Looking for Perspective on Holy Land Issues? Here’s Help.
PEACE AND JUSTICE IN PALESTINE AND ISRAEL
EDUCATIONAL AND ADVOCACY RESOURCES FOR CONGREGATIONS
- Watch the documentary film The Law and the Prophets and host a follow-up discussion. The Law and the Prophets explains the mechanisms of control, some violent and some nonviolent, that have been perfected through decades of civil and military rule of Palestinians. The documentary also introduces us to a few of the brave and determined individuals—prophets—who struggle to expose the abuses, reveal how the system operates, and point the way toward a more just society.
- Listen to the sermon, “Christ in The Rubble,” by the Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem.
- Congregational Study Guide: Steadfast Hope: The Palestinian Quest for Just Peace is a 48-page booklet with companion videos. Steadfast Hope challenges common myths and misperceptions about the origins of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, presents a compelling snapshot of the present situation on the ground, and offers a guide to the challenges that lie ahead in the quest for peace. The study guide offers an inspiring view of activities being undertaken by Muslim, Jewish, and Christian peacemakers working for justice and reconciliation.
- Congregational Study Guide: Zionism Unsettled is a 74-page full color illustrated booklet with free online companion video episodes that addresses such questions as “What role have Zionism and Christian Zionism played in shaping attitudes and driving historical developments in the Middle East and around the world? How do Christians, Jews, and Muslims understand the competing claims to the land of Palestine and Israel? What steps can be taken to bring peace, reconciliation, and justice to the homeland that Palestinians and Israelis share?” Also available in e-book format on Kindle
- Churches for Middle East Peace provides a number of resources for education and advocacy including a 5 week study for small groups, The Search for Peace & Justice in the Holy Land, as well as bulletins, webinars and other resources. Churches for Middle East Peace was joined by expert speakers from spheres of human rights and international law for a nuanced and action-oriented conversation about the definitions, utility, and applicability of the terms ‘genocide’ and ‘ethnic cleansing’ as they relate to the current Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip. What do we mean when we use these terms? How can precise language give us leverage in calling for a permanent ceasefire? These questions and more were discussed by our panelists Watch the webinar.
- Countering Christian Zionism: A Toolkit for Activists and Local Leaders from Friends of Sabeel
- Rhetoric and Peacebuilding: Genocide, Ethnic Cleansing, and the Power of Precise Terminology Surrounding the Bombing of Gaza- December 6, 2023
- Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA) is a Christian organization seeking justice and peace in the Holy Land through education, advocacy, and nonviolent action. FOSNA promotes the vision of Sabeel Jerusalem, an ecumenical liberation theology movement founded by Palestinian Christians in the Holy Land.
- Kairos Palestine, a Christian Palestinian movement, born out of the Kairos Document, which advocates for ending the Israeli occupation and achieving a just solution to the conflict.
- Community Calls to Congress Join Churches for Middle East Peace Senior Director of Advocacy and Government Relations Kyle Cristofalo or other CMEP staff) to be briefed on what’s happening on Capitol Hill, to learn how to call your members, to ask questions about advocacy, and be encouraged in collective advocacy as we call for a Ceasefire Now!
- Mennonite Action is a movement of Mennonites mobilizing fellow Mennonites and Anabaptists across the United States and Canada to use creative nonviolent actions to demand a ceasefire, end the US and western funded occupation of Palestine, and build for a lasting peace. They are working to help build public pressure on our elected representatives to support a ceasefire. People of other faith traditions are welcome!
- The American Friends Service Committee Gaza & Israel page includes links to a number of resources and action suggestions.
- Contact your denominational Palestine-Israel Network for additional resources and possible speakers:
- ELCA Peace Not Walls Peace Not Walls has an active network of individuals and working groups across the United States that you are invited to join. To find out if there is a PNW working group in your area or for more information, email or call 773-380-2933.
- Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the PCUSA Contact: Rob Trawick
- United Church of Christ Palestine Israel Network Contact: Martha Koening Stone
- United Methodists for Kairos Response
- Upper New York (United Methodist) Conference Task Force on Peace with Justice in Palestine-Israel
- Episcopal Peace Fellowship Israel Palestine Network Contact: Tom Foster
- Disciples Palestine Israel Network
- Reformed Church in America Middle East Peacemakers Contact: Rev. John Paarlberg jaarlberg@gmail.com
- Books for deeper understanding:
- Ateek, Naim. Justice, and Only Justice–A Palestinian Theology of Liberation
- ______________. A Palestinian Theology of Liberation: The Bible, Justice and the Palestine-Israel Conflict
- Awad, Bishara & Aiken, Mercy. Yet in the Dark Streets Shining
- Bashir, Yousef. The Words of My Father
- Braverman, Mark. Fatal Embrace: Christians, Jews, and the Search for Peace in the Holy Land
- Brueggmann, Walter. Chosen? Reading the Bible Amid the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
- Carter, Jimmy. Palestine Peace Not Apartheid
- Chacour, Elias. Blood Brothers; The Dramatic Story of a Palestinian Christian Working for Peace in Israel
- _______________. We Belong to the Land
- Halper, Jeff. Decolonizing Israel, Liberating Palestine
- Isaac, Munther. The Other Side of the Wall: A Palestinian Christian Narrative of Lament and Hope
- Kaufman-Lacusta, Maxine. Refusing to be Enemies
- Khalidi, Rashid. The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonial Conquest and Resistance, 1917-2017
- Lerner, Michael. Embracing Israel/Palestine
- Levin, Geoffrey. Our Palestine Question
- Pappe, Ilan. The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine
- Peled, Miko. The General’s Son: Journey of an Israeli in Palestine
- Raheb, Mitri. I am a Palestinian Christian
- ____________ . Faith in the Face of Empire: The Bible through Palestinian Eyes
- _____________ . Decolonizing Palestine: The Land, The People, The Bible
- Shavit, Ari: My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel
- Thrall, Nathan. A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy
- Tolan, Sandy. The Lemon Tree