Issues

Palestine

The Bethlehem Christmas Project

Posted on Tuesday June 5, 2007

My name is Ali Elhajj, and I am an average American by all counts with one exception: I am an Arab-American who grew up in the United States and Lebanon. I lived in Lebanon from 1979 to 1985 and was in Beirut during the Israeli incursion to oust the PLO in 1982.

I have been in the U.S. since 1985 and have not returned to Lebanon since. Like many other Arabs, I felt despair and anguish during the Israel-Hezbollah war last summer. And, like many Arabs, I was deeply concerned about the Palestinian people who suffered greatly in Gaza while the Lebanese were suffering in Lebanon.

I am deeply troubled by the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza and the role the Israeli-Palestinian conflict plays in the continuing discord in the Middle East. Following last summer’s war, my wife Jennifer and I decided to do all we could to help resolve this dreadful conflict.

With that idea in mind, I traveled to the West Bank to meet with B’Tselem (a highly respected Israeli human rights group) and the Israeli Committee Against Home Demolitions. I saw first-hand the terrible conditions under which Palestinians live and the fear of terrorism Israelis continually face. Upon my return to the United States, Jenni and I brainstormed ways to help.

This is how The Bethlehem Christmas Project (see http://bcProject.info) came about. Our project is dedicated to bringing about grassroots reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians.

In December of this year, through our project, former Israeli soldiers and Palestinians will work together to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Bethlehem. Our project will give Israelis an opportunity to witness the lives and suffering of Palestinians and Palestinians an opportunity to see Israelis in a different light.

We may only be able to make a small change, but it is a change we and others can build upon.

Ali Elhajj – FL