Dear Abuna Labib,
 
As things get worse and worse, my prayers are with you and our Palestinian sisters and brothers.  I am always feeling grateful for your hospitality when I was in SFO.
 
I think your al-Dura Ambulance idea is GREAT.  What you NEED, those is ONE PRINCIPAL ORGANIZER for it.  Someone to do it full time.  Otherwise it will never work!  You could give that person your contacts and support, but that person would have to run it.  And again, it would be a full-time job.
 
I would be glad to do it, but MY full-time job right now is this OMRAN BUS tour [which is similar, but much less ambitious than YOUR idea].
 
Here's a suggestion:  put out the "word" in the Arabic [Christian AND Muslim] community that this Al-Dura Ambulance Project is what you'd like to do.  [You'll need 34 ambulances because, by the time this is arranged, it'll be another year.].  Ask in these letters for :  A) FUNDING [VERY important:  each ambulance might cost $25 - 40 THOUSAND dollars; and you'll need to pay a SALARY for the organizer (at least $25,000 for a year); and you'll need OFFICE expenses.  Just phone bills could cost WELL over $1500 a month.].  So you're looking a MAJOR funding here.  B) Someone [probably a recent college or grad-school graduate] to work on the project for a year.
 
I would be happy to speak with your organizer once you've found him or her, to help them get started and to "brainstorm" with them.
 
Are you ever coming to NYC to visit me?  [Will I be herfe when you come?]
 
The Blessings of Peace and Justice,
 
Simon, in the Company of Jesus
 

G. Simon Harak, S. J.
West Side Jesuit Community
Apt. 4E
220 West 98th Street
New York, NY 10025-5669
212-663-3599
Fax: 360-358-2055
GSHarakSJ@yahoo.com