Sabeel Wave of Prayer: Week of Sept. 11, 2017

At the beginning of this school year, over two thousand classrooms are lacking for Palestinian students in Israeli occupied east Jerusalem. The Jerusalem Municipality and state authorities have failed to provide the lacking classrooms as ordered by an Israeli High Court ruling five years ago. The Jerusalem municipality allocates most of its funds to its Jewish residents and deprives the Palestinian community from its basic needs.

Lord, our Palestinian students are being taught about discrimination, by the Israeli government, outside the classrooms. We pray that the day will come when Israel will end its ugly occupation and Palestinians will gain back their freedom. Lord in your mercy…
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On Wednesday September 6th, 2017, the Supreme Court held a hearing regarding the secret procedures governing the work of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission, despite the opposition of the Israeli state. The Supreme Court decision came following an appeal representing 108 petitioners. The petitioners demanded the establishment of legislation to regulate operations of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission, its roles, authority, form of organization and management, and to require monitoring of its activities and facilities.

Lord, we give thanks for the people of courage who challenge the Israeli State and its nuclear program. We pray for a world free from nuclear weapons and reactors. May the court hearing bring transparency and raise awareness to the Israeli public about the dangers of their government’s nuclear program. Lord in your mercy…

On Monday September 4th, Palestinian security forces detained Issa Amro, a prominent human rights activist. Issa’s arrest came a day after he posted comments on his Facebook criticizing Palestinian forces for arresting a journalist. Issa was released from prison on Sunday September 10th, 2017.

Lord, we pray for all prisoners, and especially the prisoners of freedom of speech. Dear God, may the people of goodwill work for justice for all people regardless of their color, religion or nationality and especially regardless of who their oppressors are. Lord in your mercy…

Activists and residents of the village of Jubbet al-Dhib in the southern occupied West Bank district of Bethlehem rebuilt their school in one night. The school was destroyed by Israeli forces two weeks ago.

Lord, we give thanks for the courage and commitment of the activists who defied the Israeli orders and rebuilt the school. May the stubborn Israeli state come to realize that the Palestinian people demand the right to education. God, give us strength to build when our enemy destroys, grant us power to plant when our enemy uproots, and grant us the ability to love when our enemy spreads hate. Lord in your mercy…

Israeli police evicted a Palestinian family from their East Jerusalem home. The Shamasnehs vacated the house, where they had lived for 53 years, after Israeli courts ruled in favor of the alleged heir of its original Jewish owners pre 1948. The case was brought by the Israel Land Fund, a right-wing non-governmental organization that advocates, for ideological reasons, the takeover of Palestinian land.

Lord, since 1948, Palestinian families continue to become homeless due to religious extremism and Zionist ideology. We pray for justice to the family of Shamasneh, and for all Palestinian families that lost their homes by force, deception or through legal abuse. Lord in your mercy…

We join the World Council of Churches in praying for the countries of Ghana and Nigeria. Lord, in your mercy…