JAI: Eye on Palestine–June 2014

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

Newsletter from the Joint Advocacy Initiative of the YWCA and YMCA in #Palesitne

June 5: Naksa Day

This day commemorates the forced transfer again of Palestinian people that accompanied Israel’s victory in 1967 of the Six-Day War. As a result of the war, Israel took control of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights, and East Jerusalem. Breaking international law, UN SCR 242, Israel was supposed to have withdrawn from the territories it acquired as a result of this war.

This is the 47^th year we remember the tragedy of Al Naksa not only as an event that happened like the Nakba in 1948 but as a reminder that the illegal military occupation of the State of Palestine must end. We at JAI invite you to join us in commemorating this day by not only remembering those who died or lost their lands or homes but by joining us in actively resisting the longest occupation in history. We invite you to resist by praying and acting for peace and divesting from all that makes for war.

Kerry to Israel: U.S. intends to work with new Palestinian government

State Department spokeswoman says U.S. to continue disbursing aid to the PA but will monitor its policies…Psaki said that the new Fatah-Hamas government is an interim technocratic government and added that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stressed that the new government will respect the terms of the Quartet – recognize Israel, reject terror, and honor previously signed agreements. She said the U.S. will continue to disburse aid to the Palestinian Authority but will monitor its policies. Read more…

Palestinian Christians protest draft in Tel Aviv as passersby tell them to die or emigrate

Protest by Palestinians waving Palestinians flags in the heart of Tel Aviv: last Thursday’s demonstration was a rare event, an alternative reality that interposed itself into the convenient daily routine of the urban crowd, leaving some in shock, some wondering, and others in hatred and anger. “Die, die you Arabs!” shouts one passer-by towards the demonstrators, a mix of politicians and younger activists mainly from the National Democratic Assembly (NDA)[1], an Arab political party in Israel.
The reason for the protest in front of Israel’s Ministry of Defense was the growing effort by the state – which is defined as explicitly Jewish – to compel Christian Arabs in Israel serve in the Israeli army, which is occupying Palestinian territories. Read more…

G4S probed by UK watchdog over West Bank security contract

A UK Government-funded watchdog will look at whether the human rights of Palestinians have been breached by G4S.

G4S is being investigated by a UK Government-funded watchdog over the supply of security equipment to the West Bank and Israel.
The National Contact Point (NCP), a part of the Department for Business, said it had “accepted issues for further examination” into the British company’s actions in the area.
G4S supplies and services security and screening equipment to military checkpoints, prisons and detention centres in occupied Palestinian territories. Following a complaint by Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights (LPHR), the NCP will look at whether the human rights of Palestinians have been breached by G4S. Read more…

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