Beleaguered Bethlehem

EDITOR:

For two weeks I stayed in this unique Palestinian city-the birthplace of Jesus. I returned to Minden in early March. What a contrast it was to my visit in the early '70s. The economy of the city has been based on tourism with its many shops, restaurants, and souvenirs.

But, alas, Manger Square and the once-lively souk are nearly deserted. Israeli tour companies have squeezed out Palestinian agencies through special laws imposed on the area. The Israelis now monopolize the industry.

At one time, Israeli tours would make a brief transfer in Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity - now most do not even offer this amenity. The Israeli government is attempting to suck the life out of Bethlehem. Tourists are told that Bethlehem is "dangerous." During my stay, the only fear I felt was in the presence of the teenage Israeli soldiers wielding guns.

Not only are tours not coming to Bethlehem, but the residents of the area are increasingly subjected to repression: Movement is restricted by roadblocks and checkpoints, children (ages 13-17) are regularly being put into prison, land is being confiscated for building military posts, the apartheid wall is being expanded, trees and orchards are being destroyed, people live in fear...

Residents never know when they might be assaulted by gun-toting soldiers who regularly set up roadblocks or march haughtily down the streets.

Many former Christian residents of means, have moved to other parts of the world because their livelihood and safety were threatened. The apartheid wall had separated them from family, friends, sources of goods, and markets.

The blatant persecution of the Palestinian people and the illegal occupation of the West Bank has motivated some main-stream Christian churches to adopt Holy Land tour guidelines. Authorized groups are required to spend certain percentages of time in the West Bank (Palestinian Occupied Territories).

These Christian churches support human rights and abhor injustice. They wish for visitors to experience the "living stones"-the people who dwell in the area.

My plea to your readers: if or when you journey to the Holy Land, spend some time in Bethlehem, Jericho, or other West Bank occupied towns.

Visit the Church of the Nativity and Shepherd's Field in Bethlehem. Enjoy the narrow stone walkways and Palestinian handicrafts. Interact with locals who are eager for outside contact. Spend some money and support the economy of these beleaguered people.

Linda Hiebert Sekiguchi

Minden