05/02/2015- English

Fourteen-year-old Malak al-Khatib was arrested in December for allegedly throwing stones at Israeli soldiers in the West Bank and possessing a knife.  She was sentenced by Israeli military court to 2 months in prison and is possibly the youngest Palestinian girl to be detained and sentenced by Israel.  God of mercy, we pray that the world will condemn such harsh punishment of children who pose no threat to the military might and lives of Israeli soldiers.  Lord in your mercy…

 

This week a 17-year-old boy was shot and injured by a settler in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan while the boy was tending a small herd of sheep.  Lord, we lift our deep concerns to you for the obstacles to peace posed by Jewish settlers taking over property in the heart of Palestinian neighborhoods of East Jerusalem, and acting with impunity towards the majority of its residents.  Lord in your mercy…

 

For the second month running, Israel took punitive measures against the Palestinian Authority (PA) for joining the International Criminal Court (ICC) by withholding around 100 million dollars in tax revenues owed to the PA.  Lord, we pray for the families of Palestinian government employees who are affected by this and are experiencing tough economic times.  Lord in your mercy…

 

The latest announcement of Israel’s plans to build 430 homes in 4 different illegal Jewish settlements across the West Bank is also an ongoing obstacle to peace and a future two-state solution.  God of justice, we pray for all Palestinians in the West Bank who painfully watch their land being taken and built upon, and for your justice to be granted in this broken Holy Land.  Lord in your mercy…

 

Lord, we lift up our Sabeel youth programs this week, including a focus group meeting in Ramallah, a meeting in Nazareth, and a trip to Nablus and Jenin to visit Christian families in isolated villages along with some clergymen.  We also pray for our community forum next week on Jerusalem and the people of Jerusalem.  Lord in your mercy…

 

We pray alongside the World Council of Churches for the countries of Ireland and the United Kingdom: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Lord in your mercy…