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Mother's Day Party and Fundraiser - May 15, 2004:
The Bethlehem Association and the Nativity Charitable Organization will be
hosting a Mother's day party and fundraiser to support family and relatives in
Bethlehem
[details] |
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Bethlehem Besieged :
Stories of Hope in Times
of Trouble Fortress Press will be
releasing the newest book by Dr. Rev Mitri Raheb in beginning June 2004. [more]
April 8, 2004
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California Christmas 2003 Fundraising Party: On December 13, 2003, the Nativity Charitable Foundation and the Bethlehem
Association hosted a Christmas Fundraising Party at the Grand Cafe Restaurant,
La Marida, California. More than 240 members and friends of the Association
attended the gathering. All funds raised was distributed to charitable
organizations that aid the needy and the poor in Bethlehem.
[more] |
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Denied entry to Israel and Palestine:
Mat Horton, a prominent member of the International
Solidarity Movement, who gave a speech at the 2003 Bethlehem Convention in San
Diego, was denied entry to Israel and Palestine last month. His plans
were to study the Arabic Language at the University of Birzeit, in an attempt
to build stronger ties with the Palestinians, and learn more about their
struggle for freedom. Mat is known for defending the plight of Palestinians in
the USA, and spreading awareness among Americans in regards to the question of
Palestine.
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Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
Principles
:
By Albert Hazboun.
This article intends to provide a quick overview of activities during this
pilgrimage. Although it will not neglect the religious and spiritual aspects,
it will cover in more details the effort to understand the issues that face
the Christian Community in the Holy Land and to provide support and
assistance to these “living stones” to help maintain a Christian presence in
the Holy Land.
[more]
March 29, 2004
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The Malice of Twisting Principles
:
By Carol Sansour - Bethlehem : With the extra judicial
assassination of the spiritual leader of Hamas, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, the
current Israeli government led by Ariel Sharon, not only halted the peace
process but it also sentenced it to death.
[more]
March 25, 2004
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The Wall in Bethlehem and the Westbank:
get a view of how the wall is affecting Bethlehem and the
Westbank. A map of the northern part of Bethlehem showing the wall path, photos of
confiscated areas, checkpoints, and closed shops.
[view article]
February 29, 2004 |
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Earthquake in Palestine:
On the morning of Wednesday
February 11, 2004, at approximately 10:15 AM, an earthquake measuring nearly
5.0 on the Richter scale hit parts of the West Bank and Palestine. There
were no reported casualties, except some minor indirect injuries and small
damage to some buildings. [read more]
February 15. 2004 |
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Wall divides neighborhood in Jerusalem:
the Wall splitting a neighborhood, separating Jerusalem from the West Bank,
and affecting a hospital for the elderly. An article by Sr. Marie Dominique
Croyal
Directress of the Home of Our Lady of
Sorrows [view article]
January 15, 2004 |
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Peace
and International Activism:
Actor and peace activist Richard Gere visits Bethlehem - By Carol
Sansour [read
more] |
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Scholarships
2003-2004:
Congratulations to the twenty six students who where
granted scholarships for the 2003-2004 academic year. The list of students and
photos can be found in the scholarship section. Scholarship
requirements, guidelines and an Application Form for 2004 have also been added,
scroll half way down scholarship section
then click on relevant links. |
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Christmas in Bethlehem - 2003:
A report on Christmas in Bethlehem this year, with photos. Despite the subdued
moods in Bethlehem, despite the roadblocks into the town, Christian
Palestinians insisted on celebrating Christmas.
[more] |
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The Wall: A very informative
article by Carol Sansour telling how the wall is affecting many of the
residents in Bethlehem. [more]
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New Jewish apartments at entrance of Bethlehem:
Catholic News Services : New Jewish apartments at the entrance to
Bethlehem; initial plans for the Jewish complex, located adjacent to Rachel's
Tomb, call for three apartments and a religious school in a building owned by
a Catholic family.[more
-
need to scroll down to article in page] |
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Jerusalem's foreign workers bring Christmas to Palestinian children:
Catholic News Services : Members of Jerusalem's network of foreign
residents are expanding a Christmas-season project that sends shoe boxes
filled with gifts to needy Palestinian children. [more
-
need to scroll down to article in page] |
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The Return to Uncertainty:
Diaries from Palestine : a article written by Paola Handal for the
Bethlehem Media Center
[view
article] |
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Bethlehem Media Net : The
Bethlehem Media Center launches Bethlehem Media Net Website :
its goal is to give the media
greater access to and a better understanding of that great majority of
seldom-heard Palestinians who want freedom and justice and seek a better
future through non-violent means.
[Visit the website] |
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The Bethlehem Association
Christmas Message: a message from the executive committee of the
BA to the members of our organization: aid sent to Bethlehem this Christmas;
new executive committee; and [more]
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Enjoying Olive Oil Missed by Settlers:
Fanatically spiteful
: A letter published in the Philadelphia Inquirer Sunday Nov. 30 by Joan
Hazbun [more] (December
5, 2003) |
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The 2004 Palestinian Art Wall Calendar: produced in Canada in cooperation with the League of
Palestinian Artists in Ramallah and Palestinian artists worldwide. A
percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the League of Palestinian
Artists. The calendar features 12 paintings from Palestinian artists, they are
mostly abstract and very colorful paintings. It features large squares for
each day to allow entering appointment reminders. It is a great idea for a
holiday gift ! for more details visit the website
http://www.resistanceart.com
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Letters from Afif Safieh : Three letters from Afif Safieh to President
Bush, VP Cheney, and P.M Tony Blair. Mr. Safieh is the Palestinian General
Delegate to the United Kingdom & to The Holy See
[view
letters]
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Road Blocks :
Stories from Bethlehem, how Israeli law is
making life unbearable for Palestinians
[more] |
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AEI Statement:
The Arab Educational Institute in
Bethlehem (an affiliated section of Pax Christi International) organizes
several cultural and educational courses and activities for the three
Palestinian regions: Bethlehem, Hebron and Ramallah, aimed at deepening and
strengthening the Christian and Muslim relations.
[more] |
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California Christmas Party and Fundraiser - December 13th 2003:
The Bethlehem Association and the Nativity Charitable Organization will be
hosting a Christmas party and fundraiser to support family and relatives in
Bethlehem
[details] |
|
Bethlehem Photos :
Emily Kattan, a member of our association, has recently
traveled to Palestine and is presently working at the Bethlehem Peace Center.
Here are some beautiful photos the Emily took of the old town of Bethlehem
[more]
(October 2003) |
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The Bethlehem Academy of Music :
Despite the current situation in the Westbank,
the Bethlehem Academy of Music (founded in 1996) continues to rejuvenate a
rich Palestinian culture that dates back to the early 20th century.
[more] |
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Palestinian Artist exhibition:
Palestinian Artist and Bethlehem Association member Emily Jacir shows her
artwork at the Tophane-i Amire cultural centre in Istanbul.
[more]
(September 2003) |
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Municipal Council of Bethlehem:
The Municipal Council of Bethlehem
issues a statement condemning the Israeli decision to Expel Arafat.
[more]
(September 2003) |
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UN International Day for Peace:
The AEI, WIAM Center, and other institutions in Bethlehem issue
a statement on the occasion of the UN International Day for Peace
[more]
(September 2003) |
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Patriarch Michelle Sabbah in Bethlehem:
HB Patriarch Sabbah gives a speech
at Turath Center in Bethlehem:
[more]
(September 2003) |
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Appeal from the Mayor of Bethlehem:
Mayor Hanna Nasser Letter of appeal to stop the construction of the wall that
will confiscate parts of Bethlehem.
[more]
(August 2003) |
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The Wall of Shame : In a visit to
Palestine, General Delegate to the UK & to the Holy See Mr. Afif Safieh
describes the Wall and how it affects the lives of Palestinians
[more]
(August 2003)
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Father Amjad Sabbara : Parish Priest
of St Catherine Church in Bethlehem visits California:
[more]
(August 2003) |
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Changing Minds, One Laugh at a time :
The story of two Arab American Standup
Comedians, by Sanielle Handal [more]
(August 2003) |
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Bethlehem Peace Center Press Release :
SWEDISH CULTURAL CONSULTANTS DEPORTED
FROM ISRAEL.
On Thursday, 21 August 2003,
nine Swedish consultants representing various cultural fields and cultural
centers, as well the Swedish international development cooperation agency (Sida),
landed at Ben Gurion airport to begin their one-week visit to Palestine and,
in particular, Bethlehem at the invitation of the Bethlehem Peace Center (BPC).
[
more..]
(August 2003) |
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Easter Messages from the Holy Land:
Easter message from HB Patriarch Michel Sabbah, and other letters from
Bethlehem and the Holy Land -
click here to view
(April 20, 2003) |
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Meeting with Secretary Colin Powell:
President Edward Hazbun
participated in meetings with Assistant Secretary of State for M.E.affairs,
Mr. William Burns, on October 1, 2001 and together with board member Robert
Dabdoub, met again with Mr. Burns on March 8, 2002. This was followed by a
meeting with Secretary Colin Powell on April 3, 2002. Our concerns about the
disastrous situation in Palestine and in Bethlehem were presented forcefully
and repeatedly to the State Department.
|
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Economic Damage to Bethlehem District:
See the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce cost estimate of physical and economic
damage after Israeli invasion. Table provides quick summary of
damages.
[more]
|
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Denial: Poem on the aftermath
of the September 11th Tragedy.
[more]
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Memorial Mass for Christine Sa'adeh in Montreal Canada
:
more
(April 9, 2003)
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Christine Sa'adeh, 10 year old, shot dead by Israeli snipers:
On the way to a pharmacy near the Shepard's Hotel, George Sa'adeh's car was hit
by random Israeli fire. His wife and 2 daughters were riding with him in the
car. George was hit in the abdomen, and is presently in the ITU in a Jerusalem
Hospital. His 10 year old daughter, Christine, was struck with a bullet in the
head, and died instantly. His other daughter, Marianne, 14 years old, was hit in
the leg. (click
for more details)
(March 25, 2003)
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The "Apartheid Wall" & Land Confiscation in Bethlehem
: The Israeli authorities have served
notice on several Bethlehem residents including the Mayor that they are
confiscating their lands and homes to build an Apartheid Wall through the
northern sector of Bethlehem.
[New Land
Confiscations]
(February, 2003)
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Letters and Articles in the press :
See
recent letters to the press from Association members, responses and other
articles.
[more]
(January, 2003)
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Bethlehem University Ordeal: "What
is being done to the people and to Bethlehem itself--once a revered city of
Christendom now reduced to a war-torn, dirty, occupied military
playground—is reprehensible, outrageous, unjustified"
[Appeal from Bethlehem University]
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Christmas in Bethlehem Was
Not The Same This Year:
By Paola Handal: Christmas in Bethlehem was not the same this year.
There were fewer Christmas trees, there were no street decorations and
stores were empty. Curfews had overshadowed the spirit of Christmas in
Bethlehem and many could not afford a Christmas let alone find the energy
and the feeling to celebrate.
[More & Photos of Christmas in Bethlehem]
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12/25/02: Nadir Rahil from Bethlehem to NPR:
In an interview with National Public Radio, Nadir Rahil from Bethlehem gives
his views on Christmas in Bethlehem: "At a time when Christians around the
world celebrate the birth of Christ, we here in Bethlehem can only pray for
peace. I am a Christian Palestinian. I live with my wife and two children,
less than a mile from the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem. ...
[more]
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12/17/02: Bethlehem's Silent Night:
Silent streets, except for the sound of the Israeli tanks marching through
the town, and army Jeeps reminding people of the curfew everyday over the
loudspeaker, is the Silent Night in Bethlehem. Israel has decided to remain
in the town for Christmas. Christmas celebrations are therefore cancelled in
Bethlehem this year, again..
[more]
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12/19/02: Bethlehem Lives, By George Ghattas - HCEF
It is almost a month now...On November 22nd they declared Bethlehem a
military closed area. The curfew was imposed on more than 140,000
inhabitants for reason that are still vague up to this very moment. For 28
days our lives have been switched off ...
[more]
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Scholarship Awards for 2002 and 2003:
Click List of Awards and Photos.
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Economic Damage to Bethlehem District:
See the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce cost estimate of physical and economic
damage after Israeli invasion. Table provides quick summary of
damages.
[more]
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See what the Association is doing to help.
Go to
Appeal for Bethlehem.
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