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HCEF Conference Speaker Evicted from Her Home in Jenin

11-Nov-04
Contact: Patty James
(301) 951.9400
pjames@hcef.org

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The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF) hosted three women from the Holy Land - one Muslim, one Jewish, one Christian - at its 6th International Conference.  The women spoke about their sufferings and their commitment to work with one another for a just peace over a 17-day speaking tour sponsored by Partners for Peace.

Hidaya Najmi (Age 38) was the Muslim Palestinian participant.  She is a Senior Design Engineer with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).  Within a few days of returning to her home in Jenin, her family was evicted from their home by Israeli soldiers who seized the building.  Under gunpoint they were given five minutes to leave.

In an email to the friends she met on her recent speaking tour, Hidaya writes: "They told us, 'JUST LEAVE NOW.'  I tried to think fast to know what to grab - our ID, passports, money, my kids' books, some clothes.  Just when the five minutes ended, they opened fire, so we just left, the new refugees of 2004 again and again, and now we are staying with relatives."

On November 7, the IDF left her building, and Hidaya was able to return with her family to their apartment.  Hidaya writes, "It's horrible here; nobody is feeling safe.  I want to thank you all for sharing this hard time with me. We were all under great stress.  My husband Munther and the kids are sending their regards and thanks. Thank you all."

The full text of the presentation by Hidaya Najmi, Gila Svirsky, and Marianne Albina will be available at www.hcef.org on November 15th.  Other texts are available now - Click on the 6th International Conference logo to search the contents.

Lets all pray for the safety and security for all of the people of the Holy Land.

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*The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation is a tax-exempt, non-profit 501(c)3 organization, committed to improving the lives of Christians in the Holy Land through building bonds of solidarity with between Christians in the United States and Christians in the Holy Land. We have two goals: inform Americans about the Christians in the Holy Land and provide humanitarian assistance for the needy in the land where Jesus Christ was born, preached, died and rose again. www.hcef.org