Feature - Patriarch says Holy Land needs new leaders 30 Mar 2004, heraldsun, CathNews

The top Catholic clergyman in the Holy Land is Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah. He says there are no signs that the current Israeli government is heading toward compromise. "The (Israeli) government is preparing for permanent war," he said.

A Catholic seminarian in Jerusalem describes daily life in the Holy Land 26-03-04, Agenzia Fides - Agenzia della Congregazione per l'Evangelizzazione dei Popoli

Jerusalem (Fides Service) - A Polish seminarian studying in Jerusalem tells Fides about life in the Holy Land: “We are sort of semi-clandestine and often have to stay inside the seminary to avoid being arrested and repatriated. My fellow seminarians from Rumania, Russia and other countries of Europe have the same problem. But for students and Religious from Africa and other parts of the Middle East it is even more difficult: they are often regarded as possible terrorists”. One of the seminary staff members told Fides: “We are very disappointed. This is unfair. This attitude is in open contradiction to the agreement stipulated by Israel and the Holy See ten years ago which officially guaranteed the Church in the Holy Land freedom of movement for all activities pastoral, liturgical, catechetical etc.”. There is a danger that sooner or later Christian parishes, hospitals and schools in this region will have to close for lack of personnel. Local Catholic priests and religious are concerned and disappointed and they think that something should be done to protest with the Israeli authorities: “there is a lack of respect for Christian institutions which hitherto enjoyed esteem and consideration” local sources told Fides.

Palestinian gunmen kill Arab Christian in case of mistaken identity JERUSALEM (CNS)

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- A Palestinian Christian was killed by Palestinian gunmen in a case of mistaken identity. George Khoury, 20, a Greek Orthodox, was jogging in the Jewish East Jerusalem neighborhood of French Hill in the early evening March 19 when he was shot several times in a drive-by shooting. The gunmen, members of the militant Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, later issued a statement apologizing and said they thought Khoury was an Israeli settler. They called him a "martyr for the Palestinian cause." "I don't need their title of martyr for my son," said his father, Elias Khoury, a prominent Palestinian attorney, on Israeli radio. "For me he is an angel." He said his son was an avid sportsman and talented pianist.

(Agenzia Fides 26/3/2004 lines 35 words 337)

YASSIN-CHURCHES (UPDATED) Mar-23-2004 (1,000 words) With photos posted March 22 and today. xxxi Church leaders say killing of Hamas leader will spur extremists By Judith Sudilovsky Catholic News Service

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- Middle East Catholic leaders said Israel's killing of Ahmed Yassin, founder and spiritual leader of the Islamic militant group Hamas, will put people at the mercy of extremists.

"There can be no positive outcome from such an act," said Ramze Zananiri, director of the Jerusalem office of the Middle East Council of Churches.

"We are heading toward a very deep slope which will have a negative impact on both peoples. This type of action and reaction does not bring the area to any possibility of peace," he said.

After Yassin's death, Israel closed the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and Palestinians called for a three-day general strike and mourning period.

"I don't want to be in the Israelis' shoes now," said Father Majdi al-Siryani, legal adviser of the Latin-rite Patriarchate of Jerusalem. "I am afraid (of what Hamas') answer will be. This is not the way to make peace. Meanwhile we will keep praying."

He said the Latin Patriarchate schools would be closed during the mourning period.

Father al-Siryani called Yassin "one of the best (Palestinian) leaders" who acted as a "security valve" in that he was able to control the sentiments of the streets, something Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat could not do. Father al-Siryani added, however, that Hamas has "a different mentality, a different way of looking at things."

The priest recalled that last year Yassin told Jerusalem Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah that he (Yassin) realized Christian Palestinians had a "different role" to play in the Palestinian struggle and told the patriarch to continue with his peaceful message.

Father Manoel Musallam of Holy Family Parish in Gaza said he knew Yassin "very well."

He said Yassin was one of the moderate Hamas leaders.

Father Musallam said that Yassin would intercede when Muslim children bullied or threw stones at children attending the parish school.

"If ever there were any difficulties at the school or church or with the priests, we used to go to Ahmed Yassin, and at any moment we would find protection with him," Father Musallam said.

In another instance, Yassin kept Palestinian gunmen escaping from Israeli soldiers from trying to hide in the parish church, school or cemetery in order not to endanger those sites, Father Musallam said.

Yassin often came to celebrate Christian feasts at the church, he said.

Father Musallam said the Christian community was not concerned about the leadership of Hamas becoming more extreme because, he said, "we know all the leaders, they are our friends."

"Hamas is fundamentalist, extreme, against Israel; against our enemies not against our people. They love us. As Christians we are not afraid," he said. "The future will prove how much these Christians are with Muslims and have not suffered from Muslims."

However, in the past, Christians in Gaza have expressed concern over their future if Muslim extremism grows. One elderly Catholic from Gaza said, "If Hamas grows, we will disappear."

Yassin was killed early March 22 by missiles from Israeli helicopters as he left a mosque near his home in Gaza City.

Seven of his bodyguards -- including two of his sons -- also were killed. Palestinians said 15 other people were injured in the attack.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians streamed into the streets of Gaza City following the attack, and gunmen shot into the air while others threw pipe bombs, according to press reports. Violent demonstrations erupted elsewhere throughout the West Bank.

Israeli military sources called the killing "a significant strike against a central pillar in the Hamas terrorist organization."

"The perception that Yassin was the 'political' leader and left the management of terrorist activities to others is incorrect," the Israeli sources said. "In fact, there is no differentiation between the 'political' and 'military' wings of Hamas. Yassin, himself, often authorized and encouraged attacks and strongly preached against Israel. Yassin was directly responsible for a long list of terrorist attacks against both Israeli civilians and foreigners, as well as Israeli security forces."

Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz called Yassin the "Palestinian (Osama) bin Laden."

Yassin, who was imprisoned in Israel in 1984 and 1989 and received a life sentence for involvement in the killing of two Israeli soldiers, founded Hamas in the Gaza Strip. He was released from prison in 1997 under the framework of an agreement with Jordan, and, according to the Israeli sources, he became involved in Hamas terrorist activities and personally authorized suicide attacks, bombings and missile attacks into Israeli settlements.

Following the assassination and closure, Zananiri said his staff was assessing the situation on the ground, specifically at their numerous health clinics in Gaza refugee camps and at West Bank centers for children.

"Our first concern is for the centers' safety, and we are concerned if people will be able to get there. Some employees will simply not be able to come because of (the closure)," he said. "We have to be considerate of the general climate, but in certain sectors like the health clinics they should be open. We want to make sure the children are OK during the strike and general mourning period."

Palestinian militant groups vowed immediate revenge for Yassin's death not only against Israeli targets but also on all Zionist targets abroad and American targets, according to press reports. They charged the United States with approving the attack and, in a statement faxed to The Associated Press, vowed that all Muslims around the world would be "honored to join in on the retaliation for this crime."

"(Israeli Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon has opened the gates of hell, and nothing will stop us from cutting off his head," AP quoted Hamas leaders as saying from mosque loudspeakers.

The United States denied involvement and called for restraint on both sides.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia condemned the attack, saying that it opened the door "wide to chaos." He said Yassin was "known for his moderation" and ability to control Hamas.

Wedged between Israel and Islam, Christians emigrate from Bethlehem 10 March, 2004, ISRAEL - PALESTINE, by Lorenzo Fazzini, AsiaNews.it

For 22 years Sister Ileana Benetello, of a Franciscan order of nuns from Padua, has helped run Bethlehem’s Baby Caritas Hospital, a pediatric medical center for poor Catholic children. She works together with 6 other nuns of the same order, 5 of whom are Italian. In an interview with AsiaNews she relates the daily problems and the lives of Christian faithful living in the region.

Sister Ileana, what’s it like living today in Bethlehem?

Life is not that which the mass media says it like, or at least it’s far from that what people experience on an every day basis. It is that of stability amid abnormal circumstances. In the last few months, people could move about relatively easily. Now both Muslim and Christian Palestinians feel like they are living in an open-air prison. They cannot move about freely to go to work, school and carry out life’s normal activities. And this holds true when traveling between Palestine and Israel, and within the Palestinian territory itself.

What kind of problems arise from this?

There are several, among which we find a serious problem that is not often talked about. In Muslim and Arab culture in general there is strong tradition of first cousins intermarrying, in order to preserve family lineage. This has occurred with much less frequency in recent years. Now that travel difficulties are returning back to normal you can image some of the consequences. (With more couples able to unite) many handicapped children are being born, some having serious genetic disorders. Some families have even 3 handicapped offspring.

Is work still a problem?

Yes, it is a really serious issue. In order to find work Palestinians offer themselves to build Jewish establishments and even build the Wall. One just has to think of the state of mind these persons go to work on their confiscated land, where they cannot even gather their own olives now going bad on the trees.

How is the population dealing with such problems?

The situation is unbearable and hence we hear people snapping: “You can’t justify suicide bombings, but you can sure understand them.” These words, however, never come from Christian mouths. Muslims, even my own nurses, say such things on the other hand…It is only once you live here that you understand that hatred is nourished (by such violence) and that now Palestinian conscience is all but desensitized. One of the most recent suicide attacks in Jerusalem occurred right in our neighborhood. And I recognized the house of the bomber on TV when footage was aired of his house being knocked down by Israeli tanks. Suicide bombers know in advance that they will receive 30,000 dollars from terrorist organizations, who do a good job at brainwashing them. Sometimes with such money their families can build more beautiful homes.

And what is the situation like for Christians in the Bethlehem?

Many of them are leaving, choosing to emigrate since Christians easily gain visas to go abroad. Our opinion that behind all this is a game being played between Israel and other countries, like Sweden and Canada. For example, in 2003 a thousand or so people left Bethlehem, that is, 10% of the town’s 10,000 Christians.

And the reason for such a mass exodus?

This is happening since Christians don’t accept the Muslim mentality which justifies terrorist strikes. And Christians tend be, culturally speaking, closer to Jews and feel a greater connection with the Jewish population. And this poses serious problems for them. Christians are wedged between Muslims and Jews, and they suffer the most, as they are weak. One must also point out that they find it hard to adapt. For example, unlike Muslims, they won’t take on construction jobs.

What consequences does the emigration of Christians have on the Holy Land?

It poses another serious problem: Christians who emigrate don’t understand what the situation is like for other Christians who can’t afford to leave the country. Then come the Muslims who, helped by other Arab countries, easily buy up their land and homes. Even demographically speaking, Muslims are stronger: they have an average of 10 children and 3 wives…Even in terms of schooling life isn’t easy for Christians who can send their children to school only with the help of donations from abroad and foreign sponsorships of their children’s education. Otherwise, they would have to attend public schools which are imbued with Islamism and where their chidren easily lose their Christian faith.

Is there hope for the future?

No one is giving in and peace is still non-existent. The rest depends on Jesus who taught us the law of forgiveness. Muslims and Jews still preach the law of retaliation, and what see its ill effects in action every day.

What keeps you moving forward?

Throughout all these tough times I have come to understand the importance of Jesus in our lives. It is He who keeps me moving forward.

Gaza violence increases danger faced by aid agency, CRS official says NEWS BRIEFS Mar-9-2004, By Catholic News Service

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- Recent violence in the Gaza Strip has made the work of aid agencies far more dangerous, a Catholic Relief Services official said. Omar Shaban, project manager, told Catholic News Service that the violence has made it difficult for his office to coordinate work with the agency's Jerusalem office. "It does affect logistic issues such as going to the Jerusalem office or them coming to Gaza. It makes communication with Jerusalem more difficult. In general it has become more dangerous," Shaban said of the violence. On March 6, Palestinian militants attacked Erez Crossing, the main crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip. Four Palestinian militants and two Palestinian policemen were killed in the attack.

Patriarch Sabbah: Living with fear gives insight into Lenten message NEWS BRIEFS Mar-5-2004, By Catholic News Service

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- By living with oppression and fear, Catholics in the Holy Land have an intrinsic understanding of Lent's message of love and repentance, said the Latin-rite patriarch of Jerusalem. The Lenten fast is a time of repentance and return to God and a time to cleanse and rid oneself of accumulated evils in order to strengthen the spirit, Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah said in a message released March 3. "Others will then respect our strength, which will be then the fruit of love and not the fruit of pride or the oppression of others," he said. Lent is also a time of sharing, he said, noting that in a time of oppression and violence sharing is also a duty. "Spiritually speaking, we cannot build up the kingdom of God that is among us alone. We build it up with all those that suffer," he said. "By living, within our souls and within our prayers, the oppression of some and the fears of others and by becoming conscious of our part in the responsibility for putting an end to this, we carry out our Lent."

Prelate seeks help for Christians in Holy Land Vatican, Mar. 02 (CWNews.com) -

The prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches has sent a message to all the world's Catholic bishops, asking them to help the Christians of the Holy Land.

Cardinal Ignace I Daoud said that the "delicate social, political, and economic situation" in the Holy Land calls for the "necessary and urgent intervention of the whole Catholic Church."

With Christians steadily leaving the Holy Land, and those who remain battered by economic hardship and threatened by violence, Cardinal Daoud warned that the Christian presence could soon be lost in the land where Jesus lived. He observed that every pope since Leo XIII has "strongly encouraged all Catholic communities to contribute generously" to maintain that Christian presence.