Sabeel Christmas Message 2018

“Do not be afraid, for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people…” (Luke 2:10)

As we look back on 2018, we see that it has been a very difficult year in Palestine. It has been another year in which refugees were denied rights, and another year of occupation in Gaza, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. There has been continued Jewish settler violence, home demolitions, arbitrary detention and arrests, deprivation of natural resources, and restriction of movement.

While these are not new measures of occupation, the situation has been exacerbated by several political decisions. These include the ratification of the Nation State Law by the Israeli Parliament, the American decision to move their embassy to Jerusalem, and the defunding of UN operations designed to help Palestinian refugees. Read more

Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!

Rev. Naim Ateek, Chair of Sabeel Board
Jerusalem December 6, 2018