The Nakba: Memory, Reality and Beyond
2008
The Seventh International Conference held in November 2008 at the Golden Crown, Nazareth, Notre Dame Conference Center, Jerusalem and Al Feneiq Center, Bethlehem was titled The Nakba, Memory, Reality, and Beyond.
The Agenda provides an outline of the subjects covered under the broad headings of “Time to Mourn”, “A Time to Work”, “A Time to Worship”, “Time to Speak”, “A Time to Act” and a “Time for Peace”.
The conference papers outlined the Nakba, the effects still being felt and the hope and struggle for a future of justice and peace.
At the end of the conference, a statement was issued:
Therefore, we call upon all our churches and governments:
- to work with renewed energy for an end to this endlessly spreading military occupation;
- to insist on full implementation of all United Nations resolutions and all human rights requirements in international law which pertain to
Israel’s withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territories and the right of return for Palestinian refugees;
- to insist on greater freedom of movement and more humane conditions in the occupied territories;
- to insist that Israel accord equal rights to all its citizens, Jewish and Palestinian alike;
- to divest themselves from investments in companies that enable the occupation;
- to insist that Israel lift its ongoing siege and collective punishments which prevent the free movement of people, goods and humanitarian aid in and out of Gaza; and finally
- to support the work of Sabeel in its efforts to build bridges of nonviolence between people in all the monotheistic religions represented in the region.
