On the Ground from the Nygards in Cairo
Continuing violence that claimed the lives of about 38 people in Cairo has left the area mourning, angry and uncertain, despite an official apology from the military and a promise that parliamentary elections will actually begin to take place next week as planned. ...
Advent Resources
On the way to celebrate what happened in Bethlehem 2000 years ago, let us not forget the people who yearn for peace with justice now in Bethlehem and all over the Holy Land. Here are some Advent reflections by various people and...
Palestinian Freedom Riders Violently Arrested on Israeli Settler Bus
Palestinians who boarded a segregated Israeli bus in the occupied West Bank to travel to East Jerusalem were arrested for taking action reminiscent of the Civil Rights Movement’s Freedom Rides Earlier today, seven Palestinian Freedom Riders were violently arrested while...
Hope
Today I stood, as if I could hear voices from the past, present and the future of both horror and hope, but hope won. For today I walked through the Brandenburg Gate, which used to separate East from West Berlin as one...
Bishop Hanson and other faith leaders visit White House officials to urge action on Israel and Palestine peace
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, and other ecumenical faith leaders met with White House officials to express urgency and encourage action on the situation in Israel and Palestine. According to Hanson, continued meetings with the Obama administration are “a...
Not just my morning bus driver
As a YAGM serving at the Dar Al-Kalima School (DAK) in Bethlehem, but living in Beit Sahour, I am privileged with the opportunity of riding the school bus with the kids everyday to and from school (I have to admit...
New report says Palestinian economy would be twice as strong without occupation
According to a September, 2011, report by the Palestinian Ministry of National Economy in cooperation with the Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem (ARIJ), the Palestinian economy would be about twice what it is now were it not for occupation policies...
Watch video of Presbyterian Symposium on Land and the Bible
A symposium entitled “Bible, Land, and our Theological Challenge: A Presbyterian Conversation” was held in October with key speakers presenting views on biblical perspectives on the land and the Palestinian-Israeli situation. See the schedule of speakers below and watch...
Four Christian Denominations Urge Palestinian Membership in the UN
Four Christian denominations have issued a statement in support of the Palestinian bid for membership in the UN. Officials from the Presbyterian Church, the United Church of Christ, The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society signed...
U.S. Church Leaders Respond to Jerusalem Heads of Churches
Today, church leaders in the United States made public their response to the communique issued by the Heads of Churches in Jerusalem regarding the current status of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both documents were produced in September. In their statement, the...