Palestinian high school students are in the midst of the very
demanding and lengthy ‘tawjihi’ examinations. The results of these exams
determine university placement and are also very culturally important. We pray for
the thousands of young people who are experiencing this stressful time. May
they use their education to better their communities and to strengthen the
society in which they live.
Ten families in the Jordan Valley region of the West Bank have
received notices giving them 24 hours to evacuate their homes. In spite of
documents proving their ownership of the land, the Israeli military claims that
the homes of the Daraghmah and Al-Makahmreh families now sit in a “fire zone”
that puts the residents “at risk.” If evicted, the families would join 600
other Palestinians made homeless in the past year by house demolitions in the
West Bank. Lord, have mercy.
Municipal officials have announced their intentions to approve a “master
plan” for East and West Jerusalem. Through zoning, taxation, and other legal
measures, the plan will further stifle Palestinian development and expand
existing Israeli settlements in occupied East Jerusalem. We pray that this
far-reaching action will be stopped and that Jerusalem will one day be a city
that is accessible to all people.
This week, the Presbyterian Church (USA) will begin its General
Assembly in Minneapolis. The assembly will consider a report that calls for
Israel to be held accountable for its military occupation and settlement
expansion. The report also details American complicity in these injustices. We pray
that the Presbyterian Church will act boldly for justice, in spite of the
growing pressure from groups that wish to silence the church.
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