quote:

---

Dear brothers and sisters,

Occasionally something comes to us which I feel I "must" pass on to
you. As you know, the Palestinian crisis has a significant impact on
our ministry of sharing Christ with Arab Muslims, who are consumed
with the suffering of the Palestinian people, and who see "Christian"
America and Europe blindly supporting all that Israel is doing.

It is clear that neither side is righteous or just or has "clean
hands." It is clear that the high standards and calling of Jesus of
Nazareth are being missed "by a mile" by both sides, and that the only
hope for the situation is that both Jew and Arab would meet and be
transformed by Jesus. He alone can bring the needed forgiveness,
reconciliation, healing. And so we pray for this. And pray that God
would raise up many people to minister to the Muslims of Palestine
(because Islam has within it no means for forgiveness and
reconciliation and healing between warring parties).

In the meantime, if you are concerned to know perspectives on the
Palestinian situation beyond what normally appears in the media, read
the perspective below. It is from a Christian Palestinian, Sami Awad,
who directs the Holy Land Trust. He gives a perspective on what is
happening in Bethlehem.

If you want further insight, I recently read a very moving letter to
American Jews from Assaf Oron, one of the first of the Israeli army's
"refuseniks" (those who have refused to serve any longer in the
Occupied Territories), explaining his stand. It was published in the
American Jewish magazine Tikkun. I would be glad to send it to anyone
who emails me and requests it.

Praying for Peace,
Dear brothers and sisters,

Occasionally something comes to us which I feel I "must" pass on to
you. As you know, the Palestinian crisis has a significant impact on
our ministry of sharing Christ with Arab Muslims, who are consumed
with the suffering of the Palestinian people, and who see "Christian"
America and Europe blindly supporting all that Israel is doing.

It is clear that neither side is righteous or just or has "clean
hands." It is clear that the high standards and calling of Jesus of
Nazareth are being missed "by a mile" by both sides, and that the only
hope for the situation is that both Jew and Arab would meet and be
transformed by Jesus. He alone can bring the needed forgiveness,
reconciliation, healing. And so we pray for this. And pray that God
would raise up many people to minister to the Muslims of Palestine
(because Islam has within it no means for forgiveness and
reconciliation and healing between warring parties).

In the meantime, if you are concerned to know perspectives on the
Palestinian situation beyond what normally appears in the media, read
the perspective below. It is from a Christian Palestinian, Sami Awad,
who directs the Holy Land Trust. He gives a perspective on what is
happening in Bethlehem.

If you want further insight, I recently read a very moving letter to
American Jews from Assaf Oron, one of the first of the Israeli army's
"refuseniks" (those who have refused to serve any longer in the
Occupied Territories), explaining his stand. It was published in the
American Jewish magazine Tikkun. I would be glad to send it to anyone
who emails me and requests it.

Praying for Peace,

---