After a lovely vacation at home, I am now back in Bethlehem and with a new 3 month visa! My flights went fine, and security in the airport did too, thus allowing me to return to Bethlehem for another 3 months. As many of you may know, I am unable to get a volunteer or work visa for my work in Bethlehem. Why? Because I work in the West Bank, which is in the Palestinian territories, and a place the Israeli authorities do not want many internationals working, they will not give out visas to most West Bank organizations. The only way to receive a volunteer visa or work visa is if you work for a large and well-recognized organization, such as the United Nations or a church. Even when these visas are received, they often have limits. A volunteer visa can only be renewed for up to 2 years and a work visa can usually only be renewed for 5 years. This means, many international organizations and Palestinian organizations who rely on international workers suffer from a high rate of turnover. This increased for the organizations that cannot give their workers any type of visa, which means their workers must stay in the country with tourist visas.
When landing at ben Gurion airport, the standard tourist visa is 3 months. So for me, like many others, I must leave the country every three months in order to gain a new tourist visa upon my return. At anytime, however, the person in the passport line can refuse to give you a 3 month visa, either giving you a 1 month visa, a 2 week visa, or turning you around at the border and refusing your entry into Israel. It becomes increasingly difficult to obtain tourist visas the longer you have been in the country, and the more previous Israeli stamps you have. At no time can you let on that you work in the West Bank, or the likelihood that you will not receive a visa, increases to almost 100%.
You can then imagine how happy I was to receive another 3 month visa without any problems at the airport! Others, recently, have not been so lucky. My friend Faith Rowold and her boyfriend Jared Malsin were both denied entry into the State of Israel, which thus barred them from returning to their work lives in Bethlehem. I first met Faith last year in February, soon after I had arrived in Jerusalem for the first time. When I moved to Bethlehem, she connected me with her sister Katie, who was moving to Bethlehem and needed a roommate. Katie and I and are friend Sara now share a flat in Bethlehem.
Faith has been volunteering for the Luthern Church, working with the International Center of Bethlehem, a cultural and arts center, which provides many Palestinians in Bethlehem opportunities to learn. In the past few months, her volunteer visa expired, and since she had been here for 2 years, she could not renew it again. She decided to stay for another 6 months to try and wrap her work up before she left. In order to stay this extra time, she had to resort to 3 month tourist visas. Last week, when she tried to come into Israel with her boyfriend, after a vacation in Prague, she was denied re-entry for 3 months. She was not even given a week to pack up her things and say goodbye. After being in a detention cell in the airport for almost 2 days, she was deported to Prague. Her boyfriend, the editor for the English edition of Ma'an, one of the top Palestinian newspapers, was also denied entry. He has not yet been deported, but still awaits a hearing to see whether he will be able to come back and continue his journalism work.
Please read the following articles, as this story has been covered on BBC and the New York Times, as well as Ma'an News.
Ma'an Article
New York Times Article
BBC Article
Report from the Lutheran Church
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
Remembering Gaza One Year after Operation Cast Lead
One year ago, on December 27th, 2008, Israel began its bombardment on the Gaza Strip in what became known as Operation Cast Lead. The fighting which ended on January 18, 2009 killed 1,385 Palestinians, of which 762 did not take part in any of the hostilities. 13 Israelis died during the offensive, 9 soldiers within Gaza and 4 by Qassam rockets shot by Hamas from the Gaza strip (btselem.org). The fighting also resulted in severe damage to buildings, agricultural land, electricity, and water resources. Even one year after the fighting, much of the damage has still not been fixed due to the continuing siege by Israel on the Gaza strip. Buildings still lie in shambles as the Israeli authorities will not allow concrete and other building supplies through the borders in order to rebuild. Water resources are extremely limited as they have been contaminated by sewage as a result of sanitation infrastructure being destroyed. It is increasingly difficult for Palestinians to gain permits to exist Gaza, leaving 1.5 million people confined to a 146 square mile area. The economy has been destroyed as there is little capability to export the goods manufactured by farmers and fisherman must stay within 6 km of the shore of the Mediterranean Sea or they will be shot at by Israeli navy vessels.
As B'tselem (an Israeli Human Rights organization) states, the reason given by the Israeli government for the siege on Gaza is for security. B'Tselem argues, however, that the siege does the exact opposite in creating further security threats for Israel. The limitation on goods allowed in and out of the Gaza strip, has created an atmosphere in which the smuggling tunnels run by Hamas are necessary and are a growing business. Necessary goods are smuggled through the tunnels and increases support for Hamas in the Gaza Strip. It is necessary for Human rights in the Palestinian territories to end the siege and also for the security of the Israeli public.
Many people around the world are remembering Gaza at this time of the one year anniversary of Operation Cast Lead with vigils, movies, public events, and peace marches. The Gaza Freedom March took place today. Over 1300 people from 43 different countries gathered in a non-violent, mass march to the Israeli border to protest the blockade on Gaza. Read more HERE.
Help remember Gaza at the beginning of this New Year by reading more on B'Tselem's website on Operation Cast Lead and the Siege on Gaza.
You can also take ACTION by sending a letter written by Churches for Middle East Peace to your representative urging them to sign the McDermott-Ellison Letter about Gaza to President Obama. Click HERE.
As B'tselem (an Israeli Human Rights organization) states, the reason given by the Israeli government for the siege on Gaza is for security. B'Tselem argues, however, that the siege does the exact opposite in creating further security threats for Israel. The limitation on goods allowed in and out of the Gaza strip, has created an atmosphere in which the smuggling tunnels run by Hamas are necessary and are a growing business. Necessary goods are smuggled through the tunnels and increases support for Hamas in the Gaza Strip. It is necessary for Human rights in the Palestinian territories to end the siege and also for the security of the Israeli public.
Many people around the world are remembering Gaza at this time of the one year anniversary of Operation Cast Lead with vigils, movies, public events, and peace marches. The Gaza Freedom March took place today. Over 1300 people from 43 different countries gathered in a non-violent, mass march to the Israeli border to protest the blockade on Gaza. Read more HERE.
Help remember Gaza at the beginning of this New Year by reading more on B'Tselem's website on Operation Cast Lead and the Siege on Gaza.
You can also take ACTION by sending a letter written by Churches for Middle East Peace to your representative urging them to sign the McDermott-Ellison Letter about Gaza to President Obama. Click HERE.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Images of Christmas
This year I was able to enjoy Christmas in Bethlehem with my two friends Aimee and Elise from College. It was great to have Aimee and Elise here and show them a little bit of my life. Enjoy the pictures from the past week of fun!
P.S. Although I didn't get to see my family for Bethlehem, I will be leaving in a few hours to visit them in Florida and then make my way up to Minnesota. If you are in either of those places, I hope to see you!
My friend Majdi, was our tour guide in Hebron. Here Aimee is talking with him at the Ibrahimi Mosque.
Leather sandals, popularly known as "Jesus Sandal" are made at the factory in Hebron.
Typical pottery that can be found in tourist shops all over Israel is handmade. Here we watch the talented artists.
Eating Hummus at Afteem's Restaurant. The best place in town!
My friend Alaa gave us a tour around Jerusalem. Here we are taking a rest at the Church of All Nations on the Mount of Olives.
Many of us gather after church service on Christmas Eve to celebrate with a nice dinner at the Tent Restaurant in Beit Sahour. Many families were there celebrating that night.
People gather in Manger Square, outside of the Church of the Nativity, for concerts and celebration on Christmas Eve.
On the last day, Aimme, Elise, Sara (my roommate) and I hiked for a couple hours in the Oasis of En Gedi.
Aimee and Elise covered with skin cleansing mud from the Dead Sea.
P.S. Although I didn't get to see my family for Bethlehem, I will be leaving in a few hours to visit them in Florida and then make my way up to Minnesota. If you are in either of those places, I hope to see you!
My friend Majdi, was our tour guide in Hebron. Here Aimee is talking with him at the Ibrahimi Mosque.
Leather sandals, popularly known as "Jesus Sandal" are made at the factory in Hebron.
Typical pottery that can be found in tourist shops all over Israel is handmade. Here we watch the talented artists.
Eating Hummus at Afteem's Restaurant. The best place in town!
My friend Alaa gave us a tour around Jerusalem. Here we are taking a rest at the Church of All Nations on the Mount of Olives.
Many of us gather after church service on Christmas Eve to celebrate with a nice dinner at the Tent Restaurant in Beit Sahour. Many families were there celebrating that night.
People gather in Manger Square, outside of the Church of the Nativity, for concerts and celebration on Christmas Eve.
On the last day, Aimme, Elise, Sara (my roommate) and I hiked for a couple hours in the Oasis of En Gedi.
Aimee and Elise covered with skin cleansing mud from the Dead Sea.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Kairos Palestine Document
The Kairos Palestine Document, is a document modeled after the Kairos document launched by Christian leaders in South Africa in 1985. In South Africa, the Kairos Document was used to unite people in the struggle against apartheid, calling apartheid a sin, and appealing to Christians around the world to join with their brothers and sisters in South Africa to work to end the sin of apartheid in South Africa.
In the same spirit, the Kairos Palestine Document was launched by Palestinian Christian leaders last Friday, December 11. This document, which may be better read as a letter, labels the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land as a sin, because it distorts the divine image of God present in all people: "We also declare that the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land is a sin against God and humanity because it deprives the Palestinians of their basic human rights, bestowed by God. It distorts the image of God in the Israeli who h as become an occupier just as it distorts this image in the palestinian living under occupation."
With the Kairos Palestine Document, Palestinian Christians send "a word of faith, hope, and love" to Palestinians, Israelis, Christians, Muslims and Jews of the local community and the international community, and to the Church worldwide
The Kairos Palestine Document is a significant step towards uniting the Christian community. In a land that is so divided, even within the Palestinian people, politically, religiously, and even denominationally, this letter brings together Christian leaders of all denominations as an attempt to create unity within the Palestinian people from which they can effectively resist the Israeli occupation non-violently.
The Kairos Palestine Document is a call to the Church around the world. We as a church are required to support our brothers and sisters in Christ no matter where they are in the world. These Palestinian Christian leaders call the churches around the world to regain the mission of the church, which is to pray and serve in the spirit of Jesus, who called us to love others as he loved us, thus realizing their human dignity and fighting against injustice which destroys this dignity. They thank churches around the world who have shown persistent support and ask churches who have not: "to revisit fundamentalist theological positions that support certain unjust political options with regard to the Palestinian people. It is a call to stand alongside the oppressed and preserve the word of God as good news for all rather than to turn it into a weapon with which to slay the oppressed. The word of God is a word of love for all His creation."
The Kairos Palestine Document also contains poignant words to Palestinians and Israelis and I encourage you to read the full version found HERE.
I myself have found myself worn out and tired within the past few weeks, because of the persistence of the conflict here. Reading these words, which are meant to create unity among Palestinian Christians, gives me hope that further unity will come and peace which seems impossible at times will one day prevail.
For more information, please go to the Kairos Palestine Document Website or read this article on the International Solidarity Movement Website.
In the same spirit, the Kairos Palestine Document was launched by Palestinian Christian leaders last Friday, December 11. This document, which may be better read as a letter, labels the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land as a sin, because it distorts the divine image of God present in all people: "We also declare that the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land is a sin against God and humanity because it deprives the Palestinians of their basic human rights, bestowed by God. It distorts the image of God in the Israeli who h as become an occupier just as it distorts this image in the palestinian living under occupation."
With the Kairos Palestine Document, Palestinian Christians send "a word of faith, hope, and love" to Palestinians, Israelis, Christians, Muslims and Jews of the local community and the international community, and to the Church worldwide
The Kairos Palestine Document is a significant step towards uniting the Christian community. In a land that is so divided, even within the Palestinian people, politically, religiously, and even denominationally, this letter brings together Christian leaders of all denominations as an attempt to create unity within the Palestinian people from which they can effectively resist the Israeli occupation non-violently.
The Kairos Palestine Document is a call to the Church around the world. We as a church are required to support our brothers and sisters in Christ no matter where they are in the world. These Palestinian Christian leaders call the churches around the world to regain the mission of the church, which is to pray and serve in the spirit of Jesus, who called us to love others as he loved us, thus realizing their human dignity and fighting against injustice which destroys this dignity. They thank churches around the world who have shown persistent support and ask churches who have not: "to revisit fundamentalist theological positions that support certain unjust political options with regard to the Palestinian people. It is a call to stand alongside the oppressed and preserve the word of God as good news for all rather than to turn it into a weapon with which to slay the oppressed. The word of God is a word of love for all His creation."
The Kairos Palestine Document also contains poignant words to Palestinians and Israelis and I encourage you to read the full version found HERE.
I myself have found myself worn out and tired within the past few weeks, because of the persistence of the conflict here. Reading these words, which are meant to create unity among Palestinian Christians, gives me hope that further unity will come and peace which seems impossible at times will one day prevail.
For more information, please go to the Kairos Palestine Document Website or read this article on the International Solidarity Movement Website.
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