Archived News
Olive harvest initiative
With the annual olive harvest season commencing, the World Council of Churches launches a global initiative to highlight the spiritual, economic and cultural importance of the olive harvest for Palestinian communities, and witnessing to the impact of the occupation. More Taste of Palestine
Two events with Palestinian presenters. Cooking, eating and traditional food under Occupation. Oct 13 & Nov 2. Palestine Network, Shining Waters Discussion Forum
Join us to learn more about proposals related to Israel and Palestine brought forward by Palestine Network, Shining Waters. Tues. Nov. 9 from 7:00 - 8:00 via Zoom. US Middle East Peace Plan
Visit this link to read about the many responses to the American Peace Plan. Anglican Church in Southern Africa
adopts BDS boycott of Israel Southern African provincial synod of the Anglican Church (ACSA) that has adopted the BDS boycott of Israel. ACSA represents Anglican Christian communities in southern African countries including South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique and Angola. In a motion, now a binding resolution, titled "Time to act: Solidarity with Palestine” the church specifcally calls for support of the "well-directed Boycott, Divestment and Sanction (BDS) actions against the Israeli state until they end their occupation of Palestine”. Read more... United Methodist General Conference Calls on Israel to End Unjust Practices Toward Palestinians
May 20, 2016 – Despite fierce opposition, which included calls to delegates from Israeli ambassadors and consulates, the United Methodist General Conference passed strong measures calling for an end to Israel’s unjust practices toward Palestinians. Read... Delegates at Mennonite Church Canada Assembly affirm non-violent solutions to ongoing injustice in Israel-Palestine.
A letter of support from UNJPPI was sent to the Mennonite Church Canada with congratulations for a resolution "seeking non-violent solutions to injustices in Israel-Palestine." The Iona Community has published a Position Statement on Israel/Palestine.
This is a response to the call of Palestinian Christians in the 2009 Kairos Palestine document, and timed to mark the upcoming centenary of the Balfour Declaration. Read more on Church Action Page Pax Christi: Call for a new Israeli-Palestinian peace process
The International Catholic Peace Movement, Pax Christi, has called for "a renewed commitment to end the violence and to reach a just and sustainable solution guaranteeing the fundamental rights of both Israelis and Palestinians in accordance with international law." - Read more WCC general secretary meets with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas
On 26 February, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas formally received the general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit for a meeting to discuss just peace in Palestine and Israel. Abbas is scheduled for a speech at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, in the beginning of the week. The Palestinian president expressed to the WCC general secretary the importance of the activities of the WCC in the Holy Land in accompanying Christians and local churches. Abbas said he calls upon local and foreign churches to pay attention to the message of Palestinian Christians and to encourage all nonviolent acts to bring peace and justice to Palestine. Israeli and U.S. Groups sued for $34.5 Billion for funding construction of Israeli settlements
A group of Palestinians and Palestinian-Americans who have been victims of Israeli settlement construction filed a lawsuit this week to demand financial compensation from some of the companies, individuals and organizations responsible for funding the construction. Read more... Don’t Shoot the Messenger, Israel
y BAN KI-MOON JAN. 31, 2016 United Nations — IN Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, 2016 has begun much as 2015 ended — with unacceptable levels of violence and a polarized public discourse. That polarization showed itself in the halls of the United Nations last week when I pointed out a simple truth: History proves that people will always resist occupation. Some sought to shoot the messenger — twisting my words into a misguided justification for violence. The stabbings, vehicle rammings and other attacks by Palestinians targeting Israeli civilians are reprehensible. So, too, are the incitement of violence and the glorification of killers. Read more... |
The House Canada Built
Read a photo report of the Palestinian house that was re-built by ICAHD with Canadian support . 
Survey on Canadian Attitudes on Israel-Palestine.
A survey on Canadian attitudes on Israel-Palestine that CJPME co-sponsored with Independent Jewish Voices Canada show that "far more Canadians have a negative view of the Israeli government than have a positive view." Media Watch Campaign
Over the last few months, individuals have joined together to monitor the Canadian media through UNJPPI’s Media Watch Campaign. More accurate and fair reporting about the issues in Palestine-Israel is essential to public understanding. By naming the concerns, we show the media we are paying attention and holding them accountable for what they report. Read more... Ontario Government Anti-Racism Directorate 2016/17 Consultation
January 31, 2017 Submission to the Honourable Michael Coteau, Minister Responsible for Anti-Racism The Ontario Anti-Racism Directorate (ARD) has been established to address racism in all its forms, with its key focus on preventing systemic racism in Ontario. The mandate includes consideration of all the government’s policy, legislation, programs and services through an anti-racism lens. In the contest of our full support for the struggles of Indigenous peoples against racism and colonialism and of Black Lives Matter against anti-Black racism and police violence and harassment against people in the black and other communities, and all other struggles against racism, we wish to also direct your attention to the importance of solidarity with the Palestinian people as part of the struggle against racism. Download and read the full submission 
For more news about the work of the Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum (PIEF) see https://pief.oikoumene.org/en
For information more on World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel (WWPPI) see http://pief.oikoumene.org/en/world-week-for-peace World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/335983429786866/ For more information on the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme for Palestine Israel see https://www.eappi.org/en For information on Kairos Palestine see http://www.kairospalestine.ps/ Palestinians call on UN to investigate "Israeli crimes"
The cabinet of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) government on Thursday called on the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to probe "the Israeli crimes" in Palestinian territories. The government also called on the UN Security Council and all UN agencies as well as the Arab, Islamic and non-aligned countries "to bear the responsibility and act urgently to protect the Palestinian people." http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-10/08/c_134693935.htm Two Voices of Urgency
Mazin Qumsiyeh shares his analysis of increased violence in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Sara Roy, at the James Graff Memorial Lecture, outlined the on-going crisis in Gaza. |
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Commentary: "Robert Fulford: Rise of anti-BDS movement"
A response to a published article in the National Post. New Lenten Resource
Seven Weeks for Water 2016 The Ecumenical Water Network invites you to use this season of Lent to reflect on water. Since 2008, the EWN has been providing weekly theological reflections and other resources on water for the seven weeks of Lent and for World Water Day on 22 March. See Lenten Resources on this website. 
Kairos Palestine Christmas Alert 2015
Kairos Palestine has published an Advent Resource. Dr. Hind Khoury , Kairos Palestine General Secretary, introduces the resource. You may read the resource on-line here or from the Kairos Palestine website. BDS Wave of Solidarity
Starting this weekend October 16-18 Solidarity with the Palestinian popular resistance! Boycott Israel now! #SolidarityWaveBDS Starting this weekend, join an international wave of action in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle. People of conscience who want to stand with the Palestinian struggle are urged to take action and develop Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions efforts. This would strongly convey to Palestinians that they are not alone. Read the full callout here. - See more at: http://www.bdsmovement.net/solidarity-wave#sthash.URiREPFT.dpuf Interview with Dale
Dale Hildebrand, staff coordinator for UNJPPI, was interviewed by CFMU Radio at McMaster University in Hamilton early in November. The interview was to kick-off Round 3 of the Hamilton-area BDS campaign. Click here to listen to the interview for an excellent description of the reason for the Unsettling Goods Campaign. |
Please Jo, call for equal rights and no more occupation
Michael Fantauzzo, Mondweiss, challenges J. K. Rowling for opposing the cultural boycott of Israel. Dear Jo, Growing up as a millennial, I was as inspired as everyone by your books. I spent a lot of time immersed in your rich universe, about which I could go on and on. Equally inspiring is the story of how you scribbled Harry Potter’s life onto napkins in a warm Edinburgh cafe as you struggled to pay for heating and relied on government benefits to raise your daughter. Rather than let your newfound wealth shield you from empathy, you’ve been outspoken about your duty to pay tax to support the state institutions that kept you alive, for which I commend you. For someone with vast economic power and fame to support social justice is noble. Read the full commentary on Mondoweiss 'Gaza: New Dynamics and Future Prospects'
A summary of Dr. Sara Roy's lecture - by Kathy Bergen In so many ways Gaza is at its lowest point both economically and socially. Dr. Sara Roy, in her lecture a fortnight ago, argued that Israel’s war in 2014 set in motion an unparalleled dynamic of disintegration. As a result, the majority of Gazans are now dependent on foreign aid for their existence, and more devoid of hope than ever before. Read more... 
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