Sharing bread in Bethlehem

Dr Declan Hayes is a former finance lecturer who has been raising money for and awareness of those suffering in Syria and the Middle East. He has just recently returned from the West Bank, where he stayed in Jerusalem and Taybeh. The latter is a historic Palestinian Christian village in the West Bank located about 15 kilometres northeast of Jerusalem.

Recently, the Israeli military declared Taybeh and surrounding areas a closed military zone to restrict Israeli and foreign access following a rise in nearby settler violence, drawing a solidarity visit from the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaball

In this interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications, he describes the plight of the people there. And he asks that Irish people, especially students, get involved in fundraising to help them. In particular, he emphasises the importance of sending money to people such as the Bishop and the Salesian order in Bethlehem, who bake and distribute bread to those who most need it.