EXCLUSIVE ON AL-BUSHRA Voices of TRUTH We are trying to give you UPDATES from different sources and specially things coming from the Holy Land. Mainly you will find reactions and statementsof different Human Rights organizations,  Churches, NGOs, UN and many others from  all over the world. They want to be the voice of the TRUTH, telling what they think about what is happening in the Holy Land. This their VOICE is more accurate than the NEWSPAPERS, Radios  and TVs as they speak about things that they saw, lived or experienced on the ground of the Holy Land or heard from their offices there in the Holy Land as  first hand. Please feel free to use it, send it to your lists and please give it to your pastor, priest, organizations, committee for justice and peace studies and committement: HELP US TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC OPINION ABOUT THE TRUTH. You may like to visit other sources the Vatican Website at Al-Bushra as well Head Christian Churches , Latin Patriarchate, US CATHOLIC , Churches for Middle East Peace, Daring to speak out, Jerusalem what is the TRUTH, Addameer,  INTIFADA on line, IAP.ORG (Islamic Association for Palestine)  as well Miftah Website of Dr. Hanan Ashrawia, ISRAEL , Jews from Israel and Outside for Justice & TRUTH , Red Cresecent Society NonViolence And Branch of OLIVE , A MESSAGE A WEEK, Fact Sheet UPDATES RECOMMENDED, Other Links You can subscribe to our Emailing list at Al-Bushra (Scroll down and find Holy Land News) at: SUBSCRIBE The Second Intifada (If we missed any, please write to us at Fr. Labib Kobti at: :(Labib Kobti) Eye Witnesses speak out

2003

January 6, Happy New Year, our situation in the Holy Land, Lutheran Church January 7, Reflections of the Inter-Conference Delegation to Israel and the Palestinian Territories Januaray 7, Orthodox Christmas under Occupation, voice from Bethlehem January 9, Iraqi Bishop Appeals for Peace January 11, COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT INTENSIFIES IN BETHLEHEM, Bethlehem University January 11, Clery in UK take a stand against war January 13, ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE JOHN PAUL II TO THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS/ on IRAQ January 14, The Situation and Needs of the General Population,Secretary General, Caritas Jerusalem January 15,    I have just returned from Iraq, General Secretary, National Council of Churches January 16, Catholic summit in Jerusalem supports the people of the Holy land January 17,In Jerusalem, Bishops Gather to Analyze Situation in the Holy Land Januaray, 18,  Religions for peace in the Middle-East, Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem January 19, Vatican:World religions appeal to give Peace a Chance January 19, Israelis Block Patriarch Sabbah at Tel Aviv Airport,Zenit January 21, War on Iraq not justified,Canadian Anglican Primate says January 24,ISRAELI MISSILE STRIKES ANGLICAN CHURCH IN GAZA, Catholic & Anglican News January 28, Between the Churches and Israel, Laity Committee in the Holy Land January 30, "WE ARE AGAINST THE WAR,"SAYS TOP VATICAN OFFICIAL January 30, CMEP implores the governments of the world to embark on a course of peace and justice January 30, President of Bethlehem University talks to Congress January 30, Nuncio of Jerusalem Views the Dire Situation in Holy Land February Picturesof the visit of the Episcopal Church to Iraq February 3, CARDINAL STAFFORD USA JOINS CRITICS OF US PLANS ON IRAQ February 3, A wide church groupsand activists with anti-war sentiment. February 4, CMEP's letter to President Bush about Iraq February 6, VATICAN OFFICIALS NOT PERSUADED BY US CASE AGAINST IRAQ February 8,Christian Leaders Prominent in Anti-War Movement February 8, STATEMENT BY EPISCOPAL MEMBERS INTERFAITH PEACE-BUILDERS DELEGATION February 10, POPE SENDS SPECIAL ENVOY TO BAGHDAD February 10, PopeTakes Issue with America's 'Just War' February 10, UN warns of Palestinian aid crisis February 12, "Demand on Settlement's Must be Bush's Response to Israel's Aid Request.", CMEP February 12, NCC DELEGATION TO PARIS SURPRISES MANY WITH OPPOSITION TO WAR February 13, PAX CHRISTI INTERNATIONAL,SUPPORTS FRENCH-GERMAN PLAN FOR IRAQ February 13, An appeal from Christians in Bethlehem, Beit Sahour, Beit Jala February 14, POPE MEETS TAREK AZIZ; VATICAN DIPLOMATIC EFFORT CONTINUES February 18, Letter from the Minister General of the Secular Franciscan Order February 19, The Lutheran Bishop in Jerusalem against war in Iraq February 19, CARDINAL SODANO SEES MORE DIPLOMATIC OPTIONS FOR IRAQ Februrar 19, A Berlin Wall Isolating Bethlehem, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, APPEAL February 20, The Will of the Worldby JONATHAN SCHELL February 20, AT UN, VATICAN ENVOYSTATES CAUSE FOR PEACE February 20, Black clergy to America: War is not the answer, solve problems at home February 21, BRITISH CATHOLIC, ANGLICAN ARCHBISHOPS WARN AGAINST ATTACK ON IRAQ,CWN February 21, Chorus of religious voices opposed to war with Iraq growing louder, ENS February 21, PICTURES OF ANTIWAR February 23, PopeCalls for Fast Against War in Iraq February 23, Pope to British PM: war on Iraq would constitute a 'Crime Against Humanity February 24,  Message fromVoices in the Wilderness, IRAQ February 24, Sabeel’s Statement Against War, Jerusalem February 24, The Churches of Jerusalem, Baghdad and Sarajevo Say "No" to War February 24, An urgent appeal for Bethlehem, Head of Christian Churches in the Holy land February 25, VATICAN CONDEMNATION FOR  "WAR OF AGGRESSION" February 27, American bishop urges prayers and aid for Iraqi Christians February 28,VATICAN OFFICIAL CHALLENGES US, IRAQ March 3, Catholic Pastoral Letter Condemns War On Iraq Absolutely, Bishop John Michael Botean, Romanian March 4,  Five American church leadersmeet with Prime Minister Tony Blair March 5, POPE'S ENVOY STILL HOPES TO DISSUADE BUSH FROM WAR March 5, POPE, AT AUDIENCE, ASKS ALL TO SHARE IN PRAYER, WORK FOR PEACE March 6, CARDINAL LAGHI BRIEFS PRESS ON MEETING WITH PRESIDENT BUSH March 7, Action requested on Israeli-Palestinian issues, Christians for M. E. Peace March 12, First-hand accounts from Iraq,Voices in the Wilderness & the Iraq Peace Team March 12, Charile Litkey, a member of St. John of God, my former Parish, from Bagdad 1 March 13, Charile Litkey, a member of St. John of God, my former Parish, from Bagdad 2 March 13, Right to Education Campaign, Brian Avery, from Nablus, Palestine March 14, VATICAN OFFICIAL REPEATS: NO WAR WITHOUT UN APPROVAL March 14, "War Would Indeed Be a Defeat for Humanity", Irish Catholic Bishops March 14, "Are We Less than Animals?"  Iraqi Dominican Sisters Appeal to President Bush, American People March 16, No more war, Popesays on the issue of Iraq March 17, URGENT PAPAL APPEAL:"NEVER AGAIN WAR!" March 17, WAR WOULD BE A "CRIME," PRELATE CHARGES, Vatican March 17, PAX CHRISTI INTERNATIONALURGES VISITS OF ANNAN TO IRAQ AND THE POPE TO THE UNITED NATIONS March 18, AMERICAN BISHOP BARS FAITHFUL FROM WAR EFFORT March 18, VATICAN:BUSH TAKING HEAVY MORAL BURDEN in going to war against Iraq March 18, Episcopalians join nation in bracing for war with Iraq March 18, IN THE SHADOW OF WAR, The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church March 19, War in Iraq a crime, says Vatican March 19,While Eyes are Focused on Iraq: An Update from Washington on Israeli-Palestinian Issues,CMEP March 20, "DEEP PAIN" AT VATICAN AS WAR BEGINS, CWNEWS March 20, U.S. Church Leaders Issue Statement on Iraq War, CMEP March 20, Escalation in international affairs begins with the war in Iraq today, Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem March 20, Churches condemn military attack on Iraq and light candles for peace, Ecumenical International March 21, Many elders brought in with heart problems, Voices in the Wilderness, Iraq March 21, PRELATE SAYS CONFLICT IS A "WORLD WAR", CWNEWS March 21, Pope Paul upbraided UK, Italian PMs: Paper March 22, Religious Leaders Gather for Prayer Service and Witness for Peace, Washington March 22, Pax Christi USA Statement on Commencement of War with Iraq March 23, John Paul II Prays for Peace and Victims of War March 24, WAR THREATENS MAN'S FUTURE, POPE SAYS March 24, Problem for Catholic religious personnel in Israel, The Ad-hoc Committee Jerusalem March 25,Pope Endorses Antiwar Movement March 25, STATEMENT FROM BISHOP DR. MUNIB A. YOUNAN, Lutheran Bishop of Jerusalem March 26, Pax Christi International assist the peopleand work for a just peace in Iraq and the Middle East March 27, BISHOP ARRESTED IN PROTEST OUTSIDE WHITE HOUSE March 27, IRAQ'S CHRISTIAN LEADERS PLEAD FOR PEACE March 27, CATHOLIC TEACHER RESIGNS RATHER THAN REMOVE ANTI-WAR PIN April 2, VATICAN OFFICIAL ASKS UN TO BACK RULE OF LAW, NOT FORCE April 2, Maronite Bishops condemn the war against Iraq April 3, An Appeal for Peace, Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem April 4, UN, Red Crossalarmed by civilian casualties in Iraq April 4, News from Washington, The ROAD MAP and the AIPAC, from CMEP April 4, VATICANPREPARING FOR POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION IN IRAQ April 7, "PEACE INVOLVES A PERMANENT COMMITMENT," POPE SAYS April 8,  Easter Message, BISHOP DR. MUNIB A. YOUNAN, Evangelical Lutheran Church April 11, Church Leaders Encourage New Initiatives to Propel Israeli-Palestinian Peace April 12, Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, pastoral letter to the Christians of the Middle East April 13, Pope urges 'brotherly solidarity' with the Iraqi and Holy Land  people April 13, Palm Sunday in Jerusalem, Fr. Raed Abu Sahlia April 13, Sermon by the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams in Jerusalem, on Palm Sunday April 14, VATICAN PRELATES AFFIRM UN ROLE IN IRAQ April 15, Easter Message,Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah April 15, U.N. Human Rights Body Criticizes Israel April 18, Easter Message 2003, Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem April 25, Preparation for Road Map,CMEP April 25, Stripped naked and humiliated by US Soldiers/photos, Amnesty International April 30, IRAQ'S CHRISTIAN LEADERS URGE THEIR PEOPLE TO RENEWAL May 6, Summit of religious leaders considers consequences of Iraq war May 6, The Road map, Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem May 8, HCEF/ Educational Symposium for 55 Christian Clergy on the Plight of the Palestinian Christians May 9, ISRAELI FORCES RAID International Solidarity Movement OFFICE, May 9, Israel/Occupied Territories: Amnesty Internationaldelegates denied access to Gaza May 9, AmnestySays Israel Shutting Out Foreign Scrutiny May 11, Iraq in danger of starvation, says UN May 15, U.S. Church Leaders Urge Boldness by Israeli and Palestinian Leaders, on Road Map May 19, U.N. Official Criticizes Israeli Travel Restrictions in Gaza May 20, Israel transfers a Palestinian from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip, PALESTINIAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS May 23, WHAT IS SABEEL’S POSITION ON THE ROAD MAP? May 28, Amnesty criticizes 'human rights crisis' in Palestinian territories May 28, Amnesty International:War on Terror Sowing Fear May 30, Perspectives of a future peace between Israelis and Palestinians, Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem June 2, Israelis and Palestinians "Are Called to Live Side by Side", Pope says June 3, POPE'S ENVOY REPORTS ON TRIP TO BAGHDAD June 4, The realities I view are imprinted on the walls of my soul, Rev. Alex Awad, Bethlehem June 4, U.S. Bishops Urge Bush to Make Mideast Peace a Top Priority June 9, Building support for M.E. peacemaking, CMEP June 11,  From our Missionary to the Holy Land, Anglican Church June 14, UN Official Says Israel Must Halt Construction of 'Segregation' Wall June 15, PopeCalls for an End to "Vortex of Violence" in Holy Land June 15, The Medical Staffs in Gaza Strip Appeal the World June 23, ISRAEL SABOTAGES MEDICAL MISSION GRETTA DUISENBERG,Union of Health Work Com. June 27, PopeAsks Assistance for Christians of Holy Land and Iraq July 2, Stop the Wall that Sharon is building, INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT July 3, Palestinian Christians ignored, Jordan Times July 4, Israel and the Occupied Territories: Israel must end its policy of assassinations, Amnesty Inter. July7, IRAQI BISHOP CITES FEAR OF CHAOS July 8, BETHLEHEM UNIVERSITY RE-OPENS; TOWN EYES RETURN TO NORMAL, CWN July 10, CMEP letter to Powell on Iraq July 11, Letter to Blair about ROAD MAP by Afif Safieh, Palestinian General Delegate to the Holy See July 13, UNHCR to Register Thousands of Palestinian Refugees in Iraq July 30, Israel Continues to Deny Visas to Catholic Religious,Franciscan Custody of Holy Land August, 1, Distortions of intelligence on Iraq, CMEP August 1, "No peace without Justice - No Justice without Forgiveness", Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem August 2, Local,Int’l Human Rights Groups Condemn New Israeli Racial Law August 15, UN: Israel must revoke change to Citizenship Law, from Haa'retz August 26, Statement Regarding the Separation Wall/ The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem August 28, Medecins du Monde, UP Medical Relief Committees & Physicians for Human Rights-Israel August 29, IRAQI   WOMEN  ARE MUCH  WORSE  OFF IN IRAQ  SINCE THE USA  INVASION,CPTW September 3, DOES THE WALL ALSO NEED TO CUT OUR CAMPUS INTO TWO? Al-Quds Univerisity September 8, Reports on Iraq with recommendations, CMEP September 8, PHRMG Calls for Addressing the Prisoners’ Humanitarian Demands for Survival September 8, UN conference calls for pressure to force Israel to bring down separation wall Septemebr 8, Israel and the Occupied Territories, Amnesty International September 9, WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES URGES WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ September 16,CHALDEAN CATHOLICS DEMAND ROLE IN POST-SADDAM RULE OF IRAQ September 17,CHALDEAN BISHOP CRITICIZES US OCCUPATION OF IRAQ September 20, We need peacemakers in our country, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem September 22, CATH. PRIEST SERVES ON LOCAL IRAQI GOVERNING COUNCIL FOR RECONSTRUCTION September 28,  Latin Patriarch prevented to visit Jenin, From Latin Patriarche Pess office October 1,Israel dismisses "biased" UN report on security fence, From Jerusalem Post October 2, Hunger in Palestine,UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food October 13, Israel's raids on Gaza Strip a "war crime": Amnesty October 26, Interview withUNRWA Commissioner-General, Peter Hansen. October 27, VATICAN PAPER CRITICIZED BOTH ISRAEL AND PALESTINE Novemebr 28, UNchief condemns Israeli barrier December. 3, Reflections on the Presence of the Church in the Holy Land,Latin Patriarchate December 4, National Interreligious Leadership Initiative, CMEP December 5, IRAQI RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IS TOP PRIORITY FOR NEW CHALDEAN PATRIARCH,CWN December 11, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS PONTIFF, CWN December 16,Catholics after the capture of Saddam in Iraq, CWN December 16, Popesays waging war unilaterally is violation of international law December 17, IRAQI ARCHBISHOP DISCLOSES PERSECUTION UNDER SADDAM, Asian News December 19, Palestinians today are experiencing humiliation, Lutheran Bishop of Jerusalem, Christmas Message 2003 December 22, JERUSALEM PATRIARCH RIPS ISRAELI TACTICS, SECURITY WALL, Asian News December 22, They have mislead my people,Patriarch Sabbah Christmas message 2003 December 24, The Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem December 28, Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) IRAQ: Christmas Letter from Cliff Kindy December 29, UK Bishop Durham creticizes Israel, Haaret'z

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