News stories in recent months and opportunities for action,
from and for the Palestine Portal community.
(See previous news stories here. Previous action alerts are here.)
We are all made in God’s Image
by Rev. Dr. William Barber II, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival and President of Repairers of the Breach
1 September 2020 – In this excellent essay, Barber places the struggle for justice in Palestine in the broad framework of global struggles against racism, colonialism and white supremacy.
SEE MORE
“The Palestinian experience is one we can relate to through our own moral and spiritual experience” he writes. “We have to address the displacement of native people wherever they are. Truth and justice cannot be found in narrow tribalism, within the lies of colonialism and white supremacy.”
Read Rev. Barbers’ powerful reflections on the Christianzionism.org website. While you are there, explore the website if you have not already discovered it. It offers an exceptional introduction to the topic of Christian Zionism, geared for Christians across the theological spectrum. Written in direct, accessible language on topics such as “Was Jesus a Zionist?” — “Does modern Israel inherit the promises made to Abraham?” — “Who owns the Holy Land?” — “Who are God’s ‘chosen people’ today?” Christianzionism.org is an excellent resource for community and church education and for passing on to friends, family and colleagues.
Endorse and Share “Cry for Hope”
“Can you help us get our freedom back?” “Cry for Hope” joins with movements of oppressed peoples around the world in taking a stand against the politics and economics of Empire, a global order of domination manifesting in racial, economic, cultural, and environmental oppression that threatens humanity and all of creation. It calls on churches, ecumenical organizations, concerned advocates from other faith traditions, and partners from all sectors of civil society to undertake these seven actions: Join the community of individuals, churches and organizations the world over standing for justice and equality. Read “Cry for Hope: a Call to Decisive Action,” available in multiple languages. Join the Facebook community to share how you are responding to “Cry for Hope.”
The Palestinians called out to the world in 2009 in the Kairos Palestine Document “A Moment of Truth: a word of faith, hope and love from the heart of Palestinian suffering.” Kairos Palestine set in motion a global movement, rousing churches to action and awakening civil society to the reality of Palestinian suffering.
But the oppression and land taking did not stop.
SEE MORE
DON’T MISS COMING EVENTS, IN THE COLUMN ON THE RIGHT ▶︎
H.R. 8050:
The Israeli Annexation
Non-Recognition Act
Rep. Betty McCollum has introduced another historic bill in the U.S. Congress, The Israeli Annexation Non-Recognition Act, H.R. 8050. This bill will prohibit the United States government from recognizing Israeli claims of sovereignty over any part of the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and prohibit U.S. military funding to Israel being used for further annexation of Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank. This bill is a vital step toward divesting from Israeli militarism.
PARTNERS OF PALESTINE PORTAL AMONG THE FIRST SPONSORS OF H.R. 8050
American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), Defense for Children International–Palestine, Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA), Jewish Voice for Peace Action, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR), Presbyterian Church USA, National Council of Churches, Mennonite Central Committee-Washington DC Office, The United Methodist Church-General Board of Church and Society.
Learn more about this legislation at Rep. Betty McCollum’s websiteRead in-depth analysis by Josh Ruebner at The Electronic Intifada
Those with a U.S. address:
Urge your Representative in the House to support this historic bill H.R. 8050. Take action with FOSNA
Christians in Palestine and Around the World
Oppose Israel’s Annexation Plan
Dozens of Churches, christian organizations and leaders from US, Europe, Australia, and Asia issue statements making clear annexation cannot be tolerated and calling on governments for bolder actions to deter this unprecedented looming violation of international law and universal human rights.
PALESTINIAN CHRISTIANS' RESPONSES
Kairos Palestine: The Dire Consequences of Israel’s Coalition Government
“The board of Kairos Palestine raises an alarm regarding the consequences of the third failed Israeli election in less than a year. The resulting coalition entered on April 20, 2020, combines two of the most right-wing parties—Bennie Gantz’s Blue and White and Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud—in a deal that directly threatens Palestinians’ freedom, health and human rights.
“Described as an “emergency government” to address the impacts of COVID-19, and under the cover of a so-called “coronavirus cabinet,” the State of Israel is empowered to continue its policies of home demolitions, closures, arrests, child detention and settler violence.
“….While the “emergency government” may only take up legislation related to the corona virus, an exception was agreed upon to consider bills related to U.S. President Trump’s so-called Deal of the Century.?
See the full statement with the actions Kairos Palestine calls for
Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem voice concern about Israel’s planned annexation of West Bank land
“….We also call upon the Palestinian Liberation Organization, as the sole legitimate Representative of the Palestinian people, to resolve its internal disputes—as well as any conflicts with other factions that are not under its umbrella—in order to present a unified front dedicated to achieving peace and the building of a viable State that is founded upon pluralism and democratic values.” See the full statement
Palestinian Christian Clergy: Trump is Complicit in a Catastrophe for Christians
Israel’s West Bank annexation policy, fueled by Trump’s ‘peace plan,’ may gratify extreme evangelicals, but is a mortal blow to the future of Christianity in the Holy Land
“While the world is busy fighting COVID-19, Israeli political parties have reached a government coalition agreement. Benjamin Netanyahu has succeeded in bringing annexation of occupied Palestinian territory to the table, setting a provisional timeframe — less than two months from
now. He can thank the Trump plan for the confidence to push annexation so hard and so fast.
“…. Let us be clear: implementing the Trump plan would bring catastrophic consequences for the prospects of a political solution between Israelis and Palestinians, and particularly for the fulfillment of the rights of the Palestinian people, including Palestinian Christians.
“….This plan transforms the Holy Land into a “Zionist fairyland” for the enjoyment of extreme Christian evangelicals and Jews, while the local Christian population remains subjugated under Israel’s coercion. In fact, the plan maintains a cruel and artificial separation between two
cities with key Christian holy sites – Bethlehem and Jerusalem.”
Originally published in Haaretz
See the full article online
Palestinian clergy: ‘Annexation could be the final straw for a
viable Christian presence in Palestine’
We are writing this letter in our capacity as spiritual leaders of various Christian communities in the Bethlehem Area. The Israeli Government is planning to annex more occupied Palestinian land. According to the information they have released, this process could begin on July 1 . For Palestine, Bethlehem and particularly for its Christian population, this new process of annexation will be particularly catastrophic….
One of the only areas left for our expansion, as well as for agriculture and simply for families to enjoy nature, are the valleys of Cremisan and Makhrour, both located to the west of our urban areas and are under the current threat of annexation by Israeli authorities….
Our biggest concern is that the annexation of those areas will push more people to emigrate. Bethlehem, surrounded by walls and settlements, already feels like an open prison. Annexation means the prison becomes even smaller, with no hopes for a better future.
See the full letter
See the article about this letter that was sent to embassies in Israel/Palestine
IN THE US: CHURCHES, FAITH-BASED GROUPS and PARTNERS
27 Christian Leaders Write to Congress Opposing Unilateral Israeli Annexation of Occupied Palestinian Territory
As of this writing, there is no evidence that President Trump and his administration will reverse course and reject annexation. Warning about the Administration’s current trajectory, Rev. Munther Isaac and Father Jamal Khader, Christian leaders in the West Bank, wrote in Haaretz in early May, “Let us be clear: implementing the Trump plan would bring catastrophic consequences for the prospects of a political solution between Israelis and Palestinians, and particularly for the fulfillment of the rights of the Palestinian people, including Palestinian Christians.”
We call on Congress to wield its power of the purse and not allow any United States funds provided to Israel to be used for the recognition, facilitation or support of annexation, or for denial of Palestinian rights and violation of international law, including continuing occupation.
Download the full letter
Opposing Israeli annexation, UCC and Disciples leaders amplify Palestinian ‘Cry for Hope’
The General Ministers and Presidents of the Disciples and the United Church of Christ, as well as the two churches’ Co-Executives of Global Ministries, having received the statement from Palestinian Christians “Cry for Hope: A Call for Decisive Action,” have reached out to their members and offered ways it can be studied and acted on by church members. They also reiterate their strong opposition to anticipated Israeli efforts to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, and to occupation.
“…We also acknowledge that such Israeli de jure annexation would be devastating to any hopes for peace with justice between Israelis and Palestinians while also an extension of decades of de facto Israeli annexation of Palestinian lands. In addition, we continue to work against Israel’s continued blockade of Gaza and its denial of rights of Palestinian refugees, and are deeply troubled by its 2018 basic law identifying the country as “the nation state of the Jewish people,” which openly discriminates against Israel’s one-fifth Palestinian Christian and Muslim population.” See their full statement
Amplifying the Message in Word and Deed: Liberation not Annexation
by Kathryn Mary Lohre, Executive for Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations & Theological Discernment, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
The government of Israel has declared its intention to annex West Bank settlements and the Jordan Valley, as soon as July 1. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu depends on the backing of the US presidential administration to legitimize what would be considered illegal under international law.
The Palestinian people, who have lived under Israeli military occupation for nearly 53 years, are crying out once again. They are calling us to recognize yet another looming pandemic: the dissolution of prospects for peace with justice for Israelis and Palestinians – Jews, Christians and Muslims….
….To our Palestinian family, and especially our Palestinian Lutheran family: the ELCA hears
your cries. This cannot be overstated – to you, and to anyone else who is listening.
Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton has spoken out clearly on behalf of the ELCA, and also
with ecumenical partners. This is critical.”
See the full statement
IPMN stands with the Movement for Black Lives, #BlackLivesMatter
and the BNC call for Solidarity
Israel Palestine Mission Network (IPMN), Presbyterian Church (USA)
IPMN stands against racism and white supremacy and strongly condemns the tactics used by the white police officer in Minneapolis. The disregard for human life on the part of our so-called “Law and Order” officials, especially when it comes to African Americans, is intolerable and must stop.
As advocates for Palestinian rights, we know all too well that the same ” knee-on-the-neck” is used against Palestinian victims by the Israeli police and military. (See picture here). Israel trains police forces of American cities to act like soldiers and the impunity in Palestine translates to worldwide impunity for acts of police brutality. We stand in solidarity with #BlackLivesMatter and call for an end to all police brutality and for an end to Israeli training of American police forces.
See the full statement
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Opposes Israeli Annexation and Secretary Pompeo’s Greenlighting on Behalf of U.S.
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) strongly condemns the Trump administration’s support for Israeli annexation of the West Bank and calls for the U.S. government to work instead for a viable and just peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Absent leadership from the Administration, Congress must immediately take concrete legislative action to make clear the U.S. government will not fund or otherwise support annexation.
President Trump’s plan, issued in two parts in June 2019 and January 2020, proposes that Israel annex some 30 percent of the West Bank regardless of Palestinian actions. After issuing the second part of the plan, the U.S. government sent a team to work with the Israeli government in a joint commission to map out the areas for annexation. The commission began work in February.
See the full statement
Jewish Voice for Peace: No annexation. No apartheid.
This is the day, we’ve been told, that Israel can begin formally annexing Palestinian land. That, with the explicit blessings of the U.S. government, Israel can expand its land theft, forcibly expel Palestinians from their homes, and concretize an apartheid regime over Palestinian families.
This is the day, we’ve been told, that all we can do is say NO. That, despite our petitions and our demonstrations and our lobbying efforts and unprecedented gains with our elected officials and the incredible work of Palestinian activists across the world, that despite all of that, Israeli annexation can move ahead. And Jewish Voice for Peace is proud to join the massive international movement of Palestinian solidarity in saying NO.
See their full statement
Hundreds of Jewish clergy members pen open letter opposing unilateral annexation
More than 600 rabbis and cantors in conjunction with seminary students have penned a public letter to the Israeli government stating that they unequivocally oppose annexation, according to a J Street statement.
The clergy members and students noted that unilaterally annexing
the West Bank “would be a catastrophic mistake…violate human
rights, weaken democracy, and make Israelis and Palestinians less
secure.”
See the report in The Jerusalem Post
See the letter in full
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
Statement on Potential Vote to Annex Parts of the West Bank
“T’ruah reiterates our opposition to annexation, and our commitment to a negotiated agreement, and calls on Netanyahu and Gantz to cease planning for annexation.
A global pandemic does not justify a move that will create a permanent occupation, and further codify the denial of basic human rights, including civil and political rights, to the millions of Palestinians living under Israeli military rule. Indeed, the current health crisis has reminded us that the health, safety, and security of Israelis and Palestinians is dependent one on the other.”
See the full statement
WORLDWIDE RESPONSES
MECC and WCC Letter to European Union
Sent to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and all the Foreign Ministers of the EU nations
“….We concur with the statement by Dr Michael Lynk, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, that the looming annexation is “a political litmus test for the international community”, and that it “will not be reversed through rebukes”. We appreciate High Representative Josep Borrell’s clear affirmation that the EU does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Palestinian territory and that it will “continue to closely monitor the situation and its broader implications, and will act accordingly.”
“Accordingly, the WCC and the MECC are calling on the EU to ensure that any such annexation is met with real consequences, at least commensurate with those adopted by the EU in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea.”
See the full letter
Nonviolence International Statement on Annexation:
Unilateral annexation of portions of the West Bank by Israel is a path of oppression and injustice. The whole world must say no.
“….There are two major arguments against annexation from the Jordan Valley or near Jerusalem:
The first is that it basically violates the bedrock of international law, which holds that you cannot annex territory that comes into your possession as a result of war. After WWII, with the creation of the United Nations, 75 years ago, the international community cannot tolerate “border adjustments” taken unilaterally no matter what the justification.
“….For the Palestinians, nonviolent resistance to occupation, annexation, and 2 nd class status will continue and strengthen. Our NVI partners, including the Holy Land Trust, the US Boats to Gaza, We Are Not Numbers, the Center for Jewish Nonviolence will redouble their efforts. Palestinians make up 50% of the population between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. Palestinians and much of the world will relentlessly push for equal rights and dignity. Surrender or mass emigration would be a form of cultural suicide. As Dr. King said, we have a choice between nonviolence or non-existence. We know which choice the Palestinians are taking. In the meantime, how much monumental suffering and injustice must happen before the world says no to injustice and yes to peace.”
See their full statement
Kairos Canada: Continue to take action for international human rights and against annexation
….Although this initial date has passed, the ongoing threat of annexation remains real, particularly in the context of occupation. If Israel proceeds with its plan, these acts would greatly exacerbate the suffering of the Palestinian people and put prospects for just and sustainable peace in even greater jeopardy. Furthermore, this plan constitutes a clear violation of International Law, of which Canada is a party.
See the full statement and actions called for
Letter from Atlantic Regions of United Church of Canada to Prime Minister
and Other Party Leaders
Re: Canada’s response to Israel’s threat to annex parts of the occupied Palestinian territory
“….You need to know that Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations have urgently called on the international community to condemn the proposed annexation. PalestinianChristian leaders, in KAIROS Palestine, have said, “Clear decisions are already taken by the UN. So why further waiting to apply what is already decided?” Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem is asking, “How can the rule of law have any meaning when it is determined, interpreted and applied in accordance with the interests of those who control and oppress their subjects with the intention of perpetuating their rule by means of this same ‘law’?” The Council of Patriarchs and Heads of Holy Land Churches urge the government of Israel to restrain from unilateral annexation plans which would surely bring about the loss of any remaining hope for the success of a peace process.”
See the full statement and actions called for
UK’s most senior church officials oppose Israel’s annexation plans
The two most senior church officials in the United Kingdom Friday expressed their opposition to any Israeli move to annex West Bank territory in separate letters to the British prime minister and Israel’s envoy in the UK.
“The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster wrote to both the Israeli Ambassador, Mark Regev, and the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, expressing their opposition to any move by the Government of Israel to annex West Bank territory after 1 July 2020,” according to the joint statement released by both churches.
Archbishop Justin Welby and Cardinal Vincent Nichols said their opposition followed warnings from the leaders of Churches in the Holy Land that pushing ahead with the annexation would “bring about the loss of any remaining hope for the success of the peace process.”
See the report in Al Arabiya
See the report in Vatican News
Church of Scotland: Churches Call on UK Government to Deter Annexation of West Bank
The Moderator has joined church leaders from across the UK in calling on the Westminster
Government to help deter annexation of the West Bank, which could begin on 1 July. Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair joined representatives from the United Reformed Church, Quakers in Britain, the Methodist Church, the Church of England and Catholic Church in signing a letter sent to the UK government. The letter said:
“We stand alongside the Holy Land’s Christian leaders, who have warned that the Israeli Government’s plan to annex parts of the West Bank after 1 July “would bring about the loss of any remaining hope for the success of the peace process.
See the full statement
Sabeel-Kairos UK: Annexation is illegal, morally corrupt, and threatens the
lives of all in the Holy Land. Churches and civil society must speak up.
“….Last week over 140 MPs wrote to Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling on him to place sanctions on Israel should it proceed with annexation plans.[4] This falls in-line with the expectation of states to uphold international humanitarian and human rights law, and follows the precedent set by the EU when Russia annexed Crimea. However, MPs alone cannot change the course of action, and neither can the UK government. A global, moral outcry against this illegal action is needed, and it is needed fast.
“….We call on civil society, including the individuals and Churches which we work with, to continue, or begin, an unprecedented campaign to Boycott, Divest from, and Sanction Israel with immediate effect, until it ends its illegal occupation of Palestine and complies with international law. Below we have outlined how you can do this in practical ways.”
See their full statement and all actions they call for
Kairos Ireland: Letter from John Parkin, Chairperson
….Countries that are pledged to uphold international law and uphold standards of justice and human rights should take a stance against any such annexation policy. In Sweden a number Christian, Jewish and human rights activists have called on the Swedish Government together with the European Union to ensure that Israel’s annexations policies do not go unchallenged but are met with concrete consequences equivalent to those taken against Russia after annexing Crimea. Simon Coveney as acting Foreign Minister has condemned the annexation plan in a Department of Foreign Affairs statement. Eleven ambassadors, including the Irish ambassador have warned against the proposed Israeli action. In the UK a cross party group of around 130 MPs have written to the Prime Minister demanding action against Israel if annexation proceeds.”
Download the full letter
Friends of Bethlehem (Denmark):
Letter to Foreign Minister Regarding Israeli Annexation of Occupied Territories
“….We therefore appeal to the Government of Denmark to consider concrete measures that can put pressure on Israel, so that Israel abstains form further annexing Palestinian and Syrian territories.
“Denmark and the EU have over time condemned Israel’s behavior in the occupied territories as breaches of UN resolutions, international law and the Geneva Conventions. But we need more than words of condemnation, that have not had a great effect. We need action in terms of concrete sanctions. And the rapidly growing 10-year old global network, Kairos Palestine, now appeals that protests are followed up by direct BDS action, from businesses, organisations and governments. We are aware that there is a EU meeting on May 6, 2020 where the question of Israel’s possible annexation of occupied territories will be discussed. We appeal to you that Denmark also at these meetings applies pressure on the other EU countries in order to come to an agreement about concrete measures to be taken with respect to Israel’s policies of occupation.”
Download the full letter in English
German Coalition Letter to High EU Representative for Foreign Affairs
and Foreign Ministers of the European Union
“….Instead of repeated expressions of concern or verbose protests without consequences, the European governments and the EU must take effective steps such as the above-mentioned measures to ensure that the State of Israel finally respects international law and grants human rights to the Palestinians. Israel’s insistence on occupation, expansion of settlements and annexation not only violates international law, but also makes a peaceful future between the two peoples impossible.”
Download the full letter
Kairos Sweden: European Union has to be prepared to use sanctions against Israel
The situation calls for the European Union (EU) to examine its policies in relation to international law. When Russia annexed Crimea, the EU reacted with sanctions and restricted relations. If principle of proportionality applies, the EU should act in similar ways now. That would mean e.g. limitations to visa-free travel between Israel and the European Union as well as limitations to the EU-Israel Association Agreement for trade, which in its second article demands the observance of human rights and democratic principles.
Published in Aftonbladet 6 May 2020, a major daily newspaper in Sweden and Nordic countries.
Download the fulll statement in English
Christian Leaders in Sweden to EU: Stop Israeli Annexation
“….Annexation of the West Bank will turn the Palestinian people – including fractions of Palestinian Christians and other groups intrinsic to the community – into a people without legal protection, without access to fundamental civil and democratic rights. The name for such a system, in Afrikaans and in International Law, is apartheid. Such a system is a crime against humanity and demands the intervention of the international community.
“Israel’s annexation comes timely – as the world is focused on ending the Corona pandemic. But the annexation also has the unprecedented and vital backing of the USA, consenting to Israel’s breach of International Law. The Christians of the holy land have time and again exposed Trump’s so-called ‘peace plan’ for what it is – a plan that takes neither International Law nor the Christian community in to account.”
Publ. in Swedish at Dagen, May 14, 2020
Download this statement in English
A statement by the Palestine Israel Ecumenical Network (Australia):
Israeli annexation: an anathema to peace
“….We note the many voices who have spoken out against these latest unilateral annexation plans. Voices from European governments, from the World Council of Churches, from the Heads of Churches in the Holy Land, and from Palestinians and Jewish people the world over.
:….To these voices we add our own, to implore our Foreign Minister and Australian government not to remain silent but to pressure the Israeli Government to cease these latest land grabs and to comply with international law and UN resolutions. It is time to defend the Palestinian peoples’ inalienable rights to their own homeland. If the Australian government continues to assert its position for a Two-State solution, then it needs to step up and recognise the State of Palestine on 1967 borders, including East Jerusalem as its capital.”
Download their full statement
68 Progressive Organizations Tell Congress: Divest from Violence, Invest in Justice for All
Led by US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR), Adalah Justice Project, MPower Change, Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA), Jewish Voice for Peace Action, Democratic Socialists of America Palestine Working Group, Students for Justice in Palestine: University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and Eyewitness Palestine, 68 progressive organizations responded to the Black Lives Matter uprising and Israel’s thread to annex more Palestinian lands by calling on Congress to divest from militarism and policing, from the US to Palestine.
“….Firstly, we call on you to take concrete steps to hold the Israeli government accountable for its ongoing human rights violations and oppression against the Palestinian people by ending the annual flow of $3.8 billion in military and weapons funding….
“Secondly, we call on you to uplift the vision of safety first advanced by the Movement for Black Lives….See their full letter
Tell the U.S. Congress: Divest from violence; Stop funding Israeli apartheid!
See the call and add your name here
Corona-Floyd-Hallaq-Day of the Pentecost
by Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, Academic Dean, Bethlehem Bible College
“We also cannot breathe,” writes Palestinian pastor and theologian Munther Isaac from Bethlehem. “The wall, the colonies and checkpoints suffocate us. They took the land, water and air from us, and with covetousness they still want even more. They make the laws and are the rulers and executioners of them.”
Isaac continues with a profound reflection of the meaning of George Floyd’s suffering and death, the suffering and deaths of Palestinians, and of people everywhere “suffering under the yoke of sin and darkness.” See the full Pentecost essay
Our struggles are one: Palestinians respond to killing of George Floyd and Rising of Black Lives Matter movement
In addition to the powerful piece by Dr. Munther Isaac (see above), many Palestinians leaders and movements spoke quickly and with conviction of their solidarity with Black Americans and all BIPOC struggling against the powers of Empire.
SEE PALESTINIANS' STATEMENTS
We can’t breathe until we’re free! Palestinians stand in solidarity with Black Americans
The Palestinian BDS National Committee
“The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), the largest coalition in Palestinian society that leads the global BDS movement, stands resolutely in solidarity with our Black brothers and sisters across the US who are calling for justice in the wake of the latest wave of insufferable police murders of Black Americans, including George Floyd in
Minneapolis, Tony McDade in Tallahassee, and Breonna Taylor in Louisville.”
….
“The genocidal destruction of native American nations, the pillage of their wealth and resources, and the savage enslavement of millions of Africans constitute the most profound pillars of what became the US. The deeply-seated white supremacist ideology that has guided and attempted to whitewash these crimes is still alive, albeit in different forms. This exclusionary ideology is encouraged by the flagrantly racist Trump White House and an insidious, less-audaciously racist liberal establishment that rhetorically condemns racism, even spews some empty promises, yet consistently fails to act on reparations, racial and economic justice, and ending the horrific system of criminalization and mass incarceration of Black Americans. ….
“We call on the Palestine solidarity movement in the US and elsewhere to stand with the Movement for Black Lives and other Black-led organizations in their righteous struggle for justice, and for an abolitionist approach to police reform, reparation, and liberation. We endorse calls for targeted and strategic boycott, defunding and divestment campaigns against institutions, banks and corporations that are implicated in the system of racial injustice.”….
“The system of structural racism in the US is violently enforced by paramilitary police departments, many trained by Israel, including the Minnesota police. These police forces have been tasked with doing whatever it takes to protect this rotten system of white supremacy and Black, Latinx and Indigenous disenfranchisement.”
See this powerful statement in full
Black Lives Matter: A Declaration of Solidarity
by Kairos Palestine
“Love is seeing the face of God in every human being. Every person is my brother or my sister. However, seeing the face of God in everyone does not mean accepting evil or aggression on their part. Rather, this love seeks to correct the evil and stop the aggression.”
The
Kairos Palestine Document: A confession of faith and call to action from Palestinian Christians, Paragraph 4.2.1
“Kairos Palestine expresses its unequivocal support for the Black Lives Matter movement and everyone working for racial justice in USA, the demands of which have resonated in communities around the world. The movement has opened an opportune moment—a kairos moment—for citizens in the United States and people of faith and civil society around the world to name and address places of systemic racism, economic inequality, food deprivation, lack of access to health care, and state-sanctioned violence that strip human beings of their dignity, equal rights and far too often their lives.
We invite you to join us as together:
· We listen and learn from our Black and Brown brothers and sisters;
· We lament that Black Americans and people of color daily endure injustice and discrimination, police brutality, and systemic racism;
· We confess and repent of our share in the brokenness that divides humankind;
· We renew our commitment to work for the freedom and wholeness of all people;
· We bind ourselves anew, like leaders in the Black Lives Matter movement, to a resistance grounded in the power and logic of love that seeks to liberate both the oppressors and the oppressed in our own context and around the globe.
We give thanks for the many expressions of Black-Palestinian solidarity over decades. The oppression of both our peoples is rooted in the sin of settler-colonialism and the disinvestment of resources in the wellbeing of our people and communities. So we embrace the Black Lives Matter movement as a moral one — its importance, its growing strength, its successes and its unmet demands. And we look forward to opportunities to join in the work of other diverse communities to realize the value, the humanity and the
rights of all people to justice and peace.
Kairos Palestine
Board of Directors
See this statement on the Kairos Palestine website
Palestinians In Solidarity With African Americans
Statement signed by Palestinians around the world
“We understand that violence against Black bodies is endemic in the United States. And, in fact, anti-Blackness has been a mainstay of the nation’s political, economic and social structures since its inception. We also recognize that the struggle for Black liberation is the single most important force to shape the features of justice and democracy in the United States. Without the struggles and sacrifices of African Americans, the United States would not have the constitutional amendments or multitude of laws that prohibit exclusion and further demand inclusion, hard-won rights that have benefited every other marginalized group in the U.S.”
….
“We are angered and outraged. We are also inspired by your strength, defiance, and perseverance in the face of violent, oppressive systems that have terrorized you for 400 years. Racist discrimination cannot function without the capitalist material infrastructure that underpins and abets it. We therefore recognise radical disruption as an effective and legitimate means of undermining this infrastructure. We support you however you choose to resist your oppression, for that is your natural right. From Palestine and our diaspora, we echo your demands and know that our freedom is incomplete without yours. We will not stop fighting until both our peoples are free, and indeed until all peoples and other sentient beings are free!” See the full statement
It’s Our Duty to Defend Black Life
Message from Adalah Justice Project
“This rebellion is rooted in love.
“To protest for Black life, to demand dignity, to cry out for justice, is love.
Today, rebellions out of love are happening throughout this nation, an empire built on the backs of Black people who were kidnapped from their homelands and subjected to violent repression for over 400 years. We stand in full support of this Black uprising. We remain fully committed to Black liberation and defending Black life across the globe and within our own communities.
“There is a long legacy of Black-Palestinian solidarity and a radical understanding that the Black liberation struggle is an anti-colonial fight that is transnational and connected to the struggles of oppressed peoples across the globe. As we recognize the connections between the Palestinian and Black struggles, we must also recognize that there are historical and contextual differences between our struggles….
“What does justice look like? A world in which Black people no longer have to fear for their lives and where Black communities thrive. All our knowledge, critique, and resistance to Israeli state violence can help us grab at the root of structural racism in the United States to weed it out permanently. We understand that all racism and oppression, including white supremacy and Zionism, are underpinned by anti-Blackness. It is our duty to resist. We encourage you to find ways to be a part of this rebellion of love for Black life.
”
See the full statement
Statement in Solidarity with the Anti-Racism Movement in America
by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem,
Archbishop Theodosios Atallah Hanna
“Long live our brothers in humanity in your fight against hate and racism everywhere in this world….From the City of Jerusalem, the City of Peace, we stand firm, in solidarity and support,
with the peaceful demonstrators who are fighting to end racism, prejudice, and police
brutality all over the United States and around the world….We condemn and reject the heinous murder of George Floyd. We condemn the systemic and institutional anti-black racism in America. Racism is evil and must be rejected, confronted, and resisted by all peaceful means.
We – your brothers and sisters in Palestine, through this message, not only express our
solidarity and condemnation of this crime but also affirm that we have a common suffering from the forces of evil and oppression in all its fascist forms whether religious, social, political and economic apartheid.”
Read this full statement
Black Lives Matter
: American Palestinian Women’s Association Stands Shoulder to Shoulder with Our African American Brothers and Sisters
“As mothers, sisters, aunts, and grandmothers we are filled with a wide range of emotions provoked by the cold and heartless murder of Mr. George Floyd. When Mr. Floyd said that he could not breathe, our hearts ached with deep sorrow. We cried when he called for his mother. And we were filled with anger when no one responded to his pleas and came to his rescue. And we are also heartened by the ongoing battle for justice, equality, and peace waged across our nation.”….Equal Justice for all Americans is a non-negotiable right, and absolutely yes, Black Lives Matter!”
See the full statement
SEE STATEMENTS BY PALESTINE ADVOCACY GROUPS
We Must Support and Defend Black Life
Rachel Corrie Foundation
“At the Rachel Corrie Foundation, we believe that injustice must be challenged and that human rights and resistance to oppression must be included in the way we define ourselves as a community. We unequivocally stand in solidarity with Black communities in their fight for justice. Specifically, we support demands emanating from these communities, such as respect for the rights of protestors, divestment from police forces and investment in Black communities, immediate material relief, and direct community control over the laws, institutions, and policies that are meant to serve them.
“This commitment to Black liberation is deeply connected to our commitment to Palestinian liberation. The white supremacy and systemic racism that pervades all aspects of American society is exactly that which reinforces Israel’s oppressive policies. Specifically, the violent and anti-Black policing system in our country is materially connected to Israeli police forces through mutual training and co-development of technology. Since 2002, thousands of American police officers and officials, including members of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), have traveled to Israel for these purposes. We see the results of this cooperation in the brutal murders carried out by law enforcement from Minneapolis to Jerusalem.
“With an unprecedented sense of urgency, we ask our friends and supporters around the world to take on the work necessary to support Black communities. Playing an active role in the protection of Black life is our duty.
See this statement at their website
UMKR Endorses BMCR Call to Action, Pledges Partnership with BIPOC
United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR)
UMKR wholeheartedy endorses the eloquent Call to Action issued by Black Methodists for Church Renewal (BMCR) in response to recent events in the United States, including the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery. We call on all United Methodists to join us in taking this powerful statement to heart and taking action on the measures BMCR has put forth.
Both the Biblical values we embrace and the Christian principles set forth by the United Methodist Church have taught us to recognize racism, individual and systemic, as sin. We know it is our responsibility to identify, oppose, and strive to eradicate this sin and heal this brokenness wherever it arises: in ourselves, in our movement, in our church, and in our institutions and societies.
The UMKR Steering Committee commits to pursuing the long-term work of identifying and dismantling racism on multiple levels, beginning with ourselves and our movement. As we engage in that work, we pledge to hear the voices and acknowledge the leadership provided by Black people, indigenous peoples and other people of color, within our denomination, in our local communities, and around the world.
See the full statement
Israel and the Murder of George Floyd
Mennonite Palestine Israel Network (MennoPIN)
“For many, many years Israel has been exporting the brutal tactics they use against Palestinian citizens. In cities all over the United States, personnel from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have come to teach police in this country the very repressive
measures they use in their occupation of Palestine.
“The U.S. group Deadly Exchange describes the exchange of practices this way: “One of the most dangerous places where the regimes of Trump and Netanyahu converge is in exchange programs that bring together police, ICE, border patrol, and FBI from the US with soldiers, police, border agents… from Israel. In these programs, ‘worst practices’ are shared to promote and extend discriminatory and repressive policing in both countries. These include extrajudicial executions, shoot-to-kill policies, police murders, racial profiling, massive spying and surveillance, deportation and detention, and attacks on human rights defenders….
“The enormous, nation-wide opposition to militarized police forces coming from all sectors of U.S. society has potential for change never seen before. The decision by the Minneapolis City Council to dismantle their police force is a deeply encouraging sign. How they will do that remains to be seen.
See their full statement in their June Newsletter
Justice for George Floyd, Solidarity with Black people
American Muslims for Palestine (AMP)
“….Muslim-Americans, one-third of whom are Black Americans, are painfully familiar with the scourge of racist and discriminatory practices that impact lives, human rights, and dignity on a daily basis. Today, we virtually link arms with our Black sisters and brothers demanding justice and an end to white supremacy, which underpins both police violence and vigilantism.
“A genuine commitment to solidarity with marginalized groups and their struggles for justice and liberation must be rooted in universal principles of justice and human rights. We must speak out passionately against the human rights abuses directed at Black America…
“The resurgence of Black-Palestinian transnational solidarity began in the summer of 2014, when Palestinians in Gaza experienced their worst massacre to date by Israel and Black Americans continued experiencing numerous acts of police brutality.The motto “From Ferguson to Palestine” resonated with many activists who understood the significance of resisting racialized state violence and oppression.”
See AMP’s full statement here
Justice for George Floyd
Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP)
• 27 May 2020
“On Monday George Floyd, like Eric Garner five years before him, was suffocated by a policeman, who put his knee on George’s neck for five minutes and killed him.
“Police are killing Black people. And months into a global pandemic, it’s abundantly clear that our healthcare system is killing Black and Brown people. George Floyd repeatedly said to the police, “I can’t breathe.” His life mattered.
“Jewish tradition teaches us that the loss of a single life is the loss of a whole world. At JVP we are in shared mourning with everyone who is impacted by this senseless death – with our Black community members, with our movement allies and partners, with every parent who woke up to this news with fear and terror. We join together to fight for a future where Black people can be free from violence, to live long abundant lives.
Rest in Power, George Floyd. May your memory be a blessing.
See this statement on their website
Open Letter by BIJOCSM to Defund the Police
JVP-BIJOCSM Network
“We are Black Jews, Indigenous Jews, non-Black Jews of Color, Sephardim and Mizrahim Jews, (BIJOCSM), and we write to you at a juncture when the centuries-long oppression of Black people in this country, and around the world, can no longer be denied or dismissed….
“As BIJOSCM, we call on all American Jews to divest from police, and urge that all Jewish institutions, community centers, synagogues and Jewish spaces of prayer end their partnerships with the police. We invite you to work with us to collectively imagine ways to keep each other safe, ways that pose no danger to Black Jews in our shuls or to Black people in our communities and neighborhoods….
“As BIJOCSM, we are painfully aware of the rise of antisemitism and white supremacy. We understand the fear of being attacked simply for being who we are – and we still believe in our capacity to show up for each other….
“Divesting from police and ending all partnerships with police forces is the bare minimum we can do. It is just one step in a much larger fight against anti-Blackness, racism, antisemitism and white supremacy.”
See their full statement
Focusing on Black Liberation
Palestine Legal
“This is a critical moment for all of us. As at many points in U.S. history, it’s a moment of reckoning with this country’s deep roots in white supremacy—in the genocide of Indigenous people, in a system of racial hierarchy that brought millions of African slaves here, that lynched countless thousands of Black souls, that enforced racial segregation for decades, and that now maintains the hierarchy through brutal policing of Black communities, mass incarceration, disinvestment in Black neighborhoods, and stark inequalities in education, housing, and healthcare….
“Today, it’s our responsibility to make or renew our commitments to investing in the movement for Black liberation and other justice movements. It’s not enough to point to connections in our struggles. It’s not enough to point to Israel’s training of our police forces. We have the ability and the responsibility to confront and challenge all of the ways that we are complicit in, benefit from, and help to maintain a system built on white supremacy.”
See their full statement
Black Lives Matter Is Not Just a Hashtag
UNRWA: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
in the Near East
“First, to our black community: we see you, we hear you, we love you, and we’re with you.
UNRWA USA stands with our black beneficiaries, colleagues, supporters, partners, friends, and loved ones and echoes the call for justice and an
end to systemic, institutionalized racism so that all people can live free.
As individuals and as an organization, UNRWA USA commits to antiracist
principles and action so that Black Lives Matter is not just a
hashtag. We’re starting by reading and discussing Dr. Kendi’s “How To Be
An Antiracist” as a staff.
To our non-black supporters: we join you in listening, learning,
unlearning, engaging, and acting — just as we have done all these years
for Palestine refugees. We cannot and will not remain passive.
Our staff has found the following resources useful….”
See this statement and UNRWA’s resource list here
Unitarian Universalists Commit to Vigorous Use of Investor Power for Human Rights
On June 26, 2020 delegates to the virtually held General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) voted to adopt the Business Resolution “Embodying Human Rights in Our Investment Decisions”. The vote in support of the resolution was overwhelming with 95% of the delegates voting for adoption.
Actions mandated in this resolutio include: “To cease purchasing shares in corporations that are consistently, knowingly, and directly complicit in egregious human rights violations and violations of international law, and to divest from shares directly held in such corporations”
Learn more about this resolution
See the text of the resolution
Should Evangelicals Terminate Their Affair With the
State of Israel?
By Rev. Alex Awad, Retired Pastor and UMC Missionary
FOR YEARS, I, a Palestinian and evangelical, have watched with pain the unholy alliance of evangelicals and the State of Israel. Evangelical infatuation with Israel began before there was a Jewish state in the Holy Land. British evangelicals, some of whom were Christian Zionists, helped bring the Jewish state into existence. This fixation kept deepening in the last seven decades. We used the Bible, our pulpits, publications, politics, finances, and our radio and TV stations to expand the territory and power of a Zionist state in Palestine. The average evangelical in the U.S. does not realize the volume of hurt and harm that the political might of evangelical leaders has wrought on the people of the Middle East and especially on Palestinians. See the full article
U.S. Christian Clergy and Laity Leaders Write to DNC and RNC
Over 30 Christian clergy and lay leaders in the United States sent letters to the National Committees of the Democratic and Republican Parties (DNC and RNC), expressing their dismay that the platforms of those parties have “been silent on the rights of Palestinians [and] on Israeli actions that undermine those rights.” The letters called for both parties to include in their platforms “clear opposition to ongoing occupation, settlement expansion and any form of unilateral annexation of territory in the West Bank.”
See more on this story and the text of the letters
Fourteen church agencies and organizations urge Trump to lift sanctions and other restrictions on health care during Covid-19 pandemic
Protestants, Catholics and Christians of other traditions urge the Trump administration to make “goodwill gestures” that will demonstrate U.S. concern for the people of Iran, Syria and Gaza.
SEE MORE
Regarding Gaza, they state: “The U.S. should end its support for the blockade of Gaza and immediately press Israel to ensure that medical supplies and technology are provided to Gaza, that patients needing treatment outside of Gaza are given the permits necessary for extended periods of treatment, and that family members, especially parents accompanying children, are also granted permits to travel.” See the letter
PALESTINE PORTAL ON TWITTER
Use the scroll bar to see more tweets ⬇︎
Congress is back - it's time to build more support for H.R. 8050! It will stop the US gov't from recognizing Israeli annexation of any West Bank land. And it makes U.S. funding to Israel conditional - that's a game-changer! TAKE ACTION NOW
https://umkr.salsalabs.org/alert-aug2020?wvpId=a9329ade-2672-4da1-8e20-7869aeeb23e
COMING SEPT 9TH: "Is it Antisemitic to Criticize the State of Israel?" Antisemitism is a real and persistent evil that must be eradicated. But the charge of antisemitism can also be a highly potent weapon against the movement for Palestinian rights. https://bit.ly/2FLgxGx
The Global South is rising in solidarity with Palestine, to stop Israel’s ongoing annexation of occupied Palestinian land.
See hundreds of notable figures from Asia, Africa & Latin America rallying for #SanctionsOnApartheid at http://globalsouthforpalestine.org
THREAD—After Trump announced the destructive UAE/Israel agreement supporting Israeli apartheid, many are asking how to be in solidarity with Palestinians
Check out this graphic series to learn how to support Palestinian liberation ⬇️
Take action here ➡️ http://mpowerchange.org/InvestInJustice
Pres. Trump and PM Netanyahu have been planning and plotting the unilateral, illegal annexation of Palestinian lands for years. Now it’s off the table? Unlikely. Anyone who trusts the word of these two leaders is foolish. I certainly don’t. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-announces-historic-peace-agreement-between-israel-and-united-arab-emirates/2020/08/13/363f3c54-dd76-11ea-8051-d5f887d73381_story.html
Israel Must Release Palestinian Child Detainees Amid Covid-19
This petition from Defense for Children International–Palestine calls on Israeli authorities to take immediate action to release all Palestinian child detainees in Israeli prisons due to the rapid global spread of the COVID-19 virus.
SEE MORE & SIGN THE PETITION
Palestinian children imprisoned by Israeli authorities live in close proximity to each other, often in compromised sanitary conditions, with limited access to resources to maintain minimum hygiene routines, according to documentation collected by DCIP. COVID-19’s impact is exacerbated by these living conditions making Palestinian children in Israeli prisons and detention centers increasingly vulnerable. SIGN THE DCIP PETITION
U.S. Congressional Action for Palestinians in the time of COVID-19
Senators’ Letter to State Department – March 2020
Eight senators sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calling for U.S. humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people during the global health crisis of the coronavirus. See the story on Mondoweiss Download the letter with signers
Representatives Letter to State Department – February 2020
Thirty-one members of the House of Representatives sent a similar letter to the State Department in February, and they included a call to end U.S. support for Israel’s blockade of Gaza. See this story on The Hill Download the letter with signers
Faith leaders and organizations stand up to the U.S. Plan for “Peace to Prosperity”
On January 28, 2020, the United States announced and published its much-vaunted “Deal of the Century,” titled “Peace to Prosperity.” Faith leaders and organizations in Palestine, North America, Europe, and across the world responded immediately with outrage and protest. “An insult to history, humanity, the Palestinian people, and American dignity itself” reads the statement from Kairos Palestine. See opposition and calls for action from Palestinian Christians, and dozens of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim groups and denominations.
STATEMENTS FROM PALESTINIAN CHRISTIANS
Kairos Palestine (the Palestinian Christian movement in the Holy Land): “Today we ask churches and Christians across the globe to stand up in the face of injustice against the Palestinian people and demand their countries to reject categorically the so-called ‘deal of the century’, reiterating that neither peace nor justice can prevail unless justice is fulfilled, occupation is ended, and Palestinians are granted their full rights.”See their full statement
The Middle East Council of Churches: Secretary General states “the Palestinian cause is a rightful cause and addressing it through bargaining and trade-offs is unacceptable…. The Middle East Council of Churches….calls the international community to put an end to the injustice and restore the legitimate rights of the Palestinians. See his statement
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land: Statement from Bishop Azar includes calls for action by partner churches See his statement
Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem (above): Their statement on Trump’s plan includes a call to Palestinian leaders: “We also call upon all Palestinian political parties, factions, and leaders to meet to discuss all disputes, end the state of internal conflict, terminate division, and adopt a unified stand towards concluding the state building based on plurality and democratic values.” See their statement
Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace: “There can never be a just and lasting peace agreement without securing the freedom of the Palestinian people. To that end, we call upon our fellow Americans to reject the Trump Administration’s ‘Charade of the Century,’ and call for applying real accountability on Israel, by conditioning U.S. military aid to Israel on Israel ending the occupation See more
INTERNATIONAL FAITH-BASED RESPONSES
World Council of Churches: “This proposal was developed without meaningful participation by representatives of the Palestinian people, and primarily in line with long-stated Israeli objectives. It constitutes an ultimatum, rather than a real, sustainable or just solution. No just peace can be established for either Palestinians or Israelis with such a plan….WCC urges members of the international community not to support this proposal or to recognize its implementation unless and until a better plan has been negotiated and agreed with representatives of the Palestinian people and in compliance with the principles of international law….See more
ACT Alliance, Palestine Forum (large coalition of Protestant and Orthodox churches): “ACT Alliance condemns the US administration’s proposal – consistent with US policy shifts we have witnessed over the past years – as a blatant breach of international law, and we reiterate that any solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be negotiated and accepted by both sides…. In other words, the U.S. policy encourages annexation and exacerbates human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) and the Golan Heights.” The statement includes a call to specific actions. See the statement
Lutheran World Federation: “Peace can never be unilaterally imposed,” write LWF president Archbishop Panti Filibus Musa and LWF General Secretary Rev Dr Martin Junge in a statement released on 29 January. “The plan ignores fundamental principles of international law and human rights conventions, as well as numerous UN General Assembly and UN Security Council resolutions, setting a dangerous precedent for the future.” See more
UNITED STATES CHURCHES AND FAITH GROUPS
Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA): “I am very dismayed and disturbed by President Trump’s announcement of a “peace plan” that, I fear, will bring greater insecurity for Israelis and Palestinians instead of peace….Rather than drawing together Israelis and Palestinians to reach a peace accord, the effect of this plan will be further alienation and, I am afraid, more tension, with the possibility of new, violent responses. This path will not lead to peace with justice. It will not promote reconciliation. But it will reinforce extremists in Israel, in Palestine and throughout the
region, decreasing security for everyone.” See more
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church USA: “This “deal” is little more than a cynical rephrasing of the conditions that have kept the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation for decades. It codifies Israel’s egregious theft of Palestinian land and would continue Israel’s military rule, even over the areas allocated to the so-called Palestinian state. It lacks any evidence of a true willingness to include the interests of the Palestinian community.” See more
Joint Statement, United Church of Christ and Disciples of Christ: “…our responsible response is one of grave concern. We do not read the 181-page proposal as either realistic or just. We fear for its devastatingly deleterious effects on Palestinian rights, for its implications for international law and institutions, and for the possible consequences on the people living in an already untenable circumstance. We do not see God’s justice in it.” See more
Israel Palestine Mission Network (IPMN), Presbyterian Church USA: “There should be no surprise at the injustice of what has been proclaimed the “ultimate peace plan” for Palestine and Israel. For those who have paid attention, this is nothing new; it is simply the same old offer to share an ever-shrinking piece of power and opportunity, to a Palestinian community decimated already by ethnic cleansing. The plan is a house that the US has helped build over the last 50 years of Israeli military occupation….It is a patriarchal attitude which holds that those who win, those who have the power, get to decide what is left for those who have no clout, and even then, that those people should be grateful to have any remainders.” See more
Episcopal Peace Fellowship: Palestine Israel Network: “As an organization dedicated to working for true justice and peace for both Palestinians and Israelis, emphasizing political and human rights for Palestinians, the Palestine Israel Network of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship (EPF/PIN) condemns virtually every aspect of the US plan for resolving the Palestine-Israel conflict issued by President Trump on January 28, 2020. This plan should be of paramount interest to members of the Episcopal Church, for the Church has lent ardent support to the parish, educational, healthcare, and hospitality ministries of the Diocese of Jerusalem for many years….Our baptismal covenant to seek justice for all peoples compels us to speak out on what is at stake.” See more
Executive Director, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP): “The proposed plan would further entrench the Israeli security establishment, ensuring that generations of Israeli young men and women will serve in a military tasked with continuing control of the Palestinian people. The inevitable result will be more human rights abuses, trauma, and violence.
This cannot stand.
In addition, as Christians, we must not stand by and let our faith be perverted. It is clear that Christian values are being weaponized in an attempt to give a veneer of moral legitimacy to a plan that is, in fact, meant to facilitate further Israeli control over Palestinian lives, land, and resources. The use of Judeo and Christian religious and spiritual imagery to justify political aims and agendas is idolatry. See more
American Muslims for Palestine: “The outlines of this plan are a recipe for more bloodshed, prolonging suffering in the Holy Land and across the Middle East. This is not a recipe for peace. The Trump administration in essence has embraced the stringent ideological positions and policies of Israel’s extreme right, acting as a conduit to channel these policies rather than policies based on human rights and international law,” stated Osama Abuirshaid, Executive Director of American Muslims for Palestine.
Therefore, this plan is dead on arrival. No Palestinian leader can accept it. And if any does, the Palestinian people will not, as it liquidates their rights that are enshrined by human rights and international law.” See more
Jewish Voice for Peace: “Rabbi Alissa Wise, Acting co-Executive Director of Jewish Voice for Peace, said: “This is in no way a peace plan – it’s an apartheid plan. It’s a distraction ploy by two warmongerers who are prioritizing their personal election campaigns over any semblance of statecraft. International law, global consensus and decades of U.S. policy concur that Palestinian land isn’t for Trump to give away nor for Netanyahu to steal….” See more
CANADIAN CHURCHES AND FAITH GROUPS
United Church of Canada: Letter sent to Prime Minister Trudeau, copied to Canada’s major political parties, to “urge Canada to maintain a principled policy position in accordance with international law, and to strongly oppose the Trump Administration’s “Middle East peace plan” for Israel and Palestine….We further call on Canada to urge other international leaders to denounce the notion that this “plan” could offer a framework through which peace could be negotiated.” See the full letter
Anglican Church of Canada: Letter to Prime Minister Trudeau calls on him “to maintain a principled policy position in accordance with international law, and to strongly, publicly oppose President Trump’s “Peace for Prosperity” plan….We lament with global and Canadian ecumenical partners that the Trump administration’s plan is far from being a “win-win” for Israelis and Palestinians. Rather, we recognize, with many others including Canada, peace with justice will not come by discounting or ignoring Palestinian rights and aspirations.” See this letter
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada: Letter to Prime Minister Trudeau states “Peace can never be unilaterally imposed. Palestinians must be meaningfully involved as part of any peace process. The recent U.S. plan entrenches the occupation. Any path to peace needs to be based on dignity, equality, human rights and self-determination. Ending the occupation is an essential first step for making the journey toward peace.” See their full letter
Presbyterian Church of Canada: Letter to Prime Minister, copied to major political parties, states: “We have heard from our partners in the Middle East…the desperation they feel. This plan cannot bring about peace between Israel and Palestine, as it leaves in place and even cements the very thing that furthers conflict: the occupation and the illegal practices that have characterized it. As such, this plan would set a dangerous precedent of enshrining as a “peace” framework what is fundamentally a violation of international law.” See this letter
Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers): “Any plan toward peace must involve all parties in the negotiation process. It must reflect the needs of all affected parties, not just the needs of the party in the more powerful position. A plan that ensures permanent Israeli power over many aspects of Palestinian life, allows for the further illegal annexation of Palestinian land (a grave violation of the international legal order with far reaching consequences), and grants to the Palestinian people a weak quasi-state with few actual powers, must be rejected in the strongest of terms.” See their full statement
KAIROS Canada: Open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudea calls on Canadian government “to renew its commitment to lasting peace by publicly rejecting this plan, immediately addressing the worsening humanitarian situation for Palestinians and working towards a just peace agreement rooted in the spirit of international law and human rights.” See the announcment and letter
Mennonite Central Committee Canada: Letter to Prime Minister Trudeau states “By rejecting this plan and insisting on a negotiated settlement between two parties based on international law, Canada can contribute to the conditions necessary for an actual just peace. To this end, MCC urges Canada to support diplomatic efforts—including United Nations resolutions—that seek to uphold international law and protect the rights, well-being, and dignity of the region’s peoples.” See this letter in English The letter in French
Canadian Friends of Sabeel: “With no Palestinians present in the room, President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu unveiled the plan, which:
– Legalizes all Israeli settlements, annexing them indefinitely for the Israeli state
– Organizes Palestinians into “bantustans” – drawing further parallels between Apartheid Israel and Apartheid South Africa
– Declares Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel
– Annexes the Jordan Valley
– Denies Palestinians the right of return
– Demands the demilitarization of the entire future Palestinian state
See their email
UNITED KINGDOM CHURCHES AND FAITH GROUPS
The Church of Scotland: “Any resolution to this terrible situation needs to seriously consider the aspirations and rights of the Palestinian people to equality, justice, self-determination and freedom; enshrined within the parameters of international law. The ‘Peace to Prosperity’ plan flagrantly disregards the basic rights of the Palestinian people by unilaterally endorsing the demands and conditions of one side. In depriving one side of its most basic aspirations for equality and statehood, it risks making an already fragile situation worse.” See the statement
Catholic Bishops of England and Wales: Bishops reject “Peace for Prosperity” plan and insist on the upholding of international law and human rights for all in the Holy Land.
“…no proposal and no serious perspective could be reached without the agreement of the two peoples, Israelis and Palestinians. These proposals have to be based on equal rights and dignity. The plan “Peace-to-Prosperity” does not contain these conditions. It does not give dignity and rights to the Palestinians. It is to be considered a unilateral initiative, since it endorses almost all the demands of one side, the Israeli one….On the other hand, this plan does not really take into consideration the just demands of the Palestinian people to their homeland, human rights and a dignified life.” See the statement
Joint Call from UK Quakers, Sabeel-Kairos UK, and many partners: “The UK has repeatedly stated that annexation of part of the West Bank “would be contrary to international law, damaging to peace efforts and could not pass unchallenged.” Now is the time for the UK to outline what form such a challenge would take, and how it will work with other states to support the Palestinian people to attain their fundamental right to self-determination.” See more
OTHER FAITH COMMUNITIES AND COALITIONS
Palestine Israel Ecumenical Network, Australia: “The final instalment of the so called ‘Deal of the Century’ has been unveiled. The Peace to Prosperity, 181 page document has drawn world wide criticism and derision. Once again we see President Trump overriding international law to present this unilateral plan. It was telling that Netanyahu stood at the President’s side as Trump revealed the plan and has vowed to immediately implement the recommendations if reelected in the next Israeli elections.” See their email
LEARN MORE ABOUT EACH OF THESE EVENTS AT OUR EVENTS PAGE
Or click the links provided to go to their websites
_______________________
Virtual Race and Festival • 12 September 2020
Virtual Gaza 5K and Digital Festival
from UNRWA
Learn more, see the events, schedule, and get involved
Cooking Class • 12 September 2020
Live Cooking Class with Leila El-Haddad
from Museum of the Palestinian People
Tickets: $12.00 Register here
Film Discussion • 13 September 2020
Roadmap to Apartheid
from Voices from the Holy Land and EPF PIN
Watch the Film Trailer here: youtu.be/-NJz4puzN5c
Register here: bit.ly/2CW1c4X
Virtual Conference • 14-18 September 2020
Virtual Palestine Advocacy Day
from American Muslims for Palestine (AMP)
$10 registration fee • Learn more and Register
Webinar • 3 October 2020
Greenwashing and the JNF:
part of the series Stop the JNF
from Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Register here
Virtual Conference • 2-3 October 2020
Social Innovation Summit
from Build Palestine
Learn more and register
____________
Webinar Series: KUMI NOW
Every Tuesday
11:00 am (ET), 10:00 am (CT), 9:00 am (MT), 8:00 am (PT), 6:00 pm (Palestine)
Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center
Learn about Sabeel’s Kumi Now initiative:
https://kuminow.com/online/
Register for these webinars at the Kumi Now website: https://kuminow.com/online
See Kumi’s past webinars here: https://kuminow.com/online-archives/
To bring activists around the world together for Palestine, Kumi Now is hosting weekly video gatherings to connect activists with the organizations working for Palestine and get everyone involved in activism for Palestine. Gatherings happen every Tuesday at 6:00pm Palestinian time (GMT+3). That’s 8:00am in Seattle, 10:00am in Chicago, 11:00am in New York, 4:00pm in London, 5:00pm across much of Europe.
Each session features at least one speaker from the co-host organization, and often additional speakers from Sabeel or other organizations, ensuring you get a broad exposure to the people and organizations involved in the movement for Palestinian rights. Each session also includes a Q and A: the opportunity to share our thoughts and ideas among activists.
Webinar Series • Every Tuesday
8am Pacific / 11am Eastern / 3pm GMT / 6pm Palestine
KUMI NOW
Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center
To bring activists around the world together for Palestine, Kumi Now is hosting weekly video gatherings to connect activists with the organizations working for Palestine and get everyone involved in activism for Palestine. Gatherings happen every Tuesday at 6:00pm Palestinian time (GMT+3). That’s 8:00am in Seattle, 10:00am in Chicago, 11:00am in New York, 4:00pm in London, 5:00pm across much of Europe.
Each session features at least one speaker from the co-host organization, and often additional speakers from Sabeel or other organizations, ensuring you get a broad exposure to the people and organizations involved in the movement for Palestinian rights. Each session also includes a Q and A: the opportunity to share our thoughts and ideas among activists.
1 Sept 2020 (Week 46)
Adalah and Palestinian Arab Bedouin Citizens of Israel
Adalah will focus our attention on the discrimination and
challenges faced by Palestinian Arab Bedouin citizens within Israel.
8 September 2020 (Week 47 )
Arab Educational Institute and Rachel’s Tomb and Bethlehem
AEI will talk about how the site of Rachel’s Tomb has been cut off from Bethlehem and Palestinians as the city of Bethlehem has been surrounded by the Apartheid wall and settlements.
Note: Kumi Now Online gatherings will take a break during weeks 47 and 48 of the Kumi Now calendar, and will return on 29 September 2020.
29 September 2020 (Week 48)
Tent of Nations and Building Permit
Discrimination
To be confirmed. We will use this evening to learn about and oppose building permit discrimination in the West Bank.
To sign up for the webinars that interest you, use this link and see the form at the bottom of the page: https://kuminow.com/online
Learn more about Sabeel’s Kumi Now initiative: https://kuminow.com/online/
See all of Kumi’s past webinars here: https://kuminow.com/online-archives/
Every week, Christians around the world join in prayer with Palestinian Christians, through the Wave of Prayer from the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem. Below are recent prayers as well as news bites from Sabeel: use the scroll bar to see more of them and click on any item, to read more at Sabeel’s website.
