Easter 2006 in ‘The Holy Land’
As Christians, all over the world commemorate Good Friday and Easter, perhaps it is also a time to acknowledge what is happening in their historical setting, today.
An Urgent Easter Appeal from the Christians in the Holy Land
Rateb Y. Rabie, KCHS
HCEF President
“…The indigenous Christians of the Holy Land will also awaken on Easter morning to observe the Easter holy day.
“While these Christians have been in the Holy Land since that first Easter, their numbers are dwindling year by year. This is occurring not because of any lack of faithfulness among these followers of Christ, but because of the conditions which make life in the Holy Land insufferable for many. Ongoing violence and strife over control of the land, political issues, and economic hardships made worse by the expanding separation "wall" all come together to prompt many indigenous Christians to seek relief by emigrating from their homeland. With about 60% unemployment, and both personal and economic hardships as a daily part of their lives, their departure from their homeland is not by choice but by necessity. The remaining Christians constitute only about 2% of the Holy Land population, and their numbers will continue to decrease unless we, their fellow Christians here in the West, can provide the support and encouragement needed for them to persevere….”
http://www.hcef.org/hcef/index.cfm/mod/news/ID/16/SubMod/NewsView/NewsID/1479.cfm
Holy Land's Christians caught in midst of conflict
A 76-year-old Greek Orthodox monk is beaten up by villagers, his carefully tended olive trees are uprooted and his isolated West Bank monastery is defaced with graffiti depicting nuns being raped.
The land of Jesus's birth is not always an easy place for Christians to live in 2006.
http://www.hcef.org/hcef/index.cfm/mod/news/ID/16/SubMod/NewsView/NewsID/1488.cfm
HCEF President's Easter Message, 2006
Rateb Y. Rabie, KCHS
HCEF President
http://www.hcef.org/hcef/index.cfm/mod/news/id/16/subMod/NewsView/NewsID/1487.cfm
Easter Message 2006
Bishop Dr. Munib Younan
Resurrection: The Compass of Discipleship
John 20:1-18
”Salaam and grace to you from Jerusalem, City of Peace!”
http://www.hcef.org/hcef/index.cfm/mod/news/id/16/subMod/NewsView/NewsID/1486.cfm
Stop the bombing of Gaza! Prevent a humanitarian crisis!
http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/2006/04/13/stop-the-bombing-of-gaza-prevent-a-humanitarian-crisis
Church leaders urge international community to halt boycott of Hamas
Church leaders in the Holy Land in their annual Easter message have urged the international community to halt a boycott of the new Palestinian government headed by the Islamist Hamas movement. "We call first upon the international community that decided to boycott the Palestinian people: it is not permitted to boycott a people on whom oppressions and injustices were and are being imposed," the Christian leaders stated.
http://www.hcef.org/hcef/index.cfm/mod/news/ID/16/SubMod/NewsView/NewsID/1489.cfm
Oxfam International: Decision to Stop Palestinian Aid
In a letter to the Middle East Quartet, Oxfam warns that Palestinians are on the edge of survival.
http://www.palestinechronicle.com/story.php?sid=04130601030
Open letter to the Members of the Quartet and international donors
Oxfam International works with Palestinians and Israelis to overcome poverty and suffering
http://www.oxfam.org/en/news/pressreleases2006/openletter_060407
Annan: Israel has to take meaningful steps to alleviate Palestinian suffering
United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, said Wednesday Israel has an obligation to take "meaningful steps" to alleviate Palestinian suffering.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/060413/2006041312.html
Jonah House Leads; A Time for Reflection
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=2268&blz=1
As Christians, all over the world commemorate Good Friday and Easter, perhaps it is also a time to acknowledge what is happening in their historical setting, today.
An Urgent Easter Appeal from the Christians in the Holy Land
Rateb Y. Rabie, KCHS
HCEF President
“…The indigenous Christians of the Holy Land will also awaken on Easter morning to observe the Easter holy day.
“While these Christians have been in the Holy Land since that first Easter, their numbers are dwindling year by year. This is occurring not because of any lack of faithfulness among these followers of Christ, but because of the conditions which make life in the Holy Land insufferable for many. Ongoing violence and strife over control of the land, political issues, and economic hardships made worse by the expanding separation "wall" all come together to prompt many indigenous Christians to seek relief by emigrating from their homeland. With about 60% unemployment, and both personal and economic hardships as a daily part of their lives, their departure from their homeland is not by choice but by necessity. The remaining Christians constitute only about 2% of the Holy Land population, and their numbers will continue to decrease unless we, their fellow Christians here in the West, can provide the support and encouragement needed for them to persevere….”
http://www.hcef.org/hcef/index.cfm/mod/news/ID/16/SubMod/NewsView/NewsID/1479.cfm
Holy Land's Christians caught in midst of conflict
A 76-year-old Greek Orthodox monk is beaten up by villagers, his carefully tended olive trees are uprooted and his isolated West Bank monastery is defaced with graffiti depicting nuns being raped.
The land of Jesus's birth is not always an easy place for Christians to live in 2006.
http://www.hcef.org/hcef/index.cfm/mod/news/ID/16/SubMod/NewsView/NewsID/1488.cfm
HCEF President's Easter Message, 2006
Rateb Y. Rabie, KCHS
HCEF President
http://www.hcef.org/hcef/index.cfm/mod/news/id/16/subMod/NewsView/NewsID/1487.cfm
Easter Message 2006
Bishop Dr. Munib Younan
Resurrection: The Compass of Discipleship
John 20:1-18
”Salaam and grace to you from Jerusalem, City of Peace!”
http://www.hcef.org/hcef/index.cfm/mod/news/id/16/subMod/NewsView/NewsID/1486.cfm
Stop the bombing of Gaza! Prevent a humanitarian crisis!
http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/2006/04/13/stop-the-bombing-of-gaza-prevent-a-humanitarian-crisis
Church leaders urge international community to halt boycott of Hamas
Church leaders in the Holy Land in their annual Easter message have urged the international community to halt a boycott of the new Palestinian government headed by the Islamist Hamas movement. "We call first upon the international community that decided to boycott the Palestinian people: it is not permitted to boycott a people on whom oppressions and injustices were and are being imposed," the Christian leaders stated.
http://www.hcef.org/hcef/index.cfm/mod/news/ID/16/SubMod/NewsView/NewsID/1489.cfm
Oxfam International: Decision to Stop Palestinian Aid
In a letter to the Middle East Quartet, Oxfam warns that Palestinians are on the edge of survival.
http://www.palestinechronicle.com/story.php?sid=04130601030
Open letter to the Members of the Quartet and international donors
Oxfam International works with Palestinians and Israelis to overcome poverty and suffering
http://www.oxfam.org/en/news/pressreleases2006/openletter_060407
Annan: Israel has to take meaningful steps to alleviate Palestinian suffering
United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, said Wednesday Israel has an obligation to take "meaningful steps" to alleviate Palestinian suffering.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/060413/2006041312.html
Jonah House Leads; A Time for Reflection
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=2268&blz=1