Report on Trip To Bethlehem:
By Susan Schwartz. Interview with Joseph Dibsy
TMO | October 18, 2007

The economic deprivation of the residents of Palestine under Israeli purview - now exacerbated by the Wall - is often not fully dealt with by a media that usually sides with Israel. Nothing brings the facts of this suffering home like the testimony of a person who has been a visitor to the Holy Land.

Joe Dibsy was born in Bethlehem, Palestine and now is a resident of Anaheim, Ca. He is active in community organizations, the Bethlehem Association and the Southern California chapter of the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. The Bethlehem Association like its sister groups, the Birzeit Society and the Ramallah Association, is composed of people who either were born in that namesake city in Palestine or who can trace ancestral ties there. The groups raise funds for the people of their home town in Palestine.

This summer the annual convention of the Bethlehem Association was held in Bethlehem, Palestine. The members felt that it was important to get in touch with their roots and to see first hand how fared the recipients of their charity.
Mr. Dibsy was the Convention Chair  This trip to Bethlehem, was led by the newly elected  Executive Committee: President, Mrs. Muna Handal-Dayeh;Vice President, William Shahin; Treasurer, Yvonne Neno-Ulrich and Convention Chair, Joseph Dibsy. In addition to two Board Members and many Association members.

While in Bethlehem the group met stand up comedian Maysoon Zaydi. Ms Zaydi will be familiar to readers of The Muslim Observer because of her appearances in Allah made me funny. Her charity, Maysoon’s kids” received a donation of $1100 from the group.
Mr. Dibsy was kind enough to grant The Muslim Observer an interview.

There were 85 travelers in Mr. Dibsy’s group, 80 from the United States and 5 from South America. They visited Bethlehem University where the Bethlehem Association has a continuing Family Scholarship Fund that has supported over 200 students through the years. This year they supported 25 students eight of whom who graduated in June. The Bethlehem Association pays the full tuition costs as long as the students maintain a B or higher grade average. The students were all top performers in high school. While there, the University’s Public Relations Director showed them CDs of the students’ activities. Many graduates go abroad as jobs are few in Bethlehem. Only 30% of the residents are employed: the remainder must exist on support from various NGO's. Bethlehem is isolated due to the 25 ft high concrete apartheid Wall the Israelis have erected deep into Palestinian territory in defiance to international law.  Many residents worked in Jerusalem and many future graduates would seek work there. Due to the presence of the Wall, this is no longer feasible. No one can leave the walled area without an Israeli military permit which is rarely granted.

Joe Dibsy and his group also visited Beit Jala Rehabilitation Center, a state of the art facility built by the Swedish government to help injured Palestinians. This Center is also one of the charities that the Bethlehem Association supports. He also, with his group, visited Dihesha Refugee Camp.

Mr. Dibsy also faulted the Israelis for starngling the tourist industry that at one time flourished in Bethlehem. First, the Israelis control the number of tourists allowed into Bethlehem. Second, they discourage tourists who land in Tel Aviv and state their intention to visit Bethlehem. They will tell the would be visitors that Bethlehem is not safe. Mr. Dibsy said that neither he nor any of his companions felt in any danger during their visit.

TMO: Can you tell us of the conditions in Dihesha Refugee Camp:
Joe Dibsy: I went to the Dihesha Refugee Camp, but I did not meet with any of the families because I saw so many refugees in the streets and in shops. My relative who lives in Bethlehem drove us there to a place across the street from the camp. He told me that he comes here to buy sweets from this shop - that they make the best Kinafe (cheesecake) around.

TMO: Did you have an opportunity to interact with young children? If so, how would you describe their spirit?
Joe Dibsy: When they are out of school they are roaming the streets looking for strangers or tourists to beg money. Of course our group helped quite a few.
 
TMO: How can our readers help the people of Bethlehem?
Joe Dibsy: Readers who wish to help may make a donation to: The Bethlehem Association, 12935 Nelson Street, Garden Grove, CA. 92840, or to the main office: The Bethlehem Association, P.O.Box 1111, Media, PA 19063. One can get detailed information and donate on our website: www.bethlehemassoc.org

The Bethlehem Association was founded in 1985 by Dr. Edward Hazbun and was registered in Pennsylvania as a non profit organization. At present there are four chapters in the United States; Southern California, Pennsylvania, San Francisco and New Jersey.

Among the other charities supported by the Bethlehem Association are: The Antonian Charitable Society of Bethlehem (widows and orphans); the Bethlehem Arab Women’s Union; the Beit Sahour Arab Women’s Union; three orthodox societies (for the elderly), and The Islamic Charitable Society of Bethlehem.

 
An Emotional and Joyous Reunion.
by Nina Bazouzi-Cullers - Board Member

The Pilgrimage/Reunion was an emotional as well as a joyous experience for me as well as most of the participants in our group.
It was emotional in the sense that people felt overwhelmed by the hospitality and good will that was extended to us by the charitable
organizations, the leaders of the community as well as the local governing bodies in the town. I witnessed more hugs and the flow of 
tears from our group than I imagined. It seemed like everyone we encountered was a family member. The warmth and genuine love
bestowed on us was unbelievable, as if we were brothers and sisters coming from abroad to rescue them.
 
It was also a joyous trip. Ibrahim Dayeh and George Hihi entertained us with their voices raised in songs or hymns as the occasion
demanded. We enjoyed the camaraderie established in the group and with the Bethlehemites who joined us. The tours and outings
were great and reminded us how beautiful our country is. As for the food, it was superb and could not be duplicated anywhere else.
because the produce that comes out of our soil is more flavorful than anywhere else. And as usual we had parties and Arak and fun.
 
Besides what we saw when we visited the charitable organizations, which impressed us by the good they do in the community and
how faithful economical and creative they are with the little money they get, I was personally impressed with the leaders and their 
devotion to their community. 
 
I would like to mention three outstanding ladies who left a lasting impression on me. Christy Dabdoub, who heads the Centre for
Cultural Heritage Preservaton is a charming woman who is dedicated to the cause of preserving the unique architectural buildings
in Bethlehem. She explained the tedious work that her office does under extreme stress due to continuous red tape and lack of funds. 
Anyone in that position, I thought, would give up and seek employment elsewhere where one could secure a good paying job and a
better way of living, but she persists with a strong zealot attitude to fight for this very important cause that her centre supports.
 
The other lady is Maha Saca who with her family owns and operates the Palistinian Heritage Centre. Maha works tirelessly to direct
the activities of the centre, which includes a museum full of Palestinian embroidered items, old and new. The embroidery  provides
jobs for many women who need the income to feed their families. In the centre also, Maha and her family provide entertainment that
features various cultural activities, like village music and folk dancing.
 
Last but not least I want to exhalt a lady who has been my mentor ever since I knew her when I lived in Bethlehenm.
Lady Julia Dabdoub. Julia is a charismatic woman who is devoted to Bethlehem and has worked in many capacities to enhance
the image of women in the town. She is the president of The Arab Women Union in Bethlehem. In that role she does more than
the call of duty, seeing to it that every aspect of the running of even the mundane activities in the club passes her able scrutiny.
She is a woman of integrity who has sat with government heads and celebrities and kept her cool, as well as with the lowly workers,
and given them equal respect. Every one who knows Julia respects her. Julia is a foresighted able woman. It is Julia along with other
dedicated members of the Arab Women Union who started the "Our Bethlehem House'. Under her leadership this famous heritage
museum thrived and expanded. It is a tourist attraction, a must for any one who visits Bethlehem.
 
Lately Julia, with the aid from Sida, has built a museum opposite Jacir Palace Hotel. This museum currently houses old photographs
of Bethlehemites. She hopes to turn this place into a Library when the funds become available. Julia, may God bless and extend her
life, will leave a legacy that is impressive. Along with the other dedicated men and women in our beloved town I want to commend 
them and urge anyone who visits Bethlehem to seek them and be inspired by their devotion.
 
I did not say much about our visit to the Bethlehem University. Others had reported about that. But as a group we were impressed
by the courage and dedication of all who work at the University. Bethlehem is blessed by having good leaders and devoted workers. 
 
.

Nativity Square.