April 18, 2002

Dear Friends,

As the world has now turned their eyes toward the Church of the Nativity crisis, there is probably not much that I can say. You all see what is happening here. Even though this situation may worry many and even bring tears to some, this highlights only the political side of the issues: removal of "the Palestinian terrorist infrastructure," secure borders, control of terrorism, terrorism, terrorism. I think that I have never heard a word more over-used and abused in my life.

What’s missing is the human side of the story. There has now been a 24-hour house curfew for over three weeks on the entire West Bank, over one million people. What this means is no leaving your house, no going to work, no children going to school. When an entire population is locked in their homes, resentment builds within each household.

I remember vividly the night the Israeli army invaded. We were lying in bed, there was some shooting back and forth, but it was sporadic, and we accepted as a "normal" part of the night. Then, at exactly 12:45 a.m., we heard the rush of Apache helicopter gunships and F16 fighter jets flying in low. Hovering directly above our house, creating an enormous din, they began shooting and firing missiles on the refugee camp and city. Like when Nazi Germany invading Poland in 1939, there was no contest. I worried that the boys would wake up screaming, but incredibly, they were blessed and slept right through it. What must it have been like for people whose homes were hit by the bullets and missiles? I shudder to think. I prayed for it to all end quickly and to not create so much blood shed. Before sunrise, the Israelis were in the heart of Bethlehem, Manger Square.

Forturnately, we, Hala, the boys and myself, are able to avoid some of the harsher elements of the curfew, since we live on the outskirts of Bethlehem. We are able to go out the front door and sit outside, the boys are able to play in the back of the house. The boys keep asking when they will be going back to school, I tell them that hopefully next week they will. However, for many, the idea of just putting your head out a window is too dangerous. After one week of the seige, the Israeli military began lifting the curfew every four days, allowing people to go out and buy food. This past Monday happened to be one of those days. When I entered the shopping area of Bethlehem, there were mobs of people in front of one of the busiest sellers of produce. I was able to deal with the crowds inside and get a couple of things. When I stepped outside, there in front of me two older women were having a fist fight over some tomatoes. A woman I have known for years here in Bethlehem was punched in the face by a man who wanted to grab an eggplant from her hand. About two hundred people were fighting and arguing over the few fruits and vegetables available. It brought tears to my eyes. Bethlehem is not the only place where this is happening whenever the curfews are lifted, I am sure this is the case in all of the West Bank.

As far as having an end in sight, we can only pray that this latest round of violence will end quickly. I feel that I am trapped and not able to do what I was sent here to do. I know that being a witness to what is happening is a part of my mission, but to be able to go out and work with the people is impossible right now. Hala was supposed to begin working in the refugee camps with children affected by this violence, but the invasion happened the night before she was to begin. Our work will certainly be greater when the Israelis leave.

I, and most people, don't like seeing so many people maimed and killed by this latest violence. Violence only breeds violence. With the Israeli destruction of the Palestinian Authority, the refugee camps, the city centers, and with the confiscation of more Palestinian land, what can be the result? Israel claims that this is all in the name of self defense, however the current Israeli leader, Ariel Sharon, has been saying since the Oslo Accords were signed in 1993 that if he did one thing before he died, it would be to destroy the peace process, which he believes is the only true threat to complete Israeli domination of the Palestinian lands. Today, the Israelis are in defiance of 61 UN resolutions.

I wish that this letter could include some grand thoughts and insights into the situation of the Holy Land. I have actually scanned the Bible for some reasoning, some logic. It is there, I think, I just have to continue praying that more will look to the written Word. I invite whoever may have questions to write, I will do my best to answer as fully as possible. I also invite all to pray that this situation will end quickly. Know you’re your prayers for peace and justice here do help and give hope, especially now.

Peace and Blessings,

Chris, Hala, Nadiim and Adeeb