By Roger McKinney
rmckinney@joplinglobe.com
The mayor of Bethlehem on Tuesday chose Turnaround Ranch as his first stop of a weeklong visit to Joplin, Bethlehem’s sister city.
Victor Batarseh, the mayor of the Palestinian National Authority town that Christians believe is the birthplace of Jesus, arrived late Monday in Joplin. He talked to students at Turnaround Ranch, a residential psychiatric treatment location for emotionally disturbed adolescents. It is part of Ozark Center, which is part of Freeman Health System.
“It’s an honor for me that my first visit in Joplin is to be among you,” Batarseh told the residents of Turnaround Ranch.
An Arab Palestinian Christian, Batarseh said Bethlehem always inspires love, faith and friendship worldwide.
Batarseh said a common theme among all religions is the idea of helping others.
“Help your brother,” he said. “Help your neighbor. Ask for help.”
He told the adolescents they were lucky to be living in the United States.
“You should be thankful where you live,” Batarseh said. “You should be thankful you live in the USA.”
Batarseh didn’t shy away from politics.
He said Bethlehem’s 32,000 residents live under Israeli occupation. Israel has built a wall around the town. He said the wall and Jewish settlements have dramatically reduced Bethlehem’s area from what it once was. Batarseh said Bethlehem’s residents must get a permit before entering Israel, and they are rarely granted.
He said in order for tension to end in the Middle East, the free world must pressure Israel to implement United Nations resolutions.
He said Joplin is one of Bethlehem’s two sister cities in the United States. Sacramento, Calif., was considering becoming a sister city, but that has been delayed.
In an interview before his talk, Batarseh said he first visited Joplin four years ago and found it to be a joyful city with open-hearted residents.
“Our main income in Bethlehem is pilgrimage and tourism,” Batarseh said. “Our relationships are very important to Bethlehem.”
He said Bethlehem’s message is one of love and peace.
“We need building bridges of love and understanding instead of building walls of separation and hate,” he said.
He said Bethlehem’s population is 40 percent Christian and 60 percent Muslim. Before 1948, Bethlehem was 92 percent Christian. He said wars and occupation have caused many Christians to emigrate from Bethlehem. He said Muslims in Bethlehem have a higher birth rate than that of Christians.
“Even with the change of demography of the city, we live as good neighbors — Muslims and Christians,” Batarseh said. “We are a model of coexistence between the two religions of Bethlehem.”
Batarseh said Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas joins him for Catholic and Protestant Christmas eve services on Dec. 24, for Greek Orthodox Christmas service Jan. 7, and for Armenian Christmas service Jan. 18.
Mayor’s schedule
Bethlehem Mayor Victor Batarseh is slated to speak to members of Joplin’s religious communities at 6:30 p.m. today at Central Christian Center, 410 Virginia Ave. He will take part in a “peace on earth” banquet at 6:30 p.m. in Connor Ballroom in Billingsly Student Center at Missouri Southern State University. Cost is $15. Batarseh will take part in a question-and-answer session at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Memorial Hall.
