Dark skies and rain didn’t stop the Sixth Annual Olive Harvest Festival in Bethlehem Saturday, October 28th, in Manger Square. The festival is sponsored by the ELCJHL’s Environmental Education Center, the Bethlehem Peace Center, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the East Jerusalem YMCA. Marking the harvest of the Palestinian traditional olive harvest, Palestinians … [Read more…]
On Saturday, October 21, an exhibition entitled “1000 Peace Women Across the Globe” was opened at the International Centre of Bethlehem by Nabila Espanioly, one of the nominated women and the director of the women’s center ‘Al Tufula’ in Nazareth in Israel. The exhibition includes photographic portraits of the 1000 women from over 150 countries … [Read more…]
by Bishop Munib Younan As I was driving to Ramallah the other day and stopped at an intersection, a child came up to the car with a towel to try to clean my windshield. I said, “what is this?” He said, “Please, for God’s sake, one shekel. I want to eat!” Other children later started … [Read more…]
Despite the statement referred to in this ad by Israeli organization Machsom Watch that the State of Israel will guarantee freedom of religion and access to holy sites, Palestinian Muslims and Christians are routinely deprived of their right to pray at their holy places, even – especially – during the most holy times. Friday, Oct … [Read more…]
The Oriental Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican Churches invited the higher Islamic council, Chief Islamic Justice Sheikh al Tamimi, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine, Sheikh Mohammed Hussein, Islamic Awqaf Adnan Hussein, Jerusalem PLC members and about 100 other dignitaries and civil society leaders both Christian and Muslim to celebrate a … [Read more…]
Christians packed the Church of the Dormition on Thursday to pray for peace in the world, but especially for peace with justice in the Holy Land. Christian and Muslim Palestinians in Bethlehem – most of whom cannot go to Jerusalem – gathered for a service of their own. About 70 people gathered around Rachel’s Tomb, … [Read more…]
Bishop Younan was in Sweden to attend the installation of the new Swedish Archbishop Anders Wejryd. He then addressed a Swedish conference on the role of Religion in Conflicts. The Bishop said that religion has been kidnapped by politics, and he is frustrated that religion is more frequently used to cause political conflicts rather than … [Read more…]
The school kids at the Lutheran schools in Palestine are lucky. While most of the 1.2 million Palestinian students are not in school because of a general strike, the Lutheran schools are leading the charge to ensure their students don’t pay the price of this latest situation. They have mostly remained open in the face … [Read more…]
For several years now, Christian churches in Jerusalem have collaborated to offer ecumenical prayer services for peace for about two weeks in late August. Tonight, Thursday August 17, we gathered in the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer for a prayer service in German, Arabic and English. Join us in our prayers: Merciful God, we pray … [Read more…]
The World Council of Churches sent a three-member delegation to Lebanon and Jerusalem August 10 – August 16 whose main aim was “to manifest our solidarity to the people of Lebanon and Palestine/Israel, to meet as many representatives of Churches, Muslim and Jewish leaders, civil society and the Governments.” The delgation consisted of Ms. Marilia … [Read more…]