The Spirit Filled Work of Making Peace in Palestine: Sister Grace Miriam's Experience by Sister Grace Miriam Pleiman, SFP
Dear Sisters and Associates, I cannot tell you how thrilled I was when Continental Flight 85 from Tel Aviv, Israel, touched down on American soil in Newark , New Jersey on January 26th 2006. I was returning from a five-week term of volunteer service in Hebron , Palestine with the Christian Peacemaker Team. Two of the eight other Members who were there at the same time as I were citizens of England . One was a 78 year old man (born Jewish who later joined the Mennonite Church after he served in the British Army). He and his late wife raised 12 foster children. The other person was a British woman doctor, who specialized in Plastic Surgery. She has worked in a Palestinian Hospital in Bethlehem for the past year. Others were a woman finance manager from Washington, D.C.; a middle aged woman minister from Tiffin, Ohio; a young seminary student from Maine; a retired actress from the Finger Lakes in Upstate, New York, and a former CBS News reporter who was earlier of Hebrew faith; and finally, Sister Kathie Uhler, the other Franciscan Sister of Alleghany.
I felt as much communion with these eight diverse people as I have in any community in which I have lived in the States. Each came with a dedication and direct intention to be in solidarity with the Palestinian people who day in and day out live under the prison-like, restrictive Israeli Occupation. Having experienced and having understanding of their fate, it was no great hardship to endure the soldiers carrying M16 rifles while required to pass through the check points every time we left or entered our apartment street. Each day one of us was assigned to either prepare the 8 a.m. Worship Service, prepare 6 p.m. dinner, clean up dishes afterwards, or log the activities of the day for the monthly update. During school days at 7 a.m., we took turns patroling the streets between the children's school areas with the intention of reducing the possible threat to violence provoked by Israeli settlers. Palestinians have lived under the Occupation since 1967, which means that they have no rights except to follow the soldiers and government laws. Already in the early 1970's, Israelis began to build the first settlement in the West Bank territory partitioned by the United Nations to Palestine in 1948.The settlers who occupy these communities take every opportunity in their sight to harass and do harm to Palestinians. Their Zionist goal is to rid them of this land entirely in accord with their understanding that God gave it to them alone through Moses. During my time there, the threat of violence was heightened due to the impending Palestine elections plus an eviction order by the police of settlers occupying a building under a Palestinian lease. For this reason, we patrolled the streets every hour or two for possible danger. When any threats occur, such as throwing stones to harm passers by, we immediately videotape and photograph the situation along with documenting it. These are sent to our constituents, who in turn send these to our respective governments. With other blocks of time we went two by two to visit families in nearby villages that we have made acquaintances with for words of encouragement and support. A special highlight for me was to be in Bethlehem over the Christmas holiday. Sister Kathie and I celebrated midnight Mass at the Bethlehem University Chapel operated by the Christian Brothers. That night we stayed in University Housing where two German and two Philippine Sisters were housed who work at the University.
With the unexpected Hamas victory as Palestine 's leading Party, it remains to be seen if anything regarding the Occupation and the continued building of the Wall will change. We need to pray earnestly for a stop to these two oppressive, spiritual evils.
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Franciscan Sisters of the Poor
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