Resources
Zaya Kuyena on 'Costly Solidarity'
A group of young adults from the United Church, travelled to Israel and Palestine as part of the Youth Pilgrimage for Peace in August 2019. At the UNJPPI gathering last fall in Ottawa, we were privileged to meet a few of these participants including Zaya Kuyena. Zaya is based in Ottawa and gave us a presentation at the opening of the gathering. In this five minute video, he shares highlights from his experience and reflects on ‘costly solidarity.’
Youth Pilgrims at Parliament Hill
In February, participants from the same Yout h Pilgrimage for Peace went to Ottawa to continue their advocacy and sharing their experiences from Israel and Palestine last summer:
“During reading week, a delegation of United Church members and staff along with a staff member from the Defense for Children International Palestine (DCIP), met with MPs and senators on Parliament Hill and across the country. The goal of these meetings was to get the members of parliament and the senate to sign onto an open letter calling on Prime Minister Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Champagne to send an envoy to Israel/ Palestine to monitor the treatment of Palestinian children. These efforts were part of the “No Way to Treat a Child” campaign that DCIP is running in North America. We received many warm receptions and had many great discussions over the week. The results of our meetings left us feeling very positive about the momentum we were able to build. There is still a lot of work to be done standing up for children’s rights in Palestine, but this week was a step in the right direction.” – Matthew & Tayana
(top photo: Tayana with MP Paul Manly, former UCC Moderator David Giuliano & Shaina Low, Defence for Children Palestine. lower photo: Matthew and Tayana in back row in with Peter Julian, NDP House leader).
Video Resources
“Drawing on both historical and current struggles for Palestinians under siege, occupation and forced displacement, including the Great March of Return in Gaza, this 70 minute film by Bob Peck provides a stirring indictment of Israel’s settler project as well as that of the cable networks’ deliberate spin to shield Israel from accountability”
This video was produced by Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church in Ohio. This 20 minute film tells a very human story from the perspective of Palestinian Christians. Experience the Holy Land through the eyes of "the living stones," Palestinian Christians who descend from the disciples.
Israel's ongoing military occupation of Palestinian territory and repeated invasions of the Gaza strip have triggered a fierce backlash against Israeli policies virtually everywhere in the world -except the United States. This 84 minute documentary by Media Education Foundation takes an eye-opening look at this critical exception, zeroing in on pro-Israel public relations efforts within the U.S
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Regional Updates
UNJPPI s trives to strengthen, support and amplify the work of regional groups. In BC, the PalNetPacific is a regional group working for a just peace in Israel and Palestine. Corey Levine is the new Animator for PalNetPacific doing "education for action about human rights for Palestine/Israel”. Her current home base is Victoria. Corey grew up in New Brunswick where her family was one of the few Jewish families in town. Her parents instilled in their children the value of tikkun olam (to repair the world). Corey has worked on human rights issues in countries as diverse as Iraq, Mali, Sierra Leone, the Ukraine and Palestine. Resources she can offer for education in communities of faith in the Pacific Mountain Region include:
- Dispossessed but Defiant – a photo exhibition examining different aspects of indigenous’ peoples’ dispossession and their inspiring struggles to resist
- Promised Land Museum – a travelling exhibit fostering awareness of the common humanity of Jewish, Christian and Muslim families living in Israel/Palestine
- And information about Omar Haramy’s visit to Vancouver, April 2020.
For more information, email Corey.
Thanks to ProVision Funds and the Contemplative Justice Fund for providing the resources for this work.
UNJPPI Members Reflect on Recent Experiences in Palestine and Israel
Read the “Reflection from Kairos Palestine 10th Anniversary International Conference” and “Hope spreads out from Dar Qandeel.” Thanks to Pat, Hope and Anne for sharing your experience from Kairos and to Martha for sharing about your “Come and See” trip.
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Opportunities
Omar Haramy's Canada Tour
Save the Dates! Omar Haramy from Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center is coming to Canada in April. He will be in the following cities offering worshops and talks about Palestine and the Kumi Now initiative.
Vancouver: April 17-18
Winnipeg: April 21
Ottawa: April 22-23
Toronto: April 24-25
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Sabeel Young Adult Gathering
June 2020
Sabeel Ecumenical Theology Center in Jerusalem is organizing the First International Young Adult Gathering from June 17-25, 2020.
This gathering provides an opportunity for young people from around the world, ages 18-35, to engage first-hand with local young Palestinians and hear their stories, learn more about the current realities on the ground, explore and discuss together liberation theology, nonviolence, engaging Christian Zionism, and to work together to take action.
Apply by May 1st
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Campaigns
#NOWAYTOTREATACHILD WEBINAR, MARCH 2020
Join Defense for Children International - Palestine (DCIP) for a webinar on March 10 at 12 pm ET / 9 am PT. This daytime webinar will be a chance to hear how DCIP collects documentation and evidence on child rights violations in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. The goal is to provide a detailed look at how documentation that forms the foundation for the No Way to Treat a Child campaign is collected by DCIP field researchers, social workers, and lawyers. More info and to register.
Fight antisemitism & white supremacy, not freedom of expression!
Here is an update from our partners at Independent J ewish Voices about the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism that passed its second reading in the Ontario Legislature on February 27th.
“While yesterday’s vote at Queen’s Park was extremely disappointing, IJV Canada remains committed to the fight against Bill 168, and against the IHRA antisemitism definition more broadly. We believe that it is crucial to fight antisemitism and white supremacy, while at the same time protecting freedom of expression and standing up for Palestinian human rights.” Read the full statement and take action.
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We want to hear from you for our April News
What would you like to see in Network News? We appreciate your feedback. Are you planning and leading a “Come and See” trip to Israel and Palestine? We would like to hear about it. Do you know of a campaign or speaker related to peace and justice in Palestine and Israel? Let us know! Read a great book or blog post that you would like others to know about? Tell us about it.
Please send submission ideas to:unitednetwork4justpeace@gmail.com by March 20th
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