English 22/9/2016

On Friday September 23rd, Friends of Sabeel—Netherlands will hold a conference on the theme of “Thinking and acting beyond Oslo”. The conference comes in conjunction with the calling this week of The Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum (PIEF) of the World Council of Churches, for a week of advocacy and action in support of an end to the illegal occupation of Palestine.

·         Lord, we pray that this conference will inspire more people to seek a just peace in Palestine and Israel. May the conference provide the necessary tools for peacemakers already committed to pursuing justice. We also give thanks for all the solidarity around the world working for an end to the occupation. Lord in your mercy…

Hebron, the largest city in the West Bank has been officially awarded the title of World Crafts City. This is the first time a Palestinian city has been granted the title by the World Crafts Council. Hebron is famous for its wide variety of industrial and ornamental products, including porcelain, pottery, glass, olive wood and leather.

·         Lord, we give thanks for the people of Hebron who despite all odds continue to prevail. We pray for the workers who are humiliated everyday at Israeli military checkpoints on their way to earn their daily bread. We also remember the shop keepers whose shops have been sealed by the army and who are unable to earn a living. Lord in your mercy…

Violence continues in the occupied Palestinian territory:
A six-year-old Palestinian girl, Lama Mousa, was run over and killed by an Israeli settler last Saturday evening in the village of al-Khader.
Fares Khadour while driving a car with a female passenger was shot by Israeli forces resulting in his death and injuring the female passenger. The shooting came after he allegedly rammed the car in a bus stop.
Israeli forces shot dead Mohamed al-Sarrahin during a military raid in the village of Beit Ula, in the southern occupied West Bank district of Hebron.
Sayid Amro was shot at Damascus Gate – entrance to East Jerusalem’s Old City. Israeli police said Sayid, who was carrying a Jordanian ID, attempted to stab Israeli soldiers with a knife.
25-year-old Hatem al-Shaloudi, a resident of Tel Rumeida on the outskirts of Hebron was shot dead by the Israeli army after an alleged knife attack.
Seventeen year old Amir and twenty one year old Mohanad Al Rajabi, accused of attempting to stab Israeli border police in the West Bank, have been shot and killed on Monday near the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron.

Sixteen year old Issa Tarairah, was shot and killed by the Israeli army Tuesday near Hebron after allegations of an attempted knife attack.

·         God, we pray for an end to this situation of violence and counter-violence between Palestine and Israel. Inspire the people of the world to be real peacemakers, in spite of all the hatred, enmity and violence around them. Let them stand for justice where injustice holds dominion, for hope where despair reigns, and for love where apathy keeps people silent. Lord in your mercy…

Two vessels with an all-female crew set sail last Wednesday from Spain to Gaza in an attempt to break the nine-year-old Israeli blockade. The “Women’s Boat to Gaza” is the fourth of its kind, captained entirely by women, with 30 female activists and high-ranking officials aboard the Arabic-named Zaytouna (“Olive”) and Amal (“hope”).

·         Lord, the male disciples on your boat cried out to you to save them from the storm at the sea of Galilee. We pray for the safety of the female disciples who are fearlessly sailing to Gaza to feed the hungry, cloth the naked and provide medicine for the sick. Protect them lord with your providence as they deliberately sail into the storm to give sight to a blind world and set the captives free. Lord in your mercy…

·         We pray alongside the World Council of Churches for the countries of Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania. Lord in your mercy…