Relief for Palestinian Christians

Tim Hetzner, President of Lutheran Church Charities, just returned from taking over $15,000 in relief aid to Israel and Palestine to support Christians who are being persecuted from both sides in the current war raging in the Middle East. All the money was donated by individuals thorugh Lutheran Church Charities.

Click here to see our Donation Policy.

Pictured at right: Tim presents cash to Rev. Mitri Raheb, pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem on Sunday, September 7, 2003.

Tim will be returning to the Middle East in February to bring more aid to the Christians. "They figure they will be all dead in a year," Tim said upon his return. "Their only hope is [support from] each other and knowing where they will go when they die."

Click here if you wish to donate to the Palesintian Christian Relief Fund.

Wheat Ridge Ministries was also on the same trip with Tim. To read their views on the experience, click here: http://www.wheatridge.org/projects/bethlehem/newsletter_sept2003.shtml

Pictured Below: Tim presents cash to the directors of Four Homes of Mercy in Bethany on Saturday, September 6, 2003.

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Facts

Prior to the conflict, 63% of the Palestinian economy was tourism. Now, it's gone.

The average annual income is $2400.

Israel is continuing to build massive settlements, there are now over 100 illegal settlements (consider a settlement as a city)

The illegal settlements are using 80% of the Palestinian's water.

Dar al Kalima ran out of water the last day Tim was there - September 9th, 2003.

Each time a settlement is built (on Palestinian land), Israel claims a security perimeter, (on Palestinian land) and cuts off more territory removing farmers from their fields and access to towns.

This program of planned development and segregation will create a situation that when a Palestinian State is created, it will be non-viable because it will have non-contiguous borders cut off by Israeli security fences, (on Palestinian land).