Notes & Letters

Email from Glenn Witmer: 15 Apr 2002

Recently, Glen was asked how he was coping in Jerusalem and we received the following mini-update:

Q: How are you Glenn? Are you safe?

A: I am well... our day-to-day activity is not much altered yet as a result of the invasions. Most of the military incursions are well outside of Jerusalem, with Bethlehem being the closest at several kms. south along the road that runs by my apartment. Three of the several restaurants in this city which have been destroyed by suicide bombers are places where I have had a sandwich or pizza and when a bomb explodes here in the city, it reverberates through the living room.

Q: We get a lot of pro-U.S./Israeli news concerning the problems in the Middle East. If one searches the European press they seem to present a much truer picture about the whole dilemma. What's your take on this?

A: About the network coverage... we too are amazed that the USA has isolated itself from the world again. It is about the only supporter of the Israeli military machine and its goals. That is not to say that other countries support suicide bombings, but they see the issue as being caused by the intractable Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory for 35 years, and the dreadful oppression it has brought.

Q. Is there anything anecdotally you can say to give a sense for what the mood must be like during this time?

A. Some have spoken of experiencing denial: "There is no problem staying here if I do not identify it as a problem." Several teaching colleagues, and other ex-pats in the St. Andrew's congregation have recently packed up and headed for North America. Even the bombing of the local restaurants - three of the four had been places I visited for a soup and sandwich, as mentioned - did not have an overbearing effect on my own thinking... although I started to think more about things like the bus bombings after a bus-stop on the route I take to Tantur was one of those blown up. It was last Friday night when I went to the local synagogue service, that something clicked for me: There at the front gate, behind a large metal door that swung open when the bell was rung, stood an armed guard, rifle firmly in his grip, to receive and check all worshipers.

Q. What is the make-up of the population where you are - Jewish, Arab, Christian, Muslim, etc.?

A. Almost exclusively Jewish in the surrounding areas here next to the old city. Of course, inside the walls where I regularly walk through, the largest proportion of people by far is Muslim. The staff of the building where I live is Palestinian.

Q. What is the climate of hope/discouragement among people in your circles that peace can be attained?

A. Increasing despair was evidenced during the past several months. In the last 10 days, there is much more mention of anger from both sides against the other.

Q. How is this affecting your work and/or daily life - such as changes in activities due to security concerns?

A. I have not altered my activities so far, except to change some routes that pass through city zones and areas of the country that are especially dangerous at the moment. I have steered some guiding groups the long-way-round on some of the trips. The Bat Kol Ministerial study group that is scheduled to come in July is still on course. What is interesting is that almost no North Americans have registered for scholarships. The majority of the participants are from Sri Lanka, South Africa, India, Ireland, Philippines, and Australia (most of them are used to this level of uncertainty in their lives already). Also, I shall soon be beginning a regular e-mail newsletter for the north American Mennonite churches.

Blessings to everyone at Danforth.

Shalom and Salaam from Jerusalem. Glenn...

Note: Glenn is the North American Mennonite Church representative in Israel.