As Advent begins in Bethlehem... By Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb

It is Sunday morning, the first Advent. The streets of Bethlehem are deserted, very unusual for such a day and such an occasion. A strange silence overshadows the area. It is a silence crying loud towards heaven. The silence is disrupted every now and then with the sound of two Israel Military tanks roaming the streets and announcing curfew: Mamnou' attajawul.. "Moving is forbidden.leaving homes is forbidden." In other words, "You are prisoners. Stay where you are otherwise you are violating the holy military rules.you will be put in prison."

I sneaked out to ring the bells of Christmas Lutheran Church at 10.00 a.m. For me this was an act of nonviolent resistant. We will not let them steel from us even the sounds of the bells calling for worship. At 10:30 Rev. Sandra Olewine and myself gathered at the church entrance for worship. We put our advent purple stoles on, although we are not sure if any one will be able to make it to church on this Sunday. At 10:30 we rang the bells, while the first 7 people were already gathered in the sanctuary. One of the young people asked if today is the first Advent, since he could not see the Advent wreath. He is right. We could not get pine branches to weave the wreath, since Bethlehem has been under curfew for the last ten days. But even under curfew and in spite of the lack of a wreath, we still wanted to celebrate the Advent of the Lord. We had to miss the Organ sound too. Our organist could not make it. He lives too far away from the church. But still at 10:40 there were 27 people gathered in the sanctuary. I could not believe my eyes. I knew how dangerous it is to be on the streets. But the 27 members, Children, youth and adults came to celebrate the first Advent because they wanted "to obey God more than men".

As we were gathering, we read the words of St. Paul assigned for the first Advent: "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light." How challenging and comforting were these words. Challenging because the "night" of the 35-years old occupation is very long and seems endless. It feels as if we are still at mid night, in the middle of a long and dark tunnel with no light at its end. The day of freedom and life in dignity seems far and not at hand. How else can we explain the arrogance of the Israeli occupation, which reoccupied Bethlehem shortly before Advent and the Christmas Season, demonstrating that they do not care for the whole Christian World? If they wish they can smash the "little town of Bethlehem". It is too "little", compared with the might of their tanks. Yet there is comforting good news in St. Paul's words: The night lost its power. The Gospel calls us and empowers us to cast off the works of darkness and of occupation. The light of right is stronger than the power of might. The presence of the Church members, in spite of the curfew, was the best expression of this.

The first candle lit at Christmas Lutheran Church on this first Advent is an expression of the light of right. It starts small, one candle at first and then the second will follow and so on. What comforts us is that there are so many friends world wide lighting candles on our behalf, enabling us to continue to spread the light in a context of darkness, despair and hopelessness. So, when you light the Second Advent candle, please think of the power of light spreading all over the world; a light that will finally cast off the works of darkness and occupation, preparing for the coming of the Prince of Peace and the Source of Hope

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Reflections Under House Arrest By Rev. Sandra Olewine

Waiting in Bethlehem, Thursday, 21 November 2002

Over the last few weeks there has been concern that the Israeli forces were preparing to come back into Bethlehem. There have been a number of occasions when small number of forces has entered different parts of the larger Bethlehem area searching for people, arresting some. Almost every Thursday for the last 5 weeks, Bethlehem has been closed with roadblocks. Some days there have been the big bulldozers or APCs at the main checkpoint. Early Tuesday morning, Israeli forces went into the village of El Khader (just south of Bethlehem) and arrested a man allegedly connected to the Tanzim. Attack helicopters circled overhead for a couple of hours in the early morning and the Bethlehem checkpoint and tunnel road were closed until around 10 am.

When I came home last evening from Jerusalem, my colleague Doug picked me up at the checkpoint. As we drove we were blinded by 2 very bright lights which were perched on top of a vehicle. They were so bright one couldn't tell what was there. As we made the turn towards Caritas Street, I glanced back and could see 1 APC and what looked like a tank or an APC with two tall chambers on top.

This morning, again in the early hours, Bethlehemites reported that soldiers came into the area just south of Nativity Church and arrested a number of people.

When word came about the bombing in Jerusalem this morning, everyone I ran into said, "Just wait - for sure, they'll announce he is from Bethlehem. The Israelis have just been waiting for an excuse to come back in." Sure enough, this was the announcement. The latest report is the bomber was a member of Jihad Islami and had been living in the area of Bethlehem just south of the Church of the Nativity. Whether this report will hold, we don't know yet.

But, the market area is abuzz. People are rushing to get supplies for their homes. People at work places are backing up files. Others are trying to just plod through their work as if nothing is going on around them. But, the tension is palpable. Many are angry that once again a Palestinian has acted against a bus full of Israelis. Some said to me, "It is as if they are working in collaboration with Israel, giving Sharon excuses to invade towns and villages. Do they not care even for our children? What good will this do? It damages everything."

The Israeli Cabinet is scheduled to meet at noon today. So, we wait. Will the soldiers come back? If so, when? If so, for how long? And the vicious cycle of violence continues.

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Day 4- House Arrest - Monday, 25 November 2002

As you most certainly know by now, Israeli forces did re-enter the Bethlehem area early Friday morning. Today is day 4 of the 'house arrest' of the whole area and the streets are eerily quiet.

'Breaking curfew' this morning to go to work, I passed a few others walking in the streets, a few children riding bikes. As I rounded the corner near Shepherd's Hotel, there was one truck loaded with vegetables. A dozen or so people gathered around buying potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers and assorted other produce. Among them was Zoughbi Zoughbi. He said, "We've been around trying to convince people to come out, to break the curfew. But, few are willing to risk it." With the numbers of people killed and injured in the northern West Bank in the last week for breaking curfew, I can imagine people are afraid. With any sound of approaching traffic, people walking look nervously over their shoulders. Is it a jeep? Relief is evident when it is only a news van.

As I neared Christmas Lutheran Church, I noticed that the Silesian bakery was open and a large number of people huddled inside trying to get bread. Many people thought the curfew would be lifted today for a few hours to allow grocery stores and bakeries to open. But, such is not the case - at least not yet. After four days, people are running out of supplies, especially vegetables, fruit and bread.

Throughout the last 3 days, approximately 9 homes have been destroyed. I have no idea how many people have been detained. Off and on through the day and night, you can hear explosions as houses are blown up. Other smaller explosions or short rounds of gunfire occasionally go off. Every once in a while you can hear the sound of a high speed bullet whizzing by. Occasionally, helicopters fly overhead or we're buzzed by F-16 jet fighters. There has been no armed Palestinian resistance in the area.

As across most of the West Bank, Muslims in the area were not able to gather for Friday prayers and are prohibited from gathering for the important evening Ramadan prayers. Families can not gather together to observe the daily breaking of the fast. And one has to wonder whether any one will be able to celebrate the Eid in approximately 12 days. Most Christians also were unable to gather for worship on Sunday. And as Catholics and Evangelicals look towards the beginning of Advent this Sunday, we wonder whether we'll begin it together in church or not.

Here at the International Center of Bethlehem we were rapidly approaching the inauguration of the new Conference Center, planned for the middle of December. Postponed from May after the 21/2 months of invasion from March-May and more delays from the mid June - September invasion, exciting plans were underway. Now again, construction has halted and we're left to wonder when we'll be able to complete the building and continue with our programming. An important International Media Consultation planned for this week to help establish the new Bethlehem Media Center was moved to Jerusalem. While Rev. Raheb was able to get out in order to host the gathering, our coordinator of the Media program, and coordinator of the Consultation, was not.

So, people wait - will their houses be demolished or damaged? Will their neighborhood be surrounded while house-to-house searches are conducted yet again? Yet again, schools, shops, and businesses remained shuttered. Lives are put on hold.

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Day 5 of the 'curfew' - or house arrest - continues in the Bethlehem area - Tuesday, 26 November 2002.

When I left the office yesterday afternoon, many more people were in the market. A couple of the grocery stores and pharmacies had cracked their doors so people could get in to get supplies. I too stopped at the market, but not long after stepping inside, the owner slammed the door shut and shouted the army was coming. So we waited. One of the sons went out to check where the soldiers were. Word was that the army had shot tear gas at people in the market in Beit Jala and were headed our way. Everyone who was out hurriedly finished their shopping. Soldiers were then near the French hospital in Bethlehem. I finally left the market, walking with others down a side street and alley as we made our ways home. For the next hour or so, jeeps drove back and forth while soldiers shouted that curfew was in place.

As I made my way to the church this morning I only passed 3 other people on the street. Within a few minutes of arriving to the office, I could hear the loud speakers on jeeps again shouting that curfew was still being imposed. For the last hour, I've heard the announcement again and again. At this point, 3 hours since coming to the office, no one is outside in the market area of Bethlehem.

Curfew is being imposed on the majority of Palestinian cities again. The impact of the on-going siege on Palestinian areas is enormous.

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Day 7 - House Arrest Continues for Hundreds of Thousands - Thursday, 28 November 2002

On this day, people in the US are celebrating Thanksgiving. One of my favorites hymns on this day is, "We Gather Together to Ask the Lord's Blessing." As we begin day 7 of the curfew in the Bethlehem area, those words have poignant meaning as we are not able to gather together!

Last night around 10 pm an announcement appeared on local TV stations saying that curfew would be lifted today from 1:00 - 5:00 pm for people to be able to restock food. However, by 9:00 am this morning that word had been revoked. Curfew would continue today unabated. For Bethlehem area residents, it is day 7, for Hebronites it is day 11, for those in Nablus it is day 8. Hundreds of thousands of regular folks are locked into their homes, unable to get to doctors, to schools, to work, to shops, to worship.

As I made my way through the empty streets towards the office, though this morning, I noticed that one pharmacy and two grocery stores had cracked their doors. A few minutes later one truck loaded with produce appeared. Those near enough to get safely to the truck and stores are able to get a few things. But, for those in neighborhoods where tanks, APCs and jeeps are present, such movement is not possible. After seven days without being able to shop, everyone is running out of everything.

The young man who runs the store where I go told me that his family is going to open everyday from 9 - 3 regardless of what the army says. "People have to eat. Our dairy products will go bad. So, we're going to keep opening no matter what the curfew situation is until there is no more food available on our shelves." He turned from me and began to call customers to let them know he would be there today and that they should come. Out came their little account book as one person with no money came to get food - "Don't worry, pay later." Khader explained, writing down the family name and the amount owed.

Curfew - house arrest - none of these words really describe the reality of 24 hours/day, day upon day, of everyone being closed in their houses. One man was shot and killed near Bethlehem yesterday as he was riding in a car, breaking curfew. Another woman, prohibited from getting to the baby hospital in Bethlehem, lost her baby. The daily lives of people are completely arrested. And that is just here in our locality. The stories multiply countless times across the West Bank and Gaza.

Yet, even in these situations, I still give thanks to God. Even under curfew, people do gather together to help each other. So, today I lift up people like Khader who are willing to risk their own safety to allow others to get food. I give thanks for doctors who risk getting to their patients when their patients can't get to them. I give thanks for truck drivers who risk being shot to bring necessary produce to people under siege. I give thanks to neighbors who come by my house with fresh fruit from their gardens, because they are afraid I don't have any.

Today, the only Thanksgiving parade I may see will be one of armored vehicles. But, the spirit of God is greater than these things and so, able still to rejoice, I wish you and yours a blessed Thanksgiving!

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Day 9 - Lighting a Candle - Saturday, 30 November 2002

As we enter day 9 of the 5th incursion into the Bethlehem area this year, more and more people are breaking curfew and moving around. Certainly, curfew is not being as strictly imposed here as in other Palestinian cities, as the number of tanks, APCs and troops are less than during previous incursions.

On Thursday afternoon, the confusion about whether curfew was lifted or not gave way to pandemonium as people moved out into the streets to find food around 2:00 pm. Suddenly the deserted market area was impassable as people and vehicles jammed the narrow roads. Some brought home-grown produce to sell and all of it was gone in less than an hour. Lines for bread quickly materialized. However, since curfew was not officially lifted, no supply trucks from other towns were let in, so the store shelves quickly emptied. Basically the Israeli army stayed clear, allowing folks to get what they needed. Around 5:30 pm, an hour or so after the vast majority of people had returned home, the jeeps again drove around town announcing that curfew was in place.

Each day there are questions about the 'rules.' No one knows what is happening. Today, there have been no soldiers shouting that curfew is in place, although APCs were driving up and down Hebron Rd. and Manger St. all morning. There are certainly more people out today than other days, but the overwhelming majority are clearly staying close to home. It is on days such as these, days of uncertainty about the 'rules' in place, in which people have been shot and killed. Can we move? Can we not? Can I walk on my street? Can I walk across town? Each moment an experience of uncertainty and risk!

We have decided to have service here at Christmas Lutheran Church tomorrow regardless of curfew, calling on members to come to worship no matter what the army says. It is important for us to gather for the first Sunday of Advent, to begin a new year of our journey, lighting the first Advent candle even in days of despair and darkness. The promises of this season are what sustain us in times when we cannot see beyond today, even beyond the next hour. We may be few; we may be many. We may gather under the turret of a tank or in empty streets. But, we will do our best to gather, to rejoice in the reality of a God who loved the world so much that a child was born to proclaim a new heaven and a new earth.

May we live trusting in the sureness of God, even when all around us is uncertain

Wholesale Imprisonment Dr. Nuha Khoury

Early morning Friday, November 22, the Israeli army has reentered the city of Bethlehem, ending a suffocating siege on Bethlehem and its surrounding area and replacing it with a new round of curfews; curfews, which can better be described as, wholesale imprisonment of the entire population.

In the past few months, the employees of the International Center of Bethlehem have been working hard to rid the inhabitants of Bethlehem of the feelings of despair that the past curfews and sieges produced. Surrounded by Israeli tanks, we continued organizing and sponsoring concerts, films, lectures and youth meetings. Imprisoned by a wall that Israel is building around Bethlehem to isolate us from the rest of the world, we daily opened our art workshops for the artists to express themselves and continued teaching art courses for new artists, both young and old. Deafened by the noise of the Israeli fighter planes and helicopters, we filled the ICB halls with the sound of music, as children came for their daily lessons at the National Conservatory of Music.

Knowing that Israel is doing all it can to keep our people ignorant, we defiantly kept our Dar al-Kalima school running, believing that our children are our best hope for a bright future. Experiencing the wanton destruction of our compound in April of this year as well as the targeting of all Palestinian civil society institutions, we continued building our Cultural and Conference Center as well as our Wellness Center, thus providing work for more than one hundred families. Realizing that they want us to give up and to despair, we started new programs and projects, like the young Christian leadership-training program, mobilizing-volunteers training course, and a Media Center project. Most of all, knowing that all expressions of joy are made impossible, we planned the inauguration ceremony of our state-of-the-art al-Dar Cultural and Conference Center.

Yet, this curfew imposed ten days ago has halted most of the ICB's activities. To begin with, the Dar al-Kalima school has been closed for the past ten days, leaving 204 children locked up in their homes for all of this time. Unable to go to school or even get out of the house to play with their friends, the traumatization of our children is reaching new heights. The teachers and administration of the Dar al-Kalima school, who are prisoners in their homes as well, are communicating via telephone trying to come up with creative solutions to help the children learn while under curfew and to minimize the damage to the educational process.

The work on the construction sites, the Cultural and Conference Center as well as the Wellness Center, has stopped completely. As a result, 100 families are being deprived of their source of livelihood. The cessation of work on the Conference Center also means that we may have to delay our opening ceremony of this cultural institution, which is scheduled for December 19. Moreover, the silence in the art workshops and the National Conservatory of Music is deafening. Three concerts planned for the past week have been cancelled, and the Bright-Stars workshops, young leadership training and volunteer-courses have been postponed.

Additionally, a media consultation for foreign and Palestinian journalists, which the ICB organized to plan our latest media project, had to be moved in the last minute to Jerusalem, since the foreign journalists have arrived while Bethlehem was still under curfew. Such move meant that not all the Palestinian scheduled participants were able to attend. Finally, restriction on travel imposed on all of us has meant that Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, who was supposed to be traveling to Germany this week to talk about the work of the ICB and our situation in general, is locked up in his house, unable to go anywhere.

The above is just a taste of what a curfew is all about and what it means to our daily lives. With the possibility of having an extended period of curfews, especially now as we are approaching the end of the month of Ramadan and the beginning of the Christmas Season, we at the ICB continue to think and work on finding the best ways for fighting despair and giving a message of hope to our people. For, no matter how long the occupation continues to imprison our bodies, living with hope will not allow the forces of oppression to imprison our minds and souls.

http://www.annadwa.org/

December 2002