From Bethlehem

by Bernard Sabella

Special to the G21

Saturday, October 27, 2001 5:16 AM - Jerusalem:

Dear All,

The toll of the latest Israeli military incursion in the different towns, villages and localities of the West Bank is both psychological and physical. On the psychological level, hundreds of families were terrorized by the entry of the Israeli forces. Medecins Sans Frontieres (i.e., Doctors Without Borders) has indicated that hundreds of families in the various localities are not allowed out of their homes for basic medical and other necessities. This is likely to affect the status of patients adversely beside the fact that whole families live in fear of going out of their households

On the physical level a number of family homes particularly in the Bethlehem and Beit Rima (Ramallah) areas were destroyed; agricultural land devastated; olive and grape harvesting denied hundreds of families.

For those of you who know the Old City of Jerusalem this time around many of the old village women who sell grapes by the Damascus Gate come from the greater Bethlehem area. For these women and their families, this is an important economic season especially so amidst the current tragic situation of re-occupation of Palestinian lands and towns.

As a result of the occupation of Bethlehem 65% of the population has fallen under the poverty line because of the loss of sources of income and the stoppage of economic and commercial sectors, according to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Bethlehem area. The estimates are that 57% of the labor force in the greater Bethlehem area have become unemployed.

In addition the uprooting of agricultural lands, confiscation of private land and houses for Israeli military purposes have added up to an estimated loss of US $1 million. According to the Chamber of Commerce in Bethlehem the inability to collect and harvest the olives and grapes has led to a direct agricultural loss of $650,000. Besides, scores of shops and stores, owned by individual families in the Bethlehem area, were destroyed as a result of gunfire and shelling with estimates of losses placed at more than 2 million US dollars.

Overall, the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce estimates that the losses incurred by Bethlehem and its area comes to approximately $17,440,000 for the week between October 18th to October 25th.

I am attaching to you these documents: Damages to Bethlehem University; Appeal from Bethlehem University; Damage Estimate to Bethlehem and the latest Gallup Poll on Israeli attitudes to the idea of transferring of Palestinians. What worries me most in this poll is the fact that the gulf between Israelis and Palestinians continues to widen and that this gulf makes it easier to think of extreme solutions.

My concern is primarily with humanitarian assistance and with how the Department of Service to Palestine Refugees can best render its services to Palestinians in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip in these very difficult times. I continue, nonetheless, to be concerned with political developments and the role of politicians, on both sides, towards resolving this conflict or, at least, bringing it to a respite. Then we -- all of us in Palestine and Israel -- can begin to think once again in a rational way away from violence, counter violence and military solutions.

I am certain that all of you share my concern.

With best wishes,
Dr. Bernard Sabella
Executive Secretary
DSPR Central Office
Jerusalem

[1]

Damage Suffered by Bethlehem University Due to Israeli Gunfire October 23 to 26, 2001

Chapel

• Tank Grenade hit on roof: 2
• Bullet Damage to stone work
• Five Stained Glass Windows damaged in multiple locations
• Tank Grenade hit on walls: 6 Brothers Residence
• Hit by at least 110 bullets
• Broken Windows: 6
• Hole in TV Dish Antenna - Bethlehem Hall
• Structural Damage to Bridge
• Water Tanks hit: 3
• Water Tanks destroyed: 4, Solar Heating Panel destroyed: 2
• Severe Damage to Midwifery Lab
• Broken Windows: 13
• Main Entrance Door hit by 15 bullets
• Tank Grenade hits: 25
• Decorative stone work damaged in many places - Main Building
• Tank Grenade hits: 9
• Broken Water Pipes: 3
• Broken Windows: 12 - Library
• Broken Windows: 6
• Tank Grenade hits: 2

New Classroom and Office Building

• Broken Windows: 46
• Faculty Lounge: Three Large Plate Glass Windows Destroyed
• Water Storage Tanks: 8 with bullet holes
• Solar Panels hit: 2
• Water Boiler hit: 1
• Ventilation System hit
• Many Scars due to bullet hits
• Tank Grenade hits: 11 - Science Building
• Internet Connection Wire severed in four places, power line cut

• Broken Windows: 13

Social and Cultural Center

• Broken Windows: 28, including 3 1mx2m Plate Glass Panels
• Cafeteria Window Frame destroyed
• Tank Grenade hits, including Basketball Court, Amphitheater and Steps: 33
• Broken Water Pipe: 1 d- Vehicle Damage
• New Nissan Truck
• Very serious damage due to hit by tank Grenade
• Forino Truck
• Bullet holes in windows

Contact to the Outside World: With the destruction of the wires for the Internet connection the University lost a primary means of communication

Totals: Tank Grenade Hits: 86 -- Broken Windows: 129

Note: As far as can be determined the Tank Grenades being used are 40mm low velocity fragmentation grenades designed to be lethal within a small radius.

[2]

From: "Rex Brynen" rex.brynen@MCGILL.CA
Subject: [AL-AWDA-News] Appeal from Bethlehem University
Date: Friday, October 26, 2001 4:18 PM
From: Sandra Olewine
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2001 3:27 AM
Subject: Appeal from Bethlehem University

(This is coming to you at least 12 hours after I wrote it as our email system is becoming very stressed. You may well notice delayed deliveries on my messages.)

Subject: Appeal from Bethlehem University

Dear Friends,

It is 9:30 pm on Thursday. As I write this, shells are again hitting the area in and around Bethlehem University. Throughout the evening and night, there have been periods of heavy shelling in that area for three nights in a row. The shooting and shelling seem to move back and forth from one side of the Old City of Bethlehem to the other. First, close here to the Lutheran Church, at the Cinema and University grounds, and then over near Manger Square. Then back again.

Wanton destruction follows wanton destruction. Much of the new infrastructure which was put in place in Bethlehem over the 2 years prior to 2000 is now severely damaged or ruined, particularly the streets as the tanks leave deep ruts and ridges in the pavement. Families' businesses along Manger Road near Aida Camp are heavily damaged. Countless families have now have lost their water tanks and numerous windows from their homes. Others have suffered fires due to the attacks.

But, the worst damage is to the people themselves. As I lay awake listening to the shells explode and the machinegun fire bursts through the night, I can hear the crying and screaming of children in the homes near the church. As words of another casualty come in, I watch my Palestinian colleagues shoulders drop and faces become lined with indescribable sorrow. There is no relief for the pain.

Below you will find an appeal from the staff at Bethlehem University. Unfortunately, there .. remains a great need for it to be responded to, as there is still no word when this invasion will end.

I thank you in advance for your continuing efforts to urge your governments to respond swiftly to this crisis and for your prayers. We need them both! For the sake of the children, do not grow weary in your efforts to stop this madness.

Salaam,
Sandra
Rev. Sandra Olewine
United Methodist Liaison -- Jerusalem
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
URGENT PRESS RELEASE

Bethlehem University Appeals for Protection October 24,2001

After two long nights of heavy Israeli bombardment, we at Bethlehem University arc pleading for international intervention to help spare our Vatican-sponsored Palestinian university from further shelling of our campus. The many precautionary attempts which we have taken to try to protect the University from the heavy exchange of gunfire around the University, including daily appeals to local, national, consular and ecclesiastical authorities, as well as strengthening security measures and flying the Vatican flag, have, unfortunately, not produced results.

Over the past two days, every building on campus except the Library has been hit by gunfire, with evidence of at least 45 tank shells and hundreds of bullets found in the aftermath. Over 66 windows have been broken, including 40 in the new soon-to-be-completed Academic Building. The residence of the DE La Salle Christian Brothers (among whom are eight Americans, three British and one Palestinian) has been pummeled by at least 110 bullets over the past two days, including several in or near bedrooms of the Brothers. Serious damage has been incurred in the Midwifery Laboratory, to water storage tanks and water pipes, to various parts of historic Bethlehem Hall, to stonework on several buildings around campus and in the new Academic Building. Considering the heavy bombardment to which we have been subjected, we are extremely fortunate that no one has been billed or injured.

We are deeply concerned that each additional day Israeli tanks and soldiers remain in Bethlehem (and other Palestinian areas), determined and at times indiscriminate resistance to the occupation will continue and thousands of lives of innocent people will be endangered. We are also concerned that attacks on Christian institutions and holy sites such as Bethlehem University, Holy Family Hospital, the Children's Creche, St. Catherine's Nativity Church and on other important sites such as Husseini Hospital, the Paradise Hotel, and the Hodali Building will also continue and wreak incalculable damage, physical and psychological, to the city of Christ's birth.

We at Bethlehem University appeal to you in the strongest possible terms to do whatever you can to help put an end to this tragic situation. Pressuring Israel to withdraw immediately its military from Bethlehem and other Palestinian cities would offer, at least for the moment, relief to those of us caught in the dangerous crossfire of Israeli occupation and Palestinian resistance.

Brother Vincent Malham, FSC
President-Vice Chancellor

For more details you can contact Brother Vincent, Tel 00 972 2 274-1242 Fax 00 972 2 274-4440; e-mail: vmalhem@bethlehem.edu

[3]

ESTIMATED ECONOMIC REPORT

Bethlehem Governorate was subjected from Thursday - October 18th 2001 to the re-occupation by the Israeli Military and the imposition of internal closures and a new invasion to force the Palestinian people to surrender. This led to the killing of 21 martyres and 150 injured civilians, in addition to the destruction of the infrastructure (water, electricity, and telephone networks) not to mention the severe damages to the private properties of the population.

Needless to say that the re-occupation of Bethlehem Governorate is aiming to destroy the Palestinian Economic achievements of the last 6 years which were completed by the National Palestinian Authority in the Governorate under "Bethlehem 2000 Project" which received financial aid from the donor countries to develop and rehabilitate the Bethlehem Governorate. This policy of destruction due to the closure of the Palestinian Territories and the economic seige imposed and currently the re-occupation have resulted in this: more than 65% of the Bethlehem Governorate population became below the poverty line. This is caused by the losses of their sources of income and the freezing of the main economic and commercial production sectors especially the Tourism Sector.

Therefore, in the shorter and longer terms this re-occupation and the seige imposed will have direct negative impacts on the Bethlehem area and on the investiment environment.

Estimated damages and losses in Bethlehem Governorate during the period of October 18th - October 25th , 2001, is apporximately 12 million Dollars of the Bethlehem Governorate GNP, which covers all economic sectors, revenues, and the increase in the rate of unemployment (57%), a consequence of the stoppage of the economic educational institutions, of lack of financial liquidity and of the restrictions imposed on the movement of goods and people. The direct estimated main losses is approximately $ 17,440,000 distributed on the various sectors as follows:
1. Partial destruction and damages to electricity sites, water network, and telephone lines, estimated losses $ 1,500,000.
2. The destruction of roads, edges, concrete walls, and the sewerage system, estimated losses $ 850,000.
3. The uprooting and destruction of the agriculture lands, confisicating of private land and houses for military purposes, estimated losses $ 1,000,000.
4. Direct agriculture losses due to the inability to collect and harvest the olive and grapes, estimated losses $ 650,000.
5. The demolition of public and private buildings due to shelling and bombardment estimated losses $ 2,500,000.
6. The Shelling of the Holy Family Hospital, and Beit-Jala Public Hospital, in addition to private Health Clinics , estimated losses $700.000.
7. Demolition of 18 private cars, estimated losses $540,000.
8. Paradise Hotel and the commerical stores in the building were burned, estimated losses $ 4,000,000.
9. Bethlehem Tourist Hotels were hit (Bethlehem Inn, Bethlehem Hotel, Antonian Hotel, & Intercontinental), estimated losses $ 1,000,000.
10. Karraa' Commercial Centre was burned, Hodaly, Ikhmayes, and Khamashta buildings and markets in addition to several commercial stores in Beit Jala, Aida & Al-Azah Camps and Al-Doha were shelled, estimated losses $ 1.500,000.
11. Shelling and bombardment of Bethlehem University and the Open University, estimated losses $ 500,000.
12. Commercial Stores in Al-Mahed Street and the area of Bilal Mosque were shelled and distructed by army bulldozers, estimated losses $ 650,000. These estimated losses of the Governorate income and damages to the economic and the massive sharp fall in Palestinian household income, together with massive unemployment and increasing poverty will have a far reaching effect on the economy of the governorate and will aggravate structural weeknesses threaten further deterioration in living conditions unless efforts is done urgently to force the Israelis to withdraw.

[4]

From: "Rex Brynen" rex.brynen@MCGILL.CA
Subject: [IMRA] Gallup Poll 26 October 2001 on "transfer"
Date: Friday, October 26, 2001 3:58 PM
Friday Poll 26 October 2001
Aaron Lerner Date: 26 October 2001

The following are the results of a Gallup Poll of a representative sample of 590 adult Israelis (including Israeli Arabs) surveyed the week of 26 October. Survey error +/- 4.5 percentage points.

Are you pleased with the performance of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon?
Yes 58% No 35% Do not know 7%

Do you support or oppose the idea of "transfer", namely removing all the Arab from the territories and moving them to the Arab states?
Support 50% Oppose 44% Do not know 6%

In your opinion can the "transfer" idea be implemented?
Yes 20% No 74% Do not know 6%

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director
IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-5480092
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
pager 03-610666 subscriber 4811
Website: http://www.imra.org.il

--------------------------------------------
IMRA

Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il