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Gaza and Bethlehem University |
From the Office of the Vice Chancellor of Bethlehem University
Statement on the Situation in Gaza
The Bethlehem University community is deeply saddened over the events of the past several days in Gaza – and we are especially concerned for the hundreds of our graduates and their families who live there. On 28 December Pope Benedict XVI called for an end to the violence in the Holy Land and asked the international community to do everything possible to help the Israelis and Palestinians find a solution to the current conflict. The Pope stated that he is “profoundly saddened by the deaths, the wounded, the material damage, the suffering, and the tears of the peoples [who are] victim to this tragic recurrence of attacks and reprisals.” Read more. |
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From Sliema to Bethlehem |
 "This conflict can be described by one word, namely, occupation" - Patricia Crockford. Last night, Israeli troops advanced into Gaza , in a conflict that has already claimed the lives of over 440 Palestinians in just eight days. Living in the Middle East for over 40 years, Maltese nun Patricia Crockford tells of the human suffering she has witnessed. Surprisingly, the most memorable experience 72-year-old Sister Patricia (Rhoda) Crockford, from Sliema, shares does not involve the three major wars, two intifadas (Arab uprisings) or countless bombings she has survived; instead, she talks about a moment when music turned enemies into friends: "Many experiences from my long stay in this country stand out. I shall not say anything of the first time F16s flew over my head and bombed a building close to where I was standing, nor anything about armoured vehicles, personnel carriers, tanks, and helicopter gunships, which I learnt to distinguish during the intifada. Read more. |
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Bethlehem Wall Digs Deep Into The Hearts of Humans |
 Behind the cruel edifice of a wall around the birthplace of Jesus, an enclave of university students triumph in the face of adversity .
It was late Friday afternoon and I was finishing up my week's work in Bethlehem University when Brother Jack put his head round my door and shouted: "Hi John, every Friday a few of us go up to the wall - would you like to join us?"
Conscious though I was of "the Wall", the 70km-long, eight-metre-high monstrosity that attempts to divide Palestine from Israel , I thought in my naivety he was referring to a local pub. I said: "Sure, great, be right with you", only to find that it was indeed the wall and we were there to say the rosary walking up and down past the Israeli armed guards at the main checkpoint leading to Jerusalem . Read more.
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Graduates Succeed Despite Israeli Policies |
 Two years ago Mohammed was looking forward to graduation. He was planning a life after university and preparing to apply for a master's degree abroad. Life was going according to plan and he was happy. All of this changed the day he was arrested. After being held by the Israelis for 68 days without charge, Mohammed was eventually charged for being politically active on campus and he was imprisoned for 11 months. Nevertheless, today Mohammed, 23, is smiling. After more than a year served in prison, he returned to Bethlehem University and spent another year with his nose back in the books , catching up on lost academic time. This year he will become the proud owner of a business degree and join 533 other Bethlehem University students on the stage at graduation. Read more.
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Political and social leaders of the french muslim community visit bethlehem university |
“President Sarkozy will be attached to our talks, and he will know about our visit to Bethlehem University” Mrs. Valerie Hoffenberg, Special representative of President Sarkozy for the Bethlehem Industrial Park, said during the visit of fourteen Political and Social leaders of the French Muslim community to Bethlehem University (BU) on Wednesday, December 17, 2008. Mrs. Valerie Hoffenberg said that the purpose of the delegation’s visit to BU– led by her along with Mr. Boris Boillon, Special Advisor to President Sakozy for the Middle East- is to see the life of the Palestinian students on the ground, have a better understanding of their life conditions and learn more about how Christians and Muslims live together in Palestine. Read more. |
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