O Jailed Town of Bethlehem

[Comadreja]

O Jailed Town of Bethlehem
A network of trenches, barbed-wire fences, walls, and military
checkpoints is closing off the holy city of Bethlehem. The siege is becoming
harsher every day. "It is choking the Christian community," says the Rev.
Alex Awad, dean of students at Bethlehem Bible College. "There is utter
depression here..."
Divided by Fear
The Israeli plan is to build 30 miles of fences and walls around Bethlehem, and to post red signs that warn, in three languages: "MORTAL DANGER—MILITARY ZONE. Any person who passes or damages the fence ENDANGERS HIS LIFE."

"There will be just to the east a small opening. They are working day and night, 22 hours a day," Raheb says. About ten miles of the barrier are already complete, and military outposts and Jewish settlements control other normal entry points.

The entire community is suffering from unprecedented Israeli security restrictions that have become a permanent part of daily life, but the outside world is in danger of losing access to something precious, too, Awad says. Even what was once a ten-minute drive from Jerusalem can now be a fruitless ordeal for pilgrims, clergy, and others who must also wait in line at checkpoints, where entry is sometimes refused. "It's like coming to register for college in a jail," Awad says of prospective students.

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http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/005/12.54.html



Confessions of an Actress:

"It is no longer my country"

"For me, this business called the state of Israel is
finished...I can't bear to see it anymore, the
injustice that is done to the Arabs, to the Beduins.
All kinds of scum coming from America and as soon as
they get off the plane taking over lands in the
territories and claiming it for their own...I can't do
anything to change it. I can only go away and let the
whole lot go to hell without me." Israeli actress (and
household name) Rivka Mitchell, quoted in Israeli
peace movement periodical, "The Other Israel", August
1998.

[madrchsod]

1. not a word from the christian churches

not one word...what would christ think? could it be the same people who nailed him to the cross a couple thousand years ago????