Resurrection

During our time in Bethlehem we went to visit an organization called Wi'am, and I met an amazing man named Zoughby Zoughby.

Wi'am Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center is located in Bethlehem, just a metre or so away from the wall. It is a nice building with a small playground. It was started in 1994. Its goal is so simple and so complex- to provide the Palestinians of Bethlehem and sorrounding area with hope and to try help the society function as normally as possible within the context of the occupation.

The occupation has hit the society in many different ways. There is the ever present reality of checkpoints, closures and land confiscations, lack of water and environmantal degradation. Over 80% of Palestinian children show signs of trauma, anxiety, or fear. Many youth are turning to drugs and alcohol to escape the situation around them. Domestic violence, something that did not happen often in Palestinian families, is becoming more and more common as people frustrated by the repression begin taking it out on others. Things look bad and they are.

Yet Zoughbi Zoughbi does not let that demoralize him. Wi'am brings Palestinians together to resolve disputes. It organizes outings for children and teaches democratic values to the society. It organizes people to peacefully resist the occupation.

Zoughbi Zoughbi and his staff treated us to a delicious meal. In Palestinian homes, the hosts keep on offering food and don't stop until you almost have to insist you are not hungry anymore.

He then spoke to us about his group and his motivations. Wi'am believes that Christians, Muslims and Jews need to live together one day. He backs a two state solution, with both sides living side by side. He wants Israelis to see the humanity of the Palestinians, and the Palestinians to see the humanity of the Israelis. Although he opposes the oppression of the Israeli government against his people, he does not associate all Israelis with what their government is doing and is critical of actions of those Palestinians and Arabs who have violently targeted Israel and its people.

Zoughbi does not want Palestinians to dwell in victimhood, guilt, or finger pointing. All of these, he says, are destructive. According to him, for Israel's sake it must end the occupation. He is working with Israelis in the peace camp who are struggling for the same thing.

When Zoughbi was 16 years old, he was stopped at a checkpoint and had no ID with him. He was forced to stand with his hands up, face to the wall. Every time he moved he was beaten. He went home angry and humiliated. He got involved in the resistance but did not use any violence. In 1978, he read and was inspired by Gandhi, Martin Luther King and the anabaptist churches. He began leaning towards seeing non-violence as the only way to fight for his people.

Zoughbi is an amazing person. He is also a Christian, and his faith is so evident in his activism. He told us how his faith in Christ not only did not allow him to use violence, but more importantly, to not lose hope.

I will end this post with a quote. It does not require any explanation or extra words on my part. There is enough of that here already. Read it, pray, and rejoice in the work that God is doing in Bethlehem through our brothers and sisters in Christ.


" We talk about the stations of the cross, but the tomb is empty. We're maybe on the 10th or 12th station, but there will come resurrection".