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SEE COMMUNITY ACTION ALERTS IN THE COLUMN ON THE RIGHT »»

Open letter from The National Coalition of Christian Organizations in Palestine (NCCOP) to the World Council of Churches and the ecumenical movement
Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. (Isa. 1:17)

See excerpts of the letter below; read the whole letter here.
Take action with FOSNA to support this letter: Read and sign the statement of support

Excerpts of the letter
“We are still suffering because of one political declaration from a Western Empire, based on a twisted theological premise. Even some churches and few Christian leaders supported the establishment of the colonial state in our land, and totally ignored – even dehumanized – the nation, our people that had already existed.”
….
“We need your costly solidarity. We need brave women and men who are willing to stand in the forefront. This is no time for shallow diplomacy Christians. We urge you to hear our call and adopt the following:

1. That you call things as they are: recognize Israel as an apartheid state in terms of international law and in agreement of what a person like Desmond Tutu said and as the UN ESCWA report said: “Israel is guilty of imposing an apartheid regime on the Palestinian people”. We are disturbed by the fact that States and churches are dealing with Israel as if the situation were normal, ignoring the reality of occupation, discrimination and daily death in the land.”
….
“7. That you defend our right and duty to resist the occupation creatively and nonviolently. We ask that you speak in support of economic measures that pressure Israel to stop the occupation and go further to support sport, cultural and academic measures against Israel until it complies with international law and UN resolutions urging the ending of its occupation, Apartheid and discriminations, and accepts refugees to return to their home land and properties. This is our last peaceful resort. In response to Israel’s war on BDS, we ask that you intensify that measures.”
….
“Things are beyond urgent. We are on the verge of a catastrophic collapse. The current status-quo is unsustainable. This could be our last chance to achieve a just peace. As a Palestinian Christian community, this could be our last opportunity to save the Christian presence in this land….”
Read the whole letter
Take action with FOSNA to support this letter: Read and sign the statement of support

WCC Calls for Worldwide Day of Prayer for Just Peace in the Holy Land: June 5, 2017 – See it at their website
Share your prayer – Join us on our prayer wall via email or social media
Resources
1. Download the order of service for this common prayer:
“The Global Day of Prayer for Just Peace in the Holy Land”
2. Read the WCC general secretary’s message about the event
3. Download WCC pictures of the Holy Land
4. Statement on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and Peace Process (28 June 2016)
5. See the ongoing work for peace of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI)

PIN on the Go, from the EPF Palestine Israel Network
1 June 2017
• Pray: Check out the Sabeel Wave of Prayer this week
• Study: This week we feature Richard Falk’s (former UN Special Rapporteur for Palestine) reflection on the Palestinian prisoner’s hunger strike and Gaza. Jonathan Ofir offers his perspective and includes the demands to which Falk refers. Finally, strike leader Marwan Barghouti has released a new statement on the hunger strike.
• Action: Urgent emergency action from the USCPR (US Campaign for Palestinian Rights). Contact Members of Congress to oppose legislation for moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.
See more details and links in the newsletter here

Eye on Palestine, from JAI (East Jerusalem YMCA, YWCA of Palestine) – May 16, 2017
• “Freedom and Dignity” hunger strike enters its 28th day • Norway’s largest trade union federation endorses full boycott of Israel • Knesset’s new bill ‘portrays racism as entirely normal’ • More stories: Canadian Labour Congress resolution, Ashrawi: Start de-Zionizing Israel, CalState students call for boycott, How America Became Pro-Israel, and more. Read it here

Take Action: 50 Years of Occupation, from UNJPPI – May 15, 2016
Resources for Canadian churches to use for this 50th anniversary of the Israel occupation: Web page: Say “Enough” to 50 Years of Occupation Download the Bulletin insert Download the sample letter to government leaders See the enewsletter

MennoPIN Update – May 15, 2017
• Gearing Up for Orlando • Nominations and Election Process for MennoPIN Steering Committee • Resources Now Available in Spanish • Speaking Tour Continues: Jewish and Palestinian Voices for Peace • #Nakba69 • More reading: Brant Rosen, New U.S. Bill, Palestinians Mark 69th Nakba anniversary, 2 new resources on Gaza Read it here

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Get occasional updates on what’s happening at the Portal and in the community!

Support the call to action from Christians in Palestine
An Open Letter to the World Council of Churches

See excerpts of the letter under Community News, on this page
Read the whole letter here.
Take action with FOSNA by endorsing the letter

See more action alerts

Combined newsfeeds from:
• Mondoweiss • Electronic Intifada
• +972 Magazine • Ma’an News
• The Palestine Chronicle
• The Jerusalem Fund’s Recommended Reading

Get the latest news

• Oceans of Injustice – Free short film: arriving online May 16, 2017

• 50 Years Too Long: A CMEP Advocacy Event; June 4-6, 2017; Washington DC

• World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel 2017 (WWPPI); September 17-24, 2017; worldwide

Get details for these events

Connections

Learn & work with others: Discover organizations in your denomination, find groups near you, and see the global Church movement for justice in the Holy Land. Explore Mapping the Movement

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