English February 27- 2020

Sabeel Wave of Prayer
27^th February – 2020

This week’s Kumi Now initiative focuses on the work of the Youth Against Settlements, (YAS), which is a Hebron based non-violent, direct action group. The group is based in a centre which has been reclaimed for Palestinian use after a legal battle with Israeli settlers.

YAS encourages the Palestinian people living in Hebron to remain in the city despite the hardships and violence they face from the Israeli settlers and the Israeli military occupation.

• Lord, we thank you for all those who support those suffering oppressions in the city of Hebron. We pray that international bodies will bring pressure to bear on the Israeli government to apply the Geneva Convention to all those living in Hebron and the rest of the occupied territories. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

A Palestinian, Muhammad Ali Anam, 27, was killed by an Israeli sniper on Sunday 23^rd February, after allegedly attempting to plant a bomb near the Israeli fence. Following his death, Muhammad’s body was dragged from the scene by an Israeli bulldozer after defence minister Naftali Bennett stated that Israel would collect and store the bodies until the bodies of two soldiers killed in 2014 are returned to Israel by Hamas.

• Lord, we pray for the family of Muhammad as they mourn their loss. Grant that those involved would see the inhumanity of their actions and that your justice will cover these lands. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Saeb Erekat, the Secretary-General of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation denounced Israel’s recent decision to construct thousands of new settler units on occupied Palestinian land across the West Bank. Nine thousand illegal units are to be constructed on the former Qalandia airport to the north of Jerusalem, while more than five thousand units are planned in established settlements to the south of Jerusalem.

• Dear Lord, your ‘righteousness looks down from the sky’, (Psalm 85). We pray that international organisations, which respect law and order, will speak out to deter Israel and the US from the forcible annexation of Palestinian land to build more Israeli settlements. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Sabeel continues to organise local Bible study groups in the community to help Christians to come together and reflect on what it means to follow Christ today, living under the oppressive constraints in the land of Palestine and Israel.

• Lord, your words are life and light. We give thanks to all the lay leaders who help organise the Bible Study groups and prepare the material. Accept our prayers as incense offered to you, and our upraised hands as an evening offering (Psalm 141). Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Sabeel Jerusalem held its General Assembly on Friday, the 21st of February.

• Gracious God, we ask your blessing on Sabeel’s upcoming programs, especially as our staff members meet with community leaders to set dates for this year’s events, and the decisions made at Sabeel General Assembly as it met last Friday in Ramallah. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

A group of thirty-one US Democratic Senators have called on the US administration to bring an end to the thirteen-year-old blockade of Gaza and to restore funding and aid to the enclave. In a letter addressed to the Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, they stated:

‘the continued deterioration of water and electrical infrastructure, medical systems and other basic economic and social services bring Gaza closer to complete collapse’.

• Lord, please soften the hearts of those in authority in the US and open their ears to the voices warning of imminent disaster in Gaza. We pray that the lifeline of funds for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency working in Gaza will be restored at the earliest opportunity. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

On Friday, the 14th of February thousands of Palestinians gathered in the Victory Square in Nablus to attend Fajr (dawn) prayers at the Al Nasim Mosque. Across the West Bank Palestinians are turning up for the dawn prayers on Fridays as the only safe way they can express their protest against the Israeli-biased Middle East Plan. They fear arrest by protesting openly in the streets at other times of the day.

• Dear Lord, we pray for honest brokers to come forward to propose peace talks to represent the interests of the Palestinian people, not just the interests of the Israelis. We pray that the Palestinians and the Israelis can find a way to live respectfully and peaceably in their shared land. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

• We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.