#Jerusalem Peacebuilders

[mariacallous]

As war rages between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, it is hard to envision an end to the conflict. For decades, though, a growing movement of Palestinian and Israeli women has not only envisioned a peaceful coexistence, but also demanded it.

Just three days before Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack, thousands of women from two peacebuilding groups gathered at Jerusalem’s Tolerance Monument for a rally and march. Israelis from Women Wage Peace carried blue flags, and Palestinians from Women of the Sun flew yellow ones.

Members of the two groups traveled to the Dead Sea—believed since ancient times to have healing qualities—and set a table. Women from both sides pulled up chairs as a symbol of a good-faith resumption of negotiations to reach a political solution.

Women Wage Peace formed in response to Operation Protective Edge, which was Israel’s 2014 invasion of Gaza in the wake of then-U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s failed effort to restart final status negotiations.

“We, Palestinian and Israeli mothers, are determined to stop the vicious cycle of bloodshed,” reads the preamble to their campaign, the Mother’s Call. This campaign was nine months in the making, and it involved aligning around a single agenda that demands a political solution within a limited time frame.

They set the table to show the importance of dialogue and women’s involvement in decision-making. But in the war between Israel and Hamas that has started since then, women’s voices are largely missing from negotiations and consultations.

Ensuring women’s participation isn’t about equity or fairness or a show of inclusion. It’s about winning the peace.

In 2014, Laurel Stone, then a researcher at Seton Hall University, conducted a quantitative analysis of 156 peace agreements over time. She found that when women are decision-makers—serving as negotiators and mediators—the probability of an agreement lasting at least two years increased by 20 percent. The probability of the agreement holding for 15 years increased by 35 percent.

Many studies show that women tend to be more collaborative, more focused on social issues over military issues, and less likely to attack those who hold differing views. With women at the table, the potential for risk-taking behavior and attacks on perceived enemies may be lower. In diverse teams, decisions are more likely to be based on facts than assumptions.

While men are more likely to be fighters in war, the work of holding families and communities together more often falls to women, and according to some studies, it’s women who more frequently stand up for a return to negotiations, civilian protection, and an end to violence.

“We learned from the cases of Northern Ireland and Liberia,” Yael Braudo-Bahat, the co-director of Women Wage Peace, told Foreign Policy. Women’s active participation greatly strengthened these peace and recovery processes.

Ahead of the formal talks that led to the Belfast Agreement in Northern Ireland, Catholic and Protestant women’s groups formed the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition and gained two seats at a table of 20 in formal negotiations. As one of the few groups that moved beyond the sectarian divide, its members were seen as honest brokers. They represented civil society concerns and helped ensure that the agreement included commitments for social healing and integration.

Because the brutality of war falls disproportionately on women—they frequently are the first to go hungry, serve as the de facto caretakers, and become the victims of increased gender based violence—they are often committed to finding a path to peace even when male leaders won’t compromise.

During the Second Liberian Civil War, women played a heroic role by successfully pressuring male decision-makers to negotiate. The documentary Pray the Devil Back to Hell, directed by Gini Reticker and produced by Abigail Disney, popularized the incredible story of how women convinced the warring parties to attend peace talks in Accra, Ghana.

“We were the ones watching our children die of hunger … we were the easiest targets of rape and sexual abuse,” said Nobel Prize laureate Leymah Gbowee, the founder of the Women for Liberia Mass Action for Peace grassroots movement, which played a major role in pushing then-President Charles Taylor to sign a peace agreement in 2003. This common suffering among women formed the basis for unity across political and religious divides.

In Israel and Gaza, women will need to play an important role in the implementation of any new accord between Israel and Palestine, Braudo-Bahat said. Her organization’s partnership with its Palestinian counterpart, Women of the Sun, has remained steadfast, even after learning that her co-founder, Vivian Silver, 74, was murdered by Hamas on Oct. 7.

“We continue our plans—we work together, and we don’t hide it,” she said. “It might be dangerous to the Women of the Sun, but they are so courageous.”

Although many Palestinians want peace, for others, “peace is normalization,” a member of Women of the Sun wrote to Foreign Policy via WhatsApp, choosing to go by the initials M.H. to preserve her anonymity and safety. Some Palestinians think that “it’s something shameful to be dealing with Israel,” she added, because it could imply that the Israelis’ treatment of, and policies toward, Palestinians are tolerable.

“I believe we should actively engage and collaborate, even if some label it as normalization,” M.H. said. “I am committed to working toward a better future for us.”

International law is on the side of these women. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, adopted unanimously more than 23 years ago, urges all member states to increase the participation of women in peace and security efforts, and highlights women’s essential role in preventing war, protecting civilians, and negotiating lasting peace.

Despite Israel’s deteriorating track record with regard to women’s rights and roles as decision-makers, women are involved in the war as politicians, members of the military and civilians. Women in politics have made important advances for gender equity, although among the 32 cabinet ministers sworn in a year ago, only five were women. One of those women ministers was dismissed amid the recent closure of the Ministry for the Advancement of Women.

The reality for women in Gaza is far more challenging when it comes to holding leadership positions. Women generally do not participate in public political activities or hold public office, although Hamas appointed 23-year old Isra al-Modallal as its first female spokesperson in November. She told the Guardian newspaper that she is not a member of Hamas or any political party.

At the start of the conflict, Hamas had just one woman, Jamila al-Shanti, 68, serving as part of the organization’s 15-member political bureau. Al-Shanti, who was also a founder of Hamas’s women’s movement, died in an Israeli airstrike on Oct. 19.

“You can hear amazing rhetoric and lip service, even from the Palestinian leadership,” Dr. Dalal Iriqat, an assistant professor at the Arab American University in the West Bank, told Foreign Policy. “But when it comes to practice, I always find a scarcity of women in decision-making.”

Women’s organizations in the Palestinian territories and in Israel have a rich history of political engagement, however. Palestinian women created social structures such as health clinics and orphanages for displaced Palestinians following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Following the Six-Day War in 1967, with traditional political structures in tatters and both Gaza and the West Bank under Israeli occupation, women of every social class stepped up.

It was through the networks they formed that a new cadre of women activists emerged as a force in December 1987, when Palestinian frustration with Israeli rule broke out in a popular uprising that became known as the First Intifada, or “shaking off.” Underlying this largely nonviolent Palestinian struggle was a collective social, economic, and political mobilization led by women.

Palestinian political leadership acknowledged women’s centrality in the Intifada, which paved the way for negotiations with Israel when it included three women—Suad Amiry, Zahiria Kamal, and Hanan Ashrawi—as part of the delegation that participated in the Middle East peace talks that culminated with the Madrid Conference in October 1991.

Ultimately, though, exiled Palestinian Liberation Organization leaders shunted the Madrid framework to begin secret negotiations with Israel that resulted in the security-focused Oslo Accords and the establishment of the Palestinian Authority. Under their leadership, Israeli occupation, and the failures of the Oslo Accords, democratic ideals and women’s rights eroded.

Israel and the United States have discussed a potential role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza after the military operation. The Palestinian Authority has three women ministers, including its minister for women’s affairs, though women still struggle for equal opportunities and freedom from violence.

“Women usually refrain from being [an] activist in politics,” said an activist in the West Bank who withheld her name for security reasons. “Women are frightened to be involved in political activities, because they will be put in jail or be subjected to any kind of violence.” And the conditions are much worse for women when funding is restricted, as well as under Hamas, she said.

Serena Awad, a Gazan nonprofit worker who is now living in Rafah, told Foreign Policy that Gazan women are directing and managing many aspects of the humanitarian response. These women work for the United Nations as well as in health, cultural, child protection, human rights, sports, and legal organizations.

“I have lived through six aggressions, and every time, I wait for my turn to die,” said 24-year-old Awad. “What I want the world to know is that women in Gaza are like any other women—we study, go to work, have our own family, but we suffer.”

Israeli and Palestinian women working as peacebuilders say they need more international support. Women’s organizations are notoriously underfunded in the best of times, with only 0.4 percent of global gender-related funding going directly to women’s rights organizations, according to calculations by the Association for Women’s Rights in Development.

During crises, women’s rights often take a back seat. Women of the Sun’s 2024 budget is approximately $100,000, and Women Wage Peace’s budget is approximately $1 million, according to the organizations’ representatives.

Women’s groups are more likely to be effective during negotiations and during the implementation of recovery programs when they have access to external funding. During the peace process between Sudan and South Sudan, for example, South Sudanese women were highly mobilized as delegates, but some had to pause their involvement so they could go back to earning money.

In addition to funding, democratic countries have a role to play by insisting on women’s participation in negotiations, said M.H. of the Women of the Sun. She and other peacebuilders say that the United States and the United Nations should be more active in promoting women as counterparts, negotiators, and experts.

“By will, things can happen,” M.H. told Foreign Policy “And if the US says it [that women should be involved in negotiations], it can happen.”.

Talks convened by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt to end the conflict between Hamas and Israel are underway. These countries and other regional players—including Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian Authority, have previously created national action plans that recognize the unique impact of war on women and their crucial role in promoting peace, culminating in 107 countries worldwide forming national action plans to empower women.

Still, news coverage reveals little or no evidence of efforts by these countries to promote women’s participation in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The U.S. State Department is “working to ensure the expertise of women from civil society and in government is incorporated in any process related to the current conflict in Gaza,” wrote a spokesperson in an email.

If the political will for participation exists, both Israelis and Palestinians have a robust list of women advocates from which to draw for official and nonofficial negotiations and discussions. A diverse list of 12 Israeli and Palestinian women who are qualified to participate in negotiations was provided by the 1325 Project run by members of  Women Lawyers for Social Justice—known in Israel as Itach Ma’aki—to the U.S. Embassy and other embassies and international bodies.

“At least one person will be engaging in Track 2 and 3 efforts, and she was approached through us by an international body,” said 1325 project co-director Netta Loevy, referring to nonofficial negotiations and consultations.

Braudo-Bahat, meanwhile, urged policymakers to involve women in discussions now—not after violence ends. “The day after the war is yesterday … we need to start now,” she said.

Back in Gaza, the water tastes like poison; it’s freezing, and Awad, the 24-year-old nonprofit worker, keeps losing weight. She asked almost a dozen Gazan women leaders what they think should happen to resolve the war and to ensure that women participate in negotiations.

No one could give her an answer. They were busy responding to humanitarian needs, and telecommunication and internet services were out.

“Nothing has changed, but what can we do about it? All we can do is waiting and praying for this to end,” Awad wrote to Foreign Policy through WhatsApp, which only works for her about once every four days.

Iriqat, the Arab American University professor, has one wish: “That someone considers that if women are in charge, and involved, a more strategic agreement could hold.”

[thatweirdtranny]

literally begging for people to support solidarity orgs like standing together, allmep, etc because these are the groups that are building a dialogue between palestinians and israelis and forging a culture of peace, on the ground, in israel/palestine

please spread the word about these groups and donate if you can

[female-malice]

According to Liz Hume, the executive director of Alliance for Peacebuilding last year, “When women are part of the peace process, [those peace outcomes] are 35 percent more likely to last beyond 15 years,"

Another study indicated that including women in peacebuilding efforts increases the probability of ending violence by 24% because they

"bring a more comprehensive peace plan to the negotiating table by addressing societal needs rather than solely focusing on what will make the warring parties happy.” 

One of the crucial movements in the peace space in Israel/Palestine now is the historic partnership between Women Wage Peace and Women of the Sun; the latter organization was founded in the summer of 2021, and is comprised of Palestinian women working for peace in the West Bank and Gaza. Women Wage Peace was founded after the Gaza war of 2014, is comprised of Jewish and Arab women who live inside the State of Israel, and has the two primary objectives of 1) Getting Israeli/Palestinian peace negotiations going (and to eventually achieve a "bilaterally acceptable political agreement") and 2) guaranteeing that women are part of the negotiation process

WWP and WotS write in their partnership pact:

After over 100 years of conflict which for the most part was managed by men, Israeli and Palestinian women say “enough”…Our shared goal is what unites us and motivates us to dedication, persistence and determination. The responsibility we feel for the future of our children enables us to move forward despite the difficulties.

In fact, heartbreakingly—only three days before Hamas’ brutal attack on October 7th of this year, Women Wage Peace and Women of the Sun held a joint march from Jerusalem’s Museum of Tolerance to a promenade with a view of the Old City.

Then, Reem Hajajr, a founder of Women of the Sun, said,

“more and more women join the movement, women who want to protect their children and prevent them from being the next victim....We started out as a movement with a few lone women and now we are thousands from the West Bank and Gaza. We no longer take the back seat and are determined to act persistently to end the cycle of bloodshed and to achieve freedom and a just, honorable life for Palestinian and Israeli children.”

She said those words exactly two weeks ago.

And so many wails, so many tears ago.

More tears than can be counted.

One of Women Wage Peace’s founders, Vivian Silver, is one of the 150 or more people that were kidnapped by Hamas, as well. I can’t not mention that. May she and all of the other captives be returned swiftly and safely.

May no other innocent lives be lost. Not one more.

May there be an end to the bloodshed soon.

May this be the last moment of horror before the creation of a new, whole tomorrow for everyone.

May everyone be safe.

Women Wage Peace’s statement on October 15th said, in part:

For 9 years since the end of “Operation Protective Edge”, we, Jewish and Arab mothers have been telling the leadership in Israel – enough! We must turn every stone in order to reach a political solution. This is our obligation for the future of our children. This is our obligation to both Israeli and Palestinian children. They deserve a future of security and freedom, not a future of death, war and destruction. More wars, bombings, assassinations, arrests and a never-ending cycle of bloodshed will not allow us and our children to live here as normal people. All conflicts in the world have been resolved by peace agreements…. Every mother, Jewish and Arab, gives birth to her children to see them grow and flourish and not to bury them. That’s why, even today, amidst the pain and the feeling that the belief in peace has collapsed, we extend a hand in peace to the mothers of Gaza and the West Bank. We mothers, together with women from all over the world, must unite to stop this.

(continue reading)

[jovenbelo27]

"RELIGION IN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE "

(A complex interplay of faith and conflicts)

The Holy Land, a land of historical and religious significance for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, has been a contested space for centuries. At the heart of this conflict lies a complex interplay of religious beliefs, historical claims, and political aspirations.

For Jews, the Land of Israel holds profound historical and religious significance. It is the land where Abraham received his covenant with God, where Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, and where Jerusalem, the eternal city, houses the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism. The longing for a return to this ancestral homeland has been central to Jewish identity for millennia, culminating in the Zionist movement and the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.

For Christians, the Holy Land is the birthplace of Jesus, the setting for his ministry, and the site of his crucifixion and resurrection. Jerusalem holds particular significance as the location of numerous biblical events, including the Last Supper and the ascension of Jesus. Christians have maintained a presence in the Holy Land for centuries, and Christian pilgrimage continues to be an important aspect of the faith.

The presence of these three major religions, each with deep historical and religious ties to the same land, has created a complex and often volatile situation. Overlapping claims to sacred spaces, competing narratives of history, and differing political aspirations have frequently fueled conflict and violence. Religious justifications have been used on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, exacerbating tensions and making peacebuilding efforts more challenging.

[mzemo0]

The Western Hypocrisy Of Russia V Israel Reveals An Outrageous Moral And Legal Duplicity

The Annexation of Land by Force Under International Law – Western Hypocrisy

Western hypocrisy is ever-present as we see differing responses to the annexation of land by Russia in Ukraine in comparison to Israel’s continued annexation of Palestinian land since 1947. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on September 30th 2022 that Russia would annexe four regions in Ukraine. These regions are Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, now referred to as “new regions” of Russia.

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the annexation as violating international law. Therefore, this is a “dangerous escalation” in the war between Russia and Ukraine, which began on February 24th 2022, when Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine, classified as a “special military operation”. Hence, the annexation of a state’s territory by threat or use of force violates the principles in the United Nations Charter.

The European Commission rejected and unequivocally condemned the illegal annexation. However, western hypocrisy is ever-present. The international community condemns Russia’s violations but celebrates and protects those carried out by Israel. Consequently, Russia is creating a global security risk and undermining the leading principles of international law.

A “Sham Referenda” Executed by Russia in Ukraine

Between September 23rd to 27th, Russia orchestrated a “sham referendum” in regions of Ukraine. Residents voted on whether they wished to become part of Russia. The voting took place in polling centres while Russian authorities accompanied by soldiers went door-to-door with ballot boxes.  

The sham referendum occurred during an active armed conflict in Ukraine under Russian control. Therefore, this is outside Ukraine’s legal and constitutional framework and cannot be classified as a genuine expression of the popular will.

“Unilateral actions aimed to provide a veneer of legitimacy to the attempted acquisition by force by one State of another State’s territory, while claiming to represent the will of the people, cannot be regarded as legal under international law.” 

Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary A. DiCarlo.

Annexation is a “formal act whereby a state proclaims its sovereignty over territory hitherto outside its domain”.

Israel Is Allowed to Annex Occupied Land, But Russia Isn’t

Russia’s war in Ukraine triggered immediate, swift condemnation by several countries and economic sanctions by the United States. Furthermore, many states have targeted Russian banks, oil refineries and military exports. There have been marathon emergency talks at the UN Security Council to deal with Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.

The EU and its member states stand united in their unwavering support for Ukraine, revealing western hypocrisy. There is strong criticism of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression. However, it seems it is acceptable for Israel to annex occupied land, but in the case of Russia, it is not.

Israel occupied Palestinian East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the Syrian Golan Heights, and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. In 1967, Israel annexed approximately 70,000 dunams of West Bank land to the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem and applied Israeli law in breach of international law.

International Communities Differing Response to Israel v Russia Reveals A Western Hypocrisy of Double Standards

The Israeli occupation and annexation of Palestinian territories received a starkly different response in comparison to Russia’s annexation. The international community’s weak response encouraged the Israeli government to continue to annex occupied East Jerusalem on July 29th 1980, and the occupied Golan Heights in 1981. Israel’s breach of international law only triggered temporary international reactions. Consequently, no meaningful change was implemented, as no sanctions or threats were applied.

The West continues to give the Israeli apartheid state unconditional diplomatic, political, economic and military support. The peaceful Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel has even been criminalised in some states.

The Analogy Between Russia and Israel’s Annexations of Occupied Land

Israel has gone to extreme lengths to clear the occupied land of the Palestinian people. This has been done by demolishing their homes, withdrawing residence permits and murdering innocent civilians. Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip have been held in a land, air, and sea blockade for fifteen years. Israel never declared where its borders lay and continued to expand its territory through illegal annexation alongside unjustified impunity. An estimated 62% of Palestinians living in Gaza require food assistance, and 78% of water flowing into Gaza is unfit for human consumption. Unemployment levels in Gaza are among the world’s highest, currently at 46.6%. Youth unemployment between the ages of 15-29 for the same period stands at 62.5%.

Ironically, Israel condemned Russia’s annexation. Israel sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine and expressed its support. However, Israel did not join international sanctions against Russia and refused to give Kyiv anti-missile systems to help counter Russian attacks. The Israeli government’s fumbled response to Russia’s annexation of Ukraine betrays Jewish history and draws attention to Israel’s similarly odious actions. Israel’s brutal annexation of Palestinian territory has been continuing without consequences for a significantly longer time with little consequences.

Comparatively, Russia has annexed four regions of Ukraine that are partially or almost entirely occupied by Russia. With a complete disregard for international law, on September 30th 2022, Putin signed treaties to begin absorbing parts of Ukraine into Russia. Together with Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, Russia now claims 20% of Ukrainian territory.

Ukrainian Map vs Palestinian Map of Annexations

In comparison, the map below depicts the land forcibly annexed by Israel from Palestinians from 1946 onwards. This annexation was accompanied by the expulsion of 750,000 – one million Palestinians to make way for a Jewish state following World War ll.

Concluding Thoughts: The Undeniable Parallel Between Russia and Israel

Russia continues to deny Ukraine their right to independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. These are the core principles enshrined under the UN Charter. Similarly, Isreal continues to deny the Palestinian people the same rights. However, as discussed in this article, significant differences lie in the international community’s response to both annexations.

The parallel between Putin’s invasion of Ukraine to fulfil his imperial designs, and Israel’s 70-year history of imposing its will on the Palestinians and neighbouring Arab countries, is also evidently clear worldwide.

Russia and Israel conquered and absorbed the territories of Ukraine and Palestine in defiance of international law. Both states are facing investigations over alleged war crimes at the International Criminal Court and are demanding that their enemies bow to them or face destruction. Both Russia and Israel created powerful militaries to accomplish these goals. However, another striking observation is that no amount of ammunition can subjugate a population that refuses to be defeated or erased. There is strength in the Ukrainians and Palestinians, which cannot be destroyed.

We must acknowledge the western hypocrisy concerning the international response to both wars. Both Ukrainians and Palestinians deserve our unwavering and equal support. We must respect and preserve the integrity of international law

[andrewkantor]

ChatGPT solves the Israeli-Palestinian crisis

Humans have failed, so I prompted ChatGPT to “Act as a master diplomat and solve the Israeli-Palestinian problem.” That simple.

The response is actually damned good.

ChatGPT:

As a master diplomat, I approach the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with empathy, pragmatism, and a commitment to finding common ground. While this complex issue has deep historical roots, I propose a framework for dialogue and resolution:

Dialogue and Trust-Building:

Initiate direct, unconditional talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

Establish a neutral mediation team to facilitate discussions.

Encourage people-to-people exchanges, cultural events, and joint projects to foster mutual understanding.

Two-State Solution:

Reaffirm the goal of two independent states: Israel and Palestine.

Borders based on pre-1967 lines with mutually agreed land swaps.

Jerusalem as the shared capital, ensuring access to holy sites for all.

Security and Cooperation:

Develop a comprehensive security plan to address concerns on both sides.

Joint efforts to combat terrorism and ensure safety for civilians.

Economic cooperation, trade, and infrastructure projects to benefit both nations.

Refugees and Right of Return:

Acknowledge the pain of displacement for both Palestinian refugees and Jewish refugees from Arab countries.

Explore creative solutions, such as compensation, resettlement, or symbolic gestures.

Respect the right of return while recognizing practical limitations.

Settlements and Land:

Freeze further settlement construction in the West Bank.

Gradual withdrawal from isolated settlements, with compensation for settlers.

Preserve land for future Palestinian statehood.

International Support:

Engage regional and international actors (including the Quartet) to support the peace process.

Leverage economic incentives and diplomatic pressure.

Encourage investment in Palestinian infrastructure and institutions.

Public Diplomacy and Education:

Promote narratives of coexistence, tolerance, and shared history.

Revise textbooks to present balanced perspectives.

Engage civil society, religious leaders, and youth in peacebuilding.

Incremental Progress:

Recognize that lasting peace may require gradual steps.

Celebrate small victories and build momentum.

Maintain a long-term vision while addressing immediate needs.

Remember, as a master diplomat, my role is to facilitate dialogue, not impose solutions. The path to peace lies in genuine dialogue, compromise, and a commitment to a better future for both Israelis and Palestinians.

But then….

I followed up with two other questions. First, why do you favor a two-state solution?

ChatGPT:

As a master diplomat, I advocate for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict due to several compelling reasons:

Historical Context:

The conflict has deep historical roots, including territorial disputes, identity, and competing narratives.

A two-state solution acknowledges the distinct national aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians.

Self-Determination:

Each people deserves the right to self-determination and sovereignty.

A separate Palestinian state alongside Israel allows both nations to govern themselves independently.

Security and Stability:

Two separate states can address security concerns more effectively.

Defined borders provide clarity and reduce tensions.

Demographic Realities:

Israel’s demographic composition includes both Jewish and Arab citizens.

A two-state solution ensures a Jewish-majority Israel while allowing Palestinians to establish their own state.

International Consensus:

The international community generally supports a two-state framework.

UN resolutions and diplomatic efforts have consistently aimed at this outcome.

Practical Viability:

Despite challenges, a two-state solution remains the most practical path forward.

It builds on existing institutions and infrastructure.

Shared Capital in Jerusalem:

Designating Jerusalem as the shared capital recognizes its significance to both Israelis and Palestinians.

Ensuring access to holy sites for all is crucial.

Economic Cooperation:

A two-state solution allows for economic cooperation, trade, and joint projects.

Shared resources benefit both nations.

Humanitarian Considerations:

Palestinians deserve a state where they can thrive economically, socially, and politically.

Israelis also benefit from a stable, peaceful neighbor.

Long-Term Peace:

While challenges persist, a two-state solution offers a path toward lasting peace.

It requires compromise, goodwill, and sustained efforts from both sides.

Remember, as a diplomat, my role is to facilitate dialogue and find common ground. The ultimate resolution must be negotiated by the parties involved, with international support and goodwill .

Me: In this scenario, who would govern or administer the shared capital of Jerusalem?

ChatGPT:

In the context of a two-state solution, the governance or administration of the shared capital, Jerusalem, would require delicate negotiation and creative arrangements. Here are some potential approaches:

International Administration:

Establish an international body or consortium to oversee Jerusalem’s administration.

Representatives from both Israel and Palestine, along with other relevant stakeholders, could participate.

This body would manage key aspects such as access to holy sites, infrastructure, and municipal services.

Joint Municipal Council:

Create a joint municipal council for Jerusalem.

Composed of elected representatives from both Israeli and Palestinian communities.

Responsibilities would include urban planning, public services, and cultural preservation.

Special Status Zone:

Designate Jerusalem as a special status zone.

Governed by a unique legal framework that respects the city’s significance to multiple faiths.

International guarantees would ensure equal access and protection of religious sites.

Shared Institutions:

Establish shared institutions for education, healthcare, and cultural exchange.

These institutions would promote mutual understanding and cooperation.

Funding and management would involve contributions from both sides.

Symbolic Leadership:

Consider a rotating symbolic leadership arrangement.

Israeli and Palestinian leaders take turns representing the city.

Practical governance would still occur through administrative bodies.

Security Cooperation:

Collaborate on security matters to maintain peace and stability.

Joint patrols, intelligence sharing, and coordinated responses.

Ensuring safety for residents and visitors alike.

Economic Integration:

Encourage economic integration between Israeli and Palestinian neighborhoods.

Shared business ventures, tourism, and cultural events.

Economic prosperity benefits both communities.

Remember, any solution must respect the religious, historical, and emotional ties to Jerusalem while ensuring practical functionality and peaceful coexistence. The specifics would require negotiation, compromise, and goodwill from both sides.

[sharonelypearson]

Two months ago I was in the midst of a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with thirty others from the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. It has taken me that long to articulate in writing my reactions and feelings about the political climate regarding Israel and Palestine. I have already posted numerous reflections on the sites we visited, both spiritually and historically. But I have skirted around writing about the reality of the Palestinian people that I experienced; it was just below the surface in all my postings about Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Samaria, and Galilee.

In the Hebrew Scriptures, Israel is called to be a light to the nations. As a people chosen by God (technically, Abraham received this promise for all his descendants/offspring) to show the way back to right relationship to God, today’s Israel has fallen short of this covenant. Power and rule have a tendency to let leaders forget their responsibilities, which ultimately leads to division and corruption. As in Old Testament times, history continues to repeat itself. Recall the role of the prophets who kept calling God’s people back.

This past Sunday’s readings (10th Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 15) spoke to me (with help from a great sermon which I will link here when it is posted) from Isaiah 5:1-7 and Luke 12:49-56. Israel continues to this day to grow (be) the wild (sour) grapes, while God gave all of us a beautiful vineyard to live in to grow sweet grapes – if we would only cease our divisions and love God as well as love our neighbor. God is angry. Jesus weeps. Yesterday and today.

The U.S. and Israel have a complicated relationship, which was exacerbated this past week with the on-again, off-again visits of two U.S. congress women desiring to visit family in the West Bank. You can read about it here (from NPR) as well as many other news sources. These two women know what it is like for the Palestinians (Muslim and Christian) to live in the occupied territories. I don’t believe most Americans really understand what is really happening in Israel, or how the U.S. government is upsetting the precarious balance. You have to see it to really understand.

For those who are not familiar with the history of Israel in modern times, here is a short video that gives a good overview with a summary of modern-day events that continue to impact the region today:

I knew the political situation was complicated with Israeli control in disputed territories. I had heard about Palestinians throwing rocks at Israeli forces, walls being built, and settlements springing up. The settlements look like Co-op City if you’ve ever been to New York City – very permanent. And they are huge “suburbs”, located at the top of hills surrounding Palestinian villages below with access to highways that the villages do not have. It’s not hard to imagine their purpose – despite U.N. resolutions – to surround (and in the future be connected to one another?) small Palestinian towns. Meeting local people and experiencing the conditions in the West Bank, as well as traveling in and out of the State of Israel through check-points, changed me more than any of the biblical sites we visited. In sharing my pilgrimage stories with others, I came to realize that our ECCT pilgrimage was different from many other church-sponsored trips; we went beyond the holy sites and met the people: Jews, Christians, and Muslims – Arabs of the three Abrahamic faiths who call (and claim) Israel their home.

  Security and Safety

It depends on who you might meet or talk to that makes you feel safe or secure in an occupied land. I should have realized things were not going to be “normal” on my Delta flight from JFK to Tel Aviv. We had to go through extra security at the gate before boarding the plane in New York: carry-on and backpacks through X-ray, water bottles (even just purchased) discarded, and personal scans (pat-downs for some in another room). As we approached Israeli airspace, we were told that all must remain seated for the duration of the flight (between 30-45 minutes). What other country demands this? Upon arrival, several fellow pilgrims were detained for three hours at Ben Gurion Airport. Welcome to Israel! (And they don’t make it easy for you to leave, either. That story’s even worse.) For many, being a “foreigner” in Israel means intimidation and humiliation. An August 17, 2019 op-ed from the Wall Street Journal describes this reality, which I also experienced when entering Israel from the United States as well as when we re-entered after visiting Petra (in Jordan) for a few days. And we didn’t have a deck of cards to idle away our hours of waiting.

Here’s what you don’t see or hear on the news. These occurrences aren’t in remote areas or terrorist neighborhoods. On one of our first mornings walking to the Old City we were held up on a sidewalk for a brief time, only to hear an explosion and learn that a “suspicious” package was blown up on the sidewalk ahead of us. Our Arab Palestinian Christian guide: “Not to worry. This happens all the time.”

Traveling by bus within Jerusalem and areas to and from the West Bank, Samaria, Galilee, and Jordan one can’t help but see the barbed wire, walls, fences, security check-points, and the proliferation of police/army (they looked the same) carrying automatic, assault rifles (the ones you see carried by those who commit mass-shootings in the U.S.). Our bus was boarded at check points several times by armed security with mirrors looking under the bus carriage while the luggage compartments were opened and examined. There is nothing as unsettling as watching a 20-something walk down the aisle of your bus to look at your passport while holding an AK-47. Armed Israelis escorting Jews (despite Israeli signage that Jews should not enter) around the Temple Mount (Al-Haram ash-Sharif) where the Dome of the Rock mosque is located. Israeli security is “in your face” at every turn.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Bethlehem is surrounded by 25-feet walls of concrete with armed guards in towers (reminiscent of high security prisons in the U.S). Pilgrims go to visit the place of Jesus’ birth. Do they visit the surrounding neighborhood? Pictures tell it all.

Identity, Water, and Human Rights

On three evenings, different speakers came to share their perspectives with us and answer our questions. A Muslim professor from Hebrew University. Two Muslim young adults who are graduates of “Jerusalem Peacebuilders” (see more about this organization below). An Israeli professor (who was from the U.S. and had lived in a town next to mine it turns out). Our guides were Christians, living in Jerusalem with special status to travel freely. (License plates are color coded to determine who can leave any of the occupied territories. All of them spoke of their identity. “I am an Arab Palestinian Muslim.“ “I am an Arab Palestinian Christian.” I am an Israeli.” The similarities: most were Arabs who cared for their homeland; all were articulate; ethnicity and nationality came first when describing themselves. Differences: Israelis are free and have choices. Palestinians cannot have passports (with some exceptions); if they leave (for an education) outside Israel they give up the right to return if they are gone more than six years; they pay taxes but have no right to vote; they have no citizenship and are “without a country”; they must go through different check-points to travel and (for example) can only get mail at a post-office (which is not close to where they live and often beyond the check-points). The exceptions and hardships go on and on.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

But the one that stands out is water: you can tell where Palestinians live by the rooftops – they have water collectors to save what little rainwater there is; the Israeli government rations their water. Trash is everywhere – there is no waste collection, let alone recycling. Lands (and settlements) of Israelis are green in this desert land; Palestinian lands have difficulty growing crops. Remember that vineyard from the reading above in Isaiah? There is a reason why vineyards and grapes are important in the biblical stories. Wine was essential in this land in ancient times because the water was not safe to drink. In some ways, wine was life. Just as like today – water equals life. Without water, no matter where you are in the world, humans will not survive. 

When visiting an Arab Palestinian Christian brewery, one of the owners (an American-educated woman) shared that sometimes she doesn’t take a shower for two weeks in order to save water for the business. How does one make beer or wine without water? Read more about Taybeh Brewery for their remarkable story and resilience. 

The village of Taybeh (tie-bay), the only remaining Christian village in Israel, is 19 miles northeast of Jerusalem and 7.5 miles northeast of Ramallah. From its elevated site between biblical Samaria and Judea, it overlooks the desert wilderness, the Jordan Valley, Jericho and the Dead Sea. Living amidst Muslim villages, Israeli settlements, and military roadblocks, Taybeh’s inhabitants (numbering 1,300 in 2010) are intensely proud of their Christian heritage. While in the area we stopped for lunch where the Christian proprietor sold peace lamps. 

As one who has travelled to the Holy Land, I believe it’s my responsibility to share my view, as I don’t believe we hear the real story, especially with the current administration’s lopsided stand toward Israel. I commend to you this article from Sojourners that speaks to the truth so many Holy Land pilgrims never experience. I am thankful that Qumri Pilgrimages allowed us to visit (by our request) more than just the holy sites. 

With his permission, I share my husband John’s reflection that he wrote for the ECCT pilgrimage:

As we drive through the West Bank, viewing the litter and junked cars, I hear a constant buzz of conversation about things that could be done: a recycling program for all the single use plastic, sheet metal recovery, etc. Based on what I have seen, if I were a Palestinian I wouldn’t give any material effort to make things appear better. They are essentially prisoners in their own land. Israelis are taking over all the prime property in the occupied territories under the premise that God said that this was their place in the world. As I think about this I am reminded of lyrics from a song sung by Jackson Browne:

Walls and Doors Ever since the world existed There is one thing that is certain There are those that build walls And those who open doors. That’s how it’s always been And I know you know it There can be freedom only When nobody owns it. 

I feel that the risk of other countries being perceived as anti-Semitic is being used very cleverly by the State of Israel. If we speak out against the injustices being done to Palestinians by Israel’s government, we would be against the Jewish faith and people. Can it be that the Holocaust suffering is being indirectly used as a political tool? I hope not… 

Hope

Despite the despair felt in seeing the effects of the Israeli occupation, there were also glimpses of hope. The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem supports numerous programs, hospitals, and schools for Jews, Muslims, and Christians throughout Israel in the occupied territories. We visited the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre in the West Bank and saw the ministry at work, serving children with disabilities in Palestine and training their parents to continue their education and training at home. A charitable, non-governmental, non-profit institution entrusted under the Anglican Episcopal church, their work is guided by the fundamental values expressed in the UN Conventions on the Rights of the Child and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. While there we also visited a small handicrafts workshop known as “The Sheltered Workshop” that serves people suffering from physical, mental, and cognitive disabilities from Jerusalem and its surroundings

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

As mentioned above, one evening we met with two young adults who are alumni of Jerusalem Peacebuilders (JPB) Along with Executive Director and founder Nicholas Porter (an Episcopal priest from Vermont (formerly Connecticut), we heard about the work and mission of this organization. From their website description, “JPB is an interfaith, non-profit organization with a mission to create a better future for humanity across religions, cultures, and nationalities. Integral to that mission is the belief that the future of Jerusalem is the future of the world. To that end, JPB promotes transformational, person-to-person encounters among the peoples of Jerusalem, the United States, and the Holy Land.” In addition to programs offered in Jerusalem, there are active summer institutes in Connecticut, Vermont, and Texas.

Each of these organizations are living out the promise given to Abraham and his descendants and the mandate given by Jesus. They are in relationship with their neighbor – Jew, Muslim, Christian – and in relationship with God, each following their own faith tradition. It is possible to share one land and be a light to the world. It is possible to plant and harvest good grapes. But it takes a village to do so that welcomes all. No walls. No barbed wire. No check-points. Free flowing water and roads open to all. 

Hope and peace will prevail in the Holy Land if we bring all faiths together to learn that we are all humans who worship the same God. We do have differences that run deep and are polarizing, but we have so much more in common. The future of our world may depend on it. A third intifada is just around the corner if all sides don’t begin to come to the table with an open mind. Hopefully, graduates of Jerusalem Peacebuilders will be among those called to new leadership in the governments of Israel as well as the Palestinian Authority and families who are raising special needs children recognized that all are God’s children. 

The peace lamps from Taybeh.

Read more reflections from the Episcopal Church in Connecticut pilgrims in Part 1 and Part 2. Learn about the work of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and American Friends of of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem.

     Pilgrimage Reflections: Walls & Doors Two months ago I was in the midst of a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with thirty others from the Episcopal Church in Connecticut.

[worldnewsindex]

Israeli and Palestinian activists join US and EU diplomats for peacebuilding conference in Jerusalem https://worldnewsindex.com/world-news/israeli-and-palestinian-activists-join-us-and-eu-diplomats-for-peacebuilding-conference-in-jerusalem/2022/06/01/

[intothenoise]

Palestinians Face Massive Cuts in Economic Aid: Who Suffers?

(This post was originally published as part of IMES’ Regional Brief for October 2018, written by Jesse Wheeler)

News

The United States government recently announced dramatic cuts in economic aid for Palestinians. In January, the administration announced a $65 million cut in funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA), eventually withholding $305 million in aid. This past month, however, the administration confirmed a decision to slash all remaining US financial support for UNWRA, one week after cutting over $200 million in direct humanitarian aid. Likewise, $25 million was cut from Jerusalem hospitals focused on providing healthcare services otherwise unavailable to Palestinians, while most recently it was announced that the US will cut all funding for community-based peacebuilding initiatives.

Established in 1949, UNRWA is responsible for education, healthcare, food and emergency assistance, and refugee camp infrastructure for Palestinian refugees. In addition to East Jerusalem, The West Bank, and Gaza, the agency operates throughout Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. In response to the cuts, UNWRA has already begun laying off employees and suspending programs.

Analysis

There exist multiple lenses through which one can examine such a policy. Officially, the cuts serve as an incentive to draw Palestinians back to the negotiating table with Israel. US Presidential Advisor Jared Kushner is on record as saying, “that ending the assistance outright could strengthen his negotiating hand,” while Palestinian diplomat Hanan Ashrawi describes US leadership as “demonstrating the use of cheap blackmail as a political tool.”

Cuts are being viewed by others, however, as the execution of long-standing Israeli aggression against the Palestinians by means of its US allies. Netanyahu, for example, has long advocated for the elimination of UNRWA. In this analysis, the cuts represent an attempt to sideline the refugee crisis, and with it the “right of return.” These, however, are core Palestinian grievances central to the conflict’s long-term intractability. In this view, what the Israelis and their American benefactors desire is not peace but acquiescence.

Meanwhile, others view the cuts as representing an intentional attempt by the US Administration to destabilize and dismantle the post-World War international system, using the Palestine-Israel conflict as a “testbed for Trump’s plan to tear up the rules-based international order.” A more critical perspective argues that the current administration is simply “blowing the lid off” an already a farcical pretense of a peace process. By making explicit that which was up till now implicit, the US reveals too much of its hand and therefore ability to exert leverage. And the fallout, it is argued, could actually be of significant advantage to the Palestinian national movement.

For our part, IMES approaches the situation by taking seriously the plight of those most vulnerable, regardless which side might ultimately benefit. Essentially, how do these policies affect those on the ground? Who suffers?

Theological and Missiological Reflections

The simple reality is that Palestinian refugees comprise one of the most vulnerable populations on earth. It is they who suffer as they lose access to education, health care and humanitarian aid. Our moral and ethical obligation as followers of Christ, however, is to ask how “ordinary” persons are affected by macro-scale policies, regardless the political justification. We must think of the young girl whose teacher stops receiving a paycheck, the cancer patient losing his only access to health care, and to the family of five no longer able to collect food rations.

Ultimately, it must be asked what responsibility local churches might have in supporting those in distress. Surely the right of someone to live with dignity does not negate his or her right to return home, nor absolve those ultimately responsible. Likewise, in thinking about what responsibility the global Church might have toward Palestinian refugees, I can’t help but recall here the words of Jesus:

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me’ (Matthew 25: 40-45, NIV).

[ikmalfahmirasmi]

JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT ASEAN MUSLIM YOUTH LEADERS CONDEMN ATTACK ON PALESTINIAN MOSQUE Dated : 09 May 2021 (27 Ramadhan 1442H We, the Southeast Asian Muslim Youth Leaders, strongly condemn the terror attack by the Israeli forces and settlers on the Palestinians at the al-Aqsa Mosque and in the occupied East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah. It is reported that more than 170 Palestinians were harmed after Israeli forces raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied East Jerusalem and displaced worshippers elsewhere, reigniting weeks-long tensions between Israel and the Palestinians over Jerusalem. This horrible act of the Zionists clearly shows a form of insult to the Palestinians especially to the Muslim population, in this holy month of Ramadan. This act of violence is undermining all progress of peacebuilding that have been done within the region. We urge the United Nations (UN) and the rest of the world to keep on pressuring the Israeli government which is seen trying to erupt tensions in the Middle East and jeopardizing global peace to respect the international rule of law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions and OIC Resolutions to Israel. We are also urging the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to convene an emergency meeting to address the currently emerging issue in Palestine, calling upon all leaders of the Islamic countries to bind together and utilize any possible channels to appropriately ensure that the Zionist regime and its allies do not subvert Palestinian sovereignty. Any dealings aimed at promoting Israeli policy should be firmly denied. Hereby this is our call for solidarity to the entire global Muslim community. We should keep praying and showing supports for the struggles of the Palestinian people, and we call for the youths to keep raising awareness on this recent issue via all media platforms online as a form of solidarity with the Palestinians. Reposted from @pkpimalaysia #brutality #condemn #islam #muslim #un #unitednations #attack #bombed #pkpim #GPM #foreignaffairs #diplomacy #humanity #social #defence #NGO #PKPIMMalaysia #PKPIMKelantan #Kelantan #Ummah (at Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia (PKPIM)) https://www.instagram.com/p/COpx9NfBHQJ/?igshid=k4rlk3jy4qa6

[ksuconflict]

Jerusalem: Cohort 18 Study Abroad to Israel/Palestine

By: Mary Zaher

[narcisbolgor-blog]

Jews, Christians and Muslims make holy ground in America’s heartland

Omaha, Nebraska (CNN)When most people think of Omaha, they imagine sizzling steaks, billionaire Warren Buffet or even former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning calling out before the snap. (Remember "Omaha-Omaha"?).

But if a group of clergymen have their way, Nebraska's largest city will soon also be known as the home of interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding.

A rabbi, a reverend and an imam (no, it's not a setup joke) are partners in a decadelong quest to bring together the three Abrahamic faiths -- Judaism, Christianity and Islam -- to share and worship on the same property.

It's called Tri-Faith Initiative.

The $65 million project, launched in 2006 and funded through donations, may be the first time in US history that the three faiths intentionally build their houses of worship side by side.

"We didn't create this (project) to tolerate each other. We didn't create this just to have a dialogue," explained Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, the former senior rabbi at Omaha's Temple Israel, whose vision helped drive the project.

"We have done all this stuff already. It's about what are we going to do together. What are we going to do for the betterment of humanity?"

The location chosen for the sacred endeavor is the old golf course of Highland Country Club, a "Jewish Club" developed in the 1920s when Jews were excluded from other clubs in in the city and around the country.

Today, a new synagogue and mosque stand tall on the abandoned greens and fairways. And construction crews are readying to build a new church.

Further plans include a Tri-Faith Center, which will be completed in 2019 and serve as a shared community space for interfaith classes and activities.

"The Tri-Faith Center will be a place to act, learn and gather," says a project brochure. "We will promote policies protecting religions and democracies, and unite our diverse voices to challenge extremism."

The developers say they're excited for what the future holds. They're also proud that a land once formed out of division, has now become a symbol of religious tolerance.

For Jews, a 'taste of paradise'

Temple Israel's new synagogue opened in 2013 and cost more than $21 million to complete. The first of the Tri-Faith project, it's a modern, 58,000-square foot building that features hand-cut stone imported from Jerusalem, a symbol of the Reform congregation's connection to the Holy Land.

"If you can't create peace in the Middle East -- what about Omaha?" quipped Rabbi Azriel, 67, a polio survivor from Israel.

He likes to share a story from one of his congregants who was initially apprehensive about sharing land with Muslims. The man, who would later become a donor, privately expressed fears about Islamic extremists attacking the synagogue. "What if there's a live hand grenade rolled in the middle of the aisle during the high holidays," the man asked.

The rabbi answered there were two options. "One is to run away. But as a polio survivor, I can't run far away," he said with a mix of sarcasm. "The other one is for me to fall on it."

The answer, Azriel said, brought tears to the man's eyes.

Azriel believes that fear isn't a strong enough reason to cease the project. In fact, he said the idea was born out of the tragedies of 9/11, when fear was at its highest level and he and some congregants went to defend a local mosque from vandalism.

The gesture, he said, led to new friendships and a dialogue between members of the two faith communities. Years later, when Temple Israel began making plans to relocate its aging synagogue, the rabbi and a handful of others formed Tri-Faith Initiative, and articulated their vision to have three faiths occupy the same 35-acre space.

"It will be a little taste of paradise," said Azriel.

Muslims find 'refreshment' for the soul

The American Muslim Institute is a stunning $7 million mosque that opened in June, just in time for Ramadan, Islam's holiest month. The 15,000-square foot building has all the comforts of a modern-day mosque, including state-of-the-art feet washing stations, classrooms and recreation areas, counting a basketball court.

The centerpiece is the cavernous prayer room, where about 50 people attended on a recent evening. The tranquil sounds of the Imam's chants echoed throughout the room, which has separate spaces for men and women.

Yearning for a new opportunity, Imam Mohamad Jamal Daoudi agreed to lead the congregation after a stint with another mosque in Augusta, Georgia.

"Refreshment for my soul. I was very enthusiastic to join the group," said Daoudi, 52.

A Syrian native, Daoudi has been in the United States for 22 years and says it's the first time he's seen such an ambitious idea materialize.

The conflict between Jews and Muslims in the Mideast should not be an impediment in making peace in the Midwest, he said.

There are "so many good things as human beings to enjoy and embrace, rather than just focusing on one issue," Daoudi said.

He concedes, however, that his enthusiasm for the project is not universal among Omaha's Muslim community, some of whom feel anxious about the mixing of faiths.

"Right now they are suspicious, they are hesitant, but very soon they will find out that it's a good idea," said Daoudi.

He believes some of the apprehension is due to confusion -- a perception that people of all faiths will be worshipping in the same sanctuary, shoulder to shoulder.

"Our mission is not about compromising anybody's faith," he said. "We are here to learn about each other and to live as neighbors with each other."

Christians 'in love with the vision'

Countryside Community Church, part of the United Church of Christ, has a perfectly fine building less than 15 minutes away from the Tri-Faith site. It has served the congregation well for 60 years and could easily have remained for another several decades.

"Almost no congregation in America moves without some outside pressure, like the roof caving in," said Rev. Eric Elnes, the head pastor.

"We are moving simply because we fell in love with the vision of Tri-Faith."

Elnes, 53, said the vast majority of his congregation voted for the move, despite the inherent challenges in raising the $26 million required to fund the construction of a new church.

The church is designed to provide congregants with a view of the synagogue and mosque. Measuring 65,000 square feet, it will include a traditional narthex, courtyard and numerous shared spaces intended to maximize interaction.

Construction is expected to be complete in late 2018.

"Tri-Faith would have made sense throughout any of our religious histories, but in this time, it makes more sense than ever," Elnes said, alluding to recent terrorist attacks in London and elsewhere.

"If you're risk averse, you are really peace averse at the same time."

'A movement that changed the world'

While each of the three congregations will go about their normal worship and activities, campus landscaping will be designed to facilitate interaction. For instance, a bridge running over "hell creek" will connect the entire campus. There's been chatter about changing the creek's name, but appropriately the structure will be called "heaven's bridge."

The hiring of an executive director will help turn the interfaith vision into practice, the clergymen say.

Omaha, while not as conservative as the rest of deep-red Nebraska, has not been historically progressive or taken bold steps to promote inclusiveness. But the state's monikers -- originally "Nebraska Nice," but recently changed to "Nebraska. Good Life. Great Opportunity" -- capture the state and broader Midwest's easygoing nature.

That doesn't mean Tri-Faith Initiative has eluded controversy.

Locally, the most outspoken opponent has been Dr. Mark Christian, executive director of Global Faith Institute. Christian, who converted from Islam to Christianity, believes that the Quran forbids Muslims from becoming friends with Christians and Jews. It's a controversial and widely admonished assertion that's commonly propagated by Islamophobes.

Christian has also raised alarm by proclaiming that the Tri-Faith partners could become targets of violence.

"I can see it trigger those militant Muslims," he told CNN.

The fearful rhetoric recently spilled over into a city councilman's election race. Candidate Paul Anderson criticized the mosque's construction. The Omaha World Herald reported that his website said there should be no mosques in the city.

Anderson exited the race in April after being widely rebuked.

Mostly, though, the feedback has been positive, say the clergymen. They're also hopeful that the initiative will influence other communities to launch similar projects across the United States and beyond.

It's a sentiment that the Rev. John Dorhauer, general minister and president of the United Church of Christ, shared during this month's ceremonial ground breaking for the new church.

"Let this be the story we tell our children" -- proclaimed Dorhauer -- "that once upon a time in a land called Omaha, the Jew, the Muslim and the Christian started a movement that changed the world."

More From this publisher : HERE

=> *********************************************** Source Here: Jews, Christians and Muslims make holy ground in America’s heartland ************************************ =>

Jews, Christians and Muslims make holy ground in America’s heartland was originally posted by 11 VA Viral News

[morganbelarus]

Jews, Christians and Muslims make holy ground in America’s heartland

Omaha, Nebraska (CNN)When most people think of Omaha, they imagine sizzling steaks, billionaire Warren Buffet or even former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning calling out before the snap. (Remember "Omaha-Omaha"?).

But if a group of clergymen have their way, Nebraska's largest city will soon also be known as the home of interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding.

A rabbi, a reverend and an imam (no, it's not a setup joke) are partners in a decadelong quest to bring together the three Abrahamic faiths -- Judaism, Christianity and Islam -- to share and worship on the same property.

It's called Tri-Faith Initiative.

The $65 million project, launched in 2006 and funded through donations, may be the first time in US history that the three faiths intentionally build their houses of worship side by side.

"We didn't create this (project) to tolerate each other. We didn't create this just to have a dialogue," explained Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, the former senior rabbi at Omaha's Temple Israel, whose vision helped drive the project.

"We have done all this stuff already. It's about what are we going to do together. What are we going to do for the betterment of humanity?"

The location chosen for the sacred endeavor is the old golf course of Highland Country Club, a "Jewish Club" developed in the 1920s when Jews were excluded from other clubs in in the city and around the country.

Today, a new synagogue and mosque stand tall on the abandoned greens and fairways. And construction crews are readying to build a new church.

Further plans include a Tri-Faith Center, which will be completed in 2019 and serve as a shared community space for interfaith classes and activities.

"The Tri-Faith Center will be a place to act, learn and gather," says a project brochure. "We will promote policies protecting religions and democracies, and unite our diverse voices to challenge extremism."

The developers say they're excited for what the future holds. They're also proud that a land once formed out of division, has now become a symbol of religious tolerance.

For Jews, a 'taste of paradise'

Temple Israel's new synagogue opened in 2013 and cost more than $21 million to complete. The first of the Tri-Faith project, it's a modern, 58,000-square foot building that features hand-cut stone imported from Jerusalem, a symbol of the Reform congregation's connection to the Holy Land.

"If you can't create peace in the Middle East -- what about Omaha?" quipped Rabbi Azriel, 67, a polio survivor from Israel.

He likes to share a story from one of his congregants who was initially apprehensive about sharing land with Muslims. The man, who would later become a donor, privately expressed fears about Islamic extremists attacking the synagogue. "What if there's a live hand grenade rolled in the middle of the aisle during the high holidays," the man asked.

The rabbi answered there were two options. "One is to run away. But as a polio survivor, I can't run far away," he said with a mix of sarcasm. "The other one is for me to fall on it."

The answer, Azriel said, brought tears to the man's eyes.

Azriel believes that fear isn't a strong enough reason to cease the project. In fact, he said the idea was born out of the tragedies of 9/11, when fear was at its highest level and he and some congregants went to defend a local mosque from vandalism.

The gesture, he said, led to new friendships and a dialogue between members of the two faith communities. Years later, when Temple Israel began making plans to relocate its aging synagogue, the rabbi and a handful of others formed Tri-Faith Initiative, and articulated their vision to have three faiths occupy the same 35-acre space.

"It will be a little taste of paradise," said Azriel.

Muslims find 'refreshment' for the soul

The American Muslim Institute is a stunning $7 million mosque that opened in June, just in time for Ramadan, Islam's holiest month. The 15,000-square foot building has all the comforts of a modern-day mosque, including state-of-the-art feet washing stations, classrooms and recreation areas, counting a basketball court.

The centerpiece is the cavernous prayer room, where about 50 people attended on a recent evening. The tranquil sounds of the Imam's chants echoed throughout the room, which has separate spaces for men and women.

Yearning for a new opportunity, Imam Mohamad Jamal Daoudi agreed to lead the congregation after a stint with another mosque in Augusta, Georgia.

"Refreshment for my soul. I was very enthusiastic to join the group," said Daoudi, 52.

A Syrian native, Daoudi has been in the United States for 22 years and says it's the first time he's seen such an ambitious idea materialize.

The conflict between Jews and Muslims in the Mideast should not be an impediment in making peace in the Midwest, he said.

There are "so many good things as human beings to enjoy and embrace, rather than just focusing on one issue," Daoudi said.

He concedes, however, that his enthusiasm for the project is not universal among Omaha's Muslim community, some of whom feel anxious about the mixing of faiths.

"Right now they are suspicious, they are hesitant, but very soon they will find out that it's a good idea," said Daoudi.

He believes some of the apprehension is due to confusion -- a perception that people of all faiths will be worshipping in the same sanctuary, shoulder to shoulder.

"Our mission is not about compromising anybody's faith," he said. "We are here to learn about each other and to live as neighbors with each other."

Christians 'in love with the vision'

Countryside Community Church, part of the United Church of Christ, has a perfectly fine building less than 15 minutes away from the Tri-Faith site. It has served the congregation well for 60 years and could easily have remained for another several decades.

"Almost no congregation in America moves without some outside pressure, like the roof caving in," said Rev. Eric Elnes, the head pastor.

"We are moving simply because we fell in love with the vision of Tri-Faith."

Elnes, 53, said the vast majority of his congregation voted for the move, despite the inherent challenges in raising the $26 million required to fund the construction of a new church.

The church is designed to provide congregants with a view of the synagogue and mosque. Measuring 65,000 square feet, it will include a traditional narthex, courtyard and numerous shared spaces intended to maximize interaction.

Construction is expected to be complete in late 2018.

"Tri-Faith would have made sense throughout any of our religious histories, but in this time, it makes more sense than ever," Elnes said, alluding to recent terrorist attacks in London and elsewhere.

"If you're risk averse, you are really peace averse at the same time."

'A movement that changed the world'

While each of the three congregations will go about their normal worship and activities, campus landscaping will be designed to facilitate interaction. For instance, a bridge running over "hell creek" will connect the entire campus. There's been chatter about changing the creek's name, but appropriately the structure will be called "heaven's bridge."

The hiring of an executive director will help turn the interfaith vision into practice, the clergymen say.

Omaha, while not as conservative as the rest of deep-red Nebraska, has not been historically progressive or taken bold steps to promote inclusiveness. But the state's monikers -- originally "Nebraska Nice," but recently changed to "Nebraska. Good Life. Great Opportunity" -- capture the state and broader Midwest's easygoing nature.

That doesn't mean Tri-Faith Initiative has eluded controversy.

Locally, the most outspoken opponent has been Dr. Mark Christian, executive director of Global Faith Institute. Christian, who converted from Islam to Christianity, believes that the Quran forbids Muslims from becoming friends with Christians and Jews. It's a controversial and widely admonished assertion that's commonly propagated by Islamophobes.

Christian has also raised alarm by proclaiming that the Tri-Faith partners could become targets of violence.

"I can see it trigger those militant Muslims," he told CNN.

The fearful rhetoric recently spilled over into a city councilman's election race. Candidate Paul Anderson criticized the mosque's construction. The Omaha World Herald reported that his website said there should be no mosques in the city.

Anderson exited the race in April after being widely rebuked.

Mostly, though, the feedback has been positive, say the clergymen. They're also hopeful that the initiative will influence other communities to launch similar projects across the United States and beyond.

It's a sentiment that the Rev. John Dorhauer, general minister and president of the United Church of Christ, shared during this month's ceremonial ground breaking for the new church.

"Let this be the story we tell our children" -- proclaimed Dorhauer -- "that once upon a time in a land called Omaha, the Jew, the Muslim and the Christian started a movement that changed the world."

More From this publisher : HERE

=> *********************************************** Learn More Here: Jews, Christians and Muslims make holy ground in America’s heartland ************************************ =>

Jews, Christians and Muslims make holy ground in America’s heartland was originally posted by 16 MP Just news

[armeniaitn]

ANCA-WR Names 2 New Government Affairs Coordinators

New Post has been published on https://armenia.in-the.news/society/anca-wr-names-2-new-government-affairs-coordinators-74492-04-06-2021/

ANCA-WR Names 2 New Government Affairs Coordinators

Edward Barsoumian (left) and Ruben Karapetian

The Armenian National Committee of America–Western Region Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Ruben D. Karapetian and Edward A. Barsoumian as its new Government Affairs Coordinators.

“We are excited to welcome Edward Barsoumian and Ruben Karapetian to our Government Affairs team,” remarked ANCA-WR Chair Nora Hovsepian, Esq. “Having two qualified staff members exclusively dedicated to government relations will undoubtedly contribute to our advocacy efforts throughout the western U.S., especially during this critical moment for our community and nation.”

The ANCA-WR Government Affairs Coordinators will be in charge of executing the organization’s legislative strategy, further cultivating strong working relationships with elected officials and their offices to effectively advance policy priorities of the Armenian-American community on all levels of government.

“It is with great honor and pleasure that I accept the duties entrusted to me by the ANCA-WR Board of Directors, to work diligently alongside our capable team in service to the Armenian Cause and our people,” said Edward Barsoumian. “With this opportunity, I pledge to tirelessly carry on the mission laid out by generations of Armenian advocates before us on our righteous pursuit to give voice, justice, equality, and peace to Armenians everywhere.”

Barsoumian graduated cum laude and with two departmental honors from the University of La Verne, where he double majored in International Studies and Criminology. He also completed a special topics program and a certification course in Faith-Based Peacebuilding from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is also a confirmed member of Phi Alpha Theta (National History Honors Society). Prior to this position, Barsoumian worked with private investigators specializing in wrongful conviction cases in the California judicial system and interned with other Armenian-American advocacy organizations in Washington.

“At these unprecedented times, it is vital that the Armenian-American community engages in the political process and ensures that our voices are heard. Politics is not a hobby for me, or for most Armenians,” Ruben Karapetian noted. “However, the ANCA’s decades of advocacy and leadership have laid the groundwork for our community’s involvement. I am absolutely honored to join the ANCA-WR, fully realizing how far we’ve come as a community and noting that there is much more work to be done.”

Karapetian holds a B.A. in Political Science with a focus on Comparative Politics, obtained from the University of California, Berkeley. His primary areas of study were Eastern Europe, East Asia, and American Foreign Policy. Previously he had been an intern and research associate with the ANCA-WR analyzing and indexing global atrocity crimes and genocide.

Karapetian soon after participated in the ANCA’s Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Fellowship Program. Before his university studies, he worked on various film and multimedia projects in Burbank.

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region is the largest and most influential nonpartisan Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues in pursuit of the Armenian Cause.

Read original article here.

[rjhamster]

American Friends Service Committee

In just the past few days, more than 10,000 people have signed our petition to shut down Homestead detention center! Thank you for taking action to end child detention. If you haven’t yet signed, add your name today to tell the government to stop detaining children and instead work to unite them with their loved ones!   Here are more resources to help you stay informed and support your activism. Why it's time to shut down Homestead child detention center: Most of the children detained have fled violence and poverty in Central America and are seeking asylum. Many will spend weeks or months in detention – with lasting traumatic effects. The Trump administration will withhold bail from asylum seekers: “It’s only a call to build more detention centers” and benefit “private prison corporations that make huge amount of profits on the detention of people,” says AFSC’s Benjamin Prado. (ABC 10) Trump's decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) affects hundreds of thousands of immigrants: Here are just some of their stories. Desmond Meade, a member of AFSC's South Region Executive Committee, was named one of Time's 100 most influential people: As head of a Florida coalition, Desmond led the charge to restore voting rights to more than a million people with felony convictions. (Time) 500 Palestinian families in Jerusalem are about to have their homes destroyed: Action is needed to protect them and tens of thousands more who risk losing their homes under Israel's devastating home demolition policies. One way we can help bring peace to Somalia: The U.S. should join the growing international call to cancel Somalia’s debt to help its government address its humanitarian crisis, prevent violence, and build shared security both in and outside of the country. Civil rights leaders, peacebuilders in Central America, anti-war activists, and more: We profile some of the courageous people who have worked for AFSC over the years. If you've worked with or volunteered with AFSC, join our Alumni Network to stay in touch! From our archives: A lesson on faith from Henry Cadbury, one of AFSC's founders: Faith is in fact an action, a “decision to practice and exemplify the good instead of the evil,” he wrote.

[news247worldpress-blog]

UN chief calls tolerance, understanding and compassion 'catalysts for peace'

UN chief calls tolerance, understanding and compassion ‘catalysts for peace’

A bird’s eye view of Jerusalem. Photo: UN Photo/ Rick Bajornas

19 July 2017 – Religion is being distorted to increase differences, Secretary-GeneralAntónio Guterres said, urging the international community to counter such narratives.

Speaking Tuesday at a panel discussion on The Role of Religious Leaders in Peacebuilding in the Middle East, the Secretary-General called for expanding the space…