Salaam & Shalom,

This email covers a month of turbulent events in the country with the elections, Coronavirus outbreak and their far-reaching impacts on communities. At the same time, we at Musalaha are also focusing on the celebration of women and the launch of our new program for young leaders. We will touch on all of these issues and topics in this update. 


Salim J. Munayer
Musalaha Executive Director
 

Attempting Reconciliation in a Roller Coaster Situation.

In the last few months, we were all influenced by a barrage of media regarding the elections. This is the third time in a year that an election has been held in Israel. For many, there was hope that the result would determine where we are going as a country. As with many elections, when the true result came, some were happy and some were very disappointed, but in reality, the outcome means we’re right back to square one. Read more.

From a Minority to a Movement Demanding Peace.

There is one activity each year that I truly look forward to more than any other at Musalaha, and that is my speaking tour with Shireen. The tour is an opportunity for us to share with thousands of people from local churches, schools, organisations and mosques in the UK about the power reconciliation has to bring peace to our communities.

Shireen and I see each other at least once a month, but it’s always rushed and it’s always for the benefit of our ladies’ groups. As Shireen told many of the people who came out to hear about 2 Women, 2 Worlds, 1 Lord tour, “this is the most I get to see Hedva all year.” Read more.

A Story from our Danish Young Adult Peace Partners’ Recent Visit to Palestine.

Reconciliation is an obvious need in Israel and Palestine – one of the longest current conflicts in the world. But how does it affect European countries or the USA? Why should anyone else in the world pay attention to our conflict?

In countries around the world, conflict is between communities, not state actors. As Musalaha has developed its reconciliation model and curriculum, by finding what works and doesn’t work, this curriculum has now been applied successfully in many other parts of the world. For this reason, more and more groups are now coming to train and learn about our approach to reconciliation. Read more.

• As the Coronavirus continues to separate people across the world, it has literally separated the Israeli and Palestinian women who are on lockdown. As we speak, our women's meeting on March 19 may have to be canceled. There is also a possibility that our Desert Encounter in April will need to be canceled. Please pray for an acceptable way to meet in any way regardless.
   
• 'Musalaha in your backyard' was the key message of our recent speaking tour in the UK. We pray that the thousands of people who heard it will find ways to apply reconciliation in their communities.
   
• Please join us in praying for the health of our own staff team who are split between Jerusalem and Bethlehem right now due to the Coronavirus. Pray that we will be able to resume our regular work routines and meetings as soon as possible.

Help us build up a generation of peacemakers amidst the conflict through reconciliation.

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