Letter from the Rev. Sandra Olewine, United Methodist Liaison

Letter from the Rev. Sandra Olewine, United Methodist Liaison - Jerusalem

October 12, 2000

Dear, dear friends,

A little while ago, the cycle of violence took a new and horrible turn.

From first reports, the Associated Foreign Press said that four Israeli undercover agents from a special military unit, were discovered somewhere around Ramallah, an area under full Palestinian jurisdiction. (The Israeli army are currently reporting that the men were reservists and lost their way.) Regardless, they were arrested by Palestinian police in Ramallah to protect them from the crowd. Horribly, two of them were evidently dragged from the police station and killed. The other two are reportedly being held in a Palestinian prison.

Reports are that Israeli forces have now closed off the Ramallah area and that there is heavy gunfire in the area, particularly at the A-Ram junction (near Beit Hanina) and around Ramallah. The CRS staff, particularly those with children, have left our Beit Hanina office and are rushing to get home, as are many other Palestinians who live in West Bank towns. People are terrified of what the response to this event will be. I imagine, for some, panic is not far away.

As one of my Palestinian colleagues said to me minutes ago, "I can't believe this. People know this action won't help us. It is a horrible deed. It makes me angry at my own people. But, what were the Israelis thinking? Why would they send people into such a volatile situation? And why couldn't our police hold them safely? But, people are so full of hate and anger right now. No one is thinking. This will only lead to more death and heartache. More families on both sides will now lose their loved ones. God help us..."

The sounds of traffic are heavy as buses and shared taxis are speeding by our office on the route which leads back to the Ramallah area. I imagine we will be seeing scenes on television which will be shocking. But, please remember in this, particularly those of you who are not as familiar with the history of this situation, that they will also be shocking to the overwhelming majority of Palestinians. I can already predict the kind of rhetoric that will be hurled, much of what will be demonizing and hateful.

Today at 16:30 Jerusalem time, the Heads of Churches have called for an ecumenical prayer service to be held at St. Stephen's Dominican Church in Jerusalem. Whether we'll be able to hold it now, remains unclear. But, wherever you are, whether we can hold our service or not, you can be in prayer for that hour. Now is the time to believe in the efficacy of prayer.

This could lead either to a situation completely out of control or to a moment when people step back from the violence and take stock of where we're heading.

Pray for all the families - Palestinian and Israeli - who are mourning the death of their loved ones. Pray for the safety of the soldiers in prison. Pray for the innocent Palestinians who will doubtless be made to pay the price. Pray for the end of political rhetoric and for a movement towards a just and lasting peace. Pray for thoughtful and bold leadership from both sides that move us away from the brink of an increasing cycle of bloodletting.

Weeping in Jerusalem,
Sandra Olewine
United Methodist Liaison to Jerusalem