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THE BIG STORIES
PALESTINIAN CIVIL SOCIETY STATEMENT ON GAZA
A historic call from Palestinian civil society to Palestinian leaders, Israel, the USA, the Arab states, and the international community, for support of the peaceful demonstrations in Gaza and for worldwide demonstrations in advance of the Nakba commemoration in May.
Kairos & Civil Society Gaza Statement
TRUMP’S JERUSALEM ANNOUNCEMENT
Ignoring warnings from around the world and rejecting international law, Trump announces that the US recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, says US will move its embassy there. See the outpouring of opposition statements and several opportunities to Take Action!
PALESTINIAN CHILD DETENTION BILL
Historic legislation comes to US Congress: the first bill to address Palestinian human rights would end US funding for Israeli military detention of Palestinian children. Introduced by Rep. Betty McCollum and 9 more members of Congress, it now has many more co-sponsors. See a short video, news reports, documentation of Israeli abuse of Palestinian children... learn more here.
CHALLENGING ANTI-BDS LEGISLATION
The ACLU has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a Kansas teacher – a member of the Mennonite Church USA – who supports her church’s call for boycott. See the ACLU report
Faith Coalition Takes Action to Defend Free Speech
In historic show of unity, dozens of faith organizations publish full-page newspaper ad; 20 Christian leaders from national organizations send open letter to Congress. Both defend the right to boycott and oppose anti-BDS laws that violate Americans’ rights. Read the news, the statement & the letter
MORE FROM THE PALESTINE PORTAL COMMUNITY
CMEP Bulletin – Jan 12, 2018
In the News
Is Trump Widening a Rift Between the Evangelicals and Mideast Christians? [Religion News Service]
US Projects in Palestinian Territories Face Backlash Amid Calls for Boycott [The Guardian]
Charles Bronfman: Abandoning The Two-State Solution Means Abandoning The Jewish Soul [The Forward]
Christians Are at Risk of Being Driven Out of the Holy Land [The Guardian]
Right-Wing Politicians to Push Bill Applying Israeli Law to Settlements [The Jerusalem Post]
Reasons Why I as an Evangelical Leader in the Middle East Don’t Agree With Trump’s Declaration on Jerusalem [The Christian Post]
Jerusalem’s Political Orphans [Al-Monitor]
Israel Publishes BDS Blacklist: These Are the 20 Groups Whose Members Will Be Denied Entry [Haaretz]
US Cuts to UNRWA Will Hurt Half a Million Palestinian Children [Middle East Monitor]
Prince Ghazi, PA Panel Discuss Ways to Defend Christian Rights in Jerusalem [The Jordan Times]
Read CMEP’s succinct synopses of these articles
CMEP Bulletin – Jan 19, 2018
CMEP Press Release: Throwing Mud at Peace Negotiations Does Not Bring Peace Closer
In the News
U.S. Freezes More Than Half of Aid Funds to UN Palestinian Refugee Agency [Haaretz]
Schools, Health Could Be Hit by U.S. Cut for Palestinian Refugee Funds: UNRWA Chief [Reuters]
Israeli Leader Gives Surprising Time Scale for U.S. Embassy Move [CBS News]
Behind the Fiery Rhetoric, the Palestinian Leadership Is Cornered and Flailing [The Washington Post]
Israel’s Deplorable Boycott Of BDS Supporters Is Just The Beginning [The Forward]
Israel Behind ‘Christian Exodus’ from Palestine [Al Jazeera]
Report: Gazan’s Freedom of Movement in 2017 Worst in 3 Years [Middle East Monitor]
Who’s Afraid of Palestine? [Israel Policy Forum’s Matzav Review]
Read CMEP’s succinct synopses of these articles and see CMEP’s news here
Happening at CMEP
Webinar: Mission, Ministry, and Advocacy: The Episcopal Church & the Middle East
Thur, Jan 25, 2018, 2:00 PM: CMEP ED Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, with The Rev. Margaret Rose, Ecumenical and Interreligious Deputy and The Rev. Canon Robert D. Edmunds, Middle East Partnership Officer. Participants will discuss advocacy and the Episcopal Church’s ministry in Jerusalem, the Holy Lands, and the broader Middle East, followed by a Q&A session. Register now for this webinar!
Historic legislation comes to US Congress – first bill to address Palestinian human rights
Bill would end US funding for Israeli military detention of Palestinian children, introduced by Rep. Betty McCollum and nine other members of Congress. See a short video on this bill, news reports, factual documentation of Israeli abuse of Palestinian children... learn more here.
Breaking the Silence: Accomplishments in 2017
In this courageous Israeli organization, which is often targeted by their government, former members of the Israeli military tell the world the truth about the occupation they enforced.
- A message from the Executive Director: Avner Gvaryahu
- The High Command report – settler influence on IDF conduct in the West Bank
- Kingdom of Olives and Ash – Writers Confront the Occupation
- Partnerships with Jewish Diaspora
- Black Mirror – 50 years of occupation, 5 hours of public testimonies reading
- The orchestrated campaign against Breaking the Silence
Read their 2017 News
PALESTINE LEGAL – Jan 19, 2018
• Palestine Legal’s 2017 Social Media Highlights
• Senate HELP Committee Approves Nomination of Anti-Palestinian Crusader Kenneth Marcus – paves the way for a full Senate vote on Trump’s anti-civil rights, anti-free speech nominee. Palestine Legal staff attorney Rahul Saksena: “Kenneth Marcus’ record should disqualify him from leading the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education. Marcus has pioneered a legal strategy of abusing civil rights laws to chill the speech activities and violate the civil rights of students who advocate for Palestinian rights. Read more
Quaker Palestine Israel Network (QPIN)
Engaging Critics of BDS: A Resource for Activists!
We are pleased to announce the publication of Engaging Critics of BDS: A Resource for Activists! QPIN has written this guide as a tool for BDS activists to help counter some often encountered arguments from critics of BDS. This document was inspired by discussions held at a Quaker consultation in April, 2016 organized by QPIN and hosted by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). Get this resource
Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA)
The FOSNA Clergy and Seminary Action Council
The Council offers a voice of bold solidarity. As church and seminary leaders, we possess spirit, wisdom, privilege, and opportunity. Let us employ these traits as we join Palestinian colleagues and friends who call for our support in this urgent moment….we aim to strengthen the North American Christian voice for justice for Palestine.” Learn more; join the council
The Palestinian Speakers Bureau from FOSNA
No one can tell the story of Palestine better than a Palestinian. The speakers on this list, organized by region, are happy to address your congregation, sit on a panel, or speak at a conference. See the speakers, make inquiries, suggest additions
Episcopal Peace Fellowship – Palestine Israel Network
The Palestine Israel Toolkit
Resources to help readers learn the basics, broaden their knowledge, dispel misunderstandings, and find ways to work with others toward peace with justice in the Holy Land. Sections include: The Basics, Going Deeper, Why It’s Important, and Time to Take Action. See/download the toolkit
Defense for Children International–Palestine
Child Rights Briefing: October 2017
• Detained teens in Gaza highly vulnerable to abuse • West Bank refugee camps face crisis of safety and space • Military watchtower as a neighbor in Arroub Refugee Camp Read the news
Open letter, Palestinian Christians to WCC
Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. (Isa. 1:17)
Excerpts of the letter:
“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….
“Things are beyond urgent. We are on the verge of a catastrophic collapse. The current status-quo is unsustainable.” Read the letter
Round up of 2017 Prophetic Church Actions
Actions by the United Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ, Mennonite Church USA, United Methodist annual conferences, and World Communion of Reformed Churches. See the news
Get occasional updates on what’s happening in the community and at Palestine Portal, with our e-news!▼
Our newsfeeds include:
• Mondoweiss • Electronic Intifada
• +972 Magazine • Ma’an News
• The Palestine Chronicle • The Jerusalem Fund’s Recommended Reading
Get the latest news
Support historic legislation in Congress
First bill ever to address Palestinian human rights! Would end U.S. funding for Israeli military detention and abuse of Palestinian children. Contact your legislators to support this bill
Protect Free Speech and the Right to Boycott
Laws that penalize support for Palestinian human rights violate Americans’ rights. Urge your elected officials to protect constitutional rights and reject anti-BDS legislation. Send a message to your federal and state elected officials – take action here
Urge Congress to support Palestinian unity and end the Gaza blockade
The recent Palestinian unity agreement is a ray of hope for devastated Gaza and all Palestinians. Urge your legislators to make sure the US supports this effort and works for an end to the blockade of Gaza, which has caused a humanitarian catastrophe. Take action: contact your U.S. legislators
Tell the International Criminal Court: Children in Gaza deserve life
Until we hold Israeli authorities accountable and demand an end to Israel’s collective punishment against Palestinians, children in Gaza will suffer grave violations of their basic rights to life, safety, health, and childhood. Sign the petition from Defense for Children International-Palestine
See more action alerts
Every week, Christians around the world join in prayer with Palestinian Christians, through the Wave of Prayer from Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center. Below are recent prayers and news bytes from Sabeel. Click on any item, to see it at Sabeel’s website.
Christ at the Checkpoint 5 • May 28-June 1, 2018 – Bethlehem, Palestine
CMEP Advocacy Summit 2018: And Still We Rise: Transforming U.S. Policy Toward a Just Middle East • June 17-19, 2018 – Washington, D.C
GET DETAILS ON THESE EVENTS
Watch this inspiring video from Ginghamsburg Church in Ohio (click the photo below): Church members share how they were convicted and touched by the experience of their 2017 Olive Harvest Trip, their first time in the Holy Land.
• The Right of Return: 70 Years of Refugees; Tree of Life: Jan 2-14 or 18, 2018
• Olive planting program, includes guided tours; JAI: Feb. 3-12, 2018
• Sabeel’s Spring Witness Trip 2018: Feb 28-March 8, 2018
• Come, See, and Listen Tour; First UMC of Des Moines: April 16-27, 2018
• Footsteps of Jesus Tour; UCC/Disciples: April 27-May 8, 2018
• Pilgrimage of Discovery; Janet Lahr Lewis, UMC Missionary: Apr 30-May 9, 2018
• Israel, Palestine, and Christ at the Checkpoint; CMEP: May 23-June 1, 2018
• Abrahams’ Children Searching for Justice in Israel and Palestine; FOSNA: July 14-27, 2018
• “No Bans, No Walls” Delegation; IFPB: July 21-Aug. 3, 2018
• Olive Harvest Delegation; IFPB: Oct 27-Nov 9, 2018
SEE DETAILS ON THESE TRIPS
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