Winding Down

Last night we spent the night with the family of the Atta Jabber who reside outside the city of Hebron. Their family has farmed the land for approx. 300 years, but as with many of the others we have visited with, is being threatened by Jewish settlements being built all around them. One of the common themes is that those who reside closest to the settlements seem to suffer most of the abuse. Atta shared many horrendous stories as well as some video tape and pictures of incidents that happened in the past. Two of his homes demolished by the Israeli government and a beating by Israeli soldiers that left him so severely injured that after serving 12 days in prison, a doctor ordered that he be taken to a hospital because he was near death. Atta is a man in his mid 40's with three young children who looks to be in his 60's or even 70's. The many years of abuse, threats, and violence have taken their toll on him and his family. Once again, it was Atta and his family's gracious hospitality, their desire to share their stories to get the word out what it is really like to live in the West Bank, their strong determination to hold on to their land, and to try and resist non-violently which stood out. None of them deny or approve of the violent means that some of the Palestinian terrorist organizations have taken in the past, but that does not seem to be where most of the Palestinians are at.

While trying as hard as possible to remain objective, it is hard to imagine what would justify such abuse, harassment, destruction and violence. For the Palestinians they seem to be up against so much: the Israeli government, the settlers, and a huge army that is supposed to be neutral but is clearly on the side of the Israeli settlers. Tomorrow we get a chance to sit down with an Israeli settler and hear their side of the story.

So much hatred that has built up between the two sides, especially over the past 50 years, yet many, middle age and up, recall a day when the Palestinians and Israeli Jews co-existed peacefully in the region. Seems so far from that today.

Tomorrow we return to Jerusalem for our last night on the delegation. For me it is off to the Sea of Galilee before returning home late Tuesday night, early Wednesday morning. Perhaps the greatest thing I have learned on this trip is just how much we in America have to be thankful for. The ability to live in peace just about all the time. Something not to be taken lightly. And perhaps peace is like all the other gifts God has given us, "for those who have been given much, much is expected."

Sharing the Peace of Christ in our community and around the world,
Dick

Saturday, July 31, 11:35 a.m. Hebron time