Advent 2020

Advent Sunday

This year (29th November) coincides with the United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. American churches who are part of FOSNA (Friends of Sabeel North America) have prepared worship material for use on this day. They are inviting worship leaders to take part in a training seminar on Wednesday 11th November. Please look at the FOSNA site for more details.

World Without Walls

Kairos Palestine draws our attention to this year’s World Without Walls events. There is a webinar on the 9th November which you can sign for.

American elections

Sorting out the chaotic American election will take time. Hopefully, Trump and his disastrous Middle East Peace Plan will be consigned to the dustbin of history. However, the American Jewish commentator, Mark Braverman, who spent time with us in Ireland last year warns that while Joe Biden is more nuanced than Trump, he is still very pro-Israel. This Middle East Monitor article offers further insight

Olive harvest and demolitions

With all international presence removed from the West Bank because of the Coronavirus restrictions settler violence against Palestinian olive harvesters and demolitions of homes have continued. A recent United Nations report highlights the ongoing assault on Bedouin and pastoral communities by Israel. The grand plan by Israel is to eliminate the traditional semi-nomadic way of life of the Bedouin and force them to live in collectivised villages, where it will be impossible to herd sheep and goats. Please refer to the following statement by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).

West Bank witnesses largest demolition in years

Statement by Yvonne Helle, the Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim for the occupied Palestinian territory

Jerusalem, 4 November 2020

Yesterday, 73 people, including 41 children, were displaced when Israeli authorities demolished their homes and other structures and destroyed belongings in the Palestinian community of Humsa Al Bqai’a. Three quarters of the community’s population lost their shelters, making this the largest forced displacement incident in over four years. 

Humanitarian agencies visited the community and recorded 76 demolished structures, more than in any other single demolition in the past decade. The destroyed properties – including homes, animal shelters, latrines and solar panels – were essential to, livelihoods, wellbeing and dignity of community members, whose rights have been violated.  Their vulnerability is further compounded by the onset of winter and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the demolished structures had been donated as humanitarian assistance.
So far in 2020, 689 structures have been demolished across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, more than in any full year since 2016; rendering 869 Palestinians homeless. The lack of Israeli-issued building permits is typically cited as a reason, even though, due to the restrictive and discriminatory planning regime, Palestinians can almost never obtain such permits. Demolitions are a key means of creating an environment designed to coerce Palestinians to leave their homes. 

Located in the Jordan Valley, Humsa Al Bqai’a is one of 38 Bedouin and herding communities partially or fully located within Israeli-declared ‘firing zones.’ These are some of the most vulnerable communities in the West Bank, with limited access to education and health services, and to water, sanitation and electricity infrastructure.

I remind all parties that the extensive destruction of property and the forcible transfer of protected people in an occupied territory are grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention. While assuring that the humanitarian community stands ready to support all those who have been displaced or otherwise affected, I strongly reiterate our call to Israel to immediately halt unlawful demolitions.

END

BDS Toolkit

The Global Kairos DBS Toolkit was launched recently (https://bdstoolkit.org/). This is a resource for all who wish to see justice and peace prevail in the Middle East. The toolkit deals with the issue of antisemitism thrown at anyone who criticises the actions of Israel; has a glossary of terms such as Zionism, settler colonialism, corporate complicity and international law; it also contains stories from around the world together with photographs and Videos.

Advent Service 19th December

Sabeel-Kairos UK have organised an Advent Service (www.sabeel-kairos.org.uk) for 4pm on Saturday 19 th December. This features Anglican priest the Revd Niam Ateek – the founder of Sabeel and a leading Palestinian Liberation Theologian, and Garth Hewitt – Gospel Singer and founder of the Amos Trust.