The assassination attacks by the Israeli apache helicopters continues, but this time a 3 year old child and a twelve years old boy were killed. I believe these two children were a great threat to the Israeli security. Does Israel believe it is better to kill them now before they grow up and become terrorists?

The assassination attacks by the Israeli apache helicopters continues, but this time a 3 year old child and a twelve years old boy were killed.

I believe these two children were a great threat to the Israeli security. Does Israel believe it is better to kill them now before they grow up and become terrorists?

This time they did not kill their so called target, but killed two children and injured 7 others.  Israel has the green light from the international community to continue with its aggressive actions against us, conveniently masked as a so called fight against terror. But what do you all call what Sharon is advocating against our civilians? Even Europe is demanding that Arafat arrests all Islamic activists, but have they forgotten why there is a conflict here? They must understand that as long as there is the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine, we have the right to fight against it and to demand that we live our lives in freedom and in dignity.

Stop and think about the real issue in the Middle East; the issue of occupation in the 21st century. Stop and think what time of year is this; it is Christmas where Bethlehem and Beit Sahour would be full of tourists. Where pilgrims and others join to celebrate the season of Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ.  Thousands walk from the Nativity Church to the Shepherds’ Fields in Beit Sahour. Our souvenir shops would be full with tourists, buying our traditional handicrafts of olive wood carving, mother of pearl and embroidery.

I am Christian from Beit Sahour. Today I still have no Christmas tree out nor Christmas ornaments decorating my home. Usually my two daughters, Salam who is eight and Luna who is seven, ask weeks before now, “Mama lets put the Christmas tree out.” They have not asked about Christmas this year. They do not feel the Christmas spirit they used to have before. The spirit of Ramadan and Christmas has been lost, another consequence of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

We urge Moslems and Christians all over the world to reach into your hearts and ask the question, who is the real terrorist here? Is it little 3 year old Burhan Haymouni from Hebron or is it Mr. Sharon, a man with a dubious military past?

Please, do not turn your backs on us the Palestinians, because of the fundamental elements. They are not representative of most Palestinians’ views. We want to find peace for all the people in the region but we must have a fair and just peace. Most of all, we want the Israeli army to stop murdering our children.