I know that many of you are following the news about what is going on in our area, and I?m sure that many are praying for peace. For more than a week I hesitated to write this letter, but today I feel so strong to write it. I?m aware that I?m emotionally involved in what I?m going to share with you. But even being so I?ll try to be objective with what I?m sharing.

The story I want to share, is a story of a simple Christian family from Bethlehem, in fact they are my in-laws.

Almost 2 weeks ago the Israeli army entered Bethlehem area, and a population of 70,000 people became under siege, the army announced curfew at the area and no one was allowed to leave his house. One of the most difficult areas, where my in-laws live, is the area close to the nativity Church were more than 260 Palestinians are hiding inside. Very soon after the invasion of the army the electricity was cut off for more than 5 days, also the water (I?m sure that some of you do not know what these words mean). Tanks are parking outside the door they were not allowed to put their head out of the window or the door. Who wants to do that anyway when you think that maybe one soldier will shoot at you! After 5 days the army announced that people can go out for 2 hours to buy some food, my mother in law wanted to do so when a soldier stopped here at the entrance of the house and asked here to go in, when she tried to explain to him that they were ?allowed? to go out to buy few things, it seams that he did not hear the news! He pointed the gun to here, and made her go back home. Of course you can add to that the fears they had, and the nightmares that the soldier will come in to the house. Slowly they started to run out of food, not speaking about money, when the only way to get it is to work and there was no work not only the last 12 days but the last 18 month, in fact I do not know how people survive there.

My 2 brothers in law, 18 and 26 years old, did not even get close to the window, they were afraid to be arrested for being young.

When I speak with them (and we do speak every day) we do not feel bitterness in their hearts toward any one, not even to the soldiers standing out of the door, but we feel frustration from the situation. Today they were allowed to go out to buy some food, my mother in law went to the market, but there was nothing to buy. The meet was spoiled because of the electricity cut, no fruits or vegetables? she bought few eggs hopping that they still good after being in the shop for so long.

This is a story of a family that their only Problem is being under curfew for 12 days, not having enough food and not having electricity for most of the time! But there are families who lost their beloved ones too.

I?m aware that there are many sad stories from the other side too, and I feel so sad for the entire killing that going on. We personally and also as a church are praying always for God mercy in our area. We pray for the safety for every one Arab or Jew, for the leaders and for all the families that are suffering. But I wanted to share with you some thing that you do not see in the news hoping that this will help you to pray more specifically.

Please continue to pray for the peace of the Israelis and the Palestinians. Pray for the believers in the country, for the Messianic Jews and the Christian Arabs, that God will use them as an instrument of peace in a land that missing peace.