The Israeli military has gone one step further in denying a young Christian woman her right to complete her bachelor degree at the Vatican-sponsored Bethlehem University in the Holy Land.
On Wednesday, 28 October 2009, we learned that Ms. Berlanty Azzam, a Bethlehem University student studying business administration and translation, was arrested by the Israeli military.
On Thursday, 29 October 2009, we spoke with Berlanty via mobile phone and learned that on Wednesday night at 11:00pm the Israeli military loaded her into a military jeep – blindfolded and handcuffed – and moved her from Bethlehem to Gaza – against her will.
Since August 2005, Berlanty, a 21 year old Christian woman, has been a student at Bethlehem University. “Since 2005, I refrained from visiting my family in Gaza for fear that I would not be permitted to return to my studies in the West Bank,” said Berlanty. “Now, just two months before graduation, I was arrested and taken to Gaza in the middle of the night, with no way to finish my degree.” Berlantyis scheduled to complete her bachelor degree in December 2009.
Why was she removed from Bethlehem (in the West Bank and not in Israel) and taken to Gaza? Just because her address in the Israeli-controlled Population Registry is listed in the Gaza Strip- but she lives in Bethlehem and has done so since the year 2005.
We need your help. Berlanty needs your help. What can you do to help?
RIGHT NOW, please send an email to:
Ø The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Avigdor Liberman): sar@mfa.gov.il
Ø The Israeli Minister of Religious Affairs (Mr. Yaakov Margi): yakovm@dat.gov.il
Ø Your elected representatives in your home country.
Let them know that you demand that the Israeli military immediately return Berlanty Azzam to Bethlehem so that she can resume and complete her last few weeks of studies to complete her bachelors degree at the Vatican-sponsored Bethlehem University.
Visit our website (www.bethlehem.edu) and Gisha (www.gisha.org) for more updates.
May God Bless You!
Dear Friends of Bethlehem University,
Thank you for your tremendous outpouring of support for our student and your student: Ms. Berlanty Azzam.
Many of you shared with me the emails you sent to the Israeli military authorities to demand that they return Berlanty from “detention” to Bethlehem University to complete her last couple weeks of classwork for her bachelor degree. Thank you for writing to the Israeli military.
Now, we have learned that they moved 21 year old Berlanty (blindfolded and handcuffed) from Bethlehem to Gaza.
May I ask you once again – time is of the essence – to write an email to
* the Israeli Foreign Ministry
* the Israeli Mnister of Religious Affairs
* Your eleced officials in your home country.
This time, may I suggest that you demand that the Israeli auhorities immediately return Berlanty from Gaza to Bethlehem to complete the last two months of her bachelor degree.
See the attached press release for more details.
Blessings to you as you work and pray for justice,
brother jack
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Brother Jack Curran, FSC, PhD www.bethlehem.edu
Vice President for Development Tel: 972-2-274-1241
Bethlehem University Fax: 972-2-274-4440
Location Address: Rue des Freres, Bethlehem, Palestine
Temporary Mailing Address: PO Box 11407, 92248 Jerusalem USA Office Br. Dominic Smith, FSC, 3025 Fourth St, NE – Suite 330, Washington, DC 20017-
1102
Email: dsmith@bethlehem.edu
