April 9, 2002

Mar Elias School and College educates thousands of Arab Israelis.

The Israelis pulled out of Tulkarem and Qalqilya this morning as a gesture of "good will" - meanwhile they moved into a new village near Hebron. We predict a suicide bombing within Israel with a few days, such is the despondence and anger among Palestinians at the humiliations and cruelties they have suffered. Last week has only been one of the more pronounced and public segments in a long history - may a common sense of humanity win out over revenge, and may diplomacy bring results rather than empty promises. In any case, the king of Morocco seems baffled by Powell's presence there and delay in coming here. Wisdom in North Africa.

Construction on Mar Elias’ theological school in Ibillin, Israel.

We woke up at Ibillin, an Arab town northwest of Nazareth, and got a tour around the grounds of Mar Elias School and College. Anyone familiar with the story of Abuna Elias Chacour knows the legend of Ibillin - an Arab priest who built a school without a permit (the Israelis notoriously refuse building permits for Arabs, even if they are citizens) and avoided bulldozing orders with a great deal of persistence, stubbornness, and and connections. Now, it's a thriving school, with a teacher training center and college - 4500 students in all. They are hoping to open a theological school, but an Arab Christian school seeking accreditation faces another uphill battle with the Israeli government - nothing new for Abuna Chacour.

Arab Christians gather for ecumenical prayers for peace in Nazareth, Israel.

In the afternoon, Marthame went with some clergy friends to attend an ecumenical prayer service for peace in the Silesian Church of Christ the Adolescent, overlooking Nazareth. The words were familiar, but ring true nonetheless, "no peace without justice." Bishop Ma'allim of the Melkite Church focused on the words of Christ to his disciples, that the peace he gives him is not as the world gives - how poignant with the American "Johnny-come-lately" intervention here. The now familiar Arab hymn was our refrain, "Lord, make your peace rain down on us."

We spoke with friends throughout the day. The Arab American University has six tanks parked near it. It's not clear what they're doing with them. Birzeit, near Ramallah, is working on relief efforts for students of their university who are trapped in the village and away from home. Every few nights the army has come in and taken a few students before rolling out again. They have had no school, but parents are beginning to ask Abuna Iyad to reconsider - cabin fever is getting tough on them. Zababdeh has water and electricity. Our friends in Jenin are safe, but without water and electricity, and thankfully facing boredom more than anything else. The word from Jenin Refugee Camp is far more terrifying. Thirteen Israeli soldiers were killed in an ambush and are asking for the intervention of the Red Cross to retrieve their dead and wounded - ironic, some would say, given their treatment of medical personnel over the past year and a half (and especially over the last ten days).

The teacher must teach: Elizabeth lends a hand with English lessons.

Elizabeth visits with our friend Sister Alphonse, who was with us in Zababdeh last year.

Nevertheless, we hope humanity will win out over the desire for revenge. The word is, though, that there has been a massacre in the camp, with more than a hundred dead, at least as many seriously wounded with no access to medical care. Even Shimon Peres is expressing fear and regret. We fear the worst. We have had no contact with Nablus since yesterday, and the attacks on the Old City (where our closest friends there live) - and the resistance in it - have been fierce.

This evening, Elizabeth lent a hand at our friends' English language center, since she hasn't had much chance to teach lately and they were busy with an American group who has come to minister with Christian women in Nazareth. We also had the chance to visit with Sister Alfonse (who was in Zababdeh last year but was moved to Jaffa-Nazareth this past summer) and bring her news from Zababdeh (as little as we have of that).