English 22nd of December 2022

 

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

22^nd of December 2022

 

The focus of this week’s Kumi Now session was the launch of Rev. Naim Ateek’s booklet on Religious Extremism.  The booklet is a helpful and pertinent resource at a time when politicians with extremist religious views are about to take office under the newly formed Israeli government.

 

•   Lord Jesus, Immanuel, when we are fearful of the darkness all around us, help us to turn towards your light. Our Redeemer, we ask for your help in troubled times and trust ourselves to your care. Lord, in your mercy..

 

 

•   Lord, we give thanks for the joyful occasion of the Sabeel Christmas Dinner on Friday, the 16th of December, when Sabeel hosted 180 guests. May this time of celebration encourage and strengthen all those working to restore justice and peace to their land. Lord, in your mercy…

 

On Thursday, the 15th of December, the United Nations passed a resolution in favour of the Palestinian people’s sovereignty over their natural resources. The UN stated,’ the Assembly demanded that Israel, the occupying power, cease the exploitation, damage, cause of loss or depletion and endangerment of the natural resources in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem and the occupied Syrian Golan’.

 

•   Lord, we pray that the international community will compel Israel to implement international law and to ensure the freedom of the Palestinian people to benefit from their natural resources. Lord, in your mercy…

 

Israeli settlers attacked a school in Urif, a Palestinian village south of Nablus in the early hours of Thursday morning, the 15th of December. Surveillance cameras showed that about forty settlers stole into the village under cover of darkness and hurled stones at the local secondary boys’ school, smashing the solar panels used to supply the school with electricity.

 

•   Lord, we pray for an end to the wrecking activities of the Israeli settlers. We pray that the Israeli authorities will stop turning a blind eye to the frequent outbreaks of settler violence and vandalism directed against Palestinian communities. Lord, in your mercy…

 

Sama Aweideh received the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law in Jerusalem on Wednesday, the 14th of December. For decades Sama has campaigned to ensure respect for women’s rights in Palestinian society. She was one of the founders of the Palestinian Federation of Women’s Action Committees in1978. She also set up the Women’s Studies Center in East Jerusalem in 1992.

 

•   Lord, we give thanks for the international recognition of Sama Aweideh’s human right’s work and for her determination to bring in legislation to help protect Palestinian women from gender-based violence. Lord, in your mercy..

 

 

 

 

 

The US has called for accountability from Israel after the recent killing of 16-year-old Jana Zakarna during an Israeli military raid in Jenin. An initial probe into the incident has shown that Jana was most likely killed  by an Israeli Border Police sniper as soldiers  were attempting to arrest three Palestinians. Her family stated that Jana had gone up onto the roof to retrieve her cat when the shooting suddenly started. She was shot in the head and chest and died on the rooftop.

 

•   Lord, we pray for Jana’s family as they grieve over the violent end to her young life. We pray that the Israeli military will investigate this incident fully and that all soldiers will be held to account for unauthorized killings. We pray too for an end to the massive Israeli military operation of nightly raids, which has led to the deaths and imprisonment of so many Palestinians in recent months. Lord, in your mercy…

 

•   We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. Lord, in your mercy…