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Jewish violence against Arabs continues with barely a notice from the biased, mainstream American news media. Recently, settlers burned down a wheat field in the Christian village of Taybeh
By By Maria C. Khoury, Ed. D.
I have survived the Israeli security check one more time in safely returning to the village. My prayer is for peace and stability so that I may organize the Taybeh Oktoberfest, September 19 & 20, 2015 in accordance with our non-violent action.
We always try to be a shinning light in the middle of darkness.
In a brief conversation with the Mayor of Taybeh, Mr. Nadim Barakat, I was surprised to understand so much violence is happening around me although I am trying to carry out a typical daily schedule at the newI Taybeh Golden Hotel and the Taybeh Winery.
Twenty dunums (approximately 5 acres) of Taybeh land planted with wheat was put on fire in the middle of the night (June 24) next to the settlement of Rimmonim. (This settlement is built on confiscated Taybeh land belonging to local families for centuries).
The Israeli police and Israeli civil administration came to the location on the spot and were appalled at this arson attack while the owner Mr. Khaldon Hanna has experience a great loss. The settlers seem totally out of control in their hate crimes. May our Lord have mercy!
Furthermore, this month the Israeli extremists attacked a peaceful Christian church at the very site where Christ fed 5000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish near the Sea of Galilee in Tiberius referred to as the Church in Tabgha (originally called Epta Pygon). This is actually one of the most famous Catholic churches and very popular on the pilgrimage trail. The Hebrew graffiti on the wall said something to the affect that all the false golds will be eliminated. So much for the only democracy in the Middle East.
We should just continue to pray, pray, pray.
Moreover, this year, the candle workshop at the Greek Orthodox Monastery in Capernaum was also set on fire by Israeli vandals. This Monastery is opposite the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.
It was fortunate that the fire fighters from Tiberius responded in minutes to Father Irenarchos so the damage was minimal but the workshop itself was completely ruined.
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Palestine Christian Writer, Blogger at St. George Greek Orthodox Church
Maria (Kouremenou) Khoury is the author of Orthodox Christian children's books including Christina Goes to the Holy Land, walking the footsteps of Christ. She is a graduate of Hellenic College (1982), Harvard University (1985) and Boston University (1992) with a doctor of education degree. Born in Tripoli, Greece, she was raised in Denver, Colorado. On Dec 31, 2009 she was included on the top 4 Human Rights Champions list by DC Human Rights Examiner including the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Hilary Clinton.
Maria is the author of Witness in the Holy Land (distributed by www.HolyCrossBookstore.com), a publication reflecting personal experiences living under military occupation with her husband the former Mayor of Taybeh, David Canaan Khoury and three children Elena, Canaan, and Constantine. Her articles have been published world-wide in numerous newspapers and magazines and have been translated to various languages bringing awareness of the Christian presence in the Holy Land.
Maria Khoury has been the Taybeh Oktoberfest organizer since 2005.She divides her time between her homes in Boston and Taybeh, travels throughout the world promoting the Christina Books and making presentations about the dwindling Christian community in Palestine.She encourages people to stay at the new Taybeh Golden Hotel and experience rural life in Palestine.
- Update from Palestine in wake of Coronavirus Pandemic - March 25, 2020
- Taybeh Oktoberfest is Happening Right Now! - September 9, 2018
- Taybeh OktoberFest to rock the West Bank this weekend - September 5, 2018
