See also

Bethlehem
  on strike

Jewish
  Israeli   assaulted

Statement
  to U.S.
  consul
  in
  Jerusalem

Israeli   terrorism

Volunteers from Japan, Europe and the US are joining Palestinians and Israeli peace activists in non-violent protests. Others are moving in with Palestinian families whose homes are raked by Israeli gunfire and battered by tank shells, willing to serve as "human shields."

In the West Bank town of Beit Jala, just east of Jerusalem and a few miles from the Bethlehem homes of General Board of Global Ministries missionaries and other staff, volunteers from church peace teams cower alongside Palestinian families as bullets fly. Israel pulled back an invasion-sized force from the Bethlehem-Beit Jala area a few days ago, but tanks still ring other Palestinian towns.

In East Jerusalem, more international volunteers join protests against the Israeli seizure of Orient House, sparking violent police action. The two-storeyed stone building, its main entrance flanked by the sweep of twin stairways, served as the center of the Palestinian National Authority.

Olewine and others join the growing chorus calling for an international presence in Israel-Palestine. Volunteers hope their presence will spur further international response. Palestinians have been calling for just such a presence, one of several confidence-building measures proposed by the Mitchell plan. After a cautious, qualified agreement to a US observer force, Israel rejected the proposals.

The links on the left provide perspectives from a GBGM missionary, and nonviolent protesters, both Jewish and US.

August 13, 2001