ISRAEL AND THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The churches can do more
The Kairos Palestine movement is rooted in a theological document, Moment of Truth, written collectively in 2009 by clergy, church leaders and human rights activists. It created a unified Christian word to the world on the situation of Palestinian Christians, calling on them to remain hopeful and resilient, and to work for justice and peace.
Kairos Palestine founder, Patriarch Emeritus Michel Sabbah, was the first Palestinian to become the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. Kairos Palestine board members are church leaders from all denominations in Palestine: Greek Orthodox, Evangelical Lutheran, Catholic, Anglican. Moment of Truth addresses individuals, the churches and the international community, challenging them to speak up and side with the
oppressed.This has influenced many civic and faith-based movements to stand in solidarity with Palestinians. We name the occupation as a sin against God and humanity: many churches now base their positions on our theological statement. We need the churches internationally to speak up and use their influence and authority
to make governments act. Palestinian Christians are targeted along with Muslims, our lands are taken, we are attacked, monitored, restricted.
Rays of hope
In September I was part of the Kairos Palestine delegation to meet the Archbishop of Canterbury. We briefed him on the West Bank situation, land taken from families, political prisoners, settlement expansion, settler violence, restrictions on movement, raids, arbitrary detention.
The Archbishop later issued a statement, praying for us, and urging governments to impose a ceasefire and follow the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice to end the illegal occupation in the Occupied Territories. This was a huge change in the position of the Church of England. We feel supported when a church endorses our calls, names Israel’s apartheid, hears our voices. It acknowledges our existence and our work. These are small rays of hope. Mays Nassar is a project officer with Kairos Palestine
WINTER 2024 AMNESTY 21
PHOTO
Palestinians and foreign activists take cover from teargas during a demonstration against the Israeli confiscation of land in Beit Jala, August 2024.
© Mamoun Wazwaz/ Xinhua/Alamy
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