The brutal siege on the Gaza Strip has been slightly eased as
Israel has agreed to allow more goods into the area. However, imports are
limited, exports remain forbidden, fisherman are still prevented from reaching
the sea, and people are not allowed to travel freely. We pray that the latest
Israeli action will not divert attention from the need for true justice
throughout the region. May we remain bold in our calls for true peace and
justice.
Authorities in Jerusalem are proceeding with a plan to raze 22
Palestinian homes in the Silwan neighborhood adjacent to the Old City. If the
plan goes into effect, many families will be displaced and Israeli hotels and
restaurants will be built over demolished Palestinian homes. We pray that local
and international opposition will prevent its implementation.
Israel continues to revoke the residency rights of thousands of
Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem. While Israeli Jerusalemites may leave
the country for as long as they wish and return with full rights and
citizenship, Palestinians who leave for several years to study or work abroad
are finding it increasingly difficult to return to the city of their birth.
This “silent expulsion” threatens to drain Jerusalem of many professionals and
academics. We pray that people around the world will speak out to end this
indefensible injustice.
This week, the Methodist Church of Great Britain will consider and
vote on a document that proposes the boycott of settlement goods, endorsement
of the Kairos Document, theological investigation of Christian Zionism, and
political lobbying to end the Israeli occupation. In response, a campaign of
intimidation and distortion has been launched against the church. We pray that
representatives at the conference will courageously speak and vote in the
interest of justice.
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