewish desecration of a Christian cemetery in occupied Jerusalem. Four Jewish fanatics of the so-called “Price Tag” gangs destroyed on Sunday the headstones of 15 graves in the Christian cemetery in occupied Jerusalem in a Wakf land owned by the Dajani family.
Other groups of Jewish fanatics attacked and damaged eight cars owned by Arabs in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in occupied Jerusalem also on Sunday.
The Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage described in a statement the attack on the Christian cemetery as “terrorist and cowardly”.
It said that the Israeli occupation authority was responsible for not adopting firm positions against those gangs, which encouraged them to launch more attacks.
The foundation said that the Jewish attacks on Islamic and Christian holy places in Palestine would only boost “our insistence on preserving and defending them”.
For its part, the Islamic Christian commission in support of Jerusalem and holy sites called for an end to such practices, noting that attacks on the Islamic and Christian graveyards had increased recently.
It said that the Judaization schemes in Jerusalem were on the rise as evident in the building of synagogues, Talmudic parks, and public utilities coupled with the forced dislocation of Jerusalemites and razing their homes and the daily storming of the holy Aqsa Mosque.
26 sept 2013
Israeli security officials at the King Hussein (Allenby) bridge turned back an American peace volunteer who is part of the Christian Peacemaker Teams in Hebron twice in the past week.
Jonathan Brenneman, 25, from St. Marys Ohio was turned back September 25th after a five hour wait at the border crossing. He had been denied entry for the second time. Earlier on September 17th he was denied entry on the justification that he didn't provide an invitation letter. Unable to apply for a visa at the Israeli embassy in Amman which has been closed for the Jewish holidays, he brought the invitation letter in his second visit as well as testimonials from Israelis only to be turned back. Brenneman has filed a report with the US embassy in Amman. His congressman, senator and US state department officials were also contacted.
Blogging about his experience, Brenneman said the Israeli soldier told him the second time that the reason for his denial was because Christian Peacemaker Teams is not a recognized organization. "I told the soldier that we legally do not need to be recognized by Israel, and I asked why that was a reason for not letting me in. He said his commander said I couldn't come in for that reason, and that was the end of the conversation."
Brenneman said that he was surprised at the denial of entry of a person coming for peace and at a time of peace talks. "I question why the Israeli authorities see people working for a well established 'violence reduction program' as a threat."
In his blog about the first entry denial Brenneman writes that an Israeli soldier trying to be friendly asked if Brenneman is a Jewish name.
In recent months Israeli border security have denied two other CPTers (one American and one from Holland) from crossing. This is the first time that Israeli officials have explicitly stated that Americans were denied entry because they are connected with the Christian Peacemaker Teams.
The Christian Peacemaker Teams made up mostly of peace churches (Mennonites, Brethren and Quakers) has been working in Hebron for 19 years. It is an international non-profit organization registered in the State of Illinois and a member of the Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA) in the occupied Palestinian Territories. It has partnered with the United Nations and Save the Children UK.
The mission of the Christian Peacemaker Teams is simple, Brenneman says. It is to support peacemaking efforts in conflict zones. "We support both Palestinian and Israeli non-violent grass roots peacemaking groups. We accompany children to school, helping ensure they are not attacked on their way to get an education."
This article was originally publsihed at The Huffington Post
Jonathan Brenneman, 25, from St. Marys Ohio was turned back September 25th after a five hour wait at the border crossing. He had been denied entry for the second time. Earlier on September 17th he was denied entry on the justification that he didn't provide an invitation letter. Unable to apply for a visa at the Israeli embassy in Amman which has been closed for the Jewish holidays, he brought the invitation letter in his second visit as well as testimonials from Israelis only to be turned back. Brenneman has filed a report with the US embassy in Amman. His congressman, senator and US state department officials were also contacted.
Blogging about his experience, Brenneman said the Israeli soldier told him the second time that the reason for his denial was because Christian Peacemaker Teams is not a recognized organization. "I told the soldier that we legally do not need to be recognized by Israel, and I asked why that was a reason for not letting me in. He said his commander said I couldn't come in for that reason, and that was the end of the conversation."
Brenneman said that he was surprised at the denial of entry of a person coming for peace and at a time of peace talks. "I question why the Israeli authorities see people working for a well established 'violence reduction program' as a threat."
In his blog about the first entry denial Brenneman writes that an Israeli soldier trying to be friendly asked if Brenneman is a Jewish name.
In recent months Israeli border security have denied two other CPTers (one American and one from Holland) from crossing. This is the first time that Israeli officials have explicitly stated that Americans were denied entry because they are connected with the Christian Peacemaker Teams.
The Christian Peacemaker Teams made up mostly of peace churches (Mennonites, Brethren and Quakers) has been working in Hebron for 19 years. It is an international non-profit organization registered in the State of Illinois and a member of the Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA) in the occupied Palestinian Territories. It has partnered with the United Nations and Save the Children UK.
The mission of the Christian Peacemaker Teams is simple, Brenneman says. It is to support peacemaking efforts in conflict zones. "We support both Palestinian and Israeli non-violent grass roots peacemaking groups. We accompany children to school, helping ensure they are not attacked on their way to get an education."
This article was originally publsihed at The Huffington Post
8 sept 2013
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) burned down a number of olive trees, some of which are one thousand years old, and broke the gate of a monastery south of Bethlehem on Saturday evening. Ahmed Salah, the coordinator of anti-wall and settlement committees in Al-Khader village, said that IOF soldiers fired teargas and stun grenades at areas belonging to the Mar Jeriess monastery in the Old City of Al-Khader.
The resultant fire burned down ancient olive trees, Salah said, adding that the soldiers attacked the monastery and destroyed its main gate. He said that the soldiers warned against rebuilding the gate.
The resultant fire burned down ancient olive trees, Salah said, adding that the soldiers attacked the monastery and destroyed its main gate. He said that the soldiers warned against rebuilding the gate.
