Friends International Center in Ramallah
October 2007 Newsletter
(Vol. I No. 8)

From the Program Coordinator:

After being back in Ramallah for two months, I see that not much has really changed.  Things are getting worse and the international community continues to look on.  Yes, there is talk about the Annapolis Meeting of the Quartet with Palestinians and Israelis, but most people I have talked to do not expect much to happen.  The question I have is:  How long can we continue to say 'things are worse than ever' and let them go on?  How long will the international community stand by and watch things continue to deteriorate and do nothing about it?  The situation in Gaza is desperate on all levels and from every angle.  The following article is only one example of ordinary people suffering in Gaza while the world looks on.  

(Click here to read more about the current situation in Gaza)

There is a lot of cynicism and skepticism among both Palestinians and Israelis about the Annapolis meeting, which is now scheduled to happen in early December.  I am including two articles you may be interested in reading to know what a Palestinian and an Israeli journalist are saying about this meeting. 

(Click here to read an editorial by Rami Khouri, a Palestinian journalist now living in Beirut.)

(Click here to read an article Gideon Levy. An Israeli journalist for Ha'aretz)

From the Friends International Center in Ramallah:

Activities at the Friends Center continue to increase. The past month we have had many groups and individuals visit us. 

The Sabeel Witness group of over 60 people spent the day with us, while at the same time a group of 20 Swedish journalists used the annex for a series of meetings with Amira Hass, Oxfam UK, and Hanan Ashrawi, who spoke to both groups.  Besides providing lunch and coffee breaks for all, the main challenge remained the fact that there was one bathroom for everyone.  People were most gracious in accommodating this shortcoming as they went through the day.

Members of the Sabeel Witness Group enjoying lunch.

Swedish journalists hear Amira Hass (Ha'aretz) speak.

The same day in the evening the Meetinghouse was used for a private event where the well-known folk singer from Northern Ireland, Tommy Sands, and his son and daughter sang and played and later jammed with a group of Palestinian musicians.  It was a full day.

Tommy Sands with Palestinian musicians.

Tommy Sands and daughter and son.

A full Meetinghouse enjoyed a local choir singing a variety of songs on Saturday, October 27. 

On October 22 we had the privilege of welcoming Sharon Watkins, the General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada and her, Rick Lowry, together with Peter Makari, the Executive for Middle East and Europe for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ) at the Friends Center.

Sharon Watkins, Rick Lowery, Peter Makari, visit the Friends Center.

From the Ramallah Friends Meeting:

We continue to welcome Friends from around the world for Meeting for Worship as well as Friends and others teaching at the Friends Schools and working and studying in Ramallah and elsewhere.

The Wednesday Evening Potluck Group continues to be an important time of the week for all who attend.  Most evenings we bring an extra friend or two.  Some Wednesdays we spend getting to know each other better and other Wednesdays we bring in speakers.

In early October, Waleed Zaru, joined his wife Rana and two daughters in Ramallah after tying up loose ends for the family in the US, having lived there for almost three years.  We enjoy having all four of them back in Ramallah and part of the Ramallah Friends Meeting again.

Waleed, Rana, Mai, and Yara.

From the Occupation: Monthly Action Focus:

We continue to focus on the visa and residency rights issues for Palestinians and internationals.  Just last Saturday, Krista Johnson, a United Church of Christ Mission Intern, who has been at Sabeel for two years, was denied entry at Ben Gurion airport.  She was held all day at the airport and sent back to the US that night.  The MYRTOE Campaign is doing all it can to bring her back while at the same time the Campaign is working to change the Israeli policies that do not allow Palestinians with dual citizenship to enter the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) or live with their families due to the denial of family reunification, or prevent internationals from entering the oPt.

A few weeks ago Israel announced that it would grant reunification to 3,500 Palestinians.  This is a positive development, but at this rate, as Sam Bahour says, it will take over 50 years for all who have applied for family reunification to date to be given the right to live together, never mind the ones who are now applying for reunification.

The Campaign is still collecting the names of persons – Palestinians and others - who have been denied entry at one of the ports Israel controls.  If you are a person or know of someone who has been denied entry, please contact Anita Abdullah at anita_abdullah@hotmail.com

Secondly, if you are interested in working on this issue and are living outside of Palestine, please contact John Salzberg at john.salzberg@verizon.net.  John is a member of the FICR Steering Committee and is working on this issue in the US.  He is able to put you in touch with others in the US who are also working on this issue from a US policy point of view.

For more information on "Right to Enter/Re-enter" go to www.righttoenter.ps

Kathy Bergen
Program Coordinator
www.ramallahquakers.org