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AEI-Open Windows News
International Conference
Shaping
Communities in Times of Crisis
Narratives of Land, Peoples and Identities
6-12
November 2005
On Monday, 7th
November, 2005, the AEI-Open Windows (20
members; administration and Staff,
internationals and volunteers, women and youths)
participated in the public opening of the
conference, which was organized by the
International Center of Bethlehem (Dar Annadwa).
There were
speeches by;
His Grace Rev. Dr. Munib Younan,
Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of
Jordan and the Holy Land,
Dr. Victor Batarseh, Mayor of
Bethlehem,
Mr. Ziad Bandak, Minister of Tourism
and Antiquities of the Palestinian National
Authority, and Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, General
Director of ICB.
During the
opening there were musical performances, which
was a mixture of eastern and western styles. We
attended also the opening of the International
Art Exhibit
Then the
attendees were invited for a candle light vigil
in the streets of the Old City of Bethlehem in
solidarity with the Palestinian community of
Bethlehem in their national struggle for
justice, peace and freedom. The scout of Beit
Sahour Lutheran School performed and for the
gathering. The march made four stops. First,
at the Greek Catholic Church, where the members
were greeted by Fr. Jacoub Abu Sa’deh – the
parsh priest – and sang some religious peace
songs. The participants continued their vigil
through the historic road in the Old City to the
Orthodox Syrian Church where they heard the
bible in Aramic read by Fr. Jacoub Isaac – the
parish priest. The Syrian scouts group
welcomed the participants and played the
bagpipes at the Nativity Square and infornt of
the Umar Ibn Al Khattab Mosque, the Mufti of
Bethlehem, Shaikh Abdal Majid, welcomed the
participants and spoke about the Christianand
Moslem relations and the desire for solidarity,
justice and end of occupation. At St.
Catherine’s Catholic Church, the final stop took
place. Finally the march proceeded back to Dar
Annadwa for a celebration of buffet dinner. |
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