Letters home: Israeli father

BBC World Service's World Today programme is looking at the end of year letters of ordinary people who lived through extraordinary events in 2003.

2003 saw the birth and collapse of the Middle East peace plan known as the "roadmap", as bloodshed escalated between Israelis and Palestinians. This is the letter from David Wilder, an Israeli who lives in the West Bank town of Hebron.

This past year has been very topsy-turvy.

Looking back on the past months, my emotions flip back and forth from happiness to tears, both on a personal level, and professionally.

For example, personally, this past summer another of my daughters was married to a wonderful man. Her name is Aderet, and she is now 19-years-old. Her wedding was joyous, and the fact that my parents were able to attend, arriving from the United States for the event, was very special.

This was probably the happiest occasion for our family this year.

Following the wedding, when my parents returned home, my father discovered that he was ill with cancer and is now receiving chemotherapy and fighting for his life. His pain and suffering are very difficult to bear.

The area where I live is constantly in turmoil. Unfortunately, a Jewish presence in Hebron is highly controversial and life here is fraught with tension and violence.

Of course I believe that it is my right as a Jew and as a human being to live in such an ancient, holy city.

However, there are others who disagree and will do literally anything to force us to leave.

In March close friends of mine, Rabbi Eli Horowitz and his dear wife Dina, who lived just outside of the center of Hebron, were murdered by two Arab terrorists.

They were shot and killed in their home while enjoying their weekly Sabbath evening meal. Their tragic deaths left a great void in my life and I miss them very much.

I hope and pray that a year from now, I will be able to speak only about positive events David Wilder

It grieves me that other human beings are willing to use such means to further their causes.

Other friends, Gadi and Dina Levy, were killed by a suicide bomber who detonated himself on a Saturday afternoon in May on the main street here in Hebron, only three minutes from my home.

These events and other similar happenings left a black mark on this year.

On the other hand, I am extremely encouraged by the massive support we have, both in Israel and around the world.

Some 25,000 people spent a weekend with us in Hebron towards the end of November, celebrating the Bible's account of Abraham's purchase of the Cave of Machpela, 3,700 years ago.

Only days earlier I attended the annual Hebron Dinner in New York City together with another 1,500 people. Such activities are uplifting and give me tremendous strength to continue with my life's work.

I hope and pray that a year from now, when asked to describe the past year, I will be able to speak only about positive events, that the year 2004 will be one of true peace and happiness for all peoples of the world.

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