Thursday, February 19, 2009

19/2/09 - English



We pray for comfort and strength for the Al-Kurd family of the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem as their case is taken to court. The Al-Kurds were illegally evicted from their home last October. Their home and 29 others in Sheikh Jarrah are under eviction orders as Israeli settlers are moving into their homes. We pray that the expanding settlement enterprise within East Jerusalem will end.

We pray for safe travels and a warm reception for Rev. Naim Ateek as he begins a book launch tour in the United States. His two-week trip will take him to Washington, D.C.; Boston; Detroit; Chicago; and Atlanta to promote his new book, “A Palestinian Christian Cry for Reconciliation.” We pray that through the launching of this book people can learn more about Palestine, Palestinian Christians, and the work of Sabeel.

We ask God to guide the current impasses in both the Israeli and Palestinian governments. The Israelis are facing a stalemate in the process of naming a prime minister and the Palestinians are attempting to soothe tensions between Fatah and Hamas. We pray that both nations can end their internal politicking so that negotiations for a just peace can continue uninterrupted.

We thank God for progress that is being made in the campaign to boycott and divest from companies that benefit from the Israeli Occupation. On February 12, Hampshire College became the first American college or university to divest from companies that enable the Occupation. Hampshire College was also the first college to divest from Apartheid South Africa. We pray that this is a harbinger of good news to come. 

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