Two weeks before Start of Annapolis Peace Summit German journalists and academics inform about daily life of Bethlehem Students

13 November , 2007

Visitors of the German Association of Catholic Publishers and the Thomas Morus Academy learning about the situation of Bethlehem University students

On Monday, November 12 th , two weeks ahead of the scheduled beginning of the US - backed Peace Summit in Annapolis , USA , journalists of the German Association of Catholic Publishers and teachers of the Thomas Morus Academy in North Rhine Westphalia visited Bethlehem University .

After having lunch prepared and served by students of the Bethlehem University Institute for Hotel Management, Brother Daniel Casey, Vice Chancellor of the University, and Dr. Moin Halloun, Chairman of the Arabic Department, welcomed the Guests in Cardinal Furno Hall and expressed his deep appreciation of the continuing interest and support by the German friends of the University. Referring to the fact that among the five students that were present during the visit, four were young women, Brother Daniel highlighted that, with a percentage of two thirds female students, Bethlehem University “plays a vital role in providing equal education and job opportunities for both Christian and Muslim young women.”

Deep appreciation of the German support: Brother Daniel welcomes the guests in Furno Hall

“I am surprised by the open-mindedness and the self-confidence of those young women. They definitely do not fit the clichés that exist about women in the Arab world.”, commented one of the visitors.

The ongoing Israeli occupation of the West Bank , however, makes it impossible for the young Palestinians to live a normal life. Large parts of Bethlehem are surrounded by the Israeli separation Wall and only few inhabitants are allowed to leave the West Bank without a special permission by the Israeli military, which is difficult to obtain. That makes things that one would actually taken for granted impossible for most of the students. “I would really love to enjoy the beach in Tel Aviv or Haifa during summertime, but having a Palestinian ID card I can not go there”, explained Stephanie Nasser, a third year Computer and Information Systems student.

“Surprising self - confidence”: (from left to right) Students Rawan Bannoura, Dana Bannoura, Stephanie Nasser und Vivian Ghobar and Public Relations Officer Dina Awwad

Moreover, Stephanie recalled far more drastic experiences she made in the year during the second Intifada and the curfew imposed by the Israeli military.

“We were forced to stay in our homes for a period of forty days and could only leave for a few hours once or twice a week. The electricity supply was cut and Israeli military destroyed the water pipes. Under those circumstances we were locked in for one and a half months. It was terrible.”

Dina Awwad, a 2005 English Literature graduate who now is the Public Relations Officer at Bethlehem University , described the situation of the Palestinians as follows: “We are forced to live with a constant feeling of uncertainty. At any moment, anything could happen.”

In spite of all difficulties the young adults do not give up their hope for a better future.

“Meeting these brilliant young people has inspired me. The University really gives them an outlook for the future”, said Dr. Thomas Seiterich who is an editor for the German Christian Magazine Publik Forum . Jürgen Springer, Editor for the magazine Christ in der Gegenwart (Christians Today) , stated at the end of the visit: “I am glad of having visited this unique place.”