We thank God for a successful and
peaceful Sabeel interfaith activity last Saturday. Thirty-five young adults—Palestinian
and international Christians along with Israeli Jews—assisted the Sabri family
of Beit Ijza in planting several hundred olive trees and almond trees in fields
cut off by the Separation Wall and an illegal Israeli settlement. We pray that
the personal encounters at this event will foster long-lasting goodwill and
friendships.
As more and more homes in East Jerusalem receive demolition orders from Israeli
forces, we pray that public pressure and attention will grow large enough to
prevent the homes from actually being demolished. Currently, 173 homes (including
88 homes in the neighborhood of Silwan) are being threatened with demolition
while settlement expansion around Jerusalem
is rapidly accelerating. We pray that these two trends can be reversed quickly
and justice can prevail.
We pray for the ecumenical clergy
meeting this Friday in Mjaidel near Nazareth.
May their time of prayer, Bible study, and discussion strengthen the ties
between the Christian denominations and contribute to the building of the Body
of Christ in Galilee.
This week, Palestinian leaders are meeting in
Cairo to
discuss the formation of a coalition government. In the mean time, their
Israeli counterparts are also working to form a ruling coalition. We pray that
each country will instate a government willing to speak with the other and
interested in establishing a just peace.
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