No 70
No 71
No 72
No 73
No 74
No 75
No 76
No 77
No 78
Other Letters:
Index
No 25-30
No 31-36
No
37-41
No
42-48
No 49-60
No 61-69
No 70-79
No 80-89
No 90-100
No 101-109
No 110-119
No 120-129
No 130-139
No 140-149
No 150-159
No 160-169
No 170-179
No 180-189
No 190-199
No 200-209
No 210-219
No 220-229
No 230-239
No 240-249
No 250-259
No 260-270
Liturgy for Prayers for Peace
Held in the churches of Jerusalem
August 15th to 28th 2001
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Circular Letter No 79
9th March 2002
Sitting here at home at 0600 on a Saturday morning, with not a sound outside as it is Shabbat, it seems an unreal world. I have just been looking over the TV channels to get what news I can about the events of the night, and of yesterday. If we thought it had been bad before, what is now happening is infinitely worse.
Some of you know some of our folk in the Bethlehem area. There is little news coverage, but the tanks are said to have gone back into Bethlehem and Beit Jala yesterday. Yesterday I was not able to get in touch with Helen Shehadeh - neither her school phone, nor her home phone, were answered. It seems most likely that the Israeli forces had in some way interrupted the phone system. I will try again later before sending this message. The Korean family, John and Cang Lim Gang, whose house overlooks Beit Jala from Bethlehem, have been able to spend the day in their home, but at night they have gone to sleep at the Kindergarten Centre which they run - it faces the other way, and despite having been hit by a bullet on a previous occasion, seems safer than their home. However they have not slept all that much due to the shooting and bombing. Najla, one of the staff at the Hospice who has a permit and so is able to come to work, was turned back at the check point yesterday. Elias, to whom I spoke also yesterday, was very anxious as to what was going to happen, and had not been away from his house at all yesterday. Later in the day, I will call round them, to see what sort of night they had.
E-mail messages come in from all sorts of people – I could send you lots giving more detailed information – will only send a clipping from one of them, about a hospital in Bethlehem. The writer, Dr Bernard Sabella, is a member of the YMCA Board with whom I work, and is leader of one of the “arms” of the Middle East Council of Churches. I respect what he writes, and have no reason to doubt his veracity. Bernard writes : As I write, the Israeli forces are encircling at least three refugee camps: Dheisheh and Aydah in Bethlehem and Nur Shams in Tulkarm in the northern West Bank. Friends from Bethlehem inform me that already five people have been killed: one woman who apparently resisted the entry of soldiers into her home was shot dead in Dheisheh refugee camp. The director of al Yamamah hospital in Bethlehem, Dr. Ahmed Othman, was killed, according to a friend, when he was touring the various departments of the hospital. Soldiers shot him because he was not supposed to be moving inside his own hospital. All staff were prohibited by the Israeli soldiers from leaving their quarters. The fear of friends with whom I spoke is that the entry of soldiers into the refugee camps could result in serious casualties among the civilian population that has nothing to do with the ongoing fighting. Besides, there is a concern that the contemplated actions of the Israeli army in Bethlehem and elsewhere would mean that thousands of families would have nothing to eat in the next couple of days. A friend from Beit Jala informs me that people were caught unprepared with the latest Israeli incursion. Accordingly, they have not made plans for additional provisions for food or medicine. One concern that Palestinians have is the fact that Israeli soldiers are shooting at ambulances indiscriminately and, that in so many cases, bona vide ambulances are not allowed to get to those injured or ill. Dr. Mustapha Barghouti from UPMRC reports that the Israeli military have denied entry to ambulances into Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm where there are 70 injured, some seriously.
With the news saying that there have been 50 or more killed in the past 24 hours – Israelis and Palestinians, of whom the vast majority are Palestinians – the silence (at least as far as I have seen and heard,) of the British government is deafening. However, having had the Foreign Secretary here a few weeks ago on a visit in which he invited Mr Sharon to visit London, is one entitled to expect anything more? Being cynical – or just realistic given the past actions of the Israeli government when a visit by an American envoy is planned – what new things will Mr Sharon get up to, in order to derail the visit of Mr Zinni? This morning he is reported as saying that he is ready to negotiate a cease-fire. Having presided over the mayhem of the past few days, perhaps this too is just a ploy, so that he can appear to the Americans in the light of the reasonable person whose offer for cease fire negotiations has been rejected. Such is the way that one sees things from this perspective.
In the middle of all this, what on earth is one doing, traipsing round the Holy Land, visiting ancient sites, and churches, and hearing what happened a few thousand years ago? It almost seems like escapism. However, this is what we have been doing in the past week. It has been fascinating, and thought provoking, and challenging, and all sorts of things.
Monday : 0630 hours – off to Caesarea Maritima. See the remains of the theatre, the city, the palaces; look over the maps of the building developments of Herod – the one who slaughtered the kids at Bethlehem to try to get rid of Jesus – and marvel at what he built. Also interesting to note that this, in its heyday, was the sort of city that Jesus would have known about, even if he had not visited. He would have been well aware of the difference between the rich and the poor, the powerful and the powerless, the native and the foreigner.
On to Sepphoris, the ruins of the Roman city close to Nazareth, in the building of which Joseph may have got a job. Some wonderful mosaics in what is called the Nile House – again from the time of Jesus – showing how cosmopolitan was the world in which he lived. The Theatre might well have been an attraction for youngsters from Nazareth, just an hour’s walk away.
Next stop Nazareth, where we had a chat with the Curator of the Museum attached to the Church of the Annunciation. Visitor figures around 2% of what is normal for this time of year. Saw some of the very ancient stones – one taken from what is generally supposed to have been the sort of cave house in which Mary may have been visited by Gabriel – has an inscription on it about Mary.
We stayed at the north end of the Sea of Galilee, in a hotel run by a Kibbutz – were made very welcome. The dining room can seat up to 300 – overnight guests when we were there totalled 20. More accustomed to seeing the economic effect of the Intifada, or the War, on the economy in the Jerusalem/Bethlehem area, we were not really surprised to see its effect on the North.
Tuesday : an early morning trip on the Lake on a boat – the owner of the boat has seven boats, but presently he has only one on the water. A few magic moments of calm and stillness, floating off the shore near the Mountain of the Beatitudes – escapism. As all who take to floating on the water – sailing I think it might be called –will know, it can be immensely calming. No wonder that Jesus wanted to get out in a boat from time to time.
Visits were paid to the regular sites – Capernaum, Tabgha (where the story of the Loaves and Fishes is remembered), the Primacy of Peter (recalling the breakfast that Jesus prepared for his friends at the end of John’s gospel – and where we were able to borrow a chalice and paten, and celebrate Communion looking out over the lake) – and on to a site which I had not visited before, on the eastern shore of the Lake, at Kursi. It is associated with the Healing of the Demoniac, and the feeding of the 4,000.
It is interesting how one thinks one knows the Bible stories, until asked specific questions. How many baskets of scraps were picked up at the feeding of the 5,000? How many picked up at the feeding of the 4,000? Any significance? Of course, said our leader. The 12 baskets of scraps represent food for the 12 tribes of Israel, and the story took place on Jewish territory. The seven baskets of scraps represent food for the 7 nations of the world, and the story took place on “foreign” territory in the Decapolis. Illustrations of the care of Jesus both for his own people, and for the great big wide world outside. So at least one relevant message from that part of the trip.
Wednesday : Visit Mount Tabor, associated in pilgrimages with the Transfiguration, though it has a rival for the site of the event. Nevertheless, sit and enjoy the silence, and the sound of the wind in the trees. I was also struck by one of the mosaics in the Church – part of a set of 4 scenes. The first scene is the infant Jesus, on a bed of straw, being venerated by a bunch of three “angels.” The third is of the same angels, in the same pose, venerating a lamb lying on a book. Although I have sung “Behold the Lamb of God” on countless occasions, I do not recall having seen such a scene before, and I found it a powerful way of communicating the message of Jesus about Salvation, and self-sacrifice.
Next to Megiddo, and a visit to the ruins of one of the oldest inhabited places in the area. Some 26 layers of occupation have been identified, and again, it was fascinating to hear the stories of some of the different layers.
So to home, and a service in the Evening in our Lenten Series.
Thursday I had to do a bit of work – visit to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, to talk about the lease for the Consulate property at the back of the Hospice. We had members of one of the Board of World Mission Committees here for business and they are involved with property. If someone could supply a spare $1,500,000, we might get a sniff of the lease! Later in the day, talk with them about the development of the Hospice, and share some very different views as to its function. Not the time or place to go into this!
Thursday 1600 hours – meet with a Jewish man whom I know from the Government. He was held up getting to us, as there had been a suicide bomber intercepted in the shopping area about a mile from the Hospice. He lives in a settlement south of Bethlehem, and spoke very openly and unequivocally
of the rationale for him and the Jewish people being here – the Land was given to us by God –
of the impossibility of doing business with the Arabs who never keep to any agreement which they make
of the generosity of the terms offered at Camp David
and interestingly, comparing the trauma experienced by the Jewish people when the Palestinians rejected what was offered at Camp David to the trauma experienced by the Americans on September 11th
his willingness to leave his Settlement, should he think that there was a realistic plan for Peace, and a realistic expectation that the Arabs would respect it,
about being pessimistic, but not depressed. God will help him through this time of trouble.
It was interesting to hear such an educated person state his case, - and at times be unable to answer questions about such things as the facts of the Camp David “agreement” which had been rejected. There is a lot of work to be done!!!
Friday I had to go to Tabeetha School for Assembly – where we had a discussion with the pupils about the phrase “Might is Right” Not surprisingly, when given the choice between it being a True Phrase or a False Phrase, in the context of talking with me, they said it was False.
I caught up with the Study Group at Yad Vashem – the Memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. As ever, there were conflicting emotions and reactions :
how was this allowed to happen?
why do people who have known such suffering and victimisation, now treat the Palestinians the way they are doing? How ironic to see the pictures from inside the Warsaw Ghetto, and compare with them with villages that have been sealed off from the outside world now for well over a year.
The enormity of the slaughter of the children – 1,500,000 of them. Standing in the Memorial and seeing the effect of the mirrors, with lights representing each child disappearing into the distance any way you looked – such countless numbers. Then recalling the recent events where women have been shot at, and fathers killed, when in the labour of child birth and on their way to hospital.
Seeing the enormous building programme under way, to provide a new visitor centre etc – wondering where it is all leading.
No doubt, someone will think that such thoughts are anti-Semitic. I would contest that.
From there, we went to the weekly demonstration of the Women in Black – Jewish women demonstrating against the occupation of the West Bank by the Israelis. I talked with an interesting woman who had come here 40 years ago from South Africa, where she had been on the picket lines there. Now it is the same thing here. Her silent reply to my question if she thought it had been a good move was most eloquent. She finds it very hard to be Jewish and to be seen as part of the current political system which is occupying the West Bank – and also part of the Jewish people who are also having people killed.
The day ended with a visit to the Western (or Wailing) Wall. We watched the people praying – coming as families and then men and women separating for prayers, to meet again later. It seemed that there were fewer than we had seen before, and by the time we left, the square was virtually empty. The Intifada is taking its toll here as well.
Bye for now.
PS Saturday 1700 hours. Unable today to make contact with Helen Shehadeh, so don’t know how she is. This afternoon, when we had finished the activities in connection with the Study Course, took a Scottish journalist and went to try to get in to Bethlehem. Parked at the check point, got out, and walked to where soldiers could see us. Spoke with them, told them who I was and what I wanted to do, and lo and behold was waved through! Easier than in normal times. Tank marks on the road, not a car in sight, no person in sight – strange. Went to see Elias and had a cold drink with him. Very down. Spoke about the situation, the Refugee Camps that are surrounded, etc. Soldiers making holes in the walls of the houses to go from house to house without having to go on a street. He cannot get to a shop to get jam jars to put anything in them, so no money from that! Then on to see Najla and her family – they are all right – also very depressed. It is the wedding of their nephew in Ramallah tomorrow, and no way to get there. However, they are OK.
Back to the check point. Road blocked by tanks and armoured personnel carriers – lots of soldiers having a sandwich and a cold drink. After speaking with a couple of them, told to go through the convoy that is parked. They look at me, wondering what I am doing there, but no problem and on home.
Out tonight to the home of a Jewish woman who is “liberal” I have been told. This is a part of the Study Course. Will be interesting to see them. Surveillance helicopters overhead. Sorry this is so long.
Anyone for schizophrenia??!! God bless. Remember the folk here in your prayers. Love from Joan and Clarence.
Circular
Letter No 78
3rd March 2002
None of you will need me to tell you of the horror of the past few days.
We were out having a meal with 2 of the other people on our Study Tour
on Saturday evening – all feeling a bit tired as we had been up at
0415 hours. Suddenly there was a great bang, then an eerie stillness,
and after a minute or two the first of the sirens started, and there was
an unending stream of police cars and ambulances for a while, racing to
try to bring help. Sadly, for many, there was no help that could be
offered – including some only in their prams. So, there is the feeling
of anger and helplessness at the madness of it all.
That same feeling of anger and helplessness had been around all week.
The week had opened with the news of two pregnant woman, on their way to
hospital, being shot at. In one case, the woman’s husband had been
killed. Then there were the cases later in the week of youngsters being
shot and killed in their own homes – the one in the West Bank , the
other in Gaza. The army in the refugee camps, the destruction of life
and of property – but in a way even more important, the destruction of
any sort of relationships that might have existed between Jew and Arab.
So, depending upon whom you listen to, it is THEIR fault – and we will
get even with them, we will impose our will on them, etc etc etc. In the
meantime, how many will be killed?
The phone went this morning about 0745 hours. It was Cang Lim, the
Korean woman who is a member of our congregation and who lives in
Bethlehem. Her husband was away for a couple of days with a friend from
Korea who was on a visit to them – and their home was only a few
hundred metres from the place which had been the target of an Israeli
Missile attack last night. Not unnaturally she was very upset and
anxious. Later in the morning, we heard of another church worker in the
same area, who had spent a few hours in the hallway of her house, under
the stairs, while there was the shooting and rocket attacks going on. I
have just spoken with her – no-one is out in Bethlehem, or at least in
her area of Bethlehem, tonight. She is hoping to sleep. We too hope to
sleep, - but as I write, helicopters can be heard in the distance, and
as I have said before, in Jerusalem we do not hear civilian helicopters.
Study Tour news. This is a Tour which I had put together hoping that
perhaps a dozen people from Scotland might come out – in the end one
came, and so the tour has gone ahead with 4 of us from here and the one
brave soul from Scotland.
Thursday evening, the group meets.
Henry Carse is our leader. He is a lecturer in St George’s Anglican
College here – came to Israel as a teenager some 30 years ago, on his
way to India. Never got that far! Studied Hebrew Scriptures.
Bill Taylor, minister in Hawick, and a former colleague of mine at
Murrayfield, is the sole overseas person.
Joyce Wilson, a deacon of the United Methodist Church in the State, a
member of St Andrew’s, - her husband is the new Director General of
the YMCA.
Sylvia Marchant – on the staff of the Ecce Homo Convent, who comes to
St Andrew’s – English and Anglican though she is! Sylvia will be
known to some from her time on Iona working for the Community. (To such
as know her, greetings)
Joan and myself.
Friday 0730 – off in the Ford Minibus with Edgar our driver. Down to
Beersheva. On the way, we stop off at a Bedouin Cultural Centre on a
Kibbutz, to see the museum. Then have the coffee ceremony with one of
the Bedouin who works at the centre. We listen to something of the
culture of the past, how it is trying to accommodate itself to the
present, and the difficulties of the future.
On to the Tell at Beersheva – with its associations with Abraham. One
of the reasons for its significance was the fact that there was a well,
and so people came to get water. We saw the well, now restored. Have a
visit to the excavations, learn something of the different aspects of
the city there – and gain insights into parts of the Bible that we
knew only in a general way. Regret that I did not do this about 40 years
ago.
On to our hotel at a small town ARAD on the edge of the desert. Rest for
a while, then towards the end of the afternoon, drive out into the
desert, and walk for a while. Henry eventually tells us to sit down and
be quiet for half an hour. Fascinating to sit there – away in the
distance a herd of camels grazing – close by, looking at the plants
round me, I can identify 10 different ones within a few feet of my feet
– growing now since we have had rain, but they will soon wither and
die back to wait for the rain next season. Stones everywhere – it is
similar to the desert in which Jesus would have been tempted to turn the
stones into bread. Watch the sun set over the hills to the West.
Back to the hotel – food, and then a walk down to the edge of the
town, and watch the ¾ moon rising over the desert.
Saturday 0415 hours. The phone goes to waken us up – coffee at 0430
– and we are on our way just about 0500 hours – to get to Massada
and climb up, from the western side, in time to see the sun rise. After
25 minutes, we reach the top, and have time for breakfast, and then the
sun comes up. For four of us, the second time within a few weeks that we
have had this experience. Then there is a tour of the site – and an
opportunity to listen to Henry and all the fascinating bits of
information that we would never have picked up on our own. The
impregnable fortress had been beseiged, and taken, and over time fell
into ruin.
An hour along the road, we visit Qumran, and see some of its marvels.
One of them is the aqueduct that brought the water from a storage area
that the community had created in the cliffs a few hundred metres away
– or rather the path of the aqueduct, part of which being a short
tunnel carved through the rock.
Still on Saturday, at 1430 hours meet with members of the congregation
in Jerusalem for a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre – as it
is called in the West, - or the Church of the Resurrection, as it is
called in the East. How much better the Eastern Name sounds! Henry
guided us through this, taking us back to see the original church in our
mind’s eyes. So, by 1700 hours, we were pretty tired.
Interesting to note that Massada, the fortress that was thought to be
inpregnable, was in ruins, having been taken in battle.
Interesting to note that Qumran, a different type of fortress, with a
totally different approach to the questions of life and meaning, also
was in ruins.
Interesting to note that the Church of the Resurrection built by
Constantine, had also been subject to all sorts of upheavals, and though
not a ruin, the present structure is far from what was originally built.
What are the present day equivalents of Massada, Qumran and the Church
of the Resurrection, and how long will they last? What sort of lessons
have we learned from the past?
Saturday 1915 hours – hear the explosion.
Sunday 1000 hours – Service. How can we sing the Lord’s Song in a
foreign land – the land of hatred, persecution, killing – yet if we
do not sing his song, who will? I am sure that some of you who read with
will wonder if there is such a thing as the Lord’s song at all, given
what we are having to live through.
Sunday 1400 hours – visit the Coptic Orthodox Church, to meet Father
Ephraim, and to learn something of his church and his faith.
Sunday 1600 hours – visit the Syrian Orthodox Church, in time to
listen to the end of the Vespers. A strange way to worship – but
strange only to us, and quite comfortable to the priests who are there,
one of whom I know.
Sunday 1700 hours – visit the Western Wall – I have never seen so
few people there – wonder if it has anything to do with the
possibility of the funerals that will have been held today of those
killed in the bomb blast last night.
So, now it is evening – time to rest.
Monday 0630 – leave for Galilee, to have our minds stretched a bit
more, our faith put under the microscope, and – we hope – to be
better informed when we return to Jerusalem, to carry on with the story
here later in the week.
The next tour will be in November. Book now!!!
Bye for now. God bless.
Love from
Joan and Clarence
top
Circular
Letter No 77
27th February 2002
In the holiday stakes, it is not a good time to be a Christian!!
We have just had the Muslim Feast to mark the end of the Hajj to Mecca -
and so East Jerusalem has been on holiday- 3 days. Today is the Jewish
Feast of Purim, and so it is a holiday - government offices have had a
few days off this week to get ready for it. Christians have just to sit
back and enjoy them all!!
One of the first casualties in any conflict is truth - a truism.
Regardless of which side you support in this conflict, it has to be
accepted that neither side can really claim that truth is on its side.
For the Israeli Prime Minister - Mr Arafat is irrelevant, and has been
so for months, since Mr Sharon declared this to be the case. It is
strange how an irrelevant person can be the subject of such intense
debate in the Cabinet, so much so that if the Cabinet decides to let him
move freely, the Right Wing will leave, and if it does not let him move,
the Left Wing will threaten to leave. How come an "irrelevant"
person is so troublesome? Or perhaps it is not true that he is
irrelevant.
For the Palestinian President - I am doing all that I can to show my
commitment to peace. Yet within hours, there are attacks on Israelis,
and people are killed. Can it be the truth, the whole truth and nothing
but the truth?
For the Israeli Army - our forces are instructed to allow people to pass
check points to obtain medical treatment - and this week we have had the
cases of two incidents where pregnant women trying to get to hospital
are fired on, with the husband of one being killed beside her. Is it
true that they are instructed to allow people to pass? Or are there two
sets of instructions - one for the media and the public, and the other
for the soldiers on duty?
So one could go on and on and on.
Growing up within the British Protestant community in Northern Ireland,
one of the great days of the year was July 12th - the glorious 12th for
the Loyalist community, to commemorate the victory of the Protestant
forces over those of the Catholics in 1690 - ( and not to be confused
with that other Glorious Twelfth celebrated in Scotland by the shooting
parties, if not by the grouse! For those who do not know of the Scottish
festival, it is the opening of the Grouse Shooting season). The Twelfth
of July just happened and was part of the scene. To question it seemed
superfluous, if not almost "treasonable". Only later, much
later, did I begin to comprehend the feelings that this engendered in
that other section of the community where I was born and grew up - those
who were British Catholics.
[ We had an interesting, if brief, discussion the other day with people
about the public holidays that are observed in Israel - and the impact
they have on places where you have people of all communities sharing in
the activities. Do you open you institution 7 days a week? Do you close
it for "holy" days? If so, for which holy day - Friday for the
Muslims, Saturday for the Jews, or Sunday for the Christians? If there
are too many such holy days, and they really restrict what you are
setting out to do, which ones do you leave out? Answers in an e-mail
please, rather than a postcard. ]
Today in Jerusalem, the Jewish community is celebrating Purim. The
origins of this Festival lie deep in history - when some of the Jewish
people had been transported eastwards. The scene is set in Susa, the
capital of Ahasuerus, who, it is recounted in the Book of Esther, ruled
from India to Ethiopia. It is a story of intrigue and of the struggle of
Haman to get rid of those who did not treat him in the way he expected.
There is a phrase in one of the translations of Esther that is
reminiscent of the phrase used to describe Naaman of Syria. Having
spoken of Naaman's attributes and the important place he occupied in the
government of his country, it says " . . . but he was a
leper." In the story of Esther, there is the story of Mordechai,
who did not bow down to Haman, and it describes him by saying "
that he was a Jew." This was the pretext that Haman used to then
try to organise the destruction of Mordechai and all that he stood for
and represented. The story tells how Esther became involved, and at some
risk to herself manages to have the tables turned. It is a story of the
survival of Jewish people against persecution organised by leaders in
the land.
Interestingly, as a way of preparation for the Festival, the weekend
section of the paper last week carried articles about Purim, one of
which was a review of a recent commentary on the book of Esther. The
thrust of the commentary was that while the Book of Esther may well have
some basis in fact, it is more of a story and is not meant to be taken
literally. Not surprisingly, the reviewer, while being faithful to what
the book said, expressed his disagreement with it. The argument reminded
me of the one that is often heard in the Christian community about the
factual literalness of part of the Christian story, and also of the
arguments that raged over the literal truth of such stories as that of
the Creation in Genesis.
Literally true or not, the story of Esther is a colourful and powerful
reminded to the Jewish people of the dangers which they faced in the
past, and how they survived despite them. It thus provides a very apt
basis for reflection on the present predicament in which they see
themselves placed. Rightly or wrongly, many Israeli Jewish people see
themselves surrounded by a mass of people all with one single aim - the
destruction of the State of Israel. This has to be resisted at all
costs, and what better way of reminding themselves of how they survived
in the past than by recalling the story of Esther. So, celebrations are
held all over the country, - though this year the parlous security
situation has led some municipalities to cancel civic events to mark
Purim. Folk of all ages get dressed up, and they make colourful
spectacles in the streets - and there is a great overconsumption of
alcohol. In this respect, one calls to mind the excesses of Hogmanay in
Scotland. I am sure that there is much fun, and much of it of a harmless
nature.
However, just as the Protestant kids growing up in Northern Ireland were
influenced by the celebrations of the Twelfth of July, and were not
greatly encouraged to think critically about their past, nor about the
way in which their celebrations might be seen by the Catholic community,
so here I am sure that Jewish children are influenced by the Purim
celebrations, and that there will be a deeper effect than that of merely
having fun and dressing up.
Some years ago, close to the time of the Festival of Purim in 1994, Dr
Baruch Goldstein who had been a member of a Settlement adjoining Hebron
from which vigilante groups had been attacking Arabs, entered a Mosque
in Hebron. Before being overpowered and killed himself, he shot and
killed 29 worshippers and wounded over 100. It was a crime which shocked
everyone here. However, not all in the present context see it is
something to be condemned. Last year, I was quite shocked to read of
children dressing up as Dr Goldstein, as part of their Purim
celebrations. The message seemed to be that, just as the Jewish people
in Susa had survived by organising the killing of their enemies, so the
Jewish people in Hebron would survive by getting rid of their
contemporary enemies, in this case Muslims living all round them. This
year again, there are those who have been anxious to hold celebrations
to mark the actions of Dr Goldstein. One wonders what this is meant to
convey to the two different communities? Goldstein was described in the
book "A History of Israel" by Howard Sachar, as an
"ardent Kach partisan." The Kach movement was led at one stage
by Rabbi Meir Kahane. It was members of this movement who, in 1992,
hurled a grenade into a shop in East Jerusalem kiling the owner and
wounding ten other Arabs.
So, underneath the fun of the Festival, there is the darker side - the
continuing fear for their safety and survival among the Jewish people -
and the continuing apprehension in the Arab community about what sort of
feelings are being aroused against them. The current situation is
graphically illustrated in two photographs in today's paper - the one
showing a deserted Ben Yehuda street in the centre of Jerusalem - this
is the principal pedestrianised street in the centre of West Jerusalem,
and would normally be full of revellers. Recently there have been
shooting attacks in the area. The second photo shows settlers in Kach
T-shirts and in costume as "(Arab) terrorists" parading in
their traditional Purim march in the old city of Hebron.
Quite apart from the peace initiatives, and any agreement which may be
reached to try to solve current problems, there is also that deeper
problem which will need to be addressed - how to overcome the perceived
hatreds and animosities which go back not just over centuries but over
millenia.
Enough for this week - one when party-going for a time took over from
shooting and people wondered if it would last. It did not, and the
shooting started again. Now, Mr Sharon is willing to talk with the
representatives of the Government of Saudi Arabia about its thoughts on
a Peace Plan. Something which could become a fact, or something in the
realm of fantasy? "The faster the initiative of Saudi Crown Prince
Abdullah gathers momentum, so grow the doubts about the substantive
questions that his proposal does not answer." So opens an Analysis
article in today's paper.
We wait to see.
Bye for now.
God bless
Joan and Clarence
Not proof read or vetted by you know who - so only one takes
responsibility for this letter!
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Circular
Letter No 76
16th February 2002
Service is being resumed – perhaps it is too much
to say that “normal” service is being resumed. What is normal?
Normal here is what people everywhere call “the violence”. Our
difficulty is that there is no consensus on what is violence, and by
whom it is perpetrated.
People often are concerned enough to write to us and
enquire if we are safe. Our stock response is that, yes, we are safe. In
2001 there were some 200 Israelis killed as a direct result of the
actions of the Intifada – there were some 500 killed in traffic
accidents as a result of other people using the roads. Are we more at
risk driving to Jaffa to Tabeetha school than we are walking round
Jerusalem, or going in and out of the West Bank? You get the picture, I
am sure. All that having been said, it was still a shock some days ago
when a young Jewish woman was stabbed while walking with her boyfriend
along what is called the Peace Promenade. She died as a result of her
wounds. To what purpose? The people who were arrested for this crime
were teenagers from a nearby part of the city – an Arab community.
They had, apparently, developed a reputation for violence in their
community – and they ended up killing someone. Appalling as that is,
the sequel was also appalling. It is an area where soldiers are
routinely on patrol, and so they were quickly after the gang of 4. They
ran, but they were caught. The newspapers carried an initial report from
the police or the army that one of the youngsters, a 14 year old boy,
had died of a heart attack after being caught. When a post mortem was
carried out the next day, it was discovered that the cause of the
massive internal bleeding was not a heart attack, but a bullet that had
been fired from fairly close range, and had entered his body through his
anus.
One little story – three kinds of violence – the
stabbing, the shooting – and the damage to the reputation of the
official spokesmen who do not check out the truth, or when they do,
decide that they have to try to conceal it.
In the past few days, the number of guests staying at
the Hospice has increased – though even with the increase it still
only reaches 25%. After our church service last Sunday, Joan and I sat
and chatted with an American visitor, and listened to some of his life
story. He is a Psychiatrist, who has spent a lot of his working life
trying to treat people in high security prisons. A year or two ago, he
published a small book – “The Shame Response to Rejection”. It is
quite compelling reading. The first chapter is entitled
“Objectification”, and speaks of the way in which our societies
accept, or justify, actions against other people, by “objectifying”
them. They are no longer seen as individuals, but at “them” or
“things”, and we remove from them their humanity. The final
paragraph of the opening chapter reads “ We qualify the commandment
against murder. We abide by its injunction against killing whom we know,
but at the same time find it quite permissible to kill those we deem to
be strangers. Only by objectifying those killed, only by taking from
them their humanity, can we protect ourselves against the guilt their
deaths would otherwise occasion. In other words, objectification may
well be the readiest means at our disposal for assuaging guilt.”
It puts very succinctly that temptation with which
I/we have to struggle. It is so easy to talk about “THE Jews, THE
Palestinians, THE . . . (fill in your own words) – and in a sense
objectify them. The problem I find with this, is that then I need help
from someone in that group whom I have “objectified” – and I find
that they are just as human as I am.
Growing up at home, I have commented before on the
fact that in our society in Northern Ireland, I just did not know any
Roman Catholics until I went to University at age 18. And so, not
knowing them, the Catholics tended to be “objectified” as
“THEY”. Over the years there has been a fundamental change in this
particular attitude. The change came about because I had the opportunity
to meet and to become friends with people whose only difference from me
was that I was Protestant and they were Catholic. In the end, it was
obvious that this did not really matter. In a letter to a friend this
week, Joan was mentioning the fact that on Ash Wednesday, we shared in a
service in St Andrew’s, led by American Lutherans, in which there was
“The Imposition of Ashes”. As a youngster, the thought that some day
I would be taking part in such a service would have been anathema –
that was something which THEY did – they being Catholics. Yesterday,
we were invited by the Sisters of the Ecce Homo convent to share in
their Feast Day, when there is a Mass commemorating the Imposition of
the Crown of Thorns on Christ. Nothing seemed more natural than to
accept the invitation, and to receive the Sacrament from the hands of
the Latin (Roman Catholic) Patriarch of Jerusalem. The Church is built
around an ancient wall which is said to be part of the structure from
which Pilate offered the people the choice between Barabbas and Jesus.
Again, as a youngster, I would never even have contemplated going into a
Catholic church, let alone sharing in the Mass – and if I had not
changed, if THEY had not also changed, yesterday would never have
happened, and we would have been so much the poorer.
It’s a long way round to get to the point of saying
that it is so sad here, in Jerusalem, that the two major communities
seen to be allowing the agenda to be set by those who are prepared to
objectify their opponents. So many Jewish people have never even met an
Arab person in any circumstances where they can begin to experience real
communication, and so many Palestinians see the whole Jewish community
personified in those whom they meet at the checkpoints.
To go back to our conversation with the Psychiatrist.
There was a poignant moment when we was talking of meeting people found
guilty of murder, and how difficult it was for them to get release from
the moment of killing. The poignancy came when he went on to talk of the
young soldiers whom he had seen in the IDF – in particular those who
have shot and killed youngsters. There was in Ha’aretz a couple of
weeks ago the heart-rending story of a family in Ramallah. One young son
who was throwing stones at soldiers was shot and died of his head wounds
within a few days – shot at something like 20 yards range – the
length of a cricket pitch. At the end of the traditional 40 days of
mourning, one of his brothers was also throwing stones, and was also
shot in the head, and died. He too was shot at close range. Quite apart
from all the rights and wrongs of the situation, and the investigation
or lack of it, the enforcement of rules of engagement or the lack of
that also, our visitor was speaking of the fact that these youngsters
would carry with them, for many years if not for life, the fact that
they had killed someone. He was apportioning blame to no-one – just
stating that from his experience this would be a burden that these young
IDF soldiers would find difficult to forget.
It brought to mind a day when visiting in the home of
one of the members of Murrayfield. He was an amateur painter, and one
day had started to draw and paint on a blank canvas. For quite some time
he did not recognise what was appearing before him – until suddenly it
came to him. What he was drawing was the wood in Normandy where, as a
young man shortly after D-day, he met another young man in the form of a
German soldier. It was either kill or be killed, - and he killed. That
was 1944, and now in 1984, he was reliving that experience, and getting
it out of his system.
How long will it take for the young folk, be they in
Palestine or Israel, to get rid of the things they are doing now?
End of sermon - to different matters of a more
mundane nature.
You will have heard from time to time of Sunbula!
Well, we have had the draft accounts for 2001, and they make sad
reading. Sales in 2000 were approx US$275,000 – sales in 2001 were
approx US$175,000. If the revenue to Sunbula is 20% of sales, that means
income went from $55,000 to $35,000. Some cuts were able to be made to
expenditure in 2001, but it was one of the saddest things I have had to
do since coming here, to meet with the three women who have been
employed to work in the Sunbula Shop and to tell them that it was
impossible to continue to employ them after the end of February. What
can they do? What can we do? There will have to be more cuts in
expenditure as the months go by, if we are to be able to continue the
work of Sunbula, the very existence of which is designed to help those
who need help – Palestinian women and their families. Sales for
January were below $6,000 – lower than even the lowest month last
year. Any market for goods would be appreciated – any suggestion for
new products would be given consideration. One small way in which some
churches are helping is to order some church furnishings. At the moment
there are 4 Communion cloths being worked on or in the pipeline. 1 cloth
might pay for the basic food for one family for a month.
Our Hospice staff are also feeling the financial
pinch. Elias, from Bethlehem, is not able to get to work as he has no
permit, and so is on indefinite unpaid leave. Recently we got him to
make some marmalade, and then to make chutney, and then Lasagna etc. It
is developing into a pattern whereby once a week I will go out and pick
up an order from him, bring it back to the church and try to establish a
market for it. This week we have managed to sell over NIS 1,000 worth of
produce – with a profit margin of 25% - an income of NIS 250 or a
little bit more. ($1 = NIS 4.7, or ₤= NIS 6.6) It is not a lot of
money, but at least it allows him to feel a certain sense of dignity
that he is contributing to the feeding of his family, and the dignity of
doing some work. Last night on TV there were figures given of something
like 50% of the people on the West Bank living on less that\n $2 per
day, and 40% unemployment.
Najla, one of the Hospice staff, who also works
part-time in Sunbula shop, will also lose her income from the Shop at
the end of the month. Can we just leave her at home? What can be done to
try to help her replace the income that she has lost? There is the
thought that she might be able to use her sewing skills to make some
things which we might sell – but we have to be mindful also of the
needs of Sunbula.
I recall an early meeting with the Armenian
Patriarch, in which his reply to my question about a form of Liturgy
that I had seen used in the Armenian Cathedral began with the words :
“In 351 AD . . . “ He takes a long view of events of history. We had
a similar opportunity recently to take a long view of history when we
had a congregational outing to Qumran. Our leader was Stephen Pfann, who
has spent much of the past 20 years working on the Dead Sea Scrolls. It
was at his suggestion that a group of us assembled in front of the
Hospice at 0445 hours one Saturday morning. We have 5 cars in a convoy
on the way down to the Dead Sea, making our way to a small plateau
beside the archaeological site of Qumran, where we were to share in a
sunrise service. As had been explained to us, the Essenes who lived at
Qumran were deeply conscious of the need for inner cleanliness, which
was symbolised in their community by the ritual washings that they
undertook. As we sat on the small plateau at the bottom of the cliffs
which form the western boundary of the Jordan Valley, we watched the sin
rise over the hills of Jordan in the East.
We used a Liturgy based on the texts of Liturgies
found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, which included Psalms as well as other
prayers. The worship was a way of acknowledging the goodness of God that
another day had dawned, and a way of expressing the hope that the day
might be spent in holiness.
All sorts of thoughts went through my mind –
from the quite mundane, concerning the practicalities
of organising life in such a barren place,
to the fact that in the Roman times around the time
of Christ, people could fairly freely cross over the Jordan, whereas
today passports and visas are required, as well as security searches. (
I recalled a conversation with an Arab woman who told of going to visit
Jordan when she was 7 months pregnant, and having to strip to her bra
and pants, as part of the security search.)
to something of the changes that time had brought
about, where we were going to visit what had been a Holy Community
centre, about which people felt passionately, but which is now on the
itinerary of tourists who perhaps have little appreciation of the faith
of the original community,
to the searing light of the sun as it came above the
hills of Jordan – illuminating, as it were, everything in one’s
heart – and reminding me that there was no place hidden from the light
of God.
After our service, we walked up the side of the cliff
to the site of what is called Cave 1 – where the first Scrolls were
discovered. In Ireland, the monasteries had their Round Towers in which
they could place their precious manuscripts if they were threatened.
Here the Qumran community put them in pottery jars of different sizes,
and hid them in caves.
One could imagine the anxiety, and perhaps the
despair, with which the scrolls would have been placed in jars, and the
hope that they would soon be retrieved when danger had passed. It turned
out to be a false hope.
However, though the Qumran Community no longer
exists, the faith in which they lived still is alive – admittedly with
changes – but it is still here.
Perhaps we need to take a longer view of our current
conflict.
Isn’t it interesting how Jewish folk then were
looking for security and peace and freedom to do their own thing –
just what they want today – and (from my point of view) how they went
about it the wrong way. Again, from my point of view, what changes?
TTFN
Joan and Clarence
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Circular Letter No 75
3rd February 2002
On Sundays, after church service, there are the usual odds and ends to be done, to clear up things from the morning. I was sitting in my office writing a short letter, when I heard in the distance the sound of a bomb exploding. Within moments, police sirens started to sound, and it was later that we hard the story of yet another suicide bomber. What has made this a bombing with a difference is that the person carrying the bomb was a young woman – the first to be involved in the Intifada in this way. The bombing was close to the area where the previous Tuesday there had been a shooting with two Israeli people killed. What can one say, except to re-iterate one’s opposition to all such violence.
Each time something like this happens, whether it is an attack by Palestinians on Israelis, or vice versa, there is a growing public feeling that this must stop, and that the way to try to stop it is not by more and more bombs, but by some sort of political solution. It was surprising that there was not in fact a military response to this particular attack.
What there was, was increased police and army presence around the city, with temporary road-blocks being set up, and people being stopped and asked for ID cards.
There was also talk of a “new” proposal to seal off the Palestinian parts of the city from the Israeli parts – with check points, with surveillance cameras, with fences and walls etc. There are those on both sides who would oppose such a move. Some Jewish people would regard it as a sort of de facto division of Jerusalem, setting the boundaries for a divided city when there is a political solution. By and large, Palestinians seem to say that it is unworkable, as well as undesirable, because of the way in which the two communities intermingle at the “seam” between them. Mr Sharon has given the idea some sort of support. But we will have to wait to see if it materialises and then what will be the effect of it all on life in the city.
Boundaries and checkpoints are a blunt weapon, and have not so far prevented bombers or others getting through to Jerusalem. Joan had an encounter with the Kalandia boundary on Thursday. Due to my driving incapacity, she had the car to pick up some friends and go to her art group. The car was duly left at the usual place before the Kalandia Checkpoint on the way to Ramallah. There was the usual mayhem, partly caused by the delays of getting through the checkpoint, and partly caused by the inability of the taxi, minibus, truck and car drivers to organise themselves at a T-junction. Anyway, they walked through the checkpoint and got a taxi on the Ramallah side, and reached their destination with no problem. A good time was had by all, and they left to come back at 1400 hours. Taxi back to the checkpoint, same mayhem, and then into the car. At the final checkpoint coming into Jerusalem, an hour’s wait, then on out to Tantur near Bethlehem, held up at another impromptu checkpoint on the Bethlehem (Hebron) Road, and finally Joan got home about 1700 hours. 3 hours for what should have been at most 1 hour’s travel. Of course she came in spitting (to coin a phrase) – feet muddy from the mud at the checkpoint, clothes dirty – and it took some time to mollify her. Her situation was not all that bad, really – think of the children, mothers with children etc. who have to show documents to soldiers who may or may not be interested in looking at them, or facilitating people on the move. And then the Israeli people wonder why there is so much anger on the other side?
Friday, Joan and I went to Bethlehem – a mere 15 minutes to get in. Having made our calls – Helen Shehadeh to see how things are going with her – Cang-Lim, the Korean member of the congregation, whose husband is in Korea, to see that she was all right – Najla to take some cloth to her for a small sewing task for the church – Elias to collect Apricot chutney and Lasagna – we were about to drive to the top of the hill at Beit Jala and come home the “tunnels” road, avoiding the check point at Rachel’s Tomb, only to be told that this had been closed once again. It is so . . . . . . . . . . (fill in your own word!)
The good news for Elias was that people are buying his produce. WE gave him NIS 500 for marmalade and lasagna sold. We collected more chutney, and today at church sold about NIS 200 worth for him. It is a far cry from his weekly wage, but it is also a far cry from the man sitting in his house and feeling absolutely useless.
The on-going saga, or farce, of the Budget has continued. Shall we, or shall we not, implement packages agreed in the Knesset last year, to help large families, to give tax breaks to the residents of the Negev; we shall not, or perhaps we shall, make some concessions to the disabled people who have been demonstrating at government offices for weeks; shall we give income tax reductions to the first couple of bands of tax-payers, so that people might be encouraged to take menial jobs, rather than have no job at all? And how will we balance the Budget? Still there is no agreement on it, and Mr Sharon is off to Washington this week.
The Shekel, for most of the time we have been here, was about NIS 4 = US$1, and NIS 6 = £1. Since before Christmas, the value of the shekel has fallen, and it is now about NIS 4.5 = US$1, and NIS 6.4 = £1.
About 10 days ago there was a programme on one of the Hebrew channels, in which soldiers spoke of their attitudes to their work on the West Bank, and of the ways in which soldiers treated the Palestinians. Sadly, we were not able to watch it, but it apparently provided quite a jolt to many people, to hear from soldiers about intimidation and violence being practised by members of the IDF to Palestinians. It is one thing to read that from “left-wing” journalists, it is quite another to hear it from soldiers who have seen it happen.
This was followed early this week by a letter to the press, reported here in Israel and also in the Herald Tribune, signed by “more than 60 Israeli Army reservists, half of them officers and all of them combat veterans, (in which they) publicly refused to continue serving in the West Bank and Gaza Strip on the ground that Israeli occupation forces there are abusing and humiliating Palestinians. “ This has provoked a lot of discussion, and of course there has been the expected reply from the army. Today’s paper says that in addition to removing those who signed the letter from their jobs in the army, it (the army) will embark on a public relations campaign. As part of this campaign, another letter will appear in the press from other reserve officers saying that they are “amazed and ashamed” by the letter of those refusing to serve, who are referred to as “draft dodgers.”
A former chief of Shin Bet – one of the Secret Services – who was also a former Admiral in the Israel Navy, has said that he “has a lot of empathy for the reserve officers (who are refusing to serve in the West Bank and Gaza.)
It is obvious that there is a lot of turmoil going on in the IDF – prayer for the members of the IDF would not be a bad thing.
During the week, The High Court rejected petitions of a Member of the Knesset Mohammed Barakeh and Siham Thabet, whose husband was one of those assassinated by the IDF. The High Court decided not to intervene in the question of targetted killings of Palestinians by the IDF, ruling that the High Court does not customarily intervene in issues relating to combat. Says Gideon Levy in an article in today’s paper – “The IDF and other security units can henceforth do as they please – kill, demolish, bomb – safe in the knowledge that the highest court in the land will take a hands-off attitude. What resort does a citizen have who believes that Israel is committing war crimes? Who can now prevent, in the name of the law, the implementation of flagrantly illegal orders, of the type that even a person with an impeccable security record such as former Sin Bet security chief is now warning about?” Levy writes : A black flag now hangs over the High Court of Justice. A state that assassinated dozens of individuals without trial – including not only those who were on their way to carry out a terrorist attack but also those who in the eyes of the security authorities deserved to die – is not a law-abiding state. The IDF has stopped investigating almost completely, the international court is perceived here to be fine for the entire world with the exception of Israel, and now the High Court is evading its duty.
Some time ago, Mr Sharon told the world that Mr Arafat was now “irrelevant”. I am not quite sure that that actually meant, or means. It apparently did not mean that he was powerless, as each time there has been a suicide bomber or something of the like, the Israeli government spokesmen all say that the Government holds Mr Arafat personally responsible for the violence. I am not sure how one can be “irrelevant” and “responsible” – maybe I am being obtuse?
We were also told that there would be no negotiations with the Palestinians until there had been 7 days of calm without any violence, and the Mr Sharon would be the judge of whether or not there had been violence.
There was considerable surprise here then to learn of the secret meeting that Mr Sharon had held with 3 leading representatives of the Palestinian Authority – the Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, the Secretary- General of the PLO’s Executive Committee, and Yasser Arafat’s financial adviser. The Palestinians said that Mr Sharon initiated the meeting, which went ahead with the blessing of Mr Arafat.
Two things are surprising about the meeting – that it took place at all, so soon after the suicide bomber on last Sunday. That the people concerned were all close to Mr Arafat, and it is inconceivable to think that he did not know of the meeting, and did not give his permission for it to take place, despite being “irrelevant”.
The economic effects of the Intifada are constantly being felt. Below is an excerpt from Ha’aretz Weekend Magazine January 18, 2002. (I imagine that something similar might have been written about tourism in the UK during the foot and mouth outbreak, or in the US following September 11th. )
Adrian Cohen a travel agent from Manchester (England), has been marketing trip to Israel to his city’s residents for 20 years. Last year, his job became a lot harder. “When the tourism minister is a settler, there a major contradiction here”, he says. Tourism Minister lives in Beit El. “It doesn’t go together” says Cohen. “How can someone who is supposed to promote tourism tell people to come to Israel and promise them a safe and quiet vacation, when he himself constitutes an obstacle to peace. One thing contradicts another.”
Though nearly every sector of the economy is suffering from the current crisis, when it comes to tourism, the talk isn’t of “slowdown” or even a “recession”, but of total collapse. Tourist sites are deserted, the hotels are practically empty. The extent of the crisis is reflected in the numbers: 2000 – 2.67 million people visited Israel; 2001 – 1.2 million; the economy lost about $2 billion from the tourism decline alone. 30,000 people connected to the tourist industry lost their jobs in the last year; 25 hotels closed.
Eilat had 90,000 visitors last winter; it expects 30,000 this year. Hotel occupancy rate in Tel Aviv in November 2001 was 33%: Jerusalem hotels occupancy was 20%. Christmas 1999 ; 45,000 visitors came to Israel over the Christmas season; Christmas 2000 the numbers was down to 25,000; 2001 only 6,000 came. Italian tourists in 2000 – 170,000, Italian visitors in 2001 – 25,000
Mr Elon, the Minister of Tourism is the head of a small right-wing party – the Moledet party. It has started on a campaign to advocate the “transfer” of Arabs from the West Bank – and sending them to Jordan or to the Sinai is mentioned. He is against expulsions, but wishes to encourage emigration. “Let us remind everyone that this is not occupied territory; this is our homeland.” In a recent interview with the magazine “Nekuda” (according to the Leader column in Ha’aretz today) Mr Elon proposed adopting a transfer policy based on the principle of “I will close the universities to you, I will make your lives difficult, until you want to leave.” The Attorney General this week declared as illegal a slogan that had been used by right-wing Jewish organisations – “No Arabs – no terror.”
From the left to the right, there is a struggle going on for the soul of Israel. Pray for its people.
Personal : The week started with my being unable to do more than hobble – my right leg was almost immobile. Monday – a visit to the doctor and a diagnosis, a prescription and a referral to the Physio. I hirpled in to her office on Tuesday – some exercises later, I was able to walk! All is still not well yet, but it is immeasurably better. X-rays showed a little bit of arthritis around the right hip. The doctor made Aliyah a few years ago; the Physio came from London to live here 20 years ago. Both were charming and helpful – exemplifying how difficult it is to talk of “the Jews” when one meets individuals such as them, - and how dangerous it is to try to stereotype people.
Anyway, I was so well that by yesterday I was able to clamber up one of the cliffs at Qumran to see the first cave in which some of the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. More of that story later.
Bye for now.
God bless.
Joan and Clarence
(Not proof read, as proof reader is asleep!)
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Circular
Letter No 74
27th January 2002
Last week I wrote of the conversation at supper with a Jewish woman, and
how she said that she was afraid – to travel on the buses, to go to
the shopping areas in the centre of Jerusalem, - and of course is
limited in the places to which she can travel because of the Israeli
government instruction to Israeli citizens not to travel to the West
Bank.
I recalled her words this week on a number of occasions.
From the Jewish perspective there were the shootings in Jerusalem and
Tel Aviv. We were on our way to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
service at 1700 hours in the Old City, when our car was passed by
several police cars with their lights flashing and sirens going,
obviously in a hurry to get somewhere. The service opened sombrely, but
it was only at the end that we heard of the shooting in Jaffa Road. We
heard later that several people whom we had expected to see at the
service had been caught up in the traffic jams that paralysed the centre
of Jerusalem for some time.
From the Palestinian perspective, one of Joan’s friends arrived from
Ramallah for the art group on Thursday morning. She was a bit bleary
eyed, and spoke of the noise of gunfire for most of the night, and the
night before. The IDF forces are right close to her house – at one
stage she and her husband were unable to get their car out of their
street, as a tank was blocking the way. She spoke of looking out of her
spare bedroom window, and hurriedly not looking out – as there were
flocks of bullets from the IDF guns passing over the house beside
theirs. She lives on a broad road, and told of a visitor to a UN office
close by, parking his car on the road. He found it flattened – a tank
driver had been too lazy to go round it, so just went over it.
This past week was busy – with the Convener of the Board of World
Mission here, and the Convener of the Presbytery of Buchan World Mission
Committee accompanying him. (For the uninitiated, Buchan is north of
Aberdeen and east of Inverness)
Monday saw the meeting with B’Tselem. It was impressive, to see the
professionalism of the people there, and their commitment to trying to
hold both the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority to
account for abuses of human rights. The woman who is the Executive
Secretary is from California, and came to live in Israel some years ago.
She had just returned from a visit to Ireland where there was a meeting
of people in organisations such as B’Tselem, trying to work out ways
to protect their employees, whose work is often not particularly
appreciated by the governments of the countries in which they are
working. Having talked articulately for the best part of an hour about
the work of the organisation, she found it harder to answer the question
as to why she is involved in working for human rights in the Occupied
Territories. For her, I think, it came down to a matter of conscience
– she was here, and she could not accept what her government was doing
in her name – so she had to get involved in trying to combat it.
One of the chief ways in which they try to make people aware of what is
happening is through their publications and their website – www.btselem.org.
If you would like to receive information from them, contact them at mail@btselem.org.
We then headed north via Tel Aviv to visit Father Elias Chacour at
Ibillin. If you want interesting and compelling reading, try his books
“ Blood Brothers” and “We belong to the Land.” Here is a person
whose home village was taken under the “protection” of the Jewish
forces in the War in Independence. When they returned to try to resume
their lives in their homes, they were unable to do so. Suffice it to say
that now, in 2002 – Elias Chacour has trained to be a priest, has
started up a whole range of educational institutions in Ibillin – 30
minutes East of Haifa on the road between Haifa and Tiberias –
including a secondary school, a school for gifted children, a centre for
continuing teacher training, and the latest part of the campus is a
church building with an auditorium, and library facilities in which
there will be the Faculty of Theology for the fledgling University. It
is a story of perseverance in the face of enormous bureaucratic odds,
and now those institutions which the Government of Israel once tried to
have pulled down, it now pays to use. The Board of World Mission has
appointed two Mission Partners to work with Father Chacour, - May and
Bryson Arthur. Bryson is involved in the establishment of the Theology
Faculty, while May at present is working within the administration.
Tuesday saw a meeting with a representative of Bat Shalom – a
woman’s organisation spanning the divide between the Jewish and
Palestinian communities, and trying to work for peace. I missed that
meeting as I had to attend a Board Meeting at the YMCA. The realities of
life in the YMCA are that with so few tourists, there is very little
income from the hotel facility, and so there is a dependence on
significant financial support from the YMCA in Chicago.
I wrote about Elias and his marmalade making. Response is positive so
far – but at a profit of NIS 3 or NIS 4 per jar, it will take a lot of
jars to replace the salary which he earned when working at the Hospice.
However, some folk are asking if he can extend his range of offerings
– pickles and chutney are mentioned as possibilities. At least when I
got out to see him on Thursday, there was a bit of a smile on his face.
Let’s hope we can keep it that way.
It is interesting to compare the different approaches to the
“situation”
This morning on TV there is a picture of a stern Mr Powell saying that
the US is interested in trying to help the Peace Process, but only after
Mr Arafat does more to combat violence. That in itself raises lots of
questions about the causes of the violence, which you know I am not slow
to ask. It would seem that the US has now sided so completely with the
government of Israel, that it feels able to occupy parts of the West
Bank, and to use its F-16 fighters to fire missiles at whatever
Palestinian targets it wants. Where some months ago, the same Mr Powell
was on the phone to Mr Sharon telling him to get tanks out of Gaza
within hours of their entry on to Palestinian areas, now there is not a
word about moving tanks from anywhere. Mr Sharon will visit Washington
in a few weeks, and no doubt he will be given red-carpet treatment, and
applauded for his efforts to bring peace. (There is a different sub-plot
running in Belgium, and in Beirut, where few people here believe the
Israeli protestations that they were not involved in the car bomb that
killed their former ally.)
IN Ha’aretz – that left-wing paper which I read, as opposed to the
Jerusalem Post – it is fascinating to see the entirely different way
that Mr Sharon is perceived. Wrote Gideon Samet on Wednesday 23rd
January, in an article entitled “Upping the ante” : “There is
mounting evidence that Ariel Sharon is in the middle of a plan for major
escalation. And it won’t be over until he’s more than partially
satisfied. This dangerous leader ups the ante in his poker game every
week. Israel failed to meet the conditions for renewal of the talks
after a period of quiet. That period came and went while Sharon kept
upping the ante. Let’s remember, for example, that in the three weeks
before Arafat’s cease-fire speech on December 16th, 44 Israelis were
killed, while only one was killed in the three weeks following the
speech.” Then there was the assassination of Raed Karmi by Israel and
the round of violence started all over again.
Who is pulling the wool over whose eyes?
One of the ingredients in the present cocktail of unrest and violence is
the existence of the Settlements. This week saw the publication of
figures for population growth in the territories.
Just under 151,000 Israeli Jews live in Settlements, which are unlikely
to be evacuated in any future peace plan.
A further 60,000 live in settlements that are under threat of
evacuation.
According to Interior Ministry figures there were 203,067 Jews living in
the West Bank and Gaza at the end of December 2000, and 213,672 at the
end of December 2001 – an increase of 5.22%
However, without the huge increase in Modi’in Ilit (a new town/city
not far from Tel Aviv) and Betar Ilit, the growth would have been as low
as 2.5%
Last year’s growth was lower than each of the last 6 years.
The growth in Gaza was 4.2 % - about 300 people.
In 45 of the 144 Settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, the number of
people leaving was greater than the number of newcomers plus the natural
increase.
Close to 50 families left settlements in the Jordan Valley – close to
10% of the population.
It is incredible that for such small numbers of people so many others
are made to suffer – ease of travel for 213,067 settlers, and closure
for 3,000,000 Palestinians, etc etc.
On a completely different tack, I picked up the Tabeetha 2001 School
Magazine when I was there on Friday.
Tabeetha is a primary / secondary school, run by the Church of Scotland.
It has about 320 pupils, of whom the largest percentage come from the
Jaffa area. However, there are some from other countries, children of
diplomats etc. One such pupil was Patrick Blasczak. He is a Polish
youngster, and has now returned to Poland with his family at the end of
their posting to Israel. As you will be able to appreciate from what he
wrote, which I have appended below – he was a gifted writer in
English, his second, or third , language.
The Struggle.
Pyramids of Giza. Three galleons in the sea of sand. So powerful when we
look at them, so frail when compared to the overwhelming power of the
desert. Three tetrahedrons so unnaturally emerging from the sand. Each
stone tells its own history. History of pain, suffering. History of the
glory of Egypt and its decline.
From the peak of the pyramids, one can observe the life-giving serpent
of Nile penetrating the dry, barren and. Here lies the eternal cycle of
life and death, the mystery. Water, wind, earth and fire combine to
create the miracle, The miracle of birth.
The rays of light illuminate the bones of those who underestimated the
power of the desert. The desert vampire, which sucks out the life from
everything that stands in its way. Slowly, without a hurry, it consumes
all your strengths until you are no longer able to move. The sand and
your body become one. The cycle is complete. Only the pyramids could
resist its domination for so long.
In the shade of these magnificent obelisks erected by an ancient
civilisation, a snake finds its way through the sand. It tries to
shelter from the heat of the sun. On its way, the snake finds a
shrivelled up bush. Its branches don’t remember the weight of leaves
anymore. The shrub is having a dream. A dream of rain.
The snake continues, passing round the stagnant bush, trying, with the
help of its thirsty tongue, not to get lost. Rarified air flows above
him. Everything else is still, trying to sleep off the hell of the day.
Only the snake disturbs the hush. He looks so irrational, like the
delusion of a lunatic. However his pain, his struggle to survive is
incredibly realistic.
Slowly, inch by inch, he approaches us, leaving a zigzag track behind
him. Every mound of sand, every stick or any other obstacle on his way
seems impossible to pass. However, he continues his marathon for life.
Such a brave animal.
Only now I notice the danger. I try to shout, but my dry lips refuse to
open. A peculiar noise breaks the silence. A new pattern appears on the
snake’s body. That of the Dunlop tyres. His journey finished. Now only
the sound of the engine of our Land Rover disturbs the silence.
We had a marvellous wedding today – two Ghanaians – so the church
was full, and there was a wee bit of idsorganisation!!!
Now it is sleep, and hope that our aches and pains disappear – Joan
had a sore back which is getting easier, and myself with a sore hip
which is getting worse. Feel like a pair of crocks.
Bye for now. God bless. Love from us in a rather chilly Jerusalem
Joan and Clarence
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Circular Letter No 73
21st January 2002
The thought of visitors arriving in our house has always spurred Joan into a frenzy of clearing up! One result is that things are found that have been lost since the last visitors – and maybe even before that. This week, with guests arriving, I thought I should contribute to the clearing up process, and so started in to sort out papers on my desk. I did find some things that I had forgotten about, but I think I also moved papers into more respectable piles! – and they still have to be dealt with. However one little cutting that came in from California sometime is :
Eliminating terrorism demands “believing in the essential humanity of even the worst possible terrorist, remembering that that person too is created in the image of God.” Words of Desmond Tutu.
Far be it from me to enter into the debate over the way in which the Americans are dealing with the prisoners whom they have taken in Afghanistan, some of whom are now in Cuba, except that their actions inevitably have an effect here in Israel and Palestine. If people are degraded here, but either Israeli or Palestinian, it is now very difficult for the American to offer criticism – as the riposte will inevitably be that what is being done here is just the same as the actions of the Americans elsewhere. The failure to recognise in people any reflection of the image of God allows one to humiliate people at road-blocks, which fuels the desire to get revenge, and so it goes on. So we get to the terrible attack on the Bat Mitzvah on Thursday night – yet even Jewish writers in the newspapers could see it coming. It was not a question of “Will it happen?” but “When and where will it happen?”
But that is all big stuff, way above my head. I have to get on with my work at a much less exalted level.
Wednesday saw two meetings in connection with Sunbula – the organisation which runs the shop in the Hospice to support the work of Palestinian folk and give them a market for their craft goods. In the morning we had a meeting of the Finance Committee, and it was sombre. For the year 2000, the total sales amounted to $275,000 (approx). For the year 2001, the sales fell to $175,000 (approx.) It takes no genius to see that this will have had a detrimental effect on the villages in the West Bank where people produce the goods that Sunbula tries to sell. It also takes no genius to see that the actual income of Sunbula to meet its operating expenses will have dropped. This formed the background to discussions in the afternoon at a meeting of the Council – where it was recognised that changes would have to be made. One such possible change will be to reduce costs by reducing the working hours of the paid shop staff – but they are among the very people whom the organisation is trying to help.
There was discussion about trying to reach new markets, and the Website of Sunbula was discussed. Any advice, any suggestions, will be gladly received. In the meantime,
www.sunbula.org is the place to visit.
On the Website you will find the catalogue of items available – or potentially available. And there’s another bit of the picture- With the downturn in sales, the shop cannot keep as large a stock as it used to keep. The villages have no market so don’t make items for stock, so an order means that things have to be specially made – which takes a bit of time etc. Don’t let that deter anyone from placing an order – just that it may take time to get the goods to you.
There is a section on the Website about Friends of Sunbula. If your church were able to make a donation – 100 churches making donations of £100 – or even $100 – would transform the financial picture for Sunbula and its workers and suppliers. If you church would take an order and try to sell it – you know the pitch!!!
We are working on two further orders from churches for “church furnishings” – they take time, as each one has to be designed to meet the needs of the individual congregation – however, we would be delighted to hear from anyone who would like a Pulpit Fall, a Communion Table Cloth, an Altar Cloth etc. To coin a phrase “ “We give very good prices!!!”
On Thursday I had a trip into Bethlehem to see some people, among them Elias, the cook from the Hospice. As you will know, he is unable to get to work, as the Israeli administration will not give him a permit. So – no work no pay etc. I have never seen him so depressed as he was on Thursday. I am sure it is something with which many are familiar – the hopelessness in the eyes and voices of people who have lost their jobs, and have no idea if or when they will ever work again. It is bad enough when the causes for unemployment are economic – but when they are political also, it is more difficult. Most of Elias’ life has been spent under occupation – and he is in his early 40’s.
A week or two ago Elias made some marmalade, and it all sold almost as soon as I brought it in to Jerusalem. Now, he is going to go into production! At least, we hope so. Markets will have to be found etc. and for the moment someone, I suspect myself, will have to bring his produce into Jerusalem. It will take effort, but he has given 27 working years to the Church of Scotland, so it is right to try to help him now. Orders for lasagna are also materialising, and it may be that we can create a small source of income for him.
On Saturday I visited Elias with the Convener of our Board of World Mission who is here on a short visit – and he was able to give Elias NIS 1,000 as a sort of float to get him started. This is part of a gift from a church in Aberdeen – Saturday morning saw us giving away NIS 5,700 that had come as gifts from churches in Scotland and England – some of them where we are merely postmen, getting money to organisations of the West Bank, - and some of it where folk say – use the money as you see fit. To all who help – thank you. Your help is indeed a lifeline for many people. (Post Script – Sunday saw the marmalade all sold – so orders for some more have to go in during the week.Paying himself a wage from the sales of the marmalade might bring in NIS 125 – say £20 – not a lot, but enough to keep his family in fruit and vegetables for one week.)
The Convener of our Board, the Very Rev Professor Alan Main, arrived on Friday morning for just under a week. First visits were to two Bishops – the Episcopalian and the Lutheran Bishops – both Palestinian Christians, both very involved in the fight for justice for their people. It was striking to listen to them, and to see people who have to try to be leaders of their own churches, pastors to their people, part of the group of Church leaders in Jerusalem trying to make a contribution to the Peace Process. They carry a big burden at present.
Two interesting snippets from the conversations :
The Church should never underestimate its influence (nor overestimate it either). If the Church were, through its members, to start pressing their governments for justice, then something would be done – as they are voters, and no government wants to ignore its voters. An e-mail from the Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding tells of Harrods deciding not to stock goods made on the West Bank and labelled as Made in Israel. One person who reads these letters did in fact telephone the Israeli Embassy in London to ask why a peaceful demonstration by Church folk had been stopped. The Embassy pleaded ignorance. Perhaps letters asking for information would be the next step. (Post Script – in the paper yesterday morning was a photo of the Archbishop of Canterbury with Mr Arafat. In the paper today is a report about a meeting being held in Alexandria involving Christians, Jews and Muslims and chaired by the Archbishop. It may not amount to a huge event, but the fact that he was able to see both Mr Arafat and Mr Sharon, and then host this meeting, is at least one step in the right direction.)
The Christians in the Holy Land need support. It is taken for granted that people all over the world are offering their support for the Church here in their prayers. What is also needed is the physical support of Christians from other parts of the world – to give encouragement to the 2% of the population in Israel who are Christians. Come and visit. Come and pray with us here. A knock-on effect of your coming will be that your visit will have an economic effect.
Saturday evening was spent in the company of Naim Ateek and Michel Behnam. The one is a Palestinian Christian cleric, the other a Palestinian Christian businessman. It was informative to hear their points of view – but whether depressing or not would depend on your point of view. Suffice it to say that they have very little optimism in the present circumstances.
Sunday evening was spent in the company of middle-of- the road/left wing Jewish people. Again it was informative to hear their opinions, and to get a view of the current events through their eyes. Several telling moments occurred ;
when they spoke of fear – not travelling on buses, not going to the main shopping centres, not feeling safe in most of their own country. (The way to enable them to feel safe and secure was hotly debated, with disagreement even between family members.)
when they spoke of a sense of betrayal – having felt they were working with Palestinians to achieve peace, and then after the failure of the Camp David conference, and the start of the Intifada, a sense of being sold down the river by the Palestinians.
when they too spoke of a sense of hopelessness – which they acknowledged was not felt by all Israelis – with the average person feeling that the present recipe of military measures had to be increased and increased, and that this would bring results.
Apart from meeting people whom many Church of Scotland visitors meet, Professor Main’s programme also includes a visit to Btselem – an Israeli organisation to monitor abuses of Human Rights in the Occupied Territories. There will also be a meeting with the Director of Bat Shalom – an organisation of women committed to working for peace, most of the members being Jewish. I will try to give you a bit more information about this next time.
A word about the Hospice. When I arrived it was bustling and busy. Last week end, there was not a single visitor on Saturday night. What a transformation. Quite apart from the lack of atmosphere etc – there is the financial reality of the situation – No visitors – no need for staff. No visitors, no income. No income, no money to pay staff. So, anyway, it is the staff who suffer most.
Images from the Papers :
Thursday morning : Number of unemployed (in Israel – no figures given for Palestine) reaches 250,000 – 9.9% of the population. If that is seen as “frightening” for Israel, how is the far higher rate in the West Bank to be regarded?
Monday morning ; a photo of former President Clinton in Tel Aviv receiving an Honorary Doctorate standing beside a beaming Mr Sharon – and being called “yadid” - a true friend of Israel. I wonder how the Palestinians perceive the photo.
Monday morning : a report that the security establishment are supporting Mr Sharon in a suggestion to re-open the Temple Mount in Jerusalem for Jewish people to enter for prayers. When one thinks of what happened after the last visit by a leading Jewish figure to the Temple Mount, one has to ask what is the real motive behind such a proposal.
Monday Morning: The Israeli Embassy in London will ask Harrods to resume stocking goods made on the West Bank, which Harrods said last week were being withdrawn. Give Harrods a call.
Monday Morning : The International Herald Tribune – “Israelis use Stethoscope as Tool of Peace.” A good-news story of a team of doctors organised by Physicians for Human Rights/Israel going to a village on the West Bank which has been blockaded by the Israeli Army. The blockades are necessary to block the movements of militants who shoot at Israelis, according to the IDF. The effect is that people cannot get to hospitals for specialist treatment – so this organisation arranges visits on Saturdays to Palestinian villages to try to provide some medical assistance. The organisation has about 300 members, with a core team of 40 participating in the Saturday visits.
A good way to end for this week.
Bye for now. God bless.
Joan and Clarence.
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Circular Letter No 72
14th January 2002
Happy New Year. For most of you who read (or at least receive!) these letters, that is not a very appropriate way to commence a letter at this time of the month. However, last night Joan and I were invited to share in a New Year’s Party at the home of some members of the Greek Orthodox church. It was very interesting, for a whole variety of reasons – not least being the main course – which was a roasted, stuffed lamb! Said I to myself, what a dish to set before people when we come to have a leaving party (assuming that we ever get that far and are that well prepared). But of more interest were the other guests, and the conversations.
A is a professional man, a Palestinian. In the not to distant past, he and has family were essentially stateless – not citizens of Israel where they had been born, where their families have been for generations – not citizens of Palestine as it did not exist as an entity giving them citizenship – somehow they ended up with Canadian citizenship. They still live and work in Jerusalem, this is still their home, but two of their three children are now resident in Canada – and I imagine that at the end of the day, they will all end up there. Success for the Israeli policy of making life so difficult that people eventually get tired and move.
B is in a different profession. He traces his family roots back 300 years in Jerusalem – but also acknowledges that this may not survive for another 100 years – children may go abroad to study, and may decide that there is more future there than in the land of their ancestors.
C is younger than the other two. He is a graduate of the Technical College in Haifa, and a very successful man in his business line. Also Palestinian, he lives in West Jerusalem, and he and his wife send their two children to Jewish schools – the options being Jewish schools, expatriate/ Church schools, Arab schools. He recognises the drawbacks in their situation, and is coming to that difficult time when decisions will have to be made about higher education. Shall their children be ”guided” to go abroad, with the likelihood that they will never return? Shall they be encouraged to stay in Israel, with the probability that they will be second-class citizens for the forseeable future? He and his wife have thought about emigrating, but to do so would, in his eyes, be to accept defeat – and they do not intend to accept defeat, at least at present.
For many of us, mobility of labour is an accepted fact – people have to go where they can get work. But for few of us are there the hidden, or even open, pressures which Palestinians face, people whose roots go back here in this city longer than most of us in our own places of living.
What would you do? What would I do?
A tale of two journeys.
Thursday Joan and the art group to which she belongs were meeting in the home of one of its members in Ramallah. It was cold, and wet, etc. Could I take them part of the way, and the person from Ramallah would meet them at a check point. Why not, and it would possibly give me a chance to visit the Kalandia Co-operative in Ramallah – the one from which we got the Christmas pincushions that some of you bought. Having heard that there may have been some relaxation at the main check point, we headed there at first – and were astounded to find that we could drive straight through, and on into Ramallah, without a single soldier stopping us. True, the area of the checkpoint was unrecognisable – the IDF had built barriers from the metal material put at the side of roads as crash barriers. There were now 4 lanes demarcated – which would certainly bring order to what had been chaos, but would also give the IDF much more control than they had had in the past.
I paid my visit to Kalandia, and returned home, taking a 5-mile detour to avoid a check point which I had seen nearer Jerusalem where there was a reasonably long delay in traffic getting through. What a change it would have been, if such arrangements had been “permanent” – sadly, the soldiers were back on Friday, and there was the usual infuriating delay. One wonders why “security” was necessary on Friday, but not on Monday - Thursday.
Saturday, there was a wedding in the church – it was cold and wet. After the guests had all gone, I was getting things back to order in the Hospice Lounge, and being helped by Najla, one of the folk who work in the Hospice and also in Sunbula. So, as a quid pro quo, I offered to run her to Bethlehem, on her way to Beit Sahour where she lives. It was sleeting a bit, cold and miserable, - so I drove through the check point, with surprisingly the guard more interested in the conversation he was having on his mobile phone than on checking me. There was George waiting for Najla, - so she got home warm and dry. It was only when we had got through the empty checkpoint that we noticed the line up to get out of Bethlehem – it took 45 minutes sitting in a queue, and when I got to the head of the line, I was waved through.
At the weekend we will have visitors from the Board of World Mission. Is it good “stewardship” of their time to sit in a checkpoint queue for 45 minutes? or 90 minutes? or longer? We will see.
At the beginning of the week, all the news here was about the Karine A – the ship which was intercepted by the Israeli forces on which they found 50 tons of weapons. Having been subjected to wall to wall coverage of it in the press here, and on TV, we were somewhat surprised to find how little impact this had had on the press overseas. However, here, there was plenty of coverage.
(I have to confess at this point that my Hebrew is not up to the standard where I am able to read the Hebrew language newspapers – and so have to rely on the English language papers. The Jerusalem Post is more right-wing, Ha’aretz more left wing.)
There were those who were saying that this exposed the Palestinian Authority and Mr Arafat as unrepentant terrorists, and so there could be no contact with them etc. There were those who were saying, in effect, “what’s new pussy cat?” Did not the leaders of the Jewish community engage in the same sort of activities during the British Mandate period, and try to smuggle weapons into Palestine, as it then was? Was it not a classic case of Poacher turned Gamekeeper?
The rule of thumb about the population of Ireland (Eire) around 1960 was that it was about 97% Catholic. Dublin might have been 94% Catholic. If the percentages are a bit out, don’t get too worked up. The reason to for quoting them is in relation to the person who was once Mayor of Dublin – Mayor Briscoe. Representing a miniscule Jewish minority of the population, he was nevertheless elected Lord Mayor of Dublin. Friday’s paper carried an article about him, under the headline – Son of a Gun. Wrote Thomas O”Dwyer – “I was 13 years old the fist time I met a gun-runner.” He then goes on to recount the story of Robert Briscoe as a gun-runner for the Irish during their fight against the British – and of his enthusiastic support for Zionism. He did visit Israel in 1950, along with Eamonn De Valera, and he wrote “De Valera synmpathised with the Arab people in their hopes for independence and prosperity. So do I. I want to see all people this way – a world where every human being is of equal dignity and equal importance.” Isn’t it strange how one man’s gun-runner/terrorist, can be another man’s hero.
Out at the edge of Jerusalem, looking past Har Homa to Bethlehem, is the Kibbutz of Ramat Rachel. It has grown enormously from the time of the 1948 war, and now has a health club, a swimming pool, banqueting facilities, hotel, etc. In the main passageway to the dining room, there is a plaque on the wall beside a hole in the ground, covered over with a glass panel. The plaque tells the story of Jewish settlements in the Mandate period where people had to defend themselves, and to do this they had to keep arms close at hand. Weapons were hidden in secret places called “Slicks”. .On 29th June 1946, there was a search conducted by the British on every Jewish Settlement to find “Slicks” and the weapons they contained. Despite searching for 18 hours at Ramat Rachel, they did not find its Slick. One wonders what made it so virtuous for the Jewish people to have their weapons dumps in the 1930s and 1940’s, while it is so reprehensible for the Palestinians to do the same thing today.
On Tuesday, there was an interesting article in a series called People and Politics. It was written about an interview given by Brigadier General Dov Tzedeka, head of the Civil Administration of the West Bank, and published in the Army Magazine, Bemahane. Here are some excerpts from the General: ( Looking at a long traffic jam of Palestinian taxis stuck at an IDF roadblock in Gaza) - “The State of Israel has determined that only the masters of the land will travel on the artery, the enlightened occupiers. I will take a chance and say that it sometimes makes me disgusted with those who don’t allow them to travel on the road.” The reporter asked about whether Israel has not been excessive in uprooting trees and destroying houses. The General : In Gaza – very much so. In my opinion, they did some things that were out of line. After two attacks on Jewish settlements in the northern Gaza Strip, they carried out massive ‘exposure’ (clearances). They uprooted hundreds of acres of strawberries, and orchards and greenhouses. In my opinion that is not decent – it will cause hatred and criticism, and will cause more people to join the cycle of hostility. It’s simply not smart.”
Last week there was the attack on an IDF patrol in the southern part of the Gaza Strip by Palestinians – four IDF people killed, and two Palestinians. Inevitably there was a major response from the IDF – on Thursday they moved with bulldozers in a refugee camp area some distance from the scene of the fatal attack, and they flattened houses.
There has been a pretty fierce condemnation of the action in some quarters of the press – while in others there has been almost nothing reported at all. The standard IDF statement alleges that the houses which were demolished at Rafah were unoccupied, and, according to an IDF Brigadier General, “the eyewitness testimonies and photographs of people fleeing their homes in the middle of the night, terrified by the approach of army bulldozers, were a Palestinian Authority manipulation.” Brigadier Ziv, the IDF commander in the Gaza Strip, maintained that only 21 houses were demolished.
UNRWA reports that 54 houses were destroyed, and another 4 were partially demolished. Many articles tell of the horror of the scene, - of the trauma of parents having to waken their children and run with them from the bulldozers. To accept the version of the IDF is to say that all these folk are not telling the truth.
To use again the other Brigadier General’s words – it’s simply not smart to carry out such demolitions. What would have been the reaction of people if the British Army had moved into Derry, or West Belfast, and demolished rows of houses from which they said people were shooting at them?
It’s been a hard week for many people – and glimmers of hope, such as the opening of Kalandia for a few days, seem to have been snuffed out. Big delays on traffic coming into Jerusalem this morning from the Jericho road – in the area of house demolitions by the Jerusalem municipality – houses being built by Palestinians – they say on West Bank Land, the Jerusalem authorities say it does not matter – they have no permits. If only the folk outside would spend a wee bit of time looking at what is happening. Maybe a letter to the Israeli Embassy asking how many houses had been demolished in Rafah might produce some awareness that news does travel, and news does have an impact on the way people perceive things here.
At the end of a trenchant article today about the Media, in which the writer accuses 2 of the Hebrew mass-circulation dailies of being unprofessional in not reporting the facts – there is the following little item.
“Unfunny joke.” Here is a joke that appeared in the ultra-Orthodox weekly Hayom Hashishi : Question : How many Arabs does it take to paint the Western Wall red? Answer : It depends how hard you throw them.
The past week has seen snow – twice – and lots of rain. The overnight temperature has been down to 2 degrees – and not all that much higher during the day. Bring back the heat!
Bye for now. God bless.
Joan and Clarence
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Circular
Letter No 71
6th January 2002
After the mayhem of Letters 69 and 70 – both of which did seem to get
to most people at some time – perhaps a Letter No 71 on the right day
might help, and we might then get back to a routine.
How utterly incompetent the Palestinians are – having a ship caught
with such a load of armaments in the Red Sea, just when General Zinni is
coming to the region to try to get some sort of contact re-established
between Israel and Palestine. How utterly incompetent to be unable to
arrest a wanted terrorist on the West Bank, so that the IDF have to go
into a village with tanks and armoured personnel carriers on the morning
of the day General Zinni is due to arrive, in order to make an arrest.
What can one expect when carrying out such a necessary operation but
that there will be a death or two, even if it is the death of a
teenager. How can anyone be serious that talks can be held with such
people?
Forgive me if I am a bit sceptical. Every time there is going to be a
move to push the Israeli government in the direction of negotiations –
the feckless Palestinians just happen to provoke the IDF into a raid
into a West Bank town or village, or something else happens. I know that
there are those who will completely disagree with me, but I find it hard
to believe that there is not some element of Machiavellianism in all
this, and that the Israeli government is not undertaking actions which
will provoke a response, and then we have no need to think about
negotiations for a while.
The last two trips into Bethlehem have been almost carbon copies of each
other, yet one occurred before the Israeli Government said to the world
that it was going to ease travel restrictions and the other after this
statement. I have no way of checking what has happened elsewhere, but
for what it is worth – two trips into Bethlehem both required spending
35 minutes each time going in to Bethlehem, and 35 minutes coming out.
Forgive me if I am a bit sceptical about the truthfulness of Government
statements, such as easing of travel restrictions. Scepticism in one
area, such as that of easing restrictions, easily, perhaps erroneously,
spills over into scepticism about other areas.
The name Ehud Yatom was not one that I would have recognised until a few
weeks ago. I imagine that in this I am not too different from many of
you. Thursday’s paper carried a report about an invitation to Mr Yatom
by Mr Sharon to attend a Secretariat meeting of the Likud Party. Perhaps
there is nothing unusual in that, except that the Secretariat meetings
are normally attended only by members of the Secretariat, Ministers and
Deputy Ministers in the Government, and Members of the Knesset. Mr Yatom
qualifies under none of these headings.
The paper recalls that soon after his election as Prime Minister, Mr
Sharon pressed to have Mr Yatom appointed as Head of the Anti-Terror
Council, a position that would have made him the Prime Minister’s top
adviser on terrorism. This nomination was opposed and the opposition was
taken to the High Court. The Court recently blocked the appointment, and
its decision provoked a storm of outrage in the Knesset. The proposal to
have a new Council take over some of the duties of the High Court was
brought up again, but this past week, was voted down in the Knesset.
Why the storm? In 1984, there was a hijaching of a bus in Israel. There
were 4 Palestinians involved, two of whom were killed outright as was a
woman IDF soldier The other 2 Palestinians were arrested. While being
held in the custody of Israeli forces and unable to defend themselves at
all, they were killed. This was part of a Shin Bet policy not to let any
terrorist survive a hostage–taking situation. Mr Yatom admitted to
being involved in killing the two and was found at the time to have
perjured himself. He was never tried, being granted a pardon by
President Chaim Herzog. Having been blocked by the Courts from this
appointment, he is now planning to seek a place on the Likud list of
candidates at the next election. It is Mr Yatom whom the Prime Minister,
within days of the Court decision, invited to a meeting of the Likud
Secretariat, although he had no qualifications to be there at all.
There has been quite a debate in the papers about this recent decision
– both sides being put forward, those who think that Mr Yatom should
not even be considered for public office, and those who think that the
Court is a stooge of those who are against the State of Israel.
One is heartened by the debate, but one wonders what would be the
position of the Israeli government were the Palestinian Authority to
suggest that such a person would become a chief adviser to Mr Arafat. Or
am I too sceptical?
Saturday was an eventful day.
0430 hours – Take Colin and Carol Morton down to the airport. This was
entirely a voluntary “duty” and one which I was more than happy to
do. When I saw the amount of their luggage I was glad that I was there
to give some assistance!
1130 hours – set out for Beit Jala, for a Christmas Party at Al
Shurooq with Helen Shehadeh. As you will have gathered above, the wait
at the check point was 35 minutes – Joan and I have become accustomed
to this, but others with us found it more than irksome, and became not a
little angry. However, the party helped to calm feelings. It was a
marvellous party. First, some food. Far too much food – but delicious.
Then, the children got organised for Santa Claus to come – a bit later
than usual, but as they had been on holiday, as there were/are travel
problems, it was decided to delay the Christmas party until they were
all back from holiday. Santa was delayed, and while they were waiting
for him to come, they sang. Kids anywhere, singing, have the capacity to
bring tears to your eyes, with their enthusiasm and their innocence. It
was just the same in Beit Jala. They sang the usual Christmas carols –
somehow they have an added poignancy when one realises that all the kids
are Muslims – O Come all ye faithful, Still the night, Once in Royal
David’s city, and others. What really tugged at my heartstrings was
when they started to sing “We shall overcome”. Another verse –
“We shall live in peace.” The last verse – “We shall see free
Palestine.” What mountains they have to climb, if they are ever to
develop their talents – because of their handicap, because of their
own society, and because of the political situation between Israel and
Palestine.
1600 hours. On the way home from Al Shurooq, call at the home of Elias
Salman, the cook of the Hospice, who is not able to get to Jerusalem as
the Israelis are not issuing employment passes – despite the fact that
he has been employed by the Church of Scotland for 27 years. Earlier in
the week, Joan and I had talked with him about the possibility of him
doing some cooking in his home, and we could then take it to Jerusalem
and see if we could sell it – making him a bit of money. We called on
Saturday to pick up some Lasagne that he had prepared, and some
marmalade. I put a notice about it in the current Church Newsletter, and
today got rid of quite a bit of it. Hopefully, it may develop into a
sort of cottage industry, at least until he might get a permit to return
to work.
1830 hours. Along with Rizek and Alice Abusharr, we arrived at the
Armenian Patriarchate for a Reception to mark the feast day of St James.
The Cathedral of the Armenians in Jerusalem is the Cathedral of St James
– the brother of our Lord. This was the first time that they had held
such a Reception. It was a marvellous function – friendly, hospitable,
and such a good atmosphere. In his short Address, the Patriarch reminded
us of some of the history of the Armenian church, and of their presence
in Jerusalem.
I recall meeting the Armenian Patriarch once, and asking him about the
Liturgy used in a service of Ordination. His reply sticks in my mind –
after a long pause for thought, he said “In the year 351 . . .” When
he thought of history, he took a long view! and had a long memory!
It was a fascinating day – so much of it involved with people
who have experienced terrible suffering in the early part of the 20th
Century with the Armenian genocide
and who are experiencing suffering now, in the early part of the 21st
Century.
Before finishing, thoughts about the news reporting of the
“situation” between India and Pakistan.
Closing one’s eyes and listening to the statements of the Indian
leaders, one could almost imagine that they were quoting from the words
of Israeli spokesmen – we cannot do anything until the Pakistan
government crack down on the terrorists, etc. Where have we heard that
before? Isn’t it strange that the two conflicts are over land, over
land which was occupied during fighting, over land where the majority of
those now under one government wish to be under another? And where the
stronger power wishes to dictate the future to the weaker.
Just a thought.
Our reading in church this morning was the Nunc Dimittis. For those who
might find this less than helpful (!) it is the story of Simeon meeting
Mary and Joseph with Jesus. His words have been known to many as one of
the Canticles in the liturgy. “Lord, now let your servant depart in
peace, for mine eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared to
be a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of your people
Israel.” Strange that the “Light” and the “Glory” was a baby.
How many of us would choose a baby today, and say that it would be the
Light of the World – much better to choose a President or a Prime
Minister.
Bye for now. God bless. Happy New Year.
Joan and Clarence.
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Circular Letter No 70
1st January 2002
Did Letter 69 get finished – and did it get sent? Yet another senior moment. Looking at the file on the computer, it does not appear that I ever did finish it, nor that I sent it. If, however, I did send it, perhaps someone would be good enough to send it back to me, so that I can see what I sent!! On reflection, that may not be too wise a request – I might get a hundred replies! – So, forget that.
Just in case I did not complete it –
We had Christmas lunch in the hospice – after it all, I took Helen Shehadeh back home, along with those who had helped prepare lunch for us – I think a good time was had by all – got some time at home about 1700 hours, and then out for a short visit to the Session Clerk.
Sunday 30th we had a Baptism – second daughter of Katrina and Tim Lavy – now had 4 |
