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US churches seeking justice in Palestine-Israel (Part 2)

David Wildman 4 September 2008


The General Conference of the United Methodist Church meets once every four years and is the only body that speaks on behalf of the whole church. The United Methodist Church is a global church with some 25 to 30 percent of its membership in countries of Africa, Europe and in the Philippines. General Conference adopts broad policies and principles designed to guide church actions. The work of implementing such principles goes to agencies and local churches. David Wildman, in the second of a two-part article, discusses how churches are taking action to confront injustice in Israel-Palestine. 

US churches seeking justice in Palestine-Israel (Part 1)

David Wildman 4 September 2008


For decades, United Methodists have worked with other churches, human rights groups and the broader international community to uphold UN resolutions, human rights conventions and international law as the basis for just and lasting peace for all. Given this human rights-based approach, ending Israel’s military occupation constitutes a necessary first step for establishing equality and mutual security for Palestinians and Israel is alike. David Wildman writes about the growing church movement to divest from companies profiting from the Israeli occupation. 

Meet the Lebanese Press: Syria and the Salafis

Hicham Safieddine 2 September 2008


Lebanese-Syrian relations witnessed a turnaround this month. The visit by Lebanese President Michel Suleiman to Damascus culminated in a declaration to establish full diplomatic relations between the two countries for the first time. Promises were made to intensify efforts to resolve long-standing disputes around delineating the borders and uncovering the fate of dozens of Lebanese who disappeared during the civil war and are believed to be imprisoned in Syria. 

Nilin village continues to resist Israeli siege

Jonathan Cook 2 September 2008


The window through which Salam Amira, 16, filmed the moment when an Israeli soldier shot from close range a handcuffed and blindfolded Palestinian detainee has a large hole at its center with cracks running in every direction. “Since my video was shown, the soldiers shoot at our house all the time,” she said. The shattered and cracked windows at the front of the building confirm her story. Jonathan Cook reports from Nilin. 

Settler violence against Palestinians on the rise

1 September 2008


HEBRON (IRIN) - Violence by settlers perpetrated against Palestinians has been on the rise in recent weeks in Hebron and the surrounding areas, residents and international observers said. “These areas are hot spots for violence and are priority areas for us,” said Matteo Benatti, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross’s delegation in the city. 

Palestinian water strategies subject to Israeli veto

1 September 2008


RAMALLAH/STOCKHOLM (IRIN) - The Occupied Palestinian Territories continues to suffer from drought, but the head of the Palestinian Water Authority told IRIN there was a limit to what he could do to help. “Crisis management is the only strategy that I am able to apply,” Shaddad Attili, the head of the Water Authority, told IRIN while attending World Water Week in Stockholm (13-23 August). 

Rights org calls for an end to political arrests

29 August 2008


Dozens of Palestinians have been arrested on political grounds by security services of the two Palestinian governments in Gaza and Ramallah. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) calls upon the two governments to stop political arrests which are prohibited under the Palestinian Basic Law and a Palestinian High Court of Justice ruling, and to release all detainees who have been arrested in this context. 

Israel's new "wet jobs" plan

29 August 2008


RAMALLAH (IRIN) - If the Israeli Ministry of Finance manages to push through some reforms as part of the proposed 2009 budget, there may soon be almost no Palestinian workers in Israel’s construction sector. “We are supporting a plan where the idea is to increase the number of Israelis in the workforce,” an official at the Ministry of Finance told IRIN on condition of anonymity.