The season of Lent is fast approaching. It is traditionally a time for study, reflection, and commitment to issues of justice and peace. I draw your attention to a Lenten Study series organised by Sabeel/Kairos UK and to the European Citizens Initiative signature campaign to gather one million signatures across the European Union to request that the EU Commission ban trade with the illegal Settlements, including those in the Occupied West Bank of Palestine. I also underline the Amnesty International report on the crime of Apartheid practiced by Israel. This report joins with Human Rights Watch, B’Tselem and Yesh Din in coming to the same conclusion.
Lenten Series
https://www.sabeel-kairos.org.uk/cry-for-hope-in-lent-a-new-series/
On six Sundays in Lent (6 th March to 3 rd April) Sabeel-Kairos UK are organising a series of online reflections based on the Kairos Palestine Cry for Hope document.
European Citizen’s Initiative
The European Citizen’s Initiative was launched in Ireland on Monday 21st February. This requests the EU Commission to initiate legislation to prohibit trade with illegal settlements in occupied territories, including the West Bank of Palestine. If one million citizens throughout the EU sign the petition the commission will have to address it. The Irish campaign is supported by several organisations including, Comhlamh, Trocaire, Christian Aid Ireland, the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Sadaka and Kairos Ireland. To sign this petition go to https://stopsettlements.org/
Please share this link with anyone who you think will be interested. Irish citizens living anywhere in Ireland or other parts of Europe including the UK are eligible to sign this petition.
Amnesty International Report
On St Bridget’s day, 1st February, Amnesty International launched a report on Israel’s Apartheid against Palestinians: a cruel system of domination and a crime against humanity. The PDF of the report can be found here.There is an accompanying 14-minute video that outlines the substance of the report. Amnesty joins other human rights agencies that have also concluded that Israel is an apartheid State. These include Human Rights Watch, and the Israeli NGOs Yesh Din and B’Tselem. Kairos Palestine, representing Palestinian Christians welcomed the Amnesty report. Their statement is available in English and Arabic
Apartheid South Africa! Apartheid Israel?
Brian Brown’s book, Apartheid South Africa! Apartheid Israel? Was launched in December 2021 in a Kairos Ireland webinar. The book is very comprehensive and up to date. Copies are available in Ireland by emailing the Kairos Ireland address – kairosireland@gmail.com
Sheik Suleiman
In tribute I enclose a picture of a Bedouin elder, Sheik Suleiman from the Bedouin village of Um Al Kher in the South Hebron Hills. I took the picture on 30th June 2016 whilst serving as an Ecumenical Accompanier. Haj Suleiman is protesting in front of a shelter made from crumpled metal sheets from a previous Israeli army demolition. The metal sheets are from a house provided through EU development assistance. He is holding in his hands a ‘demolition order’ stating that the soldiers will be back to smash up more of the village. On the 5 th January of this year Sheik Suleiman was run over by an Israel truck and dragged along the road. They left him lying in the road with broken bones, a fractured skull, and internal injuries. He died two weeks later in a Hebron hospital. He was a small man physically but was fearless in challenging Israeli soldiers and police when they went to harass the Bedouin community of which he was a member. He embodied the very spirit of Sumud, that is steadfast perseverance and resistance to occupation.
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