Distributed by the www.ArabAmericanNewsWire.com
6 September 2011
Bethlehem, Palestine
Dear Alumni and Friends of BethlehemUniversity,
Generally, I am delighted to writeto you with some encouraging news about happenings at Bethlehem University.Today, however, I have some disturbing and unfortunate news to share with you.
A Bethlehem University Professor andStudent Survive Two Separate Attacks by Israeli Settlers
In the early morning hours of Monday, 5 September 2011, while travelling in theWest Bank between the Palestinian villages of Al-Lubban and Turmos Aya and nearthe Israeli settlements of Ofarim and Bet Ariye along the Nablus-Ramallah, Dr.Adwan Adwan, a faculty member in the Arabic Department at Bethlehem University,was the victim of a violent attack by some 20 Israeli settlers who threw rocksin his face, injuring his head, shoulder, and stomach. His car was blocked by apile of burning tires when he quickly came under what he said felt like awell-orchestrated ambush. Dr. Adwan eventually was able to speed away from thescene and get himself to a hospital for treatment. "I felt lucky to escapewith my life," he says.
On the same day and further alongthe same road, near the settlement of Shiloh in the Palestinian Territories,Miss Yara Odeh, a Bethlehem University masters degree student, was the victimof a violent attack by some Israeli settlers. Yara found herself stuck in whatappeared to be a traffic jam caused by Israeli settlers pelting cars withrocks. With the road blocked, she escaped from her car through the passengerdoor and ran toward nearby Israeli soldiers, calling for help. She reportsbeing refused help and being told to return to her car. "The settlersseemed not so much interested in damaging the car as they were in harmingme," she says of the incident.
The Bethlehem Universityadministration is extremely disturbed by these attacks on members of theacademic community. "We value the lives of our faculty and students,"says Dr. Michael Sansur, Executive Vice President at Bethlehem University."Each and every day our faculty engage our students in promotingdemocracy, peace, and justice. We are fortunate to have a campus atmospherethat is known to be an oasis of peace. These violent and aggressive attacks onour students and faculty from Israeli settlers in the Palestinian territoriesare horrifying and unjust. We are grateful for the well-being of Dr. Adwan andYara in surviving these traumatic events and pledge to continue in our effortsto prepare our graduates to take their place as ethical leaders in fosteringshared values, moral principles and dedication to serving the commongood."
As reported in the media and by theUnited Nations, there appears to be an increase in the number of Palestinianswho are being attacked by groups of Israeli settlers. The United Nations andother international human rights and aid organizations report that more than500,000 Israeli settlers, many of whom are armed, occupy the West Bank and EastJerusalem.
Please continue to keep us in yourprayers.
Blessings to you,
Brother Jack Curran, FSC, PhD
Vice President for Development
jcurran@bethlehem.edu
Bethlehem University in the HolyLand
Rue des Freres
Bethlehem - Palestine
Tel: +972-2-274-1241
Fax: +972-2-274-4440
www.bethlehem.edu
