Sabeel Wave of Prayer
22.10.20

The Kumi Now Online gatherings have finished for the time being. The Kumi team is now working on a revision and updating of the Kumi booklet. All the online sessions can still be accessed at : https://www.youtube.com/kuminow

•    Lord, we are thankful for all the talks hosted by the Kumi team and pray they may have inspired many to continue working for peace and justice in Israel/Palestine. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

The Israeli government gave its approval to the building of 2166 new settler homes in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, the 14th of October. This move comes less than a month after the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed normalization agreements with Israel. In return, Israel had pledged to hold back on its plans to annex large areas of the West Bank.

•    Oh Lord, our hearts break as we hear that the Israeli government is annexing more land in the occupied West Bank for settler homes. We pray that governments and lawmakers around the world will speak out against this illegal annexation. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

On Monday, the 12th of October, the Israeli High Court rejected a petition to ban arms sales to Azerbaijan. The background to the Israeli arms sales relates to complex geopolitics involving Iran, which borders Azerbaijan.

•    Lord, we pray for an end to the hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We pray too for the curtailment of arms sales by the Israeli government. Lord in your mercy…hear our prayers.

The Norwegian Refugee Council is deeply concerned by the Israeli military’s planned demolition of a European funded Palestinian primary school in Ras At-Tin, a herding community in the central area of the West Bank. If the school is destroyed fifty young pupils will have to walk five kilometres to reach another school in the next village of Al- Mughayyer.

•    Lord, we pray that the demolition order on the school at Ras At-Tin will not be enforced by the Israeli authorities. We pray that they will fulfill their duty to ensure the children in this occupied area have access to education and other basic services. Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayers.

Maher al-Akhras has now been on hunger strike over his administrative detention for over eighty days. On Wednesday, the 14th of October dozens of Palestinians demonstrated outside Kaplan hospital where he is being treated, demanding his release.  

•    Lord, we pray for the life of Maher and for the hundreds of other Palestinians held indefinitely in administrative detention by the Israeli authorities. We pray that the Israeli government will ‘keep justice and do righteousness’ (Is.56:1) by granting all those living in Israel/ Palestine a fair trial. Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayers.

On Monday, the12th of October, the newly appointed Commissioner General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini spoke out about the despair experienced by Palestinian refugees across Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Gaza. He spoke of  how some people living in Gaza are now reduced to sifting  through garbage to find food scraps for their families at this time of pandemic.

•    Lord, we pray that countries across the world will remember the needs of refugees and continue to support the work of UNRWA and other organizations working to alleviate hunger and hopelessness. Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayers.

•    We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the Caribbean, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico,

Saint Maarten, St Kitts-Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Sabeel Wave of Prayer 15.10.20

On Tuesday the 13^th of October the Kumi Now Initiative hosted speakers from the Joint Action Initiative (JAI) to talk about the importance of the olive harvest to Palestinian society.

• Lord ,we are thankful for the olive harvest and we pray that Palestinian farmers may safely gather their harvest, without attack or hindrance from the Israeli army or settlers. We thank you for the work of JAI and the way they try to support the livelihoods of the Palestinian farmers. Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayers.

Coronavirus testing data from Israel suggests there has been a slowdown in the country’s outbreak, three weeks after  a second nationwide lockdown was imposed. In recent weeks the country has experienced infection and mortality rates that have been among the highest in the world, relative to population size.

• Lord, we pray that the lockdown in Israel will help to diminish the sudden peak in the numbers of people infected with COVID-19 in Israel. We also pray for those who continue to be affected by the rise in cases in the West Bank and Gaza. We pray for wisdom for all those in authority around the world  to know how best to limit the numbers of those being infected and suffering with coronavirus. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers

On Thursday, the 8th of October, an Israeli court ordered the demolition of a new Palestinian school in the occupied West Bank. The court ruled that the Ras al-Tenneen School in eastern Ramallah was built without a permit. Construction permits are rarely granted by the Israeli authorities to Palestinians in the occupied Territories. The Palestinian Education Ministry built the school and fifty children were already enrolled there.

• Lord of all mercy and grace, you abound in steadfast love and are a fortress and refuge to those in distress, (from Psalm 59:16). We pray that you would show compassion to the children deprived of schools and homes in Palestine. We pray for an end to this vicious cycle of denial of permits and demolitions authorised by the Israeli authorities. Lord in your mercy… hear our prayers.

In response to the legal action taken by Adalah, the Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, the Israeli authorities have confirmed that, due to the pandemic, there will be a  temporary freeze on the demolition of Palestinian homes across the country from the 1st of October. Israel has demolished 112 Palestinian buildings since the beginning of 2020, which has left 261 Palestinians homeless.

• Lord, we pray that the demolition of the homes of Palestinians by the Israeli authorities will never resume. We pray that Palestinians living in the occupied Territories will be allowed to build and extend their homes without fear of criminalisation or demolition. Lord, in your mercy.. hear our prayers

On Wednesday, the 7th of October, the wife of Maher al-Akhras started a hunger strike in solidarity with her husband. Maher has been on hunger strike for seventy days and when his health deteriorated he was transferred to the Kaplan Medical Centre. He was arrested on the 27th of July and was sentenced to administrative detention without charge or trial. Israeli courts can renew charges of administrative detention at intervals ranging between three and six months based on a claim of undisclosed evidence. This policy violates international law and forces Palestinian detainees to resort to extreme measures, like hunger strikes, to protest.

• Lord, we pray for Maher and his wife and their family of six children. We pray that the administrative detention order against Maher will be cancelled. We pray that the Israeli courts will abandon the policy of imposing administrative detention orders on Palestinians and depriving them of a fair trial. Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayers.

An all-day U.K. conference, hosted by the Balfour Project, will be held online on the 27th of October. The conference is entitled, ‘Jerusalem: From Past Divisions to a Shared Future’.

A number of eminent historians, politicians and faith leaders will be speaking.

• Lord, we pray for those involved with the Balfour Project conference as they prepare to speak about the future of the holy city of Jerusalem. We pray that they may weigh their words carefully, with a view to helping to build a righteous and peaceable future for this city. Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayers.

• We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayers.

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

Thursday, 8^th October 2020

On Tuesday, the 6th of October, the Kumi Now Online Initiative hosted a talk by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, (PCHR). This human rights group was first set up in Gaza in 1995 by Palestinian lawyers and activists, in response to the abuses suffered by Palestinians under Israeli military occupation.

•     Lord, we thank you for the work to protect human rights carried out by the PCHR. We continue to pray for an end to the siege and blockade of Gaza and an end to the Israeli military occupation which stifles life in the occupied Palestinian Territories. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Israel has extended its nationwide lockdown after more than 9,000 new coronavirus cases were confirmed on one day at the end of September. In Palestine there have been 426 new cases confirmed recently.

• Dear Lord, we pray for the grave situation in Israel/Palestine with the high rise in the numbers of coronavirus cases and the pressure this will put on the health facilities. We pray for wisdom for those in authority in the decisions they make to try and curb this sudden rise in infections. We pray they will help to protect the population from even higher infection levels. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Following peace talks in Turkey last week, opposing factions in Palestine have agreed to hold elections within the next six months. This is an attempt to end more than a decade of strife between Fatah, which governs the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas, the ruling party in Gaza. The decision comes shortly after the Israeli normalisation deals with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

•     Lord, we pray for the Palestinians that they may come together in a unified stance to enable their people to hold elections and come to consensus decisions. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

In an open letter more than a thousand academics and lawyers have called on government and academic institutions around the world to stop subjecting those who call for justice for Palestine to censorship and reprisals. An offer of employment from the University of Toronto to the international lawyer, Dr Valentina Azarova, was withdrawn when a judge objected to her research into Israeli occupation policies. The University of Toronto denies any official offer of employment was ever made. The letter cites this as just one example of how any criticism of the Israeli government is now being suppressed, at a time when their oppression of Palestinians is being intensified.

•     Lord Jesus, you ask us to put away falsehood and ask us to ‘speak the truth with our neighbour for we are members of one another’ (Eph. 4:25). We pray that academics and lawmakers around the world will have the courage to continue speaking truth to the powerful and will not be silenced. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

On Friday, the 25th of September, Egyptian naval forces shot and killed two Palestinian fishermen and wounded and arrested a third man. The fishermen were all brothers from Deir Al-Balah, a city in central Gaza.

•     Lord, we pray for the families of the fishermen as they grieve their loss and pray for the third brother in custody in Egypt. So many fishermen from Gaza struggle to provide for their families in a zone imposed by Israel of just a few nautical miles, where the fish stocks are depleted. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

•     We pray for the family of Dana Hasan, a healthy twenty-six-year-old woman who suffered a heart attack and died. We remember too her friends in the Ramallah Christian Catholic Youth Group who have lost two members so suddenly in the month of September. Lord, you are our rock of refuge, please hold Dana’s family and her young friends fast with your steadfast love. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

• We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

1^st October 2020

The Kumi Now Initiative hosted a speaker for the Tent of Nations project on the 29th of September to discuss the discrimination suffered by Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank over the lack of building permits issued by the Israeli authorities. The Tent of Nations is an educational and environmentally friendly farm which stretches over a hundred acres south west of Bethlehem. It is run by Daoud Nassar and his family. He is a Palestinian Christian and is committed to creative and non-violent resistance to all attempts from the Israeli authorities and illegal settlers to strip him of his land and resources.

•    Dear Lord, we pray for Daoud Nassar and his family particularly at this time when he has come under violent attacks from nearby communities who have damaged his crops and his property. We pray that Daoud will be able recover from these serious attacks and will continue to resist attempts to confiscate his land. We pray he will receive support and encouragement from his many friends in Israel/Palestine and abroad, even when they are unable to visit in person due to the pandemic. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

A BBC enquiry has discovered that, Roman Abramovich, the Russian owner of Chelsea Football Club, controls companies which have donated $100 million to Elad, an Israeli settler organisation. Elad has been confiscating Palestinian property and buying up homes in East Jerusalem to re-house 450 Jewish settlers in a predominately Palestinian neighbourhood. Any settler group activity in occupied East Jerusalem is a breach of international law. While in Hebron, in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli authorities are planning to confiscate 3,800 dunams,(almost 1000 acres), of Palestinian land in seventeen different locations around the city.

•    Omniscient God, you see everything that happens on the earth and you listen out for the cries of the poor and the oppressed. You see when the rich and powerful oppress the poor, as your prophet Micah said: ‘ They covet fields and seize them and houses and take them away, they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance’ ( Micah 2:2). We pray for an end to the seizure of Palestinian homes and land by the Israeli authorities and settlers. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

On Sunday, the 20th of September, the Honduran President, Juan Orlando Hernandez announced his intention to move his embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Currently Israel does not have an embassy in Honduras, but opened up a diplomatic mission there last month.

•    Lord, we pray for the city of Jerusalem. We pray that countries across the world will continue to abide by international law and not bow to political expediency. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

The olive harvest is fast approaching in Palestine. This time was once a joyous celebration of the fruit of the land. For many Palestinian farmers living under occupation it is now a time of stress as they face increasing violence from illegal settlers.This year the Israeli army have imposed further restrictions by granting the farmers access to their land to harvest the olives only on particular dates. No consideration has been given to whether the crop is ripe for picking on that date or how long the farmers might need to harvest their crop.

•    Lord, we thank you for the provision of the olive harvest each year which is so important for the livelihoods of many Palestinian farmers. We pray that the farmers may safely harvest their crops this year. We pray too that the unreasonable military orders will be rescinded. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

The city of Bethlehem is about to become the most recent member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. This network of cities around the world have all demonstrated a  commitment to provide inclusive and equitable opportunities for their citizens to continue their education throughout their lives. Every two years the cities come together to share ideas and best practice to support and inspire each other.

•    We thank you, Lord Jesus, that the little town where you were born two thousand years ago has grown into a city which is working to give its community new and sustainable opportunities throughout their lives. We pray that Bethlehem will bless this global network with its membership. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

•    We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Panama. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

24^th September 2020

Israel has imposed a second national lockdown to last three weeks after a recent surge of over 4000 confirmed COVID-19 cases every day. The lockdown will close all schools and only supermarkets and pharmacies will remain open.  Schools have only just reopened for the start of the new academic year and this lockdown will bring major disruption.

• Lord, we pray for all those in positions of authority in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory as they take decisions on how to manage the resurgence of the coronavirus throughout the land. We pray for the families trying to manage their work and their children’s education from home. We pray too for the protection of the care workers looking after those who are seriously affected by the virus. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

An Israeli court has issued a demolition order notice on Qaqaa Bin Amr Mosque in Silwan, East Jerusalem. The authorities claim that the mosque, which was built in 2012, does not have a building permit. Such permits are rarely issued to Palestinians by the Israeli authorities. Silwan has been particularly targeted for the demolition of Palestinian property by the Israeli authorities over the past six months, even during lockdown due to the pandemic. On average 65 Palestinian properties across the occupied Palestinian territory have been demolished each month, leaving many families homeless.

• Oh Lord, it is hard for us to imagine how it would feel, particularly at this time of the worldwide pandemic, to watch our home bulldozed before our eyes. Lord we pray that this cruel practice of home demolitions by the Israeli authorities will cease. We continue to pray for a change of heart in the government of Israel to stop forcing Palestinians out of their homes, their businesses and their places of worship. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

On Thursday, the 17th of September, the Israeli authorities demolished the shelters of the Palestinian Bedouin village of Al Araqeeb in the Naqab desert near Beersheba. This is the 178th time the authorities have levelled the village, the last time being on the 27th of August. Each time this happens the twenty families living in the village rebuild their tents. They have deeds to this land and do not want to be relocated to government zoned townships. The 51 Palestinian Bedouin villages in the Naqab are not recognised by the Israeli authorities. The villagers hold Israeli nationality and pay taxes, just like other Israelis, but they are not accorded the same rights and have no power or water connections.

• ‘Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of the destitute, Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.’ (Prov.31:8-9) Lord, we pray for the Palestinian Bedouin villagers who see their homes bulldozed by the Israeli authorities, time after time. We pray that many people in Palestine, Israel and around the world will speak out for the rights of these destitute people to live undisturbed on their land, free from such relentless harassment. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

In 1982 on the 16th to the 18th of September a brutal massacre took place in the Sabra neighborhood, adjacent to the Shatila refugee camp in Beirut. For days the Israeli army had bombed the area and then looked on while the Lebanese Phalange militia carried out brutal killings. A UN commission carried out the following year concluded that Israel, as the occupying power, bore responsibility for the violence. However, the US and the international community granted impunity to Israel over the crime.

• Lord, we bring the city of Beirut to you, where so much blood has been shed and so much suffering endured. We bring before you the Lebanese people ,as well as the millions of Palestinian refugees who are beginning to lose hope. Many will have lost family members in the massacre forty years ago. Many will be suffering from the economic meltdown in Lebanon. Some may have been caught up in the recent chemical explosion in the port. Some will be fearing an outbreak of the pandemic and many are facing cuts in the critical aid from donors. Lord, we pray that other nations will continue to provide support for Lebanon, even as they are struggling with the demands of their own people. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

• We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Peru. Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Sabeel Wave of Prayer 17.9.20

On the 9th of September, the Jerusalem District Court ordered the eviction of the Palestinian family of Nasser Rajabi from their residential property of three apartments in the Batan Al-Hawa neighbourhood of Silwan in Occupied East Jerusalem. There are thirty family members living in these apartments who will soon be facing homelessness, along with eighty other residents in the area. In January the Jerusalem Magistrates’ Court ordered the family to leave their property following a lawsuit brought by the Ateret Cohanim Settler Association. The settlers claim the properties belong to the Benvenisti Trust which was set up in the nineteenth century to house Jews fleeing from the Yemen.

• Lord, we pray for the dozens of Palestinian families threatened with eviction in East Jerusalem by Jewish settlers supported by the Israeli legal system. We pray that the legal system will stop sowing seeds of injustice by denying the rights of Palestinians to reclaim their properties, while granting historical claims to Jewish settlers. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

The Jewish High Court of Justice is in dispute with the Israeli government over the stay order placed on the demolition of Khan Al-Ahmar, a Bedouin village near Jerusalem in the Occupied West Bank. The government cited the pandemic threat and diplomatic issues to request a six-month postponement. The court has granted a two-month delay to a hearing about the demolition. The Al-Jahhalin Bedouin live in 26 communities in the area. The Khan Al-Ahmar village is blocking the expansion of the nearby illegal Israeli settlement, Ma’ale Adumim ,which is home to more than 37,000 settlers.

• Dear Lord, we pray for the Bedouin communities who are being forced away from their land. We pray that the village of Khan Al-Ahmar will not be demolished by bulldozers. We pray for an end to the destructive actions of the settlers and the Israeli authorities as they grab more and more land from the Palestinian people. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

The World Council of Churches and the Middle East Council of Churches are calling for a week of prayer for peace in Palestine and Israel during this third week of September. While both Councils recognize the extreme fragility of the situation in the Holy Land, they are asking people to show ‘creative solidarity’ as a sign of hope in the work to restore peace and justice to the land.

• In the words of a prayer quoted from the World Week of Peace in Palestine and Israel: ‘Lord Jesus, open our eyes to see the pain of others who are struggling to survive, use our hands to help rebuild those whose lives have been torn apart because of conflict and war, use our voices to draw attention to acts of injustice inflicted upon the powerless by the powerful. Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayers.

Sabeel is holding Bible study meetings on Zoom for their Bible Study facilitators on Wednesdays each week.

• Lord, we are so thankful for the virtual meetings we can hold online during this time of pandemic and particularly for the Zoom Bible Studies led by Sabeel. We pray that sharing the word of life will help the Bible Study facilitators to ‘shine as lights in the world’,(Phil 2:15), even through these dark and difficult times. Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayers.

The Palestinian Prisoner Society reported that two Palestinian prisoners, being held on administrative detention, suffered a marked deterioration in their physical condition on Wednesday, the 9th of September. Both prisoners are on hunger strike in protest at their incarceration. Maher al-Akhras from Jenin was recently transferred to an Israeli hospital after a hunger strike of 45 days. Abdul- Rahman Shuaibat from Bethlehem has deteriorated after being transferred to Eshel prison and is now refusing to take fluids.

• Lord, we pray for the lives of Maher and Abdul–Rahman which now hang in the balance. We pray for their release from detention to enable them to recover their health. We pray that the Israeli authorities will cease to condemn Palestinian prisoners to unlimited imprisonment under administrative detention orders. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

The US, Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain announced a deal to normalize diplomatic relations between Bahrain and Israel. Bahrain will join the UAE on the 15^th of September to sign a peace treaty with Israel at the White House. Unfortunately, the normalization between the two countries disregards the root of the conflict in the Middle East, the suffering of the Palestinian people and their cry for a just peace.

• Oh Lord Most High, we turn to you to find refuge in the face of worldly deception. We continue to live in your shelter and abide in your shadow. We trust in you Lord to be our refuge and fortress in the face of terror, pestilence and destruction. (Taken from Psalm 91:1-7) Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer.

• We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Sabeel Wave of Prayer 10.9.20

The Kumi Now Online Initiative invited speakers from the Arab Educational Institute, (AEI), to talk about the Israeli separation wall and the annexation of the site of Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem on Tuesday, the 8th of September.

• Dear Lord, we thank you for the work of the AEI and their work to shed light on the injustice of annexing the site of Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem. We pray for the people of Bethlehem confined by the separation wall and hemmed in by the illegal Israeli settlements. We think of them especially at this time of pandemic when so many dependent on tourism, will have lost their jobs. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Three young children were burnt to death in a fire in the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza on Tuesday, the 1st of September. The fire is thought to have been caused by candles which were lit in the house during one of the frequent power cuts in the territory.

• Dear Lord, we pray for the horrific deaths by fire of Yousef, Mohammad and Mahmoud Al-Hazeen. We pray for the family as they grieve their loss. We pray for the people of Gaza who have had to subsist on just a few hours of electrical power each day, due to the lack of fuel deliveries to the only power plant there. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

On Wednesday, the 2nd of September, a young Israeli Arab teacher and a mother of three children from Ramla, Sharifa Abu Muammar, was killed. Sharifa was preparing for the start of the new school year when she was shot and killed by a stray bullet from an illegal weapon. Violent crimes in the Arab community are on the increase, but little is being done by the Israeli police to curb the provision of illegal weapons.

• Dear Lord, we are saddened by the violent death of Sharifa and sympathize with the shock and grief this will have caused her family and friends. We pray for groups who seek to reach Arab community leaders, as well as the Israeli police, to try to build safer and more equal communities. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Jerusalem a is a gospel song with a catchy tune, written by the South African musician Master KG. Fans of the tune in Angola posted a video of their own choreography to the tune and this video went viral under the name of #JerusalemaDanceChallenge. In August the Jerusalem music collective, Jaw, uploaded a Palestinian version of the video, filmed in Bab el Majlis in the Old City, with the participation of Jerusalem’s Afro-Palestinian community. Local dancers created their unique version of the dance adding elements of dabkeh. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ1AB5OrCks

• ‘The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.’ (Ps.9:9-10) We thank you, Lord, for the Jerusalem a dance video from the young people in Jerusalem, sent with a loving tribute to the young people in South Africa. We pray that their joyful creation will inspire the hearts of young people facing oppression in Palestine, South Africa and around the world. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Abu Ahmad works for a low salary as a member of a sanitation service in Ramallah. He also lives with the challenge of his serious hearing impairment. His son is a member of a Palestinian dance group and, as a tribute to his father, the group performed a flash mob dance using sign language. The video of the dance has been widely viewed and appreciated in the community. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-GRUZl71Ho

• Lord, at this time of pandemic, so many of us have come to notice and be thankful for those carrying out the essential work to sustain healthy communities. We thank you for this heartfelt tribute of a son to his father who has had to face many challenges in his life. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

On Tuesday, the 1st of September, dozens of demonstrators in Shufa village near Tulkarem were protesting Israeli plans to confiscate 800 km2 of Palestinian land to build an industrial park. One elderly protester, 65-year-old Khairi Hannoun was arrested during the protest. He was wrestled to the ground by a soldier, who then proceeded to kneel on his neck and back as he put handcuffs on him. The video of this arrest was soon circulating on social media as it was so reminiscent of the horrific killing of George Floyd while in US police custody.

• Dear Lord, we pray that Israeli soldiers will stop using excessive force to disperse Palestinian protests. We pray too that the illegal confiscation of Palestinian land by the Israeli government will cease. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

• We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Ghana and Nigeria. Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayers.

Sabeel Wave of Prayer 3.9.20

The Kumi Now Online Initiative invited speakers from Adalah to talk about their work defending the rights of Palestinian Bedouin on Tuesday, the 1st of September. The Israeli authorities have been attempting to force the Bedouin from their ancestral lands for over twenty years.

• Dear Lord, we thank you for the humanitarian work of Adalah. Thank you for all those people in Israel/ Palestine who ‘pursue justice and guide the oppressed’ (Is.17). Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

In the Gaza Strip a lockdown has been extended for a further 72 hours after the number of  patients suffering from Covid-19 rose to 25 cases. The Ministry of Health in the Occupied West Bank announced that they were ready to provide Gaza with any equipment it required to limit the outbreak.

• Dear Lord, we pray for the people of Gaza, that this lockdown and other precautionary measures will help to limit the outbreak of the pandemic in this overcrowded land, which continues to suffer impoverishment from the Israeli blockade. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

The villagers of Al-Araqib had their tents and shelters destroyed for the 177th time by the Israeli occupation forces on Thursday, the 27th of August. Since March 2000 the villagers have faced repeated harassment to try to force them off their land and into government-run townships.The Israeli authorities have also convicted Sheikh Sayyah al-Turi and his two sons, as well as Salam al-Turi on the charges of ‘building without a license’ and ‘seizing state lands’.

• Dear Lord, we pray for the people of Al-Araqib as yet again their shelters are torn down. We pray for an end to merciless abuse of Palestinians by the Israeli authorities who order the demolition of homes even in this time of pandemic. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

On Wednesday, the 26th of August Father Firas Hijazin, a priest from the Franciscan Friars died of the coronavirus. Father Firas served in the Franciscan Terra Santa schools which were first founded in the Holy Land in the 16th century.  These schools have done so much to raise educational standards and to promote a message of peaceful co-existence between Jews, Muslims and Christians living in the Holy Land.

• Lord, we pray for the family and friends of Father Firas as they mourn his death. We thank you for his life of service, particularly for his work in schools. We pray for comfort for the Franciscan community he served and the students he taught. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

• Lord, we also remember at this time a young woman, Dana Salah, a member of a Catholic youth group in Jerusalem. Dana was involved in a road accident and passed away from her injuries. We pray for the medical team who tried to save Dana and for her family and friends as they grieve. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

‘Come, let’s see a movie’ is a three year project which has been launched by several Palestinian organisations with a view to helping young people from different areas and backgrounds to have a greater awareness of what conditions are like in Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem. With backing from the EU, the three Palestinian groups have designed a project to enable ten films to be made by young Palestinian women. These films will then be screened in community groups and the discussions arising from the films will be screened on television.

• Lord, we are thankful for community projects such as this film project which can bring a greater awareness of the  different challenges faced by young Palestinians. We pray that this project will bring hope and inspiration at a time when many are struggling with despair. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

• We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Tojo. Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

27^th August 2020

On Tuesday, 25^th August, the Kumi Now Online Initiative heard from the Dar al-Kalima University College of the Arts about art as a form of resistance in Palestine. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land opened the Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem in 2006.

• Dear Lord, we thank you for the vision of the Lutheran Church to offer further education in the arts for the young people of Bethlehem. We pray that the university teachers will continue to inspire the next generation of creative leaders in Palestine. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

On Tuesday, the 18th of August the Gaza Strip’s sole power plant halted operations due to an Israeli ban on fuel, along with most other goods, entering the enclave which is under Israeli blockade and bombardment. The Israeli action came as part of the punitive measures enforced over the launch of incendiary balloons and rockets from Gaza. Hospitals, businesses, and homes in Gaza will have to rely on generators and solar power to make up for the power cuts.

• Lord, we pray for the people of Gaza as they try to survive under the crippling Israeli blockade. We pray that the Israeli authorities will have mercy at this time of pandemic crisis and allow the restoration of fuel supplies to Gaza, before a humanitarian crisis breaks out. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

After a five-month closure following the outbreak of Covid-19, schools in Palestine will re-open in September. Marwan Awartani, the Palestinian Minister for Education, stated that all students would need to respect social distancing and follow health protocols.

• Lord, we pray for the teachers and students in Palestine and many other countries who will start back at school after months of lockdown. We pray that they will be able to resume their studies with confidence and enthusiasm. We pray too for the parents concerned for the health and safety of their children. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Sheikh Raed Salah, the leader of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel has been transferred from Al Jalama Prison to a solitary confinement cell in Ashkelon. Sheikh Salah handed himself in to the Israeli prison authorities to complete his 28-month sentence over claims of incitement. The charge followed his criticisms of the Israeli authorities for setting up metal detectors at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem.

• Dear Lord, we pray for Sheikh Salah and other Palestinians who have the courage to speak out over the actions of the Israeli occupation authorities, even at the cost of their own liberty. ‘Speak truth to one another; render in your gates judgements that are true and make for peace.’ (Zech 8:16). We pray that the Israeli authorities will listen to all the people of the land and not charge and imprison anyone who speaks out over legitimate grievances. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Mahmoud Nawajaa, the Palestinian Co-ordinator of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, (BDS), was released without charge on Monday, the 17th of August. He had been arrested at his home in Ramallah on the 30th of July and charged with belonging to an illegal party and providing services to it.

• Thank you, Lord for the release of Mahmoud Nawajaa. We pray for the Palestinians who seek to oppose the occupation by nonviolent means and for the support of people around the world for Palestinians living under apartheid conditions in Israel. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

On Wednesday, the 19th of August a video went viral in Palestine. The video showed how Israeli soldiers had abused and beaten young Palestinian workers while they were on their way to work in Israel. Montaser Al-Fakhoury, 21, from Hebron spoke to a reporter from the Palestine News Network about how the soldiers had beaten him and other workers and had stolen money and cigarettes from them.

• Lord Jesus, we pray that the abuse suffered by these Palestinian workers and many others who have to endure the daily humiliation of passing through Israeli checkpoints will cease. We pray that the Israeli authorities will censure and stop the abuse from their soldiers. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Sabeel-Kairos UK will be holding an Online Conference on Saturday, the 19th of September from 10am -12 noon. The AGM for members will follow on from 12:15-1pm. The speakers are Rev. Dr Munther Isaac from Kairos Palestine and Omar Haramy from Sabeel Jerusalem. The themes are ‘You cannot serve God and the occupation’ and ‘Antisemitism, Israel and Palestine’. The conference will be led in worship by Amos Trust founder, Garth Hewitt. The registration for the conference is now up on the Sabeel website.

• Lord, we are thankful that Sabeel/ Kairos is still able to host a conference in this year of pandemic, even if it has to be held remotely. We pray that many people around the world will listen to the talks and participate in the question and answer sessions. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

• We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Cape Verde, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

 Thursday 20^th August 2020

The Kumi Online Initiative welcomed speakers from Churches for Middle East Peace, (CMEP) on Tuesday, the 18th of August  to speak about their work to end the blockade of Gaza .The CMEP are concerned about the dire humanitarian situation which has developed in Gaza since the Israeli government implemented the blockade in 2006.

• Dear Lord, we thank you for the efforts of the CMEP to try to lift the Israeli blockade and to bring an end to the suffering and grinding poverty of those trying to survive in Gaza. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

On Wednesday the 12th of August, Sabeel organized the Virtual Jerusalem Ecumenical Prayer Service in partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land and in co-operation with other churches in Jerusalem. The service was conducted in Arabic. English, French and Japanese are available online.

• God our Father in heaven, we seek your kingdom and righteousness; yet we cannot find peace or justice. We put before You the injustice of our oppression, the confusion and division among our leaders, their righteousness and the absence of it. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

The highest number of Covid 19 fatalities since the pandemic began, were recorded by the Israeli Ministry of Health with 17 deaths in a 24 hour period. The highest infection rates are currently found in ultra Orthodox Jewish and Arab majority towns and cities.

• Lord Jesus, we are still in the midst of the pandemic storm. Let us remember that so long as Jesus is with us in the storm, we should not be afraid. He is with us in the boat of life on a raging sea. Christ is our Saviour, our Healer and our Redeemer. We hear Him calling us, ‘Come to me all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest.’ (Matt 11:28-30). Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Israel began bulldozing the village homes of families in the  West Bank village of Farseen not far from Jenin on Tuesday, the 11th of August. One family’s home has already been demolished and the same is expected to happen to more than 30 other buildings as the Israeli authorities would not grant them permits to build.

• Dear Lord, Your law is that anyone without shelter shall be given shelter and that no one is deprived of their home. That is Your law, but the law of the occupation authorities is different. Yet those who are powerful and unjust are also your children. Would You, dear Lord, talk to them and inspire them to take the path of righteousness and justice to preserve our houses. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Churches in the Holy Land are facing serious challenges due to Covid 19. Many clergy from different denominations have not received their salaries for more than five months.

• God of love and hope, You who created the world and care for every creature, this world is going through strange times. Lord help us to look for signs of Your love for us and help us keep our hearts filled with Your love. We pray for all those who are anxious and worried, sick or in distress, for comfort and relief, for rewards for their patience and an end to their suffering. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Young Catholics in the Holy Land have started a fund-raising campaign to help destitute families in Beirut, Lebanon, after the explosion in the city left many homeless. Some have been selling locally made rosaries to Catholics in the Holy Land and abroad.

• Lord, we pray that You help our hearts grow to embrace the whole world, east and west, north and south in our prayers, love and solidarity during these trying times, so that our solidarity offers solace to them and tangible support. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

The US, Israel and United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced a deal to normalize diplomatic relations between the UAE and Israel on Thursday, the 13th of August. Netanyahu stated that Israel’s plan for the illegal annexation of large parts of the West Bank has only been postponed and is still on the table. The new deal with the UAE will bring further pressure to bear on the Palestinians and will make their options even narrower.

• Oh Lord Most High, we turn to you to find refuge in the face of worldly deception. We continue to live in your shelter and abide in your shadow. We trust in you Lord to be our refuge and fortress in the face of terror, pestilence and destruction. (Taken from Psalm 91:1-7) Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer.

• We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone. Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer.