Dear Friends,
It is Christmas again . Time goes so fast.Last year was full of challenges for our family.
Benaz has been busy with her studies and career. She started studying for her MA degree at Birziet University, her grades were excellent. She worked very hard to get such grades. As for work, she managed to do work under very difficult circumstances. The Institute of Modern Media where she works in Ramallah, was occupied by Israeli soldiers for 18 days. Her office was destroyed and most of her personal belongings were stolen. She says one of the most valuable things she lost was a walkman I bough for her.
One of the saddest things was this:
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Photos of Benaz and r Tamar, slashed by invading Israeli soldiers during Israel's March/April 2002 invasion of Ramallah ("Operation Defensive Shield'). People around the world remain unaware that many of the Palestinian West Bank cities remain under direct occupation and curfew, in addition to the unbroken siege on the towns. |
Benaz was also able to travel to the US twice. The first trip was for two weeks to film a documentary about Muslims and Arabs in the US. The second trip was on a fellowship to the School of Journalism at Missouri University. This was the other transition in the family as Tamar and I joined Benaz in the US, where we are living now until June 2003.Last year was very difficult for us, and for all those living under Israeli occupation. We experienced a number of Israeli incursions.Tamar now goes to school in the US, very happy to be away from occupation, but misses her fiends and extended family. She made few new friends here from different countries; the US, Mexico, Africa, India, China, Thailand, Korea, Kuwait, Egypt, Pakistan and Syria.As for me, I am now working as a freelance journalist in Columbia, MO and most of you know what I am up to.This Christmas is different for me; it is the first since 1991 when I am not in Bethlehem. I have mixed feelings about it. I am very sad that I am far away; Bethlehem has been always on the agenda of my work. Happy because I want to keep the nice memories about Bethlehem that I witnessed during the past years. One of the most dramatic Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem was in 1995 when the Israeli occupation withdrew from the city and the Palestinian National Authority took over. A scene I will never forget when Christians and Moslems were celebrating together. These celebrations went on and on. Today Bethlehem is again under Israeli occupation and I do not want to see occupation again.
The two photos bellow explain:
An Israeli armored personnel carrier takes position in front of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem . REUTERS/Magnus Johansson
A Palestinian dressed as Santa Claus poses for pictures with children at Manger Square, where the Church of the Nativity, background, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ is located, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Friday Dec. 20, 2002. With less than a week before Christmas the mood in the biblical city is gloomy following more than two of years of continued violence between Israel and the Palestinians. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Hoping that the next year will be a a year of peace.
Peace be upon all.