Justice and Peace look at ‘hope for Palestine and Israel’

The National Justice and Peace Network has been urged to make Palestine and Israel a priority for the coming year and for its “Just Politics” annual conference 19-21 July to include “political strategies”on the issue.

Pat Devlin, who has been an ecumenical accompanier in the region, gave a “challenging” presentation at a webinar on 27 June to more than 30 Justice and Peace members from around England and Wales, titled, “Hope for Palestine and Israel?” 

She said, “It is time for the Church here in the UK to move from its shallow diplomacy and neutrality into prophetic peacemaking and costly solidarity.” This would mean, she suggested, boycotting certain companies, supporting divestment and joining parliamentary lobbies and solidarity demonstrations.

Also, she urged support for initiatives between Israelis and Palestinians and interfaith partnerships. She called for “clearer and more proactive leadership” on the issue from bishops.

During group discussions, existing initiatives in dioceses were reported, such as a group in Birmingham that runs a Palestinian stall every month at the local farmers’ market. Activists in Hexham and Newcastle have been involved in a peace pilgrimage, marches in Durham and a weekly vigil “witnessing to a desire for peace in Israel and Palestine” at Hexham Abbey. Pax Christi Merseyside has joined Palestinian solidarity marches.

Westminster Justice and Peace had a Holy Land round-table meeting last Saturday to discuss further action.

Colette Joyce, co-ordinator of the Justice and Peace Commission, said, “The plight of Palestinian civilians is horrendous and many people in the diocese have been moved to contact the Justice and Peace Commission wanting to show their solidarity in a shared response as Catholics.”

Since January, the commission has had a dedicated mailing list and convened four round-table meetings for discussion and mutual encouragement to take practical action, including welcoming the Anglican rector of Ramallah, Revd Fadi Diab, during his recent visit to London. Joyce told The Tablet: “Acknowledging the complexities of the situation and the impact the conflict on relationships at home, we are committed to reaching out to both Jewish and Muslim communities locally, attending rallies, promoting prayer for peace and justice in the Holy Land, encouraging parishes to respond, and supporting Christians in the Holy Land. What is happening in Gaza and the West Bank is the moral test of our times for anyone concerned for world peace and justice and we are trying to make our concern as active as we can. At the same time, we join calls for the immediate release of all hostages kept by Hamas, without which no peaceful resolution will be found.”

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