We pray for all those affected by the recent increase of illegal settlement
construction in East Jerusalem. Last week several Israeli Knesset members,
Jerusalem councilmen, and former Republican presidential candidate Mike
Huckabee attended the cornerstone-laying ceremony for settler housing units on
the Mount of Olives, with intentions for further expansion. This week the Jerusalem
City Council approved the plans for settler apartments in Sheikh Jarrah whose
construction will cause the eviction of a number of Palestinian families. We
pray that the national and international community will not let this settlement
construction that is illegal under international law and destructive for peace
go unheeded.
Prices of essential items such as food, water and gas are steadily
increasing in Israel and Palestine, the Middle East, and all over the world. We
pray for everyone for whom this is a hardship, especially for those who already
struggle to make ends meet and for whom this is an additional burden.
Our prayers remain with the people of Egypt; we especially give
thanks for the Christians and Muslims working together for a better nation and
protecting each other during Muslim prayers and Christian services. May they be
encouraged and strengthened, and continue to give inspiration and hope across
the Middle East.
We pray for the upcoming Sabeel conference, Challenging Empire:
God, Faithfulness, and Resistance, that is now less than two weeks away. We
remember the people from Africa and Latin America who were unable to get visas
to join us for the conference. We also give thanks for the international volunteers
who have arrived in Jerusalem and for the affirming atmosphere of teamwork
among all the staff preparing for the conference.
With the Prayer
Cycle of the World Council of Churches, we pray for: Belgium, Luxembourg,
Netherlands
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