Headlines for 12-24-07

'Worsening crisis' in Gaza Strip "So whether it's medical supplies, whether it's access to clean water - 15% of Gazans no longer have sufficient clean water - or whether it's access to food, there are real humanitarian difficulties in Gaza and they are getting worse by the day."


Hamas says can't accept ceasefire under Israeli military escalation


Bethlehem sermon calls for peace in the Middle East "This land of God cannot be for some a land of life and for others a land of death, exclusion, occupation, or political imprisonment," Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah said in a sermon for the Christmas midnight mass......."It is not up to the weakest to submit themselves and continue to live a life of deprivation; it is up to the strongest, to those who have everything in hand, to detach themselves and to give to the weakest what is due to them."


Pilgrims flock to most peaceful Bethlehem in years "The new year, God willing, will be a year of security and economic stability," Abbas, who later attended the mass, said in Bethlehem. "We pray next year will be the year of independence for the Palestinian people."


Settlements stall new round of Mideast peace talks


Israel weighs change to free Palestinian prisoners


Little Christmas joy in Gaza for Palestinian Christians Under an Israeli blockade imposed after Hamas fighters seized control of Gaza in June, the economy has collapsed, prices have gone through the roof and Gaza is even more isolated than in the past. That's why so many Christians want out, even if just for the holidays.


Chairman of PFLP's armed wing dies of wounds sustained months ago


YEARENDER: Gaza conflict was painful during 2007


Israel prepares to broaden definition of Palestinian prisoners who can be freed


Music soars in the land of sadness Palestinian violist unites musicians of all faiths for Christmas concert in tiny Christian outpost


In Gaza, Santa Is Insolvent Christmas comes this year amidst stories that continue to surface in Western media accusing the Hamas government or Muslims in general of persecuting Christians in Gaza or Palestine. Not many Christians in Gaza say that. "Hamas has never done that," Jilda says emphatically. "They send representatives from Hamas to our celebrations. Last year, as the year before, they came and offered Christmas greetings at our Church to the entire congregation."



Report: Iran Would Suffer Up to 20 Million Casualties in Nuclear War With Israel ** The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) also estimates that between 200,000 and 800,000 Israelis would be killed, the Jerusalem Post reported.......It estimates that a nuclear war would last approximately three weeks and ultimately end with the annihilation of Iran, based on Israel's alleged possession of sophisticated and powerful nuclear weapons. So you see, it is difficult to imagine that Iran would ever even think of using its nuclear weapons that it is purportedly developing (according to Israel) against that nation.


Palestinians hope Israel changes criteria of prisoners' release


Israel allows the exit of 19 patients for referral outside Gaza


Abbas highlights China's just, constructive role in Middle East Abbas appraised the positive development of ties between the Palestinian territories and China, expressing gratitude for China's help to the Palestinian people.


Thousands gather at Manger Square, Bethlehem waiting for the Midnight Mass


Second soldier arrested on suspicion of abusing Palestinian He is accused of being involved in the abuse of a Palestinian who was hit in the head repeatedly with a blunt object while he was held at a military facility in the West Bank. During the court proceeding on Monday, it came to light that the Palestinian detainee in question also had his wooden prayer beads stolen form him during the incident


In Christmas Homily, Holy Land Latin Patriarch appeals for Palestinian independence «To all of you Christians in this land, you who are tempted to emigrate, you who are the object of everyone's preoccupation, I say to you what Jesus told us: Do not be afraid,» he said. «To those who are tempted or pressed by difficulties to leave the country, we say: 'You have a place here, and more than a place, you have a vocation: to be Christians here, in the land of Jesus, and not elsewhere in the world.
St. Katherine's , adjacent to the Church of the Nativity



Hamas says no progress over seized Israeli soldier


Refusing to accept apartheid in Beit Jala The olive tree orchard continues on Abu Salim's land on the other side of the bypass road. All the roads to Abu Salim's lands have been closed off to Palestinians. We refused to accept that Palestinians are not allowed to walk here and together we walked all the way back on the road which Palestinians are not allowed to travel. Back in the car we continued our way along the projected route of the wall.


Israel Upholds Use of Cluster Bombs Israeli military prosecutors have decided not to take any legal action over Israel's use of cluster bombs during last year's war in Lebanon, the army said Monday, closing an investigation into a practice that has drawn heavy criticism from the U.N. and international human rights groups. Israel exonerates itself again.


Jeb Bush to arrive in Israel for private visit


Christians flock from Gaza for Christmas Most were hoping to pray on Christmas Eve in Bethlehem, the small town in the West Bank where the Bible says Jesus was born.


Livni slams Egypt over Gaza smuggling


A Wise Man Looks at the World The thing is, is the government willing to at least listen to some of these grievances? When Mrs. Rice says publicly, Israel must continue to bombard Lebanon--it never happened since the UN has been created...that the Security Council says, Go on. Israel planted these fragmentation bombs after the ceasefire. These fragmentation bombs are from America. It's allowed by the Americans. So, people don't believe anything the Americans say, and it's not bias.


Russia ready to host Mideast conference Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday his nation is ready to hold a Mideast peace conference if all concerned sides are interested in the matter.


Italian delegation turned down at Eretz crossing into Gaza Strip


Hatred, discrimination have no place in Islam: Al-Mahri Saying he hopes peace and prosperity will reign in the Muslim and Christian worlds Shiite leader Sayed Mohammed Baqer Al-Mahri was recently quoted as saying Islam not only respects all heavenly religions but also the Prophets including Prophet Jesus Christ.....He added the Palestinian Muslims and Christians in the Holy Land share a common culture and beliefs.


Thinking of Edward Said


Richmonder among those visiting Bethlehem for Christmas The Christmas Eve pilgrimage included American tourists, clergymen in brown flowing robes and Palestinian scouts wearing kilts and playing bagpipes.


Olmert courts Israel's non-Jews Around 20 percent of Israel's population is not Jewish, and inter-faith ties have been strained by the last six years of Palestinian violence. Among Israeli Arabs there is increasingly open opposition to Zionism, provoking animosity among the Jewish majority. Even the traditionally loyal Druze minority has voiced complaints about discrimination.


Rising to the challenge And when he was 15, Qupty said he became the first Palestinian to win a gold medal in the junior division 200 breast at the Maccabiah Games, which is the Jewish Olympics.


Doctors unite for Bethlehem hospital It will be the 12th medical facility established by CURE, which has treated more than 50,000 children around the world from Afghanistan to Zambia. It also will be the first dedicated children's hospital in the Palestinian territories. CURE will train local doctors in complex surgery and treat up to 10,000 children every year.


Scottish carols connect biblical story with modern challenges suddenly in Scotland, writing carols is seen as a "cool" thing to do. Mike Gonzalez, an academic from the University of Glasgow, has been applauded by mentioning Bethlehem as it is today in a carol written by Scott Twynholm of the Sounds of Progress Orchestra. It tells how a huge barrier constructed by Israel in Palestinian territory divides races and religions, stopping ordinary people getting to the place where the founder of Christianity was born around 2000 years ago.



ADL Lists Top Issues Affecting Jews in 2007 ? Restarting the Peace Process
? The Iranian Nuclear Threat


Obama: Israel Must Remain a Jewish State "I think everyone knows what the basic outlines of an agreement would look like. It would mean that the Palestinians would have to reinterpret the notion of right of return in a way that would preserve Israel as a Jewish state. It might involve compensation and other concessions from the Israelis but ultimately Israel is not going to give up its state."


Alexander hopeful on Gaza Mr Alexander pledged UK aid to the Palestinian Authority as part of a conference of donors in Paris last week.


They Do Not Exist, And That Is Official With the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, many Palestinians fled their homeland to Lebanon. Today, there are approximately 400,000 refugees living in the 'Land of the Cedars', some with no documentation, and not registered with either the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) or the Lebanese authorities.



Graffiti Artists Decorate Bethlehem Barrier