Holy Land: Catholic church in Jenin damaged in Israeli offensive

Holy Redeemer church, Jenin

Source: Vatican Media/LPJ

Holy Redeemer church in Jenin was damaged during the Israeli military operations this week, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said on Tuesday. In a statement quoted by the Anadolu news agency, Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa said that Jenin was "facing an unprecedented Israeli aggression that targets people and land. The Latin Parish in the city has suffered damage from this aggression." The Patriarchate released photos showing the scale of damage incurred by the parish.

Patriarch Pizzaballa called for an immediate cease-fire and "for reaching mutual dialogue to prevent such unjustified crimes." The Patriarch warned that there would be many more victims if the issue of Palestinian self-determination with their own State is not resolved.

He told Vatican Media: "Once again, it is not the first, and unfortunately, I fear, it will not be the last time, we are witnessing a military operation in northern Samaria, in the Jenin Refugee Camp, intent on striking some cells of Palestinian resistance, armed resistance."

"We know that these are temporary solutions," the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem warned. "Cells will continually resurface, and until the structural problems are resolved, especially that pertaining to the dignity, freedom and self-determination, of the Palestinian people with its own State, these temporary, painful situations, with many victims, will continue on both sides."

A note also issued by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said the Israeli army's assault on Jenin represented an "unprecedented" aggression, with "barbaric acts" that also destroy sacred places and annihilate people who are eager and deserving of a dignified life.

The text speaks of an "Israeli aggression" during which, it said the local Church and Church community was also hit. The communiqué concluded with a plea for an immediate ceasefire and an end to "unjustified crimes."

About three thousand Palestinians fled the Jenin Refugee Camp in the northern West Bank as a result of the Israeli military operation. Jenin's Mayor, Nidal Al-Obeidi, said those who fled found accommodation in relatives' homes and shelters. At least twelve Palestinians were killed, apparently all very young, between 16 and 23 years old, four probably under 18, all militants, according to agencies.

The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that at least 120 people were wounded in the two day operation, of whom at least 20 are in a serious condition. Again, according to the Israeli army, all are linked to militias.

The Israeli army declared the end of their operation and left about 1am Wednesday morning. The streets of the town are filled with rubble and damage to shops has been reported. Columns of smoke have been seen on the horizon, while the refugee camp is without water and electricity.

The operation in Jenin, according to Israel, was directed against "terrorist infrastructure" where attacks were planned, used as weapons depots and as shelters by militiamen involved in attacks.

This was the largest Israeli military operation in the West Bank since the second intefada, in the early 2000s. Hundreds of soldiers patrolled the area, seizing weapons and blowing up tunnels used by suspected militiamen, while in Tel Aviv, a car driven by a Palestinian ploughed into pedestrians injuring seven people, three of them seriously. The driver was killed by a member of the public.

The action was claimed by Hamas, which spoke of a "heroic attack" as the "first response to the crimes of the occupation" against the people in Jenin. Throughout the West Bank, meanwhile, Palestinians observed a general strike in protest against the operation.

"These days negotiations between the two sides are almost non-existent," Father Labib Deibes, parish priest in Jenin, told Vatican News.

"We, in the last 24 hours, have experienced difficult times, something very similar to a war: explosions, planes, tanks, all against the Palestinian people, that is, against some young people who have the right to defend their land. The situation has been very difficult," he added, wishing "the Palestinian people to regain all their rights and to live in peace in their land."

"We want to help the inhabitants of Jenin, first with money to repair the destruction that has taken place, and then by doing everything possible so that the Palestinian people regain all their rights, after we have regained them we will no longer need foreign aid and we will be able to live happy and free," said Father Deibes. He recalled how the Palestinian people, "have always lived thanks to aid, but we do not want handouts, we want our rights and if we take our rights we can live and provide for our livelihood on our own."

"I ask the international community," he appealed, "to find a solution to this conflict that has lasted 75 years."

Palestinian National Authority President Mahmud Abbas called on the UN and the international community "to intervene urgently to force Israel to stop the evacuation of the inhabitants."

The spokeswoman for the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs, Vanessa Huguenin, said she was alarmed by "the scale of operations by air and land" and "the shelling of a densely populated refugee camp."

The NGOs Doctors Without Borders, and Medical Aid For Palestine expressed concern that during the incursion they were unable to provide health care as road were blocked and ambulances rammed by armoured vehicles.

The Israeli Army withdrew from Jenin about 1am Wednesday morning.

Bishop Declan Lang and Bishop Nicholas Hudson from the Bishops Conference of England and Wales have prayed for those killed, injured and displaced in the "alarming escalation of violence in the Holy Land."

They said in a statement: "We pray for all those innocent people killed or injured in Jenin and Tel Aviv during recent days, as well as those families in Jenin who have been driven from their homes.

"Worsening violence in the Holy Land, perpetuated by continued violations of human dignity and international law, has already resulted in the highest death toll for decades. As Christians we have a responsibility to act in solidarity with the local churches and all those working to establish a lasting peace rooted in justice.

"Today we affirm our fraternity and closeness with the Church in the Holy Land, including the Latin parish of Jenin, and all those affected by this most recent violence."

Jenin is an ancient Palestinian town that can trace its history back to the 14th century BC. The refugee camp next to the town was established in 1948 to house Palestinians expelled from their homes after the formation of the State of Israel.

Holy Redeemer parish say on their website: "Jenin is in northern Palestine, in the area where Jesus restored ten lepers, in the village of Burquin. Like the majority of Palestinian cities, Jenin faces three challenges: 1) Occupation, which makes the general movement of the people very difficult, with many check points on the roads. 2) Dire economic conditions resulting in unemployment for the most of the young generation. 3) Moving to other parts of the country or outside of Palestine for the same afore- mentioned reasons. Jenin, including camp Jenin, has a population of 50,000, the majority is Muslim. There are 300,000 residents in the 82 villages around Jenin. The Arab American University and Al-Quds Open University are located in Jenin, and the Haddad Tourist Village, the largest in the Middle East.

Jenin's foundation was in the past century. The small Christian community is about 150 people, all Catholic. The Italian Congregation of the Daughters of St. Anne came to serve at the end of the 20th century during the time of Father Samama who served Jenin from Nazareth. The buildings of the Jenin mission were built between 1950 and 1963 during the time of Father Zakaria Shomali, the kindergarten built in the time of Father Alphonse Salah. Christian and Muslim (about 80-90) children attend the kindergarten, which is run by an administration team of a Christian lady, two Muslim and two Christian teachers."

LINKS

Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem: www.lpj.org/
Holy Redeemer Parish, Jenin: www.lpj.org/diocese/jenin-parish.html