From: 	 heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Sent: 	 Friday, September 05, 1997 12:13 AM
To: 	 Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup
Subject: BOMBING IN JERUSALEM


From:          Bridges for Peace <100274.2306@compuserve.com>
Subject:       BOMBING IN JERUSALEM
To:            BlindCopyReceiver:;;@compuserve.com

TO: Friends (and friends of friends) of Bridges for Peace
FROM: Clarence H. Wagner,Jr., International Dir. - Jerusalem
DATE:  September 4, 1997
RE: News Update from Israel

     For those who are new to the list, Bridges for Peace is a Christian
charitable organization, headquartered in Jerusalem, Israel. Since 1977, we
have been working to build Christian-Jewish understanding and support for
the people and land of Israel. We do this through eleven different aid
projects to help 
the people of Israel, while disseminating information about Israel and
teaching Christians about the Hebraic roots of Christianity. We have
national offices in Israel, the U.S., Canada, the U.K., S. Africa and
Japan.
     TO RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION AND OUR PUBLICATIONS, OR TO 
RECEIVE THIS UPDATE REGULARLY, SEND YOUR E-MAIL AND "SNAIL MAIL" 
ADDRESS TO:  100274.2306@compuserve.com
     We also invite you to look at our WEB SITE at: 
http://www.bridgesforpeace.com

     This update comes to you with background information on current events
affecting Israel and the Middle East.  Whenever there is a breaking story,
we will get you the information as quickly as we can determine the facts
and the implications of the events.
     
     FEEL FREE TO FORWARD THIS UPDATE INFORMATION TO ANYONE ON 
YOUR E-MAIL LIST.               


SUICIDE BOMBERS STRIKE BEN YEHUDAH PEDESTRIAN MALL

     JERUSALEM - Shortly after 3 pm three bombs went off on 
Jerusalem's mid-town Ben Yehudah pedestrian mall, a favorite 
place for meeting friends and eating at one of the numerous 
sidewalk cafes.

     I had just finished a meeting at the Anglican School, 
three blocks from Ben Yehudah St., when the bombs went off.  
At first, it was not known if it was on the streets or a bus 
bombing ... my kids were on the bus on their way home and the 
sound of the location of the bombs was on their bus route - if 
it were a bus.  I ran frantically towards the sirens as 
ambulances and police cars in the hundreds converged on the 
center of town.  People were running away from the location of 
the bombing in tears and others like me were running towards 
the site.  Anyone who had a remote phone was calling home and 
the pay phones had long lines with people trying to reach 
their families.

      Once it was determined that it was on Ben Yehudah 
street, I also knew that some of the Anglican School students, 
who had gotten out of school 15 minutes before, would have 
gone to Ben Yehudah for a snack, as the kids often do after 
school.

      Barriers had not been erected yet, so I was able to get 
into the area to assess the damage and see if I knew any of 
the injured.

      I did not expect to see what I saw.
      It looked like a Salvador Dali painting with distorted 
body parts in all kinds of surreal positions.  People were 
walking in shock with large shards of glass from broken 
windows sticking out of their bodies with blood running down 
their limbs.  Others were writhing in pain on the ground 
looking as though they were spray painted red from head to 
toe.  Chunks of human flesh like a Sunday roast strewn the 
street around me - the place looked like a meat market had 
blown up.  The burial society workers were busily putting 
orange baggies on the flesh for collection.  As I walked away 
from the scene, up Ben Yehudah towards King George street, 
glass was crunching under my feet.  As I looked down at my 
feet there was a piece of flesh right in front of me that had 
not yet been tagged.  What a horrible and terrifying thing to 
witness.

      So far, it has been reported that 160 people are injured 
and 8 killed, although these are just preliminary figures.  
All of our Bridges for Peace kids are OK and we are still 
checking on our volunteers and students from the school.  We 
know some were down there and witnessed the scene.  We don't 
know yet if any were killed or injured.

      Those who were uninjured were sobbing at the scene and 
asking that often asked question around here, "WHY?"  

     If this is peace, then who needs it.  I am sick and tired 
of hearing how much the Palestinians want peace and that it is 
Israel who is dragging her feet and causing the delays.  The 
worlds asked of Israel, "Why a closure on the PA areas?" which 
was imposed after the last bombing.  Well, Israel eased the 
closure three days ago and look at the results.  What can 
Israel do?

      On July 30th, the Mahaneh Yehudah market bombers took 15 
lives and injured 168.  That was on the eve of Dennis Ross's 
visit to negotiate restarting the peace process.  My good 
friend, Petra Heldt, is still in hospital recovering from her 
burn injuries from that event.

     Today, as Madeleine Albright is meeting with Palestinian 
and Israeli negotiators in Washington DC prior to her visit to 
Israel next week, it was announced that the Palestinians are 
making great headway to curb terrorism.  Then, three more 
bombs go off.

     The most outrageous thing about this are the places the 
Palestinians choose to explode their bombs -- Not at an 
Israeli army camp or military patrol, but in the heart of 
downtown Jerusalem in locations where innocent Jews, Arabs and 
expatriates like me are going about our daily lives.

     Israel has called for peace.  Israel has made concessions 
for peace.  Israel has given up land for peace. And Israelis 
are dying for peace. Yes, the Palestinians are suffering too, and some of
them really do want peace, but they will never get anything but an all out
war if they continue this barbaric behavior. The world complained about 
Israel before the "Peace process," that the process was the 
only way to bring security to the region.  So, Israel played 
the game and is losing terribly.

     How this might escalate, no body knows at this point.  I 
will keep you posted and informed as the details come in.

     In the meantime, please, please "Pray for the peace of 
Jerusalem."  We are all shaken and need your prayers for God's 
protection and direction.  May the leaders of this land make 
the correct and sober decisions for the future. There are no 
easy answers.
     
Shalom from Jerusalem,

Clarence Wagner


P.S. Sorry, no jokes today.  This is all too painful.

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