Holy Land Updates

Since October 7, financial hardships have increased for numerous families, especially in the West Bank and Jerusalem.  Struggling to make ends meet, worrying about their future and their children’s future in their beloved homeland. Since the beginning of the war, The Palestinian Authority has been unable to pay the full salaries of its public employees, many of whom are Christian. And many companies have adopted a budget cut to ensure their continuation amid this war, which affected the financial state of those families. Additionally, the suspension of many permits has resulted in the sudden loss of jobs for thousands of individuals who worked in Israel, leaving them to face the difficult task of finding new employment in the West Bank, where job opportunities are extremely scarce. Many Christian families working in the tourism sector have also been extremely affected due to the complete halt of tourism-related businesses, with over 3,000 Palestinian Christians losing their jobs.

To alleviate these families' financial burdens, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, with the generosity of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher members, launched a Job Creation project. This project is tailored to meet diverse needs, helping families sustain themselves during this period. Since October 7, 173 families from various Latin parishes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem have benefited from this ongoing initiative.

Below are heartfelt testimonies of how the generosity of others has impacted the lives of many individuals and families during these times of war.

#1 Testimony

Born in Gaza, 30-year-old N.A. fled to Ramallah with her family before the recent war, hoping for a better life. She has three younger siblings who are unemployed and were unable to complete their education due to financial difficulties. N.A.'s 60-year-old father suffers from numerous health issues that prevent him from working. He is completely blind due to high blood pressure and currently suffers from lung infections, requiring a constant supply of oxygen. He needs daily assistance, so N.A.'s mother stays at home to care for him and the rest of the family.

As the family's sole breadwinner, N.A. was fortunate to complete her studies and earn a diploma in Business and Project Management. When the war in Gaza began, the family's financial situation worsened, struggling to provide basic necessities after their house and family shop in Gaza were destroyed, their only sources of income before the war. Their dire situation improved when the Latin Patriarchate provided N.A. with a job as a secretary in the Christian Education Office in Ramallah. N.A. expressed her gratitude for this pivotal opportunity, stating, "The reemployment project has been life-changing for me. It has helped ease my daily worries and struggle of providing for me and my family in these devastating times."

#2 Testimony

M.S., from Beit Jala, worked as a street vendor selling religious souvenirs, supporting his family despite his visual impairment. However, with the onset of the war, tourists stopped coming to the Holy Land, and his sales ceased. Thanks to the Job Creation project, he was offered a paid internship at the Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation. This opportunity not only helped him support his family's financial needs but also allowed him to learn new skills.

#3 Testimony

K.A. from Ramallah was unemployed for a while before being assigned to supervise a short-term project renovating old buildings, such as schools and offices, for the Latin Patriarchate in Ramallah. This project employed seven construction workers who had lost their jobs due to Israel's suspension of many Palestinian construction worker permits. K.A. states that this opportunity has eased the financial burden for these fathers, who have children to feed and care for. Although the pay is neither permanent nor as high as their previous jobs, it makes a significant difference in these challenging times. It provided them with work, rather than having to wait for things to improve. Similar projects were also conducted in Aboud, Beit Sahour, and other parts of the diocese, offering temporary financial relief to many construction workers who remain unemployed, awaiting the end of the war and relying on God’s mercy and grace amid socio-economic difficulties and political tension.

These success stories stem from the general appeal made by His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, on November 12, 2023. This appeal aimed to collect financial aid to assist Christian families throughout the Holy Land and received widespread support from many local and foreign philanthropists, and ecclesiastical institutions committed to supporting the perseverance of Christians in this region. In conclusion, we can only extend our prayers and gratitude to all who donated and provided immense support to the Christian community of the Holy Land during this challenging time.