Sabeel Wave of Prayer: Week of June 28, 2021

The Kumi Now Online gathering considered Israel as a nuclear power on Tuesday, the 29th of June. On the 1st of July, 1968 the Treaty for the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons was signed by 190 countries from around the world, but not by Israel. It still refuses to admit to its nuclear capabilities and has never allowed the International Atomic Energy Agency to supervise its production of nuclear material in the Dimona Reactor in the Negev.

Next week will be the relaunch of Kumi Now as we reach the halfway mark in the year.

• Lord, we pray that all countries will acknowledge their responsibility to curb the proliferation of nuclear weapons and submit to the international supervision of how they are handling such dangerous materials. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

On Wednesday, the 9th of June, Israeli security forces made an early morning raid on the headquarters of the Health Works Committees, (HWC) in Al-Bireh, near Ramallah. The Israeli forces delivered a military order closing the office with immediate effect. The HWC is one of the main healthcare providers reaching the most deprived families in the occupied West Bank.

• Lord, we pray for all those who will be seriously affected by the closure of the HWC headquarters, particularly at this time of pandemic when so many are suffering hardship. We pray that the Israeli authorities will stop their attacks on Palestinian civil organizations and start to meet their responsibility as the occupying power to care for the health and well-being of those living in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

The Vermont State Labor Council has recently announced that it is joining the alliance of Labor for Palestine, (LFP). The LFP was first launched in 2004 seeking an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine. There are now 15 American Labor bodies supporting the alliance.

• Lord, we pray that more and more small groups will link up to support international organizations working to bring about justice and equality for all who live in Israel/ Palestine. We pray that there will be a groundswell of support to challenge the Israeli occupation. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

On Monday, the 21st of June and Tuesday, the 22nd of June, hundreds of settlers, accompanied by the Israeli security forces, went into the Sheikh Jarrah area of occupied East Jerusalem and started attacking the residents. In one incident a settler attacked four young Palestinian girls, (aged 12-14 years) using pepper spray which caused facial burns.

The girls had been practicing a Dabke dance to perform at a cultural event in their neighborhood.

• Lord, we see increasing levels of settler violence and vandalism throughout the West Bank. We pray for an end to this racial hatred and an end to the complicity of the Israeli authorities who turn a blind eye to such lawlessness. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

On Monday, the 21st of June, a Palestinian lawyer, Medhat Thiba, succeeded in obtaining an Israeli court ruling to prevent the demolition of sixteen Palestinian commercial buildings in the town of Hizma, to the northeast of Jerusalem. The Regavim Settlement Association had been filing complaints about these commercial businesses for the past two years, with a view to enforcing their demolition.

• Lord, we pray for an end to use of the Israeli court system by settler associations to undermine Palestinian businesses and communities to try and force them to leave. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

On Wednesday, Sabeel Nazareth office organized the first in-person meeting for 35 women in Nazareth since the pandemic. The meeting was a time of fellowship and debriefing.

• Lord, we give thanks that the group of women in Nazareth were able to enjoy fellowship at the Sabeel office. We pray that the bonds of friendship and mutual support will have been strengthened after such a challenging time during the pandemic. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

• Lord , we also bring before you the Friends of Sabeel North America, (FOSNA), as they appoint a new Executive Director. We pray that you would raise up a person with the vision, faith and courage to take up this position. Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayer

A coalition of charities have sent a petition to Letitia James, New York State Attorney General to ask her to investigate the charitable status of the Hebron Fund, a US-based organization. The Hebron Fund is using tax-deductible donations to support military and para-military violence against Palestinians living in Hebron.

• Lord Jesus, help us to walk as children of light. We pray for all those who take responsibility for exposing works of darkness. We pray that any misuse of donations to cause harm to others will be brought to light and proscribed. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

On Thursday morning, June 24th, Nizar Banat was in bed in his home in Dura in southern Hebron, when two dozen Palestinian Authority officers broke into his home and started beating him, according to his family. He was dragged away screaming and later was announced dead. After conducting an autopsy, a Palestinian rights group said Banat took blows to the head, adding that wounds indicated “an unnatural death”. Banat, 43, intended to run in parliamentary elections before they were cancelled earlier this year. He was an out-spoken critic of the Palestinian Authority, and often called on Western nations to cut off aid to the PA because of its growing authoritarianism and human rights violations.

• Lord, we pray for the family of Banat as they mourn the loss of Nizar. We pray for a transparent investigation into the death of Nizar and that justice prevails. Our hearts ache for the human rights violations that our people continue to suffer. Lord in your mercy…hear out prayer.
• We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Kenya and Tanzania. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.