The words “settlers” and “territories” harken back to the earliest stories that came from the Europeans who sailed to the “New World.”
Keep ReadingPhoto Reel and Commentary, May 12-15 Day 1: Nazareth to the Cana Guest House We started off the day in high spirits, which was good because the first thing we had to do was climb our way out of the
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A PC(USA) International Peacemaker Preaches Hope for Israel/Palestine. In September, the Presbytery of Genesee Valley welcomed a PC(USA) International Peacemaker, Amal Nassar, as she led workshops describing her family’s experience living at the Tent of Nations (an organic farm near Bethlehem in the West Bank). Events were held at eight
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The 223rd GA supported free speech on the Middle East. When the final item of business from Committee 12 was put to a vote, and the business of the committee was concluded late Friday night, Stated Clerk J. Herbert Nelson remarked that the church had just witnessed something unprecedented: “Thirty-five
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Below are descriptions of each piece of business, divided into categories by topic. Each item number links to the full text of the resolution on pc-biz.org, along with all official comments that have been submitted. Abbreviations Used: ACREC—Advocacy Committee for Racial Ethnic Concerns ACSWP—Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy ACWC—Advocacy Committee
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Photo Reel and Commentary, May 12-15 Day 1: Nazareth to the Cana Guest House We started off the day in high spirits, which was good because the first thing we had to do was climb our way out of the city of Nazareth, ancient hometown of Jesus! Nazareth today is
MoreMosaic of Peace, Day 10 Last night, multiple members of our group woke to the sound of fighter jets. The IDF was coordinating a strike on Iranian-affiliated military bases in Syria, responding to a (as of initial reports, casualty-free) strike on the Golan Heights. The Golan Heights attack itself was
MoreMosaic of Peace, Day 9 Today we took a break from the presentations and classroom time to walk where Jesus walked, around the Sea of Galilee. But even so, we were never far from the issues to which we have been exposed all week. We toured all of the usual
MoreMosaic of Peace, Day 8 We started out this day mired in discussions of the “intractable conflict” in Israel-Palestine, and ended the day with grace, on the River Jordan. Our meeting in Ramallah with Sam Bahour, a Palestinian businessman (and U.S. Citizen) had elements of hope woven throughout. He pointed
MoreDay 7, Part 1: A Microcosm of the Conflict As we boarded the bus from the Manger Square Hotel, the ingredients appeared to be coming together for rain. A slight wind blew over the hills as clouds gathered overhead. After a third day in Bethlehem, we had heard and seen
MoreMosaic of Peace, Day 6 Today we were confronted with incompatible narratives. After worshipping at Christmas Lutheran Church in the morning, we visited the Tent of Nations—a small olive tree-covered mountain owned by the Nassar family, which consists of Palestinian Christian farmers. The Nassars are a rare case—they have ownership
MoreMosaic of Peace, Day 5 After three and a half days staying in and exploring the Old City area of Jerusalem, yesterday we took a bus tour of East Jerusalem with an Israeli guide named Yaniv Mazor—a former tank commander in the IDF who, after serving three years of mandatory
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