World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel Sept. 20-26
Everyone is invited to join together for a week of advocacy and action in 2015 in support of an end to the illegal occupation of Palestine and a just peace for all in Palestine and Israel. Congregations and individuals around the globe who share the hope of justice shall unite during the week to take peaceful actions, together, to create a common international public witness. World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel is sponsored by the Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum (PIEF) of the World Council of Churches.
The theme for World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel is: "God has broken down the dividing walls." Congregations and individuals around the globe who share the hope of justice will unite during the week to take peaceful actions to create a common international public witness.
Lots of information is at this link: World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel.
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+972 GIVES YOU THE STORY
Two recent articles in +972 magazine prompt me to share this important resource with you. Find +972 at this link.
The devastating effects of night raids on Palestinian families
"IDF night raids, an everyday occurrence in the occupied territories, ensure that Palestinians cannot feels safe in the one place where safety should be assured.
"In a sample of 100 instances of night raids conducted since 2014, the one common thread mentioned by the women who provided testimonies ... was a sense of terror. The raids usually begin at around 2.00 a.m. with aggressive banging at the door or simply an explosion to blow it in. Masked soldiers storm the house as the family tries to comprehend what is happening. Sometimes a family member will be arrested, other times not. Sometimes there is violence, sometimes not. The house will be searched with reports of damaged furniture; wardrobes emptied with contents thrown to the floor, while soldiers leave muddy boot marks throughout the house.
"Perhaps the most devastating impact these raids have is on the children. Mothers report that their children have problems sleeping after experiencing a night raid. Some children become aggressive, others wet their beds. No one feels safe in the one place where safety should be assured." Please read more at this link: The devastating effects of night raids on Palestinian families
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Settlers take over East Jerusalem home in the dead of night accompanied by armed soldiers
"In the latest of a number of home takeovers in Palestinian neighborhoods of East Jerusalem, settlers took up residence in a home they said belonged to Jews before the establishment of the state of Israel.
"The group of at least 20 belongs to the Ateret Cohanim settler organization, which purchases properties in neighborhoods of East Jerusalem and has taken legal action in order to evict the Palestinian owners of those buildings. (...)
"Silwan is currently home to several hundred Jewish settlers and some 50,000 Palestinians. It is an impoverished area just on the outskirts of the Old City of Jerusalem, and it has been the target of the Ateret Cohanim organization in recent months.
"Palestinians have frequently resisted the eviction orders in court, where they say the Jewish Israelis are almost always given preference.
"Many of the takeovers of Palestinian homes have taken place in the dead of night, in the efforts to “avoid unnecessary friction with some of the local Arabs during the day,” according to a statement released by Ateret Cohanim.
"The settlers, holding just as many bags as they could carry, as they quietly made their way through the alleys, were accompanied by armed soldiers–a move that critics say only further exacerbates the tensions."
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A gift from the Church of the Brethren: On Earth Peace
I was doing some exploring and reading about On Earth Peace, A Community of Practice for Justice & Peace. It's a peace mission with roots in the Church of the Brethren.
These folks can be outstanding partners for us. Read about their history here and explore their website for information about active nonviolence, reconciliation, workshops and resources.
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