CHRISTMAS GREETINGS Issue 47- Winter 2007 1 ISSUE 47 • WINTER 2007 ORNERSTONE CA QUARTERLY PUBLICATION BY SABEEL ECUMENICAL LIBERATION THEOLOGY CENTER ...To bring good news to the poor by: Naim Ateek Photo: WorldVision

he existence of poverty in the world is scandalous. In the midst of so much individual and national T wealth, and in the midst of so much waste of food and resources, the predicament of the poor grows more hope- less and desperate, and many of us do not even blush.

The statistics are staggering. According to the World Bank, 1.1 billion people live on less than $1 a day and 2.7 billion live on less than $2 a day – a total of 3.8 billion in the world living in abject poverty. About 25,000 people die every day of hunger or hunger-related causes. In Israel-Palestine the situation of the poor is increasingly getting worse. According to the UNDP report on poverty in July 2007, 70% of households in the Gaza Strip live below the poverty line, while 56% of households and 19% of East Jerusalem IN THIS ISSUE households live below the poverty line. Some 42% of Justice and Poverty 1 households in the Gaza Strip live in extreme poverty and a by: Naim Ateek majority of , 58%, reported a decline in their Christmas and Poverty 5 household incomes in the last six months. by: Robert Tobin Children are the future 6 Poverty is an evil that must be eradicated. If some people can by: Margo Sabella argue that in olden days the economic structures of life made Education as a Means to End Poverty 8 it impossible to eliminate poverty, we have no excuses today. by: Munir Fasheh We know that it is feasible to conquer poverty. Our world possesses enough resources to drastically reduce the causes of Psychological and Emotional Effects of Poverty 11 poverty and provide a life of comfort and dignity to the by: Viveca Hazboun disadvantaged and marginalized. Today it is possible to address Roots of Poverty in Palestine 13 the reasons for injustice and exploitation that are the major Two Separate Economies inside Israel 14 causes of poverty and to create just economic structures that by: Jafar Farrah can lend themselves to the reduction and even the elimination of poverty. The tragedy lies in the fact that our global and The Gaza Tragedy 16 Ramadan and Poverty 18 Continued >> by: Zahra Khalidi 2 Issue 47- Winter 2007 Photo: Karin Brown national leaders lack the will to do it.

Can we imagine the billions of dollars the countries of the world, even the poorest among them, spend on the purchase of arms that kill and destroy people when millions of their own citizens are dying of disease and hunger? Even a fraction of such expenditures can alleviate the poverty condition of millions. From our perspective of faith, what is happening in the world today is tragic and insane. It is an evil that must be condemned and transformed.

Apparently, many leaders are concerned about their national and personal security rather than human security-the to all the above threats. The continuous In fact, we have been witnessing for a health and wellbeing of their citizens. deterioration of their situation is the long time the presence of systemic In his book, Madness in the Multitude: result of war and armed conflict as well structures of injustice subtly imposed by Human Security and World Disorder, F.O. as systems of structural violence that have the Israeli government that have been Hampson (Oxford University been imposed by the Israeli government. intended to keep the Palestinians poor, Press,2002) outlines three different The number of people whose lives are humiliated, and suppressed. The understandings of human security. The threatened by structural forms of objectives are quite clear – to drive the first has to do with threats to the violence is immensely more than those Palestinians into total submission and fundamental human rights of who suffer from physical violence. The ultimately to push them out so that they individuals. The second is humanitarian Commission on Human Security states would abandon their land and emigrate. and has to do with threats that arise from that “More than 800,000 people a year In such circumstances, the greatest need armed conflict and war. The third is lose their lives to [physical] violence. of the Palestinians is justice. Justice takes concerned with sustainable human While approximately 2.8 billion suffer priority over charity. We must not allow development. The last examines a whole from poverty, ill health, illiteracy and charity to become a substitute for justice. gambit of issues that threaten the well other maladies.” (Atack p. 116) being of people and stem from structural Many people believe that the government violence. These are the issues we need to Therefore, in our Palestinian situation, of Israel has taken advantage and even be concerned about rather than the there is an intimate and direct link abused the good will of the international accumulation of destructive weaponry. between poverty and occupation, community that has been alleviating the (See also The Ethics of Peace and War by between poverty and the Israeli suffering and the economic hardships of Iain Atack, Edinburgh University Press, oppression of the Palestinians. So long the Palestinian people. The occupation 2005 p. 114). as the occupation persists, the is the responsibility of the government Palestinians will remain humanly of Israel. Yet, the main burden of When one looks at the Palestinian insecure and their poverty will worsen. humanitarian aid has been borne by situation, it is clear that the Israeli Israel is well aware of the deteriorating international relief agencies. In other occupation has subjected the Palestinians economic conditions of the Palestinians. words, the human responsibility has been Issue 47- Winter 2007 3

dumped on the shoulders of the Christ, that though he was rich, yet for dispossession, and oppression. It is our international community, seemingly your sake he became poor, so that by his calling as children of God to continue with no strings attached. While poverty you might become rich” (2 Cor. to champion justice and liberation of all international relief agencies have been 8:9). Such words reflect the love of God our brothers and sisters who are pouring millions of dollars in aid to the shown to us in Jesus Christ. It is only oppressed. In the community of faith, Palestinians, the government of Israel has genuine love that can express itself the needs of people must be met. When been adamantly refusing to implement through personal sacrifice for the sake there is genuine love, there is sharing and international law. At the same time, it of others. Commenting on this verse, when sharing takes place, people’s needs has been entrenching and consolidating Gustavo Gutierrez wrote: “This is the are met. its occupation of the Palestinian humiliation of Christ, his kenosis (Phil. territories by confiscating Palestinian 2:6-11). But he does not take on man’s In his book, Matthew and Empire, land, building settlements, and refining [& woman’s] sinful condition and its Warren Carter (Trinity Press its system of humiliation, control, and consequences to idealize it. It is rather International, 2001) summarizes Jesus’ impoverishment of the Palestinians. In because of love for and solidarity with social and theological challenge to the this sense, charity has inadvertently men [& women] who suffer in it. It is to Roman Empire. The community of faith contributed to the prolonging and redeem them from their sin and to enrich as described by Matthew does not belong cementing of the occupation. them with his poverty. It is to struggle to the Roman Empire but is shaped by against human selfishness and everything God’s empire and is, therefore, Moreover, the miserable conditions of that divides men [& women] and enables constituted not by wealth, gender, status, the Palestinians and their need for there to be rich and poor, possessors and or ethnicity, but by becoming children humanitarian aid have left the dispossessed, oppressors and oppressed.” of God, the heavenly father (Matthew impression in the minds of many people (A Theology of Liberation. Orbis Books, 5:9, 45). This community has a different in the world that the Palestinian problem 1988, p.300. See also pp. 291-302) ethics regarding riches and the poor. is basically an economic problem. People Community members serve God, not have forgotten that the core issue is The struggle must go on against poverty, wealth (6:24). The goal of their political and not economic. The existence is not exploitative Palestinians have been expelled and accumulation through oppressive taxes displaced and their political and and tributes. It is not conspicuous fundamental human rights have been consumption and display; rather, wealth denied. The aid they need from the is to be used to provide what people international community is justice—the need to live. A wealthy man is to divest restoration of their political rights to himself of his “great possessions,” and their own land and the establishment of give to the poor (19:21-22). Almsgiving their own sovereign state in Palestine. is a vital practice marked not by As Christians and as people of faith, we reciprocity and calculated self-interest need to recognize the priority of justice but the secret meeting of needs (6:1-4). as we continue to struggle against The needs of beggars are to be met; material poverty and work for its lending to those who want to borrow reduction and possible elimination. One circumvents increased wealth and of the beautiful verses in the New indebtedness while making resources Testament comes from the letter of Paul available (5:42). These practices begin to the Church in Corinth. “For you to imagine a world that trusts God’s know the generous act of our Lord Jesus control (6:24-34), where economic

Photo: Karin Brown

4 Issue 47- Winter 2007 It is our Christian“ and human responsibility to promote justice. It “is easy to be charitable. It is harder to be just. justice matters more than imperial our charity as much as they need exploitation. (p. 127) justice. In Palestine, we must work for ending the occupation. It is the main In summary, I would like to emphasize reason for poverty. Wi’am the following points: 2. It is incumbent upon us as people 1. It is our Christian and human of faith to adopt and promote a more responsibility to promote justice. It is modest and simple lifestyle. We need easy to be charitable. It is harder to be to learn from the poor. Our pride and Christmas just. In many ways, the poor do not need our self-sufficiency must melt away; and our trust and dependence must Greetings be always placed in God. from Sabeel 3. Material poverty is a crime against God and our fellow human beings and it is largely caused by On behalf of all of us injustice and exploitation. We in Jerusalem and must struggle against it wherever , we wish you it exists. We must work against the unjust economic structures that all a Merry Christmas make and keep the poor poorer and blessings for and the rich richer. 2008! We wish to 4. We must recognize that express our heartfelt everything we have is a gift from God. God is the owner of thanks for all of your everything we have. We must be hard work and good and faithful stewards. We everything that each need to build a community of faith that, out of its love and gratitude of you does for justice to God, reaches out to others, and peace around the especially to the poor and world. oppressed, and works diligently to achieve justice and liberation for them. With deep appreciation, The Sabeel Staff and The Rev. Dr. Naim Ateek is the Director of Sabeel. Board

Photo: Pablo Pitcher Issue 47- Winter 2007 5

How to Christmas and Poverty Help: by Robert W. Tobin throughout his ministry. He saw the Sabeel has a small results of the Roman occupation and outreach program for hristmas can be and often is a the ways injustice and unabated power needy families during very difficult time not only for create conditions of poverty and its the holidays. C the poor but for those that by resulting suffering, humiliation, and the standards of the majority of the hopelessness. His mission to the If you would like to world are rich indeed. It is not the impoverished proclaimed by both word make a contribution, meaning of Christmas or the bible story and deed that God stands with the poor please use the enclosed of Christmas that makes it so, but rather and the oppressed against the evils of piles of dubious expectations that have tyranny, inequity, oppression and greed. envelope. been placed upon it, especially by Christian, Hebrew, and Muslim western culture. The cultural lore that scriptures convey the same message. If has made Santa Claus or his equivalent we neglect the poor and oppressed, into a representative of materialism if we do not share our wealth, if we holidays, through the piles of denial of makes it hard for those who cannot turn away from the lost, the least, the dismal poverty that infects our attain the levels of giving and getting and the last, we have not truly heard planet, seeking once again the birth of that are promoted by the commercial the word of God. It is not just the hope. May our gift giving always world. The deep and growing divisions condition of the poor that is at issue. include those who live in want. But between the haves and have nots are It is also the condition of our own souls. even more may we give the gift of abundantly clear at Christmas in many ourselves to those institutions and places of the world. The celebration of Christmas at its best structures that seek to address the is the celebration of hope. There is hope poverty of Gaza and the West Bank, the The reality is, however, that the for the poor. There is hope for justice. poverty of the vast majority of commercialism in the West that There is hope for peace. There is hope humanity, not with handouts but with undermines the true celebration of the because Jesus was born as the Word: political and economic action. Let us birth of God’s gift of hope to the world “The Word was made flesh and dwells hold up the reality of life for our also deadens our sense of connection among us.” God reached down into impoverished sisters and brothers to to the majority of God’s children who human history and declared that those whose policies create their misery. live each day in poverty. Christmas calls nothing, not angels or powers or things Let us hold fast to the message of the us to reflect upon our relationship to past or things to come, nor any creature birth of Jesus which always points to poverty at many levels. Failure to do can separate us from the love of God the realm of God in which there are no so distorts our souls and weakens our that was born in Bethlehem as the poor, where justice reigns, and where spirits. embodiment of hope. peace is not a dream but a reality.

The birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem So let us sort through the piles of crass And on Christmas Eve and whenever is remembered because of who Jesus materialism that contemporary we give and receive gifts, let us give was, what he taught, how he lived, died, Christmas too often offers, through the thanks for the ever-present Christmas and was raised. Jesus himself probably piles of meaningless gestures of the gift from God, his son Jesus Christ. did not grow up in abject poverty, but he certainly heard the cry of the poor The Rev. Robert Tobin has been actively working for a just peace in Palestine-Israel since his first vist there in 1994. Robert is the former rector of Christ Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 6 Issue 47- Winter 2007

ith more constraints on the Palestinian economy since Wthe onset of the second Intifada right through to the interna- tional boycott that was imposed on Pal- estinians after the January 2006 Pales- tinian Legislative Council elections, many families have become increasingly

Photo: Pablo Pitcher Pablo Photo: burdened in their struggle to make ends meet. Affording even the most essential of food staples has become a challenge.

The escalation in violence reached un- precedented levels immediately after the beginning of the second Intifada in 2000. The first two years were some of the worst that Palestinians have ever wit- nessed. Israeli military incursions and consequent movement restrictions such as curfews and closures created an over- whelming sense of insecurity for the peo- ple in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Many stories were told about parents dashing out to get baby formula, for ex- ample, only to return home empty- handed because of shortages or the threat of being shot at for violating curfew.

That time was characterized by a great sense of helplessness: markets were in- Children accessible, since curfews were imposed and little fresh food could be bought, if are the future available. Later, when curfews were lifted for a few hours once or twice a week, people were allowed to go out and by Margo Sabella purchase food. With all the restrictions being imposed, many family breadwin- Palestinian children have been the silent victims of the ners lost their livelihoods, their income declined, and often they were forced to Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Despite the fact that we see use whatever life savings they had. In them walking to school, playing hopscotch or soccer, addition, many women sold their and doing normal activities in the midst of very abnor- jewelry and other personal assets for mal circumstances, many of these children’s smiling cash, but all this soon ran out and peo- faces belie the fact that they are hungry. ple were left struggling even more. World Vision (Jerusalem, West Bank Issue 47- Winter 2007 7

and Gaza program) took part in relief did not have money to buy them new development and their overall health. efforts at the time in response to the shoes or clothes. Families have also need and delivered basic food staples struggled with buying school books. A Some of World Vision’s projects have to families in besieged West Bank schoolgirl from a West Bank village said deliberately been concerned with towns, such as Nablus and Jenin. that she has seen children pick up addressing children’s nutrition. A pilot discarded sandwiches during recess, project in cooperation with the Middle Each year since 2000, additional tiers because their parents were unable to East Children’s Institute offers over 200 of restrictions have been imposed on provide a packed lunch or an allowance girls in Beit Rima village in the the Palestinian population. The due to hardship. Ramallah district a healthy home construction of the Separation Barrier, cooked meal. This is part of a in addition to already restricted Many children are malnourished, comprehensive after school program movement and access, has had a severe which is exhibited by the stunted that includes art and drama therapy in impact on those breadwinners who growth in 9.9 per cent of children under order to alleviate the effects of the relied in the past on work inside Israel five in the West Bank and Gaza, conflict on these children. as the basis of their income. It is no according to statistics from the PCBS. surprise that the economic situation has The fact that they are not getting the World Vision’s programming in the continued to deteriorate, affecting more proper nourishment also has adverse West Bank and Gaza has focused on families. According to 2007 figures effects on their cognitive and behavioral improving the wellbeing of children in from the United Nations Development order to mitigate some of the effects of Program (UNDP), 58% of the poverty. All World Vision Palestinian population is below the programming is done in coordination poverty line, while 30% of the and cooperation with the local population can be considered extremely community in order to encourage their poor. This invariably has an impact on ownership and inevitably their full the lives and wellbeing of children responsibility for the continuing living under these circumstances. development of their village when it is

Photo: Pablo Pitcher Photo: Pablo time for World Vision to leave. As a child-focused organization, World Vision is concerned about what these The key to the future of development figures mean in the present and how among Palestinians is the emerging they will translate into the future if the generation of children. If they grow situation is not reversed. These falling up in a friendlier and healthier rates have had an impact on many environment, they will thrive and be aspects of children’s lives: the Palestinian able to influence nation building and Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) development of their own society, states that 24 per cent of children under gradually enabling humanitarian and 18 years of age are living in extreme development agencies to withdraw. poverty, according to a 2007 report on World Vision hopes to see the next the status of Palestinian children. Many generation transformed and families report that they have been empowered to control their own unable to provide even the basic destiny. Let us pray now for the will to necessities for their children. In Gaza, make it so. World Vision staff have reported that some families were unable to send their Margo Sabella is the Communications Officer for World Vision - Jerusalem, West children to school this year because they Bank, Gaza. She is a native of Jerusalem. 8 Issue 47- Winter 2007 Photo: World Vision World Photo: Education as a means to end poverty

and asked Gandhi, “Isn’t your goal to get “We must… do our best to form a class who may be interpreters between the British out of India?” Gandhi us and the millions whom we govern; a class of persons, Indian in responded that his greatest fear was for the blood and colour, but English in taste, in opinions, in morals, and in British to leave but for their institutions intellect… We have to educate a people who cannot at present be to stay. Similarly, in 1929, Palestinian educated by means of their mother-tongue”. peasants organized a conference in Jaffa, in which they raised the fundamental and From Thomas Macaulay, “Minute of 2 February 1835 on Indian Education,” Macaulay, Prose and concrete issue that the danger of British Poetry, selected by G. M. Young (Cambridge MA: Harvard University Press, 1957), pp-721-24.] education lay mainly in dismantling families, communities, and their relation to land as their source of livelihood; i.e., by Munir Fasheh Tagore, and Mohammad Iqbal in the dismantling their ways of living. Educated Indian subcontinent spoke strongly against Palestinians (those who are Arab ‘in blood oday, 170 years later, Macauly’s British education – not only for political and colour, but English in taste, in policy is accepted as ‘natural’; reasons but also, and more so, for ethical, opinions, in morals, and in intellect’) T today, educated Indians and social, cultural, and daily living reasons. either had their livelihood not connected educated embody Macaulay’s policy They spoke against its hypocrisy and logic. to the land or had that connection severed. and ‘dream’.1 This does not mean there In a heated discussion between Gandhi Their nourishment and nurturance were was no resistance to such a policy. Gandhi, and Nehru in the 1940s, Nehru got angry not connected to what the soil produces. Issue 47- Winter 2007 9

The belief that education can end poverty fabricated in institutions. We need to of people. In this article, I use poverty to reflects – more than anything else – differentiate between education as a refer to the situation of a person who has poverty in the imagination and, concept that is abstracted from real been robbed of what s/he has or has been consequently, in the options we can create situations where learning happens rendered worthless. Ending poverty, in in living. Can there be a more striking naturally with a specific meaning in each this sense, is related to regaining what example of such poverty than offering particular context, and education as an people have been robbed of, to freeing children and students a single path to abstraction that has belittled the the self from the pattern of consumption learn, to know, to progress? The in living, and to rethinking dominant dominant form of education professional meanings. Professional cannot end poverty; if anything, To end poverty, we need to words and meanings are given by it can only continue to deepen “ ‘experts’ with an aura of science and it. To end poverty, we need to look for what caused it in the scholarship. Such words dwarf people look for what caused it in the first “first place: greed, robbing people and ignore them as sources of place: greed, robbing people of of what they have, and the belief meaning and understanding. They what they have, and the belief in in a single path for progress. haunt them by making their worth a single path for progress. dependent on arbitrary tests, Pluralism is the suppressed committees, and symbols. In short, attitude and value; education has they are words that pollute our been instrumental in eroding it. It is thousands of ways in which people live minds. unimaginable to impose the same food and learn. Learning, which is an on all children, or impose the same suit abstraction from countless life activities, We feel, see, and talk about the pollution on all youth, but imposing the same suit disappears and, in its stead, an abstraction of soil, air, and water, but rarely about (curriculum) on the minds of all students grows that was formulated in official the pollution of the mind. This is mainly is not only accepted but also demanded institutions by licensed experts and done through rootless words, such as and embraced! professionals. Education is an abstraction development and education, which – as that shows no trace of its origin. Similarly, Uwe Poerksen says – sound friendly, Language reflects reality and at the same we need to differentiate between poverty good-intentioned, positive, and expert- time shapes it. Thus, before we talk about as an abstraction that was formulated in related, but they mask brutality. With a how education can end poverty, we need the age of development, and poverty as a word such as ‘development’ (in the form to clarify what we mean by words and word that has many meanings in the lives it was conceived and implemented since abstractions such as ‘poverty’ and

‘education’. When ‘education’ is Photo: WorldVision mentioned, what comes to mind is rarely images of swimming, cooking, conversing, walking, playing tablah [Palestinian drum], dancing, planting, riding a bicycle, contemplating, sewing, or storytelling. What comes to our minds are schools, textbooks, tests, and grades.

The above discussion points to the importance of differentiating between two kinds of abstractions: one which is rooted in life and another which is 10 Issue 47- Winter 2007 Photo: Karin Brown 1949), one can ruin an entire region2. An education that considers destroying a car a crime but destroying the Earth as progress (as what physics and chemistry, for example, have been doing for at least a hundred years); an education that believes that having computers in schools is better than having tablahs or that accepts graduates of teachers’ training people is an outcome of an impoverished Palestinian society (as well as within colleges but not illiterate storytellers as ideology; healing from it is a prerequisite others): hospitality and generosity. They fulltime teachers; is an education that to ending poverty of our imaginations, are crucial in ending poverty. A main produces poverty rather than alleviates it. our senses, and our worthiness. As early challenge, then, is how and in what sense Such education makes it possible for us as 1908, the well-known Palestinian they can be embodied in education. It is to continue to live in insane systems and educator Khalil Sakakini refused to use also worth mentioning here that the above impoverished worlds. this poisonous concept of failing students mentioned characteristics are necessary but in his schools. not sufficient factors in ending poverty. In What does all this mean in relation to * Healing from that plague of the modern this sense, this article is a call to rethink ending poverty within Palestinian society? world in which we start with what is the basic assumptions and meanings Putting it concisely it means: wrong and trying to fix it. This means related to education and poverty. * Unplugging ourselves from the that we must start with what we are not consumption pattern in living. Stated poor in, with what is beautiful, inspiring, I would like to end this article by telling differently, living simply and with what healthy, and abundant. the story of a dear American family that is available in one’s surroundings. * Re-inverting the dominant way of has two wonderful children. The daughter * Bringing back pluralism as a natural learning and knowing: we need to start is energised by school; it satisfies her aspect in life, as an attitude, as a way of with life, with experiences and real curiosity and brings out her creativity. For living and as a value. This includes interactions rather than with words and their son, on the other hand, school systems of knowledge, ways of learning, concepts. makes no sense; it stifles his natural and sources of worthiness of people. * Recovering the fundamental right curiosity and creativity; it is unable to see Diversifying learning journeys necessarily (which ironically, or may be intentionally, what he does well, beautifully, and what requires retrieving appropriate amounts was – seemingly not considered at all in he does that is good for the community, from the educational budget and the Universal Declaration of Human respectful of others, and giving of allocating them to support various ways Rights) to independently investigate himself.3 Which one is the true nature of and settings. meanings of dominant words; i.e. to co- schools? The fundamental issue that the * Bringing back the well being of people, author meanings. question raises is to regain a pluralistic communities and nature as a fundamental attitude in various aspects of living value in living, which means avoiding These characteristics are related to another because it is crucial for the well being of doing anything that is harmful to such aspect that has been eroding within people and of nature. well being. * Reducing the situations where people 1-The Arab Human Development Reports, the Dubai Initiative, and official conferences in the Arab world are good examples of such embodiment that carries Macaulay’s logic. are compared along a linear measure that 2- An excellent example of this is the film “Darwin’s Nightmare” written and directed by Hubert Sauper. claims to be objective and universal. A 3-These aspects of his worth are what are embedded in Imam Ali’s statement, “the worth of a person is crucial aspect of a community is whether what s/he yuhsen”. The word yuhsen in Arabic has several meanings: does well, beautiful, good, gives from self, and respectful. For more on this, see http://www.almoultaqa.com/aljami3ah.com/ it considers every person valuable or not. Dr. Munir Fasheh is the founder and former director of the Arab Educationl Forum at the Center of Middle Giving failure “certificates” to young Eastern Studies at Harvard University. He has returned to establish the forum in Palestine. Issue 47- Winter 2007 11

Psychological and Emotional Effects of Poverty Photo: Pablo Pitcher

by Viveca Hazboun left me feeling proud and enjoying a overcome their difficulties, venture into healthy slim figure. My mother sold a a new brave world of altruism and giving, “ e are blessed with poverty.” I wedding piece of jewelry that she had to growing and maturing, serving and being thought I would start this buy me my first watch, which I still keep exhilarated by the capacity to do so. The W article with this surprising with great appreciation. Growing up as a loss of life due to this political traumatic comment about poverty. Poverty has been Palestinian refugee, surrounded by people experience of ours touched us personally associated with an increased incidence of who also lost a great deal of material when in 1991 I lost a fetus of sixteen mental illness, but I cannot concentrate things but often also lost loved ones, left weeks due to exposure to tear gas that was on this pessimistic outlook. I reflect about me feeling grateful that my loss was only used rampantly at the time by the my own childhood, growing up after my material. Our family, though injured by occupying forces. This personal tragedy parents who had been affluent in Palestine the war, was spared the tragedies of only reinforced my desire to serve people suddenly became poor refugees, and how human loss. For that we all felt very and to look at each person as my child this traumatizing experience left us grateful, but the real loss of life had and family. struggling to survive. My father worked surrounded us and of course had affected very hard to support his family. I grew our lives. This capacity to feel gratitude It is evident that all that is traumatic is up eating less at meals so that the rest of is one of the sources of creativity and not necessarily traumatizing, but with the my family would have more to eat. This passion that I believe inspires people to recent trauma that we are surrounded by Photo: Pablo Pitcher

12 Issue 47- Winter 2007

throughout the world it is only restricting forces are the tools needed to reasonable to deduce that traumatic give oneself another chance in life or to events do have an impact on the human find and live with inner harmony despite being, often in a negative and paralyzing the restrictions of poverty. way. Trauma is mentioned here because being poor or becoming poor due to a A clinical vignette is indicated here to traumatic war experience complicates the give this a bit of a scientific perspective. picture even further. Occasionally, A lady in treatment was breast feeding traumatic and life threatening events her infant in the therapy session and leave people feeling exhilarated with their Environmental factors that seem to began to cry, wondering how she would survival and with their life, and they aggravate the situation and allow the feed the other kids at home. She seem to be empowered by the experience. persistence of poverty are evident when expressed a wish to be given a bomb to They do not seem to let material or wars persist with no opportunities for detonate at the check point of the human losses and imposed poverty crush work. Even education and self occupying forces. If she became a their creativity or passion. The limiting development become contingent on the martyr, then at least her children would factors that play a role in determining nonexistent financial stability. be proud of their mother. The therapy which direction the reactions to poverty included giving the woman a project of will take in a certain human being are Biological and or biochemical medical embroidery to get busy with and she was multi-factorial and complex as human limitations that may contribute to the paid for this work. She overcame her beings are. There are certain categories perpetuation of the cycle of economic destructive impulses and now runs an that can help us sort this out. As human limitation often need state support organization of her own where two beings are an amazing mosaic and piece which often is lacking in developing hundred women embroider and their of art consisting of a mind and a body, nations that are trying so hard to exist. products are sold overseas. genetic heredity, environmental impact, Genetic/ hereditary traits that limit the learning, habits, modeling and last but capacity of individuals from changing Simplifying the many different not least spiritual identification, we can with interpretive or behavioral psychotherapeutic interventions is an conclude that the reaction to poverty can interventions become their accepted injustice to each and every one of those be a highly individualized experience existence. It seems as though sometimes, categories. They deserve to be elaborated which needs to be dealt with at all these in situations of poverty, one becomes on and discussed thoroughly and levels. accustomed to the devil one knows and separately. This is beyond the scope of is not willing or able to venture to face this article. However, I hope that this For most, poverty is experienced as another, unknown existence. brief presentation helps the reader to frustrating and limiting their capacities become familiar with the author’s and existence. For some, poverty has It is important to realize that despite all attempt to understand and intervene in played a very serious destructive cycle in of the above factors, there are many the cycles of poverty as they become a their lives which may lead to mental situations that science cannot seem to destructive force, hoping to encourage illness, socio-pathic behavior, or towards explain and understand so far, and that the readers to believe that it is possible self-destructive behavior as seen in drug Hope and Faith play a big role in giving to turn a negative situation into a positive or alcohol addiction or gambling. people the courage not to be paralyzed one and helping the patient to adopt a by the burdens of poverty. Willpower new direction that is less self harming Behavioral analysis of the symptoms and and the determination to change the and limiting and more optimistic. the way they are reinforced would also be crucial to the understanding of the Dr. Viveca Hazboun is a Diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Adult and Child intricacies of the human being’s reaction Psychiatry. She is the founder and director of the Guidance and Training Center, a mental health center, in to poverty. Bethlehem, a consultant of the Palestinian Ministry of Health for the Development of Mental Health Services in Palestine and a member of the WHO Steering Committee for Mental Health in Palestine. Issue 47- Winter 2007 13 Roots of Poverty in Palestine overty in Palestine has its roots in plant in Gaza, which nearly 18 months the West Bank to five crossing points nearly 60 years of economic and after the June 2006 air attack is only able similar to the Karni crossing in Gaza. This Pmilitary dominance by Israel to export one third of the power it was will reduce the commercial traffic which has extended to cover almost every designed to provide - with profound substantially as well as increasing transport aspect of Palestinian life. The World Bank impact on daily life, physical and mental costs because everything crossing the estimates that the economy of Palestine health and community morale. The border will have to be transferred from should have grown by 5% in recent years occupation of the West Bank and one truck to another. This additional but has actually contracted by 40% since continued military control of the Gaza burden of West Bank’s economy will drag 2000 because of restrictions caused by the Strip has involved Israeli destruction of it further into unprofitability. Movement occupation. homes, agricultural land and restrictions are not only applied at the infrastructure as well as separation of border. A network of nearly 600 Although the dominance over Palestine communities form water and land checkpoints, settler-only roads and has been growing since the State of Israel resources needed for agriculture and a military areas within the West Bank was established in 1949, it increased productive economy. separate communities from one another significantly in the aftermath of the 1967 and make travel for trade, employment war through the subsequent military In August 2005 Israel withdrew its settlers or social purposes difficult, time occupation and associated settlement and armed forces from Gaza Strip. Yet consuming and expensive. More than movement. More recently, following the Israel remained in effective control by 60,500 West Bank Palestinians living in victory of Hamas in the Palestinian retaining control of Gaza’s air space, sea 42 villages and towns will be enclosed and parliamentary elections on March 2006, space and external borders, which resulted unable to access their agricultural land or and its refusal to recognize Israel as a in a denial of access to markets, foodstuffs, water without permits to use Israeli Jewish state, renounce the armed struggle medicines and fuel. This denial has controlled gates which are often locked. or abide by agreements previously made become extreme since June 2007 when Another 500,000 Palestinians will require by the Palestinian Authority, the Hamas gained effective control of Gaza’s permits to cross the checkpoints to trade, international community suspended aid internal administration. The crossings to use markets and seek employment. to the Palestinian authority and Israel Israel and Egypt were closed and all withheld Palestinian tax revenue for more imports and exports were stopped except than a year. This had severe consequences for very basic humanitarian supplies. as the PA has lost three quarters of its 65,000 jobs were lost in the monthly income and was unable to pay manufacturing and construction salaries to public sector employees. This industries within a month. Agriculture exacerbated the poverty that Palestinians was severely disrupted with inputs of were already experiencing so that a seedlings, fertilizer, pesticides and quarter of 3.8 million Palestinians have materials for greenhouses prevented from no income, while at least 4 out of 10 entering. At the same time farmers have Palestinians live under the official poverty been obliged to sell their produce at a loss line of less than US$ 2.10 a day and within Gaza because they are not allowed unemployment stands at least 40 per cent. to export any of it

Israeli military activity has destroyed In the West Bank, the separation wall is much of the Palestinian civil now nearing completion. Israel plans to infrastructure - such as the only power restrict commercial traffic into and out of Photo: Aspire 14 Issue 47- Winter 2007 Two separate economies inside Israel Photo: Pablo Pitcher by Jafar Farah

n spite of the significant gaps in socio-economic levels between the Palestinian Arab and Jewish communities, I the Arab minority has the potential to contribute billions of shekels to the state economy.

Israel, ranked number 23 out of 177 countries by the 2006 UN Human Development Index report, prides itself as its status of “the only developed country in the Middle East.” Arab families and 400,000 Arab children live below the With its sophisticated exports and high standard of living, poverty line. The average annual income of an Arab Israel’s economy has been growing at almost 5 percent a worker stands at just $7,700, compared to the $19,000 year for the past four years, and state economists claim annual income of their Jewish counterparts. Despite that this trend will only continue. While the most well-off Israel’s burgeoning hi-tech market, only 0.15% of Arabs sector of the population has enjoyed the fruits of this are employed in this industry. growth, the weaker members of the population have lingered behind. The Arab population, almost 20 percent This situation, however, cannot be fully attributed to of the population of the state, has not been party to the the recent economic policies of Israel. Two separate economy’s growth, despite the enormous economic economies have existed in Israel for years, and the issue potential of this community. In fact, the Arab community’s of employment and the status of Arab citizens in the standard of living has actually declined in the past few years economy lie at the root of this predicament. In due to lowered incomes and welfare cuts as a result of the particular, the employment figures of Arab women economic reforms of 2003. indicate a large economic potential that remains underutilized — Arab women constitute half of the total Figures of the National Insurance Institute show that number of Arab students at universities in Israel, yet poverty among Arab families is increasing, even though only 18% of Arab women are employed. According to improvements have occurred among poor Jewish families. the Mossawa Center economist, Amin Fares, full The poverty rate among Arab families has risen from 52 employment of Arab women could contribute 6.2 to 54 percent in the past few years, and almost 146,000 billion NIS to the Israeli GDP.

Mr. Jafar Farah is the Founder and Director of Mossawa Center, the Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens in Israel, which supports capacity building for NGOs, conflict prevention, and equal socioeconomic status for Arab Israelis. Issue 47- Winter 2007 15

SABEEL SPRING WITNESS VISIT February 28 – March 7, 2008 (9 nights inclusive)

• Meet with Palestinian Christian and Muslim leaders of civic and religious organizations and Israeli advocates for justice. • Learn the stories of Palestinian Christians and share the worship that sustains their faith. • Share thoughts and reflections with others from around the world who are working to end the conflict.

TRIP INCLUDES VISITS TO COMMUNITIES IN OCCUPIED AND ISRAEL WITH 4 NIGHTS IN JERUSALEM, 3 NIGHTS IN BETHLEHEM AND 2 NIGHTS IN THE GALILEE

COST: $1050 per person, $200 single supplement, includes all accommodations and meals for 9 nights plus all ground transportation. Does not include airfare, transfers to/from the airport, and any additional nights requested in hotels.

INFORMATION, REGISTRATION, AND TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS Contact Sabeel at [email protected], call 972 2 532 7136, fax 9722 532 7137

A TIME FOR REMEMBRANCE, A TIME FOR TRUTH: AN-NAKBA, JUSTICE AND BEYOND

INTERNATIONAL SABEEL SABEEL SEVENTH YOUNG ADULT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CONFERENCE July 24 - August 3, 2008 November 12 - 19, 2008 More info: [email protected] More info: [email protected] 16 Issue 47- Winter 2007

Human Casualties From mid June until the end of October 2007, 142 Palestinians,

Photo: Karin Brown Photo: including 12 children, were killed and 293 were injured, including 17 children.

Health Due to the lack of spare parts, much of the equipment of the Ministry of Health is no longer functioning. 20% of essential drugs and 31% of essential medical supplies were at zero availability in October 2007, while 11 out of 18 psychiatric medications in use in primary health care facilities have been unavailable since August 2007. The UNRWA Community Health Program and Palestinian Centre for Democracy and Conflict Resolution have observed a growing proportion of the population The Gaza Tragedy experiencing psychological symptoms. Food security The following facts and figures are provided by the Office for the Coordination of Although most critical UN Humanitarian Affairs on November 28, 2007. To read the full report go to www.ochaopt.org. humanitarian food supplies are being allowed in, only 41% of Gaza’s food import needs are currently being met. Since June 15, 2007, when Hamas took control of the 1,200,000 Gazans are now receiving Gaza Strip, the people of Gaza have faced shortages of food assistance from the UN which is food, medicine, and raw materials for commerce and only able to meet 61% of caloric need. Significant price increases and industry. The Israeli sanctions on fuel, forthcoming shortages of basic food commodities reductions on the delivery of electricity, and further have been reported in Gaza since July. restrictions on imports, will have additional repercussions The purchasing power of the for the densely populated Gaza Strip. The humanitarian population is extremely low, resulting concerns in the Gaza Strip are increasing as a result of in a reduction in expenditure on food these events. and clothing. Issue 47- Winter 2007 17

Water and Sanitation In October, the public provider of water and sanitation services received 50% of the amount of fuel it needs to operate its wells, pumping stations and treatment plants. Since July, Israeli authorities have denied coordination for spare parts and equipment required for a number of essential projects. As a result, 210,000 people are able to access drinking water supplies for only 1-2 hours a day. The poorest households who cannot afford to buy water from private companies have started to alter their hygiene and sanitation practices. The Peace Tapestry

Shelter and Relief Continues! The lack of access of goods into the Gaza Strip has meant Squares are coming in for the Peace Tapestry for Sabeel’s that humanitarian projects valued at $213,000,000 are on 7th International Conference sent from people around hold. The suspension of UNRWA and UNDP housing the world which have a single theme: peace for all peoples and especially those who live in Palestine and Israel. and construction projects has translated into the loss of an Where is your square? estimated 1,380,000 work-days for the construction sector, thereby increasing unemployment and economic hardship Why a peace tapestry? for thousands of workers and their families. As a symbolic start to Sabeel’s Seventh International Conference, November 2008, this tapestry will be unrolled to express both our obligation and our concern for peace. We as people of the global church have a special message to share – to let the people in the Middle East know our desire for real peace. This vision will be relayed, three ‘squares’ in a row, creating a “path of peace.”

How do you make your square? 1. Use a solid piece of cotton as background material, 30x 30cm or 12 x 12in. 2. Embroider, sew, knit, paint, draw, or write on any type of material – use your imagination! 3. Please put your name on it.

Send your Peace Square soon to: Sabeel, PO Box 49084, Jerusalem 91491

‘There is no path to peace, peace is the path’ Mahatma Gandhi 18 Issue 47- Winter 2007

observing the fast is supposed to induce a comfortable feeling of peace and calm. It also allows Muslims to practice self- discipline, sacrifice, and sympathy for those who are less fortunate, and is intended to make Muslims more Photo: Catholic Relief Services Catholic Relief Photo: generous and charitable.

Ramadan is also a time when Muslims are supposed to slow down from their worldly affairs, focus on self reformation, spiritual cleansing and enlightenment, Ramadan and Poverty and establish the link between God almighty and themselves by prayer, by: Zahra Khalidi supplication, charity, good deeds, kindness, and helping others.

amadan is the ninth month of month of Ramadan, Muslims around the Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, the Muslim calendar. It is during world get up before dawn to eat the Muslims prepare special foods and buy R this month that Muslims Suhoor meal (the pre dawn meal) and gifts for their family and friends and for observe the Fast of Ramadan. Lasting for perform their fajr prayer. They break giving to the poor and needy who cannot the entire month, Muslims fast during their fast when the fourth prayer of the afford it. This can involve buying new the daylight hours and in the evening eat day, Maghrib (sunset), is due. clothes, shoes and other items of need. small meals and visit with friends and There is also a social aspect involved - family. It is a time of worship and Laylat al-Qadr, which falls during the last the preparing of special foods and contemplation, a time to strengthen third, commemorates the revelation of inviting people for the Iftar meal (the family and community ties. the first verses of the Qur’an and is meal to break the Fast). considered the most holy night of the Ramadan is a special time of year-a time year. Ramadan ends with the holiday Eid The above-mentioned festivities, when Muslims around the world take a ul-Fitr, on which feasts are held. however, take place in Muslim countries step back from their daily routines and that are blessed with stability and peace. focus on community, charity, fasting, and During Ramadan, Muslims are expected Unfortunately, in Palestine, due to prayer. It is considered the most to put more effort into following the increased impoverishment and economic venerated and blessed month of the teachings of Islam and to avoid obscene straits resulting from arbitrary Israeli Islamic year. Prayers, fasting, charity, and and irreligious sights and sounds. Purity measures after Oslo and especially after self-accountability are especially stressed of both thought and action is important. the the Aqsa Intifada, people have been at this time; religious observances The fast is intended to be an exacting unable to enjoy the warmth and festive associated with Ramadan are kept act of deep personal worship in which spirit of Ramadan. Increased family visits throughout the month. Muslims seek a raised level of closeness have been impossible as the West Bank to God. The act of fasting is said to has been severed into three almost The most prominent event of this month redirect the heart away from worldly separate districts in the north, central is the daytime fasting practiced by most activities, its purpose being to cleanse the areas and south, apart from the currently observant Muslims. Every day during the inner soul and free it from harm. Properly total separation from Gaza due to the

Issue 47- Winter 2007 19 Ramadan is a special time of year-a time “ when Muslims around the world take a step All I Have “back from their daily routines and focus on Tawfiq Ziad community, charity, fasting, and prayer. I never carried a rifle On my shoulder Or pulled a trigger. checkpoints and the Wall. This has last six years. The wheels of the Palestinian All I have caused impediments in the face of family economy have almost ground to a ties and festivities, especially if a wife and standstill as more than 120,000 Palestinian Is a flute’s melody husband come from different areas of the workers were deprived of their jobs in A brush to paint my dreams, north and south of Palestine for example. Israel due to the checkpoints. Moreover, A bottle of ink. Relatives such as siblings, uncles and the Israelis continue to destroy Palestinian All I have aunts, grandparents, grandchildren, infrastructure and they have confiscated Is unshakeable faith cousins, nephews and nieces do not see over 250,000 dunums of agricultural land And an infinite love each other any more on these occasions. and have razed 80,000 dunums in order For my people in pain. so members of the younger generation to build the separation Wall, thus causing grow up without knowing each other or detriment to the situation of becoming close. approximately 16500 farmers. The Israeli occupying forces also uprooted Moreover, the economic situation has approximately 1,35 million trees and Palestinian households in general suffer deprived hundreds of thousands of destroyed 70,000 houses either fully or from poverty today; with a ratio of nine children, adults and elderly citizens from partially, in addition to causing half a out of ten in Gaza and one out of two in the joys of Ramadan as heads of million injuries and more than 4500 the West Bank. Only one out of three households are unable to guarantee even martyrs. On the economic level Palestinian people have a job and each employed the provision of the basics, let alone the losses have reached almost $16.5 billion person supports six dependents. More sweetmeats and luxuries of Ramadan. between direct and indirect losses. persons are experiencing deep poverty and food insecurity than ever before, with The roots of poverty in the Palestinian The plight of Palestinians has thus children in Gaza experiencing territories during the recent period revert worsened dramatically since September unprecedented rates of malnutrition. to a number of factors which 2000, with 2.4 million now living in accompanied the siege imposed by the poverty, according to a report recently All these indicators obviously mean that Israeli military machine during the Aqsa published by the International Labour Ramadan this year constituted a form of Intifada. The most important of these Organization (ILO). Additionally in a torture for the Palestinians who were factors are the killings, destruction, razing study of territories including the West forced to remain in restricted areas, of agricultural land, and the uprooting Bank, East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip and hardly able to visit their relatives or to of trees. In addition, Palestinian cities the Golan Heights, the UN agency said provide even the most basic foodstuffs were declared closed zones and the economic crisis had accelerated with for their children, with the knowledge transformed into cantons and large the number of households below the that they should be having a good time prisons, while villages were isolated from poverty line increasing 26 percent in the during the holiest month of the year in each other by the Israeli occupying forces year up to March 2007. Seven out of ten the whole Arab and Muslim worlds. who have utilized more than 500 new checkpoints in the West Bank over the Zahra Khalidi is the Monitoring and Development Consultant at the Arab Thought Forum. 20 Issue 47- Winter 2007 Purpose StatementÉy Sabeel Sabeel Sabeel is an ecumenical grassroots liberation theology movement among Palestinian Christians. Inspired by the life and teaching of Jesus Christ, this liberation theology seeks Ecumenical Liberation to deepen the faith of Palestinian Christians, promote unity among them, and lead them Theology Center to act for justice and love. Sabeel strives to develop a spirituality based on justice, peace, P.O.B. 49084 Jerusalem 91491 non-violence, liberation, and reconciliation for the different national and faith communities. Tel: 972.2.532.7136 The word ‘Sabeel’ is Arabic for ‘the way’ and also a ‘channel’ or ‘spring’ of life-giving water. Fax: 972.2.532.7137 Sabeel also works to promote a more accurate international awareness regarding the identity, Sabeel-Nazareth presence, and witness of Palestinian Christians as well as their contemporary concerns. It PO Box 8862 encourages individuals and groups from around the world to work for a just, comprehensive, Nazareth 16300 Israel and enduring peace informed by truth and empowered by prayer and action. Tel: 972(4)6020790 E-mail: [email protected] For more information on Friends of Sabeel groups in your area please contact our Visit our website at: International representatives or the Sabeel Center in Jerusalem. www.sabeel.org E-Mail addresses: General E-mail: [email protected]; Local Programs: [email protected]; Clergy Program: [email protected]; Friends of Sabeel: [email protected]; Youth Program: [email protected]; Public Relations: [email protected]

Friends of Sabeel Friends of Sabeel Friends of Sabeel Friends of Sabeel North America (FOS-NA) United Kingdom (FOS-UK) Scandinavia Australia (FOS-AU) (U.S. and Canada) Jennifer Oldershaw Reverend Marianne Kronberg The Revd Dr. Greg Jenks Canon Richard Toll 8 Silver Street Centralvägen 21 A PO Box 822 PO Box 9186 Dursley S - 135 51 Tyresö Kenmore, QLD 4069 Portland, OR 97207 Gloucestershire Sweden Australia USA GL114ND E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +61 (0) 408 767 344 Tel: (1)-503-653-6625 U.K. Tel: +46 70 609 5010 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01453 544655 www.sabeelskandinavien.org Website: www.faithfutures.org/sabeel www.fosna.org E-mail: [email protected] www.friendsofsabeel.org.uk Friends of Sabeel Friends of Sabeel France Canadian FOS (CFOS) Friends of Sabeel Gilbert Charbonnier 3 Sandstone Court Ireland (FOS-IR) [email protected] Nepean, Ontario 9 Sycamore Road K2G 6N5 Dublin 16 Friends of Sabeel Canada Ireland The Netherlands E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 00-353-1-295-2643 [email protected] Website: www.sabeel.ca E-mail: [email protected] www.vriendenvansabeelnederland.nl