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Peace Not Walls

Press conference on new UN report: Palestinian presence threatened in East Jerusalem

Ray Dolphin, Barrier Specialist at the UN Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for the occupied Palestinian territory  and author of a new report called East Jerusalem: Key Humanitarian Concerns, held a press conference Monday, May 9, highlighting findings...

“The Bookseller of Jerusalem” Fighting for Right to Live in Home Town

Imagine that you were told you were not allowed to live in the city in which you were born or grew up.  That is what has happened to 14,000 East Jerusalem Palestinians since the Israeli occupation began in 1967, and...

Non-Violence Post-Bin Laden

In his article “Bin Laden Killed, Americans Celebrate”…beyond the dispute, Glen Gersmehl discusses some of the questions raised post-Bin Laden. Drawing on his experience working within high crime communities as well as his international peace work he explores the ways...

ELCA Bishop Calls For ‘Solemn Remembrance’ in Response to Bin Laden Death

In a May 2 statement  to ELCA members, ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson urged remembrance of those who have died because of Bin Laden’s choices “of hatred and violence” and those who continue to mourn their loss.  He also reminded us of our...

A Unity Government for an Emerging Palestinian State?

The April 27 news that Palestinian factions have taken steps toward a unity government (see Fatah and Hamas Announce Outline of Deal) has created a storm of reactions, especially in the Israeli and United States governments. There have been similar...

ELCA Presiding Bishop Joins Interfaith Call for Middle East Peace

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and 32 Jewish, Muslim and Christian leaders, said in a letter that a new peace initiative by former Israeli government, intelligence and security officials offers...

Reflecting on Arab World Citizen Activism

As part of our academic careers my husband and I had the privilege twice of living and teaching in the Arab Muslim world and thus have special interest in news reports from the region. While in Syria we experienced the...

Pressure for a Viable Peace Plan

On Apirl 19, the Los Angeles Times printed a report detailing growing international pressure on the State of Israel to produce a viable proposal that would renew negotiations toward the establishment of a Palestinian state. The plan will most likely...

New UN Report Says Palestinian Presence in East Jerusalem Threatened

A new report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for the Occupied Palestinian Territories says that unless current Israeli policies are changed, the Palestinian presence in East Jerusalem is at risk.   See the Peace not Walls Major...

Follow The Leader…Now Who’s The Leader Again?

The NPR program, All Things Considered, had an interesting segment last Wednesday about the peace process in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The title, “U.S. Hopes To Jump-Start Israel-Palestinian Talks,” is a bit misleading since the piece discusses a...