Ramallah, thousands of Christians showed solidarity with Israel.
At least five people died in clashes with Israeli forces after Arafat’s Fatah organization urged thousands of Palestinians to defy military curfews and take to the streets across the occupied territories, news reports said.
Fatah leaders issued the summons when Israeli troops raised their flag at the Palestinian leader’s West Bank compound early Sunday, September 22, as part of what officials call "an operation against terrorism" after two suicide attacks killed seven people last week.
Despite the ongoing violence, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) prepared for a second night of a weeklong series of celebrations to coincide with the Feast of Tabernacles.
PRIME MINISTER
On Sunday, September 22, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was expected to speak at an ICEJ backed event in Jerusalem at the International Convention Center, the largest gathering place in the Israeli Capital.
Earlier at sun-set Saturday, September 21, people from different nations unfurled flags "and lifted praises to heavens on the first night of the International Christian Embassy Feast of Tabernacles 2002," reported the ICEJ News Service.
Previous ICEJ Feast of Tabernacles have drawn up to 5,000 participants, but organizers said that the current Palestinian uprising effected attendance.
DUSTY PLAIN
Flanked by mountains to the West and the Dead Sea and Jordan to the East, an estimated 2,500 people took part in Saturday’s feast under a full moon shining on the dusty plain believed to be the biblical place where David was hiding when men sought his life.
"The desert is a special place to God," explained Michael Utterback, ICEJ international director, the main speaker. "Everyone who has made an impact for God was first called to a desert."
A shofar blast and scripture reading beckoned participants to bless the Lord.
DRAMATIC DANCE
"Dancers and banner bearers mingled with singers on stage while worshippers kicked up the desert dust dancing and praising the Lord, said ICEJ reporter NJ Schiavi.
"A dramatic dance gymnastics team from Florida portrayed going deeper in God and captured the Biblical stories of creation and the prodigal son," he added.
"They worshipped to the point that I could focus," said California resident Matt Hill, 21. Chuck King, ICEJ music director and Feast coordinator, agreed that this year’s Feast carried an intense sense of purpose.
WAY TO JERUSALEM
Director Utterback likened the first night of the Feast as a time of preparation in the desert "where we wait and contemplate God before we make our way to Jerusalem."
He put this year’s celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles into historical perspective of God’s call to Abraham, Moses, Jesus and the spread of the gospel since the Bible was sealed.
"All through history God has been unfolding this plan and now we are at the very end of this journey … and a very significant moment in Israel’s history," he was quoted as saying by the ICEJ News Service.
SOLIDARITY MISSION
Referring to ongoing violence, Utterback stressed that the presence of pilgrims, "as times have toughened even more sharply for Israelis", was like, "a banner …. an incense… a prophetic insight to the Israeli people that God has not abandoned them."
The ICEJ described the event as "the largest solidarity mission to Israel" in 2002. "While tourism has nearly flat lined in the land, the ICEJ saw a surprising surge in registrations this year with over 2,000 international and almost 3,000 total registrations thus far."
