The Palestine Israeli Ecumenical Network wishes you a blessed Christmas season.  May the bright light of God inspire you this season to live a life full of peace and love. 

 

Christmas messages from Bethlehem

Sabeel's Christmas Message

A short but powerful message from Dr Naim Ateek of the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Centre. Read message

Kairos Palestine Advent Resources.

Kairos Palestine have worked with Christian organisations around Palestine to produce this wonderful resource that includes current information about Palestine as well as advent reflections.  Fantastic for support in preparing liturgies that honor the lives of the living stones in the Holy Land. Download resource.

 

Christians tell of their time in Palestine

Sally Masters is home safe and sound - with one last blog post and many stories to share

Thanks for those who were praying for Sally Masters while she volunteered with the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel.   She has returned home full of stories - please contact us to book her to speak to your church or group.  She has written a blog post about the lengths some Palestinians are going to to get to work.

Gordon Matthews is a British Quaker based at the Ramallah Friends Meeting

His blog 'Let the Silence Ring' chronicles his journey there.
 

Diary note: September 22-29 2014 is the World Week for Palestine and Israel News from Palestine

APAN reports: Australian politics and the Middle East

Australia Palestine Advocacy Network's latest bulletin includes details of their lobbying trip to Federal Parliament, and how Australian politicians are engaging with Palestine and Israel.  Read bulletin.
 

News from Palestine & Israel

Prawer Plan scrapped
Legislation that would have forcibly rellocated up to 40,000 Bedouins in the Negev has been scrapped by the Government following widespread protest.  Read more

UN declares 2014 the ‘Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People’
The UN has named 2014 as the ‘Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.’ The resolution was adopted by the majority of member-states with 110 voting in favor, 7 opposed and 54 abstaining.The year-long observance will entail organizing special events in cooperation with “governments, relevant organizations of the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations and civil society.” The new resolution was passed on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. See report

United Church of Canada launches 'Unsettling Goods' campaign
The United Church of Canada, the country’s largest Protestant denomination has launched the national Unsettling Goods campaign in an effort to work towards peace and justice in Palestine and Israel. Unsettling Goods encourages the boycotting of three products that are produced in Israel on settlement land: Ahava, Keter Plastics, and SodaStream. It also promotes direct engagement with the major retailers that sell these products: Canadian Tire, The Bay, Home Depot, and Walmart Canada.
Read more 

UK Government issues warning over doing business with Israeli settlements – The Guardian
The UK government has issued an explicit warning to British businesses over the risks of involvement in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including potential damage to a company's reputation.
New guidance published by UK Trade & Investment, a government body that works with British businesses in international markets, says there are "clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity".

Gaza: One year since the ceasefire, the blockade goes on - Oxfam
The blockade has devastated the lives and livelihoods of Gaza’s population: 80 percent of people in Gaza receive international aid, 57 percent of households are food insecure, exports are virtually non-existent, many basic services are barely functioning, and unemployment is over 35 percent and rising.   Genuine long-term security for civilians in Gaza and Israel alike will only come if the blockade is lifted and economic development in Gaza is allowed.  

Israel to drill for oil in the West Bank - Al Jazeera
A large reserve may lie under Israel and the occupied territories, but Palestinians are unlikely to reap the benefits. 

Palestinian villages subjected to Israeli mock raids not told they are exercises-  The Guardian
Israeli military rejects complaints by Israeli human rights group Yesh Din over 'training' arrests of Arabs and raids on homes. 

Catholic church slams Israel's razing of its property AFP
"This act is against the law, against justice and against humanity, against any ideology upon which peace can be built and increases segregation and hate," Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fuad Tawwal told journalists at the site of the demolition. 

Israel-Palestine talks: Why fate of Jordan Valley is key -BBC News
"We used to have a lot of land.  Now we have a small amount and they are surrounding us more and more." 

EU demands Israel stop settlement activity, 'including natural growth' - The Times of Israel
"The EU deplores the recent settlement announcements.  Any actions that hamper or undermine the ongoing negotiations must be avoided," Catherine Ashton said in a statement. "The EU has repeatedly stated that settlements are illegal under international law. It has also called on Israel to end all settlement activity, including natural growth, and to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001."