Saturday, October 31, 2009

Israeli Arab School Teachers Unpaid

Elias Chacour has faced many obstacles over the years in his efforts to create opportunities for Jewish, Christian and Muslim children to grow and learn together equally and peacefully in Israel. In his books, Blood Brothers and We Belong to the Land, Bishop Chacour tells of how he started the project of educating children of the village of Ibillin in kindergartens and summer camps and struggles along the way as the Mar Elias Educational Institutes grew. At one point, the only way that he was able to receive the permits from the Israeli government for a high school building was through the intervention of then Secretary of State, James Baker.

Mar Elias' latest challenge is that a related school in Dabourieh has been denied state funding for teachers' salaries since June. Israel's unique system for funding schools was part of Chacour's impulse for building his first high school in Ibillin, as he writes in We Belong to the Land:

Elementary schools in Israel are provided by the government. However, secondary schools, grades nine through twelve, are all private, belonging to local municipalities, synagogues, rabbis or churches. Financial support comes from private donations and from a complicated "quota system" through the Israeli Ministry of Education. Teachers' salaries can usually be paid from government money if a school qualifies for a good quota rating. The school building, furnishings, textbooks, and any extra supplies must be financed privately. By law, students pay no tuition in a secondary school, although there can be fees for special books and tools.

The whole political and social situation of the Jews vis-a-vis the Palestinians is mirrored in Israel's secondary school system. Jewish youngsters have ready access to secondary schools that often are financed through worldwide Jewish support, a municipality or religious organizations. In contrast, Arab Israeli young people, especially those living in the villages, have limited access to secondary schools because there is little outside support.

Certainly no Jewish towns with nine thousand inhabitants would be without secondary schools for long, but no outcry is heard in Israel when Arab Israeli villages have none. In general, Arab villages do not receive the kind of help from the Israeli government that Jewish towns and villages receive, so their municipal resources to provide secondary schools are limited. Furthermore, a Jewish town would be granted a building permit for a secondary school immediately; and Arab village is denied a permit. (pp 130-31).

The United Methodist liason, Janet Lahr Lewis, has sent out this request concerning the teacher salaries which the Israeli government cut off this past June:

Friday, October 30, 2009



Dear Friends,



Please read the letter below to the Ministry of Education and fax a copy of it to them immediately. A recent Volunteer in Mission team heard about this on a recent visit to Mar Elias Educational Institutions, one of our Advance project. They were upset enough to want to go and protest. I felt that a protest by 13 people would not even be noticed by the government offices so I suggested starting a protest campaign that might have more affect.



After several calls to Bp Chacour to get all the details I composed this letter, had it approved by the team and the bishop, and made it available to the director of the school so that the many international groups who visit could also sign it and send to the Ministry of Education. These fax campaigns usually have more success than others.



As of this writing no funds have been received. The officials continue to lie to the bishop saying “You will have the money tomorrow.” Meanwhile families go without, teachers continue to teach without pay and the amount due has increased to over 9 million shekels (around 3 million dollars!)



I urge you to sign the following letter and fax it immediately to the office of the Minister of Education. The one thing Israeli officials must try to avoid is negative publicity. Knowing that this information has now gone out to the world may prompt them to action.



Thank you for your support.

Janet Lahr Lewis

UM Liaison in Israel and Palestine
Mr. Gideon Sa’ar, Minister of Education

Ministry of Education

34, Shivtei Yisrael Street

Jerusalem 91911

Fax: 972 2 560 2223

Dear Mr. Sa’ar,



Recently it has come to our attention by way of supporters of Mar Elias Educational Institutions that a grave injustice is being committed with regards to the suspension of student subsidies used to pay teachers’ salaries at one of the educational facilities inside Israel.



Archbishop Elias Chacour, whose life-long goal has been to provide a good education for children regardless of race or religion, in an atmosphere of peace, respect, and love for one another, has built one of the most successful educational institutions in Israel. These facilities are held up by the international community as an example of how peace and reconciliation is possible in the Middle East. Because of the success of Mar Elias Educational Institutions’ academic and social achievements, the archbishop was approached by a number of people from the village or Dabourieh, including the local authorities, the parents of many students, and a large number of teachers, to help them improve the quality of education for their children.



The archbishop agreed to open a new high school, but not before complying with the government’s requirement of applying for a permit from the Ministry of Education. Applications were submitted repeatedly to which there was no reply whatsoever from the Ministry office. In the meantime, a list of new students was sent to the Ministry of Education. One month before the school was scheduled to open they received the subsidies for the students in order to pay the salaries of the teachers. This action of the payment of subsidies by the Ministry of Education was a concrete step connoting their approval to open the school. Since the Ministry of Education continued to pay all the subsidies for the students of Dabourieh it was then registered as a branch of Mar Elias Educational Institutions (MEEI) with the expectation and understanding that the school in Dabourieh would eventually operate independently.



The second year the school was in operation the Ministry of Education continued to pay the subsidies until June, 2009. Suddenly without any prior notice, the Ministry office froze all the payments for all of Mar Elias Educational Institutions, a situation which continues to this day. The Ministry of Education office thence ordered that MEEI disassociate itself from the school in Dabourieh. The Ministry office also ordered MEEI to stop registering students from Dabourieh as a condition for the Ministry office to reinstate the payment of subsidies for the other Mar Elias institutions. MEEI immediately complied and yet, to this date, the Ministry of Education office has continued, against the advice of its own legal department to illegally withhold funds due to MEEI which currently amount to an excess of 9 million shekels.



This non-payment of subsidies by the Ministry of Education has resulted in over 200 teachers and their families being forced to suffer without income since that date in June, 2009.



As internationals we find this intentional withholding of funds and non-action on the part of the Ministry of Education to be a serious and blatant misuse of power, causing undue suffering of hundreds of people who hold Israeli citizenship. For a country that prides itself on being a democracy, this type of action is considered to be not only discriminatory, but a violation of the internationally recognized Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 26 which states: “ (1)Everyone has the right to an education. (2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance, and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups…” MEEI has proven to be and is internationally famous for being a successful example of this statement.



Therefore, we strongly request that the Ministry of Education immediately comply with the law and provide all overdue payments of the student subsidies to MEEI and reinstate the regular payments of such, so that the teachers can receive the salaries which they so rightly deserve and to ensure that their families will no longer be forced to suffer from this injustice.



Respectfully submitted,







(Signature)___________________________________________________________________________





(Country)____________________________________________________________________________

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

Each Thursday at noon in Jerusalem, Sabeel holds a Communion service that is open to the community. It is a time to join together to celebrate the Eucharist, to discuss how the scriptures apply to our lives today, and to pray for the specific needs of this region. Following the 2006 Sabeel International Conference, the Friends of Sabeel coordinators met and discussed the idea of "Waves of Prayer." The premise is that in their respective time zones, individuals and groups around the world will pray together at 12:00 on Thursdays, in solidarity with Sabeel in Jerusalem and with "Friends of Sabeel" worldwide. Starting in Australia, passing through Palestine, and on around the world we will pray for Peace with Justice and focus on specific issues each week.

Wave of Prayer for Thursday, October 29, 2009

Christian and Muslim thinkers and leaders will gather in Beit Sahour on Sunday and Monday in a workshop on Christian Zionism, a topic which causes much concern for Palestinians. Pray that this encounter will break down walls of suspicion and further build bridges of understanding.

"Our house is on fire!" is the challenging title for a day conference organized by Friends of Sabeel--Netherlands to engage the Protestant Church in the Netherlands in theological reflection on its understanding of its dual commitment to Israel and the Christian communities of the Holy Land. We pray for the keynote speaker, professor Yohanna Katanacho (a Palestinian Christian from Nazareth), all presenters and participants, that their reflections will help the church stand firm for justice and the rights of the oppressed.

The Sabeel eight day Witness Visit starts on Thursday with worship, communion, and lunch at St. George's Cathedral in Jerusalem. We pray for all those involved, for safe travels, deep interactions and meaningful responses.

We pray that peace may be restored on the Haram al-Sharif (Temple Mount) where violence has broken out several times in recent weeks. Israeli extremist groups and authorities continue to visit the restricted area and this has resulted in demonstrations by worshippers at al-Aqsa Mosque. These and other provocations, like home demolitions and house evictions, maintain a constant tension in Jerusalem and the West Bank.


This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles

http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

Each Thursday at noon in Jerusalem, Sabeel holds a Communion service that is open to the community. It is a time to join together to celebrate the Eucharist, to discuss how the scriptures apply to our lives today, and to pray for the specific needs of this region. Following the 2006 Sabeel International Conference, the Friends of Sabeel coordinators met and discussed the idea of "Waves of Prayer." The premise is that in their respective time zones, individuals and groups around the world will pray together at 12:00 on Thursdays, in solidarity with Sabeel in Jerusalem and with "Friends of Sabeel" worldwide. Starting in Australia, passing through Palestine, and on around the world we will pray for Peace with Justice and focus on specific issues each week.

Wave of Prayer for Thursday, October 22, 2009

Olive picking season is underway - and there is an unseasonable heat wave here. Sabeel has organized picking in Jeeb, Kufr Qassim and Birzeit. The Joint Advocacy Initiative of the YWCA and YMCA, as well as many other groups, are also hosting olive picking visitors. We pray for the health and safety of all local and international volunteers and that Palestinian farmers and their families, suffering from ongoing settler violence and the uprooting of their olive trees, may have a peaceful harvest.

The Sabeel Witness Visit will start Thursday 29 Oct. We pray for all those making preparations, we pray that the visit will flow smoothly and we pray for all the speakers, that their voices will be heard and their experiences valued. And we pray for those participants arriving in these days: for energy, for flexibility, for openness and intellectual curiosity.

We pray for the participants, including from Sabeel and Wi'am, who will participate in an Operation 1325 (named for the UN resolution) conference in Cyprus next week addressing the disproportionate impact of armed conflict on women, and the contributions women make to conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and peace-building.

Palestinian films have recently won awards; Palestinian poets and writers have been celebrated; Palestinian theatre groups are traveling around the world to share productions. Jerusalem is this year's Arab Capital of Culture. Let us give thanks and pray for all those who, in the midst of injustice and cruel occupation, can still be imaginative and inspire the human spirit to rise above brutishness and flourish in the beauty of creativity.


This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

Each Thursday at noon in Jerusalem, Sabeel holds a Communion service that is open to the community. It is a time to join together to celebrate the Eucharist, to discuss how the scriptures apply to our lives today, and to pray for the specific needs of this region. Following the 2006 Sabeel International Conference, the Friends of Sabeel coordinators met and discussed the idea of "Waves of Prayer." The premise is that in their respective time zones, individuals and groups around the world will pray together at 12:00 on Thursdays, in solidarity with Sabeel in Jerusalem and with "Friends of Sabeel" worldwide. Starting in Australia, passing through Palestine, and on around the world we will pray for Peace with Justice and focus on specific issues each week.

Wave of Prayer for Thursday, October 15, 2009

On Monday, Israel demolished several Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem. These are the first demolitions in weeks. More than 24,000 Palestinian houses have been destroyed by Israel since 1967. We pray for the newly homeless families sleeping in tents in Jerusalem this week. Do not let us remain silent in the face of such injustice-may we raise our voices and act to end this practice.

In September, 15 Palestinians were killed and over 230 were kidnapped or arrested by Israeli forces. We pray that these figures will be recognized as individual tragedies and not merely as numbers in a long conflict. May we have the compassion to recognize some of the pain and loss in each of these stories.

Olive harvest has begun in Palestine. Many communities are unable to reach their trees due to the Separation Wall or proximity to settlements or military intervention. We pray for all the people who will take part in this important harvest in spite of the obstacles. We pray for Sabeel's young adults who will be helping at-risk communities to harvest their olives in the coming weeks.

October 20 marks the 16th anniversary of Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center. We are thankful for the generous prayers, support, and solidarity shown by thousands of people around the world as we struggle to make Christ's message of justice and peace relevant in our present day.


This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html

Friday, October 09, 2009

Ethnic Cleansing in the South Hebron Hills

Reprinted with Permission from Christian Peacemaker Teams

REFLECTION
At-Tuwani: Ethnic Cleansing

by Jan Benvie
September 2009

“We must expropriate gently the private property on the state assigned to us. We shall try to spirit the penniless population across the border” (Theodor Herzl, one of the founders of Zionism, from 'Righteous Victims'
by Benny Morris, p21-22)


From its inception there have been those within the Zionist movement who supported the expulsion of the indigenous Arab population of Palestine in order to create a Jewish state. This ethnic cleansing has been supported overtly and covertly by successive Israeli governments from the first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, to the present incumbent, Benjamin Netanyahu.

"In many parts of the country new settlement will not be possible without transferring the [Palestinian] Arab fellahin.. . . Jewish power … will also increase our possibilities to carry out the transfer on a large scale.” (Ben Gurion,1937, from 'Righteous Victims' Benny Morris, p143)


These words echo daily in my mind as I live and work in the South Hebron Hills. Here the Palestinian farmers (fellahin) have resiliently defied attempts to 'spirit' or 'transfer' them from their land.

Sometimes the 'transfer' is manifest, as in November 1999, when the
Israeli army forcibly expelled around 700 residents of this area, loading their belongings onto trucks, sealing their cave homes, destroying their cisterns and scattering their flocks. ('Means of Expulsion'
http://www.btselem.org/Download/200507_South_Mount_Hebron_Eng.pdf)
More often the 'transfer' is furtive. Since the establishment of the
settlements in this area in 1981, Palestinians have faced a constant
struggle to remain on their land. The nearby settlements and outposts
control large swathes of land, far in excess of their built up area*.
Almost daily, armed Israeli settlers, soldiers and police collude to expel Palestinian shepherds from their grazing lands.

“This is Israel,” the soldiers frequently say, gesturing to indicate all the land in sight.

Recently a Palestinian shepherd told me, “Today they tell me I can't graze here, tomorrow it will be over there.” pointing to the next valley, nearer his village. “After a while we will be forbidden to leave our homes.”
Before the arrival of the Israeli settlers the Palestinian communities of the South Hebron Hills were self-sufficient. As Herzl and others proposed, settlers have expropriated much of the valuable land. Denied the ability to grow crops or access their grazing land, the Palestinians of the area have been rendered 'penniless', with many dependent on food aid. Some villages have been abandoned because of settler violence, their populations forcibly 'transferred'. Nevertheless, despite economic hardships and Israeli settler and military violence, many villagers remain, a testament to their continuing non-violent resistance.

*See 2008 report 'Access Denied, Israeli measures to deny Palestinians access to land around settlements', by the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem.
Also 2006 report by Israeli group Peace Now, 'Breaking the Law in the West Bank', which reports that nearly 40% of the land on which Israeli settlements have been built is private Palestinian land.
Further information on how the Israeli state has taken control of
Palestinian land see B'Tselem.

Crossposted at Booman Tribune and Street Prophets

Thursday, October 08, 2009

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

Each Thursday at noon in Jerusalem, Sabeel holds a Communion service that is open to the community. It is a time to join together to celebrate the Eucharist, to discuss how the scriptures apply to our lives today, and to pray for the specific needs of this region. Following the 2006 Sabeel International Conference, the Friends of Sabeel coordinators met and discussed the idea of "Waves of Prayer." The premise is that in their respective time zones, individuals and groups around the world will pray together at 12:00 on Thursdays, in solidarity with Sabeel in Jerusalem and with "Friends of Sabeel" worldwide. Starting in Australia, passing through Palestine, and on around the world we will pray for Peace with Justice and focus on specific issues each week.

Wave of Prayer for Thursday, October 8, 2009

Thousands of Christian Zionists are visiting Jerusalem this week for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles). Christian Zionists gather every year at this time to express their support for Zionism. We pray that the people attending this year's events will be moved to recognize the need for a theology of justice rather than a theology of exclusivity.

Friends of Sabeel-United Kingdom recently partnered with community organizations, politicians from all parties, and private individuals to establish the Bristol-Gaza-Link Association. The organization will seek "to build humanitarian, cultural, educational and social links" primarily between Bristol and Gaza City. We rejoice that such initiatives are beginning to gain such widespread support and pray that other communities will be inspired to work for justice in any ways they can.

Last week, a Friends of Sabeel-North America conference was held in Washington, D.C., and another will be held this week in Cedar Falls, Iowa. In spite of the increasingly polarized nature of American discourse, we pray that these conferences will inspire more people to seek a just peace in Palestine and Israel. And may the conferences provide necessary tools for peacemakers already committed to pursuing justice.

Gracious God, heal the hearts of those who hate. In places where hate fuels vicious words and destructive actions, give us the courage to love.


This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html

Thursday, October 01, 2009

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

Each Thursday at noon in Jerusalem, Sabeel holds a Communion service that is open to the community. It is a time to join together to celebrate the Eucharist, to discuss how the scriptures apply to our lives today, and to pray for the specific needs of this region. Following the 2006 Sabeel International Conference, the Friends of Sabeel coordinators met and discussed the idea of "Waves of Prayer." The premise is that in their respective time zones, individuals and groups around the world will pray together at 12:00 on Thursdays, in solidarity with Sabeel in Jerusalem and with "Friends of Sabeel" worldwide. Starting in Australia, passing through Palestine, and on around the world we will pray for Peace with Justice and focus on specific issues each week.

Wave of Prayer for Thursday, October 1, 2009

On Sunday morning, Israeli riot police used stun grenades and batons to disperse unarmed protesters at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound after a suspected extremist Jewish group tried to enter the compound on the eve of Yom Kippur. We pray that religious sites be respected and that religious tolerance be truly honoured by Jew, Muslim and Christian in this land.

The recent meeting of the American president, Barack Obama, with Israeli and Palestinian leaders initially raised hopes about the prospect of peace. Unfortunately, the situation continues to worsen as Israeli policies continue to restrict freedoms, take land and force Palestinians out of Jerusalem. We pray that world leaders demand for Israel to respect international law and hold Israeli leaders accountable for human rights abuses.

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fuad Twal, recently stated that due to Israel's policies of "limiting movement and ignoring housing needs, taxation burdens and infringing on residency rights, Palestinian Christians do not know where to turn." In light of this reality, and other concerns in the region, Sabeel speakers are traveling and speaking in many different conferences and meetings this autumn to highlight the experience of all Palestinians. We pray for those traveling and pray that truth defeats distorted messages about the Palestinian situation.

We pray for Friends of Sabeel--UK as they begin their search for a new coordinator to replace Jennifer Oldershaw when she retires in 2010. May the committee be blessed with a multitude of good candidates. We thank God for the many coordinators and volunteers around the world who help spread Sabeel's message of justice and peace. Their hard work and dedication are vital to maintaining connections between people in Palestine/Israel and the rest of the world.


This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html