Latin patriarch says security fence threatens peace in Holy Land NEWS BRIEFS Dec-29-2003, By Catholic News Service

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (CNS) -- The new security fence being built by Israel will further divide Palestinians and Israelis and present new challenges to peace, said Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem. In his Christmas Eve homily, Patriarch Sabbah said that building the barrier would not change the fact that many in the Holy Land live under the threat of violence. He noted that Israelis still lack security and Palestinians still live under occupation. "A dividing wall ... is against the nature of this land of God," he said during the Mass in St. Catherine's Church, adjacent to the Church of the Nativity, which is built over the grotto where it is believed that Jesus was born. "It is against the nature of the two peoples called to live together," he said. Patriarch Sabbah said the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land was "the basic evil" that has led to other kinds of violence.

Patriarch Sabbah Calls Barrier a Blow for Peace BETHLEHEM, West Bank, DEC. 25, 2003 (Zenit.org)

BETHLEHEM, West Bank, DEC. 25, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Prayers for Mideast peace found little resonance of hope in Jesus' birthplace as Bethlehem spent another Christmas encircled by the Israeli army.

Latin-rite Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem said in a Christmas homily that Israel's building of a huge barrier through the West Bank was a blow to peace efforts.

"The military barrier is turning Palestinian cities and villages into a huge prison, demolishing houses and agriculture," he said at Midnight Mass, according to Reuters. Christian Palestinians and foreign pilgrims made their way through Israeli army roadblocks to pack the ancient Church of the Nativity for the Mass.

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Patriarch Sabbah criticizes Wall, Israeli measures 22 December, 2003 ISRAEL - PALESTINE, Jerusalem (Asianews)

His Beatitude, Msgr. Michel Sabbah, the Latin rite Catholic patriarch of Jerusalem, harshly criticized the Wall’s construction and Israel’s restrictive measures placed on travel to Bethlehem.

After celebrating mass at the Gaza Strip’s Holy Family Church, the patriarch addressed journalists, making an appeal to Israeli authorities: “If you believe in God and in the sanctity of the earth, then you have taken the wrong path. War will not bring about peace. The solution to all our problems can occur only by means of dialog and respect for human dignity.”

Msgr. Sabbah commented on Israel’s prohibiting Arafat to attend Christmas mass in Bethlehem. “This Israeli measure is mistaken and goes beyond the limits of any (worldly) power; prayer should not form part of any political or military restrictions,” he said.

The patriarch also criticized Israel for its construction of the Wall. “To continue raising this wall will not bring security to Israel; on the contrary, it will lead to war and instil hatred.”

Reflecting on the Wall’s significance, he added that “the true partition is found in our hearts, not on earth.” And echoing the pontiff’s words, he said it is “necessary build bridges, not walls.”

Msgr. Sabbah then denied the news, which appeared in some Israeli dailies, that the Latin rite Catholic Church had asked Israeli authorities to have Church properties fall inside the walls. “Rather, we expressed our fear that Church properties be divided in two parts, half here and half on the other side of the Wall,” he explained.

Following the mass, a party was thrown with Holy Family Christian School children in attendance, who performed traditional dances and a play. Msgr. Sabbah also exchanged Christmas greetings with Muslim and Christian political and religious leaders.

On this occasion, the patriarch received ,000 donation from Palestine Bank Ltd. to complete the building of the Holy Family school library.(PB)

Road closures help economy in Palestinian village, residents say Dec-3-2003, Catholic News Service, NEWS BRIEFS

BIR ZEIT, West Bank (CNS) -- The intifada and Israeli-imposed closures have been a double-edged sword for this sleepy Ramallah-area village with a large Christian population. The frequent road closures cut off many residents from the city of Ramallah, forcing the village's 3,000 residents to develop a self-sustaining economy that doesn't rely on the city for jobs and services. One example is the horse-drawn carriages that ferry Palestinians across the one-mile-long no man's land between the Israeli roadblock and the Palestinian side. Another example is the Internet cafes that have sprung up on nearly every street corner, serving the 2,000 students who attend nearby Bir Zeit University. "There is an Internet cafe everywhere you look," said Nadine Khoury, 23, a Catholic youth leader at the Ramallah YWCA. "We are trying to be independent (of Ramallah) and new shops and cafes have opened."