wfn.org | Methodist Missionary Documents Israeli Shelling of Christian Town

[JerusalemRelOrgs@aol.com]

Contact:  George Awad, 
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jerusalem
Telephone: (972-2) 627-6111
Email: ga_elcj@netvision.il
Website: www.HolyLand-Lutherans.org

or
Rev. Sandra Olewine
P.O. Box 19447
Jerusalem 91193
Telephone (972-2) 582.8149
Email: solewine@compuserve.com

(For an earlier story, see "Patriarch Begs: Destroy Churches Not Homes," 
posted yesterday.)

    JERUSALEM,  February 27---The Rev. Sandra Olewine, a United Methodist 
mission representative living in Jersualem, has reported on another Israeli 
military shelling of the largely Christian Palestinian community of 
Bethlehem, and its suburbs of Beit Sahour (a town nominated for the Nobel 
Peace Prize for its non-violent resistance during the first intifada some 
years ago) and Beit Jala. 

    Ms. Olewine wonders, given the fact that the international community 
seems to take little notice of the apparently unprovoked atrocity, if it is 
part of a deliberate plan by Israel to continue the cleansing of the land of 
people so that the assertion of some Zionists in the 1940s will one day, by 
force, come true: "a land without a people" (Palestinians) for a people 
(Jewish immigrants) without a land."

    The Rev. Sandra Olewine's report follows:

    For a third night in a row [February 23], Israeli tanks shelled areas of 
Beit Jala.  

    [On Tuesday February 21], around 9 p.m., without any warning, an 
explosion rocked our area as the first tank shot with no warning.  For about 
25 minutes, shell after shell hit the town.  

    The area below St. Nicholas Church repeatedly came under fire.  At  least 
four more homes have been severly damaged and most others in the area have 
sustained at least partial damage.

    Last night [February 23],  though, the tragedy was that Osama al 
Masalmeh, 18 years old, was killed when his home was hit with a rocket. 
Rescue workers were not able to reach him until around 1 a.m. this morning.  
Twenty other people were wounded in last night's attack.

    Family after family are packing their bags today and leaving Beit Jala,
moving away from the firing line.  No home seems safe.  Osama thought there 
was no danger as a row of houses were between his and the tanks. But tank 
pointing from another direction fired the shell that destroyed the
home and took Osama's life.  

    There can be no justification of this on-going use of heavy artillery  
against Palestinian civilian populations.  The size of shells has definitely  
seemed to increase, as once again,  people living in Jerusalem could hear  
the explosions.   

    With families fleeing to protect their loved ones, I find it hard not to  
wonder if this isn't the plan.  With families gone, the shells can fall,  
destoying homes with 'little' human loss.  

    The world certainly doesn't seem  to be concerned with this senseless 
destruction.  So, I have to ask, "will  Beit Jala join the list of over 400 
Palestinian villages which have been destroyed over the last 52
years?"

    Will we one day say, "If we had only  known...."?  People will not be 
able to return, others will try to immigrate.  This primarily Christian 
village will be emptied of its sons and daughters if  something doesn't 
change soon.

    We're shifting our schedules around to try to get home before night 
falls.   One never knows - maybe tonight will be the fourth night.

    Sincerely, Sandra 
    Rev. Sandra Olewine, United Methodist Liaison, Jerusalem