Take Action Page
Sabeel Kumi Now Action: Sign a Petition for Freedom of Worship
Sabeel has asked us to support The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem
and local Christian Organizations in their action to resist Israeli police restrictions.
and local Christian Organizations in their action to resist Israeli police restrictions.
We ask our international friends to support the decision of the Greek Orthodox patriarchate, by signing this petition (https://chng.it/nMpdbzX7YV) and sharing it openly. The petition reads as follows:
“We the undersigned support the decision of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem that it will not compromise its right to provide spiritual services in all Churches and Church squares. We also support its announcement that prayers will be held as usual by the Patriarchate and its priests, hoping that all believers are able to participate” |
The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, together with local Christian Organizations and community leaders, reject the restrictions on Christians gathering in and around their places of worship which the Israeli police claim will be necessary to ensure the safety of participants in this month’s Holy Fire ritual.
The Church of the Resurrection, also known, as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, is the site where Christians believe Jesus Christ was crucified, buried and resurrected on the third day. During the ceremony, the faithful witness a flame of fire that emerges from the empty tomb. The event takes place each year on the Saturday before the Orthodox Easter, which this year falls on April 24.
The Israeli police have demanded that only 1,000 people enter the Church of the Resurrection for the Holy Fire ritual, although it is customary for many thousands of worshippers to attend every year. The police has also said that only 500 people can enter the Old City and reach the courtyards of the Patriarchate and the roof overlooking the Church of the Resurrection. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate said in a statement. “Our communities have been exercising this divine right freely throughout the ages and different rulers, regardless of the circumstances that the Holy City went through in history.” ….“We affirm our strong and renewed commitment to our natural right to celebrate our holidays along with our communities, families and to participate together in prayers at our churches in the Old City of Jerusalem, including the basic right of all our communities to access the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and its vicinity during Easter festivities including Holy Light Saturday,” The Church in Jerusalem states that having access to churches in the Old City, especially during the Easter holidays "has become increasingly difficult in recent years", and "that there is no justification” for the additional restrictions put into place this year. The Patriarchate “affirms its explicit, clear and complete rejection of all restrictions," and declares openly that they are "fed up with police restrictions on freedom to worship and with its unacceptable methods of dealing with the God given rights of Christians to practice rituals and have to access their holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem.” |
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Advocacy for Justice
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Khan Al Ahmar Needs help - again.
December 3, 2020 During these challenging times, things look even grimmer for Palestine. Israel’s far-right government and settler leadership have been working restlessly and relentlessly on their colonial project, at the expense of Palestinians. This week, the Israeli High Court heard a petition filed by far-right NGO Regavim, calling for immediate demolition of Al Khan al Ahmar village and its iconic “car tyres” school. The court ruled to give the State a four-month period of delay for the demolition, but since it did not issue an injunction against the demolition orders, the bulldozers may move in at any moment. Due to this emergency, international support has been requested by the Bedouin; their lawyer, Adv. Tawfiq Jabareen, called for the international community to work to save the village and the two state solution. Jahalin Solidarity has been working on the issue widely, including with its network of powerholders and lobbyists in various capitals. For more information, read the full appeal. What you can do!
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Call for More Funding to UN Relief Agency for Palestinians
Join the Moderator in calling for increased government funding to United Nations Relief and Works Agency, following drastic US cuts. The global #DignityIsPriceless campaign seeks to uphold the rights and dignity of Palestinian refugees in light of dramatic reductions to the funding of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) recently announced by the United States ($60 million planned for this year; was over $350 million in 2017). Take Action
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Take Action: Call MP's to Protest Killings in Gaza
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, 55 Palestinians, including six children, were killed by Israeli forces during mass protests along the Gaza border on Monday (April 14). It was the deadliest day there since a devastating 2014 cross-border war. The ministry also said 1,204 Palestinians were shot and wounded, including 116 who were in serious or critical condition. It said about 1,200 others suffered other types of injuries, including from tear gas. (CBC News) TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION Call the offices of your Member of Parliament and leave messages with their staff. Go to www.unjppi.info for more information and script for calling. See UNJPPI letter to Prime Minister |
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Village Demolition
Posts about demolition of two Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank
You may have seen news reports that the entire villages of Khan Al Ahmarand Susiya in the occupied West Bank could be demolished any day now.
If the demolitions and forcible displacement of the villagers go ahead they will be in grave violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and will leave hundreds of men, women and children homeless. Israeli human rights group and United Church solidarity partner B'Tselem say that the forcible transfer of an entire Palestinian community in the occupied Palestinian territories would be "virtually unprecedented" since the Israeli military occupation began in 1967.
Final court hearings for the communities are due to be heard on September 25 (for Khan Al Ahmar) and October 1 (for Susiya) during which the judges are expected to authorise the demolitions. If so, the demolitions could take place as soon as the next day.
The communities have asked for all our efforts to help stop these demolitions
Many of you have written in the past to ask the Canadian government to take actions to stop the demolition of Khan Al Ammar and Susiya.
We ask that you write to your member of parliament and Minister Freeland again.
You can find your MP’s e-mail or postal address
by entering your postal code here.
Please see attached for sample letter and more information. Please also circulate to others.
See also www.unjppi.org and United Church Action
If the demolitions and forcible displacement of the villagers go ahead they will be in grave violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and will leave hundreds of men, women and children homeless. Israeli human rights group and United Church solidarity partner B'Tselem say that the forcible transfer of an entire Palestinian community in the occupied Palestinian territories would be "virtually unprecedented" since the Israeli military occupation began in 1967.
Final court hearings for the communities are due to be heard on September 25 (for Khan Al Ahmar) and October 1 (for Susiya) during which the judges are expected to authorise the demolitions. If so, the demolitions could take place as soon as the next day.
The communities have asked for all our efforts to help stop these demolitions
Many of you have written in the past to ask the Canadian government to take actions to stop the demolition of Khan Al Ammar and Susiya.
We ask that you write to your member of parliament and Minister Freeland again.
You can find your MP’s e-mail or postal address
by entering your postal code here.
Please see attached for sample letter and more information. Please also circulate to others.
See also www.unjppi.org and United Church Action
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Take Action Alert: Khan al Amhar
The UCC Take Action has been updated to reflect the May 25th Israeli high court decision to demolish Khan Al Ahmar and relocate Bedouins to Abu Dis sometime in June. The United Church is still calling on folks to write to Min. Freeland regarding this. A Planned War Crime
An article by Amos Gvirtz about the planned demolition of Khan al-Ahmar. Khan al-Ahmar Evacuation Postponed Until Negotiations Exhausted
The pending demolition of the village of Khan Al Ahmar has been postponed while negotiations with village residents proceed for the constructing an alternative site, hundreds of meters away from the village. Joint Statement on planned demolition of Khan al-Ahmar
2018-08-14
A joint statement by fifteen international faith-based, civil society, and human rights organizations from around the world was released today. It is calling on governments to take action to stop the precedent-setting demolition of Khan al-Ahmar and to denounce this potential war crime. The statement has been forwarded by Steve Berube on behalf of UNJPPI to Minister Freeland and other political leaders. Please share with your community and send letters of support to your elected representatives to urge the government to take action. Download Joint Statement Khan Al Ahmar under Threat of Demolition Thirteen-year-old Nasreen outside of her school at Khan al Ahmar. She hopes to become a teacher. Credit: EAPPI
Update: A hearing to appeal the demolition of Khan Al Ahmar is scheduled for March 30, 2017. Khan Al Ahmar was given only five days to object to the stop-work orders, and demolitions could occur at any point after. A court case, scheduled for February 23, could be the beginning of a much longer process. The people of Khan Al Ahmar have lived as refugees for 50 years. Although the village is located 10 minutes from Jerusalem, its households have no running water and no electricity. Now Khan Al Ahmar, situated in an area earmarked for future expansion of the Israeli settlement Ma’ale Adumim, is targeted for demolition and its people for forcible transfer. Read more... Dear Friends,
You are encouraged to take urgent action for the sake of justice for the people of Khan Al Ahmar. This short video from United Church solidarity partner B’Tselem, a human rights organization, shows Israel’s civil administration and police serving stop-work orders in this small village in the occupied West Bank on February 19. Khan Al Ahmar was given only five days to object to the stop-work orders, and demolitions could occur at any point after. A court case, scheduled for February 23, could be the beginning of a much longer process. The people of Khan Al Ahmar have lived as refugees for 50 years. Although the village is located 10 minutes from Jerusalem, its households have no running water and no electricity. Now Khan Al Ahmar, situated in an area earmarked for future expansion of the Israeli settlement Ma’ale Adumim, is targeted for demolition and its people for forcible transfer. In the film Nowhere Left to Go, an elderly resident of Khan Al Ahmar states: “We have an empty life. We have no land, no home. And now they’re threatening to transfer us—what can we do?” In 2016, 12 dwellings in this same community were demolished with 60 residents left homeless (including 35 children). See Take Action for ways of responding Posted February 2017 |
URGENT: Susiya Home Demolition Update
The Government of Israel gave notice on Jan. 10th that they intend to demolish 15 homes and structures in the Palestinian village of Susiya. It is up to the High Court to issue an injunction against demolition to stop the bulldozers now set to demolish on January 23rd. Write Minister Freeland and your MP. Susiya Home Demolition Update
Susiya’s lawyer is writing with urgency: The following Urgent Action request was shared on January 16, 2018 by Beth Baskins, Program Coordinator, Social Analysis and Congregational Engagement, The United Church of Canada / L’Église Unie du Canada. ______________________ The Government of Israel gave notice on Jan. 10th that they intend to demolish 15 homes and structures in the Palestinian village of Susiya. According to the High Court decision days earlier, this triggers a 15 day clock. Advocate Mishirqi Assad, attorney for Susiya, has until this Wednesday (January 17) to oppose. Then it is up to the High Court to issue an injunction against demolition to stop the bulldozers now set to demolish on January 23rd. We are asking you to call or write to the Canadian Government again. The impact that ordinary people who seek justice can have when they take action is clear. Demolitions have been postponed thus far. Contact your elected representatives, asking them to act urgently for the sake of justice for the people of Susiya. Write to the Hon. Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and your member of Parliament:
As noted in the Haqel press release found on Rebuilding Alliance website, Adv. Quamar Mishirqi-Assad, legal counsel to the village of Susiya and and Co-Director of Haqel, states:
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Letter to PM Trudeau and Party Leaders
re Nakba Day Commemoration
UNJPPI co-chairs have sent the following letter to PM Trudeau and other party leaders on behalf of UNJPPI, calling on the Government to issue statements in recognition of both Yom Ha'Atzmaut and Nakba Day.
Print PDF
You are invited to sign a petition by IJV to the Government in support of this appeal at this link:
http://ijvcanada.org/tell-trudeau-to-commemorate-nakba-day-too/
See the background information from IJV here:
https://madmimi.com/s/d393c7
re Nakba Day Commemoration
UNJPPI co-chairs have sent the following letter to PM Trudeau and other party leaders on behalf of UNJPPI, calling on the Government to issue statements in recognition of both Yom Ha'Atzmaut and Nakba Day.
Print PDF
You are invited to sign a petition by IJV to the Government in support of this appeal at this link:
http://ijvcanada.org/tell-trudeau-to-commemorate-nakba-day-too/
See the background information from IJV here:
https://madmimi.com/s/d393c7
Canadian Parliamentary Motion to reject BDS movement
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"The Conservatives are calling on the government to take a very public stand against supporters of the controversial Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign to impose trade and commercial embargoes against Israel." ottawacitizen.com
The following motion was tabled in the House of Commons on February 18 and was voted on Monday, February 22. “That, given Canada and Israel share a long history of friendship as well as economic and diplomatic relations, the House reject the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which promotes the demonization and delegitimization of the State of Israel, and call upon the government to condemn any and all attempts by Canadian organizations, groups or individuals to promote the BDS movement, both here at home and abroad.” The Moderator of The United Church of Canada wrote to Prime Minister Trudeau asking him to uphold democratic rights and freedoms by defeating the following motion which has been tabled in the House of Commons. |
UNJPPI Action: Moderator Cantwell called on the Canadian government to “be part of global efforts to promote a non-violent, negotiated end to the occupation and a just peace for Palestinians and Israelis.” |
URGENT ACTION - Ein ar Rashash threatened with demolition - February 10, 2016
“The sky will be my blanket and the earth my bed”; what Bedouins’ face
Posted on 02/02/2016 by EAPPI by EA Alex, Yanoun team.
“I have nowhere else to go. says Ali Z, 39 year old father and resident of Ein Ar Rashash “If my home is demolished the sky will be my blanket and the earth my bed. I must stay”
Ein ar Rashash is a Bedouin village in Nablus in the northern West Bank. This community faces imminent demolition after a decision made by the Israeli Military court on Thursday (28th January), which gave the community until 6am on the first of February to demolish their homes and evacuate the area.
The first of February just passed and the residents of the village did not carry out self-demolitions nor did the evacuate the area. They do however live with the knowledge that their homes and livelihoods could be destroyed at any moment.
Read the blog by EAPPI here.
Please take action today to halt the demolition of Ein ar Rashash Bedouin village and the forced displacement of its residents.
http://united-church.ca/getinvolved/takeaction/160205
Posted on 02/02/2016 by EAPPI by EA Alex, Yanoun team.
“I have nowhere else to go. says Ali Z, 39 year old father and resident of Ein Ar Rashash “If my home is demolished the sky will be my blanket and the earth my bed. I must stay”
Ein ar Rashash is a Bedouin village in Nablus in the northern West Bank. This community faces imminent demolition after a decision made by the Israeli Military court on Thursday (28th January), which gave the community until 6am on the first of February to demolish their homes and evacuate the area.
The first of February just passed and the residents of the village did not carry out self-demolitions nor did the evacuate the area. They do however live with the knowledge that their homes and livelihoods could be destroyed at any moment.
Read the blog by EAPPI here.
Please take action today to halt the demolition of Ein ar Rashash Bedouin village and the forced displacement of its residents.
http://united-church.ca/getinvolved/takeaction/160205
ACTION ALERT: UWO artist-researcher shot by Israeli forces in West Bank
Take Action:
A letter from UNJPPI has been sent to the Honorable Stephane Dion to ask for a response from the Government. Download the letter.
What you can do:
A letter from UNJPPI has been sent to the Honorable Stephane Dion to ask for a response from the Government. Download the letter.
What you can do:
- Write to Stephan Dion (stephane.dion@parl.gc.ca) with your own appeal. Copy to the other officials.
- Sign a petition.
Rehab Nazzal shot by Israeli Forces
At approximately 2:00 PM on Friday December 11, 2015, Rehab Nazzal was carefully walking along Al Khalil Street, a main avenue in the north of the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, towards where she usually stands with other journalists and photographers. She wanted to document a military “Skunk” truck that spays chemicals with a strong sewage smell. Nazzal, a third year PhD student in Western’s Visual Arts Department who holds a SSHRC Doctoral Scholarship to investigate the sonic effect of unmanned robotic weapons and surveillance systems on civilians, has been documenting the clashes between the Israeli occupation forces and the Palestinian protesters since the beginning of October. Her research focuses on the effect of the Israeli weapons that target human senses: sound bombs, teargas and Skunk chemicals. Rehab’s work has been exhibited nationally in Canada, as well as internationally.
She reports what happened to her on Friday: “While walking, I would take shelter every few meters to avoid the teargas and the “Skunk” army truck that was spraying sewage chemical liquid on the protesters and the surrounding neighborhoods. When I stopped by a corner of one of the shops, and while taking some photographs, I was suddenly shot in the leg. I did not realize what had happened. The last image I photographed shows a sniper hiding on the ground near the entrance to one of the city's hotels.” (see attached IMG_2397_1.jpg) When an ambulance rushed to her aid, it was attacked with teargas grenades, which suffocated the paramedics and Nazzal, creating a cloud of gas that prevented other photographers and journalists from documenting what was happening. Examination at the hospital revealed that a bullet had entered and exited her leg, fortunately without shattering any bones. Nazzal reports that she is now fine, getting the necessary medical help and will soon recover. The wound was identified as being from a .22 caliber bullet, a type of ammunition that is prohibited for live fire against unarmed civilians, according to Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem . “What shocked me was the fact that I was alone, with no clashes, no stone throwers, absolutely no one around me, and yet I was intentionally shot by a sniper. This was not an accident,” comments Nazzal. Dar Al-Kalima University, where she is lecturing while in the West Bank for her research, sent an official letter about this to the Canadian Embassy in Tel Aviv. Award-winning London-based artist Jamelie Hassan, who exhibited with Nazzal last year at a gallery in London, Ontario, comments: “Rehab’s photographic and mixed media installations are significant and powerful works that reveal the structures of occupation and on-going impact of the Israeli occupation on the daily lives of Palestinians. It is vital in this sort of research-based work for artists to be able to document with photography the reality they are studying. I am shocked by this violence against a fellow Canadian artist, and concerned not only for her safety but also for the safety of many other Palestinian journalists and media professionals who are put at risk by the reckless violence of the occupation's military." See also: CJPME website. Letter from Rev. Mitri Rehab (Dar al-Kalima University) to the Embassy of Canada,Tel Aviv. |
UNJPPI Letter to Stephane Dion
The Honourable Stéphane Dion
Minister of Foreign Affairs 750, Marcel Laurin Blvd., Suite 440 Saint-Laurent, (QC) H4M 2M4 emailed to: stephane.dion@parl.gc.ca Dear Minister Dion: We are writing concerning the shooting of Rehab Nazzal, a Canadian citizen in Bethlehem, occupied Palestinian territory, by the Israeli military last Friday. We are further concerned by a subsequent Israeli military tear gas attack on the ambulance that came to her assistance. This is in breach of the 4th Geneva Convention that guarantees the safety of medical personnel. Regarding her shooting Nazzal has stated, “What shocked me was the fact that I was alone, with no clashes, no stone throwers, absolutely no one around me, and yet I was intentionally shot by a sniper. This was not an accident.” The hospital indicated that a .22 caliber bullet, which is standard issue for the Israeli military, entered and exited Nazzal’s leg. She reports she is receiving the needed medical attention. Nazzal is a third year PhD student at the University of in Western Ontario supported by a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. She has been in the West Bank since July researching the effect of weaponry on senses — sight, sound and smell. At the time of her shooting, she was documenting an Israeli attack using skunk water. We are also concerned that Nazzal is an example of the recent escalation in violence in the Palestinian territories. This has been described by Israeli human rights group B’Tselem as, “the chilling chasm between the normative position which prohibits this type of shooting and the present reality & public mood that considers ‘shooting to kill’ valid in all cases & circumstances . . . resulting in soldiers, police and armed civilians becoming judge, jury and executioner.” We call on you to express serious concern on behalf of our government to the Prime Minister of Israel regarding this shooting of a Canadian. Further, that you ask the Israeli government to provide an immediate, independent investigation into this incident including the tear gas attack on her and the medical personnel. We look forward to your response on this matter. Sincerely, Rev. Steve Berube Rev. Marianna Harris sberube@nb.aibn.com holymom1@shaw.ca (506) 381-7869 (604) 439-1678 Co-chairs, United Network for Just Peace in Palestine-Israel (UNJPPI) cc Hon. Rona Ambrose rona.ambrose@parl.gc.ca Hon. Thomas Mulcair thomas.mulcair@parl.gc.ca Hon. Chrystia Freeland Chrystia.Freeland@parl.gc.ca Elizabeth May Elizabeth.May@parl.gc.ca Rehab Nazzal renazzal@gmail.com Vivian Bercovici taviv.consular@international.gc.ca Katherine Verrier-Fréchette rmlah@international.gc.ca |