15^th August 2019

The Great March of Return on Friday, 9^th August was much quieter than usual with no current reports of injuries. This is due to the feast of Eid al-Adha which started on Sunday, 11^th August and an ongoing decline in the protests through agreements brokered by Egypt. Despite this, a number of Palestinians were killed after allegedly attempting to enter into Israel from Gaza. The occupation Israeli forces claimed that they were armed militants and shelled a number of areas inside Gaza as a response.

• Lord, we continue to pray for the people of Gaza. We pray that they may one day be able to return to their homes and that the ongoing Israeli military blockade will end. Grant those in positions of power around the world the courage to speak truth to power and stand up and act wherever injustice is seen. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

This week Kumi Now focuses on the work of the Defence for Children International Palestine (DCIP). This organisation works to defend children’s rights by offering free legal aid, documenting violations of international law, and advocates for greater protections. The Israeli authorities have failed to end violence against children, despite repeated calls to end night arrests, ill treatment and torture of Palestinian children in military detention.

• We pray that the inhumane treatment of children by the Israeli authorities be exposed and brought to an end. We thank you for the work of the DCIP and for their care of Palestinian children caught up in situations which are difficult for many adults to imagine. Dear Jesus, you knew what it was like to suffer torture when you were arrested. We ask you to reach out to all children who are suffering today. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

On Sunday, 11^th August, a number of Muslim worshippers were injured by Israeli occupation forces as they prayed at the Al Aqsa Mosque to celebrate Eid al-Adha. Muslim leaders had called for all other mosques to close in order for as many people as possible to pray at Al Aqsa. Israeli authorities had allowed a number of Jews to enter the compound to pray as they commemorated Tisha B’av, with armed guards, something which is normally forbidden during the Eid celebrations.

• Lord, we pray for peace and order in the city of Jerusalem. We pray that the occupying Israeli authorities would respect the rights of all its residents to worship without obstruction at their holy sites. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

On Wednesday, the 7th of August Riyad al-Maliki, the Foreign Minister of the Palestinian Authority, announced that Nicaragua had decided to open an Embassy in Palestine. In recent years several European and South American countries have recognised Palestine, but these moves have had limited diplomatic effect.

• Lord, we pray that there would be expressions of support from around the world for Palestine and clear message from international lawmakers that the oppression suffered by Palestinians must end. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

After a two-year legal battle, a group of students from Fordham University in New York have won an historic victory. Students for Justice in Palestine Club (SJP), can now be established on campus. The university had vetoed the Student Government’s approval of the SJP in December 2016, but the students sued the university for violating its own rules in April 2017 and have just won their case.

• Dear Lord, we give thanks for the courage and persistence of the students as they fought for their right to free speech to advocate for justice in Palestine. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Israel has approved plans for more than 2,300 illegal Israeli settlement homes in the Occupied West Bank. This is the latest in a surge of such approvals since the US President Donald Trump took office in 2017. The Israeli Group ‘Peace Now’ has called this policy ‘a disastrous attempt’ to prevent the two-state solution and to annex part, or all of the West Bank.

• Lord, we pray for those Palestinians who are refused permission to build in the West Bank and even see their homes demolished, at a time when illegal settlement homes are being built in their thousands. Lord we cry to you over this injustice and ask that you would ‘raise up the poor from the dust’ (1 Samuel 2:7). Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

The Palestinian Monetary Authority declared that banks operating in Palestine should deduct 50% of the salaries of public sector employees on Monday, the 5th of August. Employees of institutions receiving finance from the Ministry of Finance and Planning were to take the same pay cut. The pay cuts come as a result of the Israeli government’s decision to withhold a substantial amount of the tax money it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, (PA). It withheld revenues to the value of $138 million, which the PA would have paid to support families of Palestinians killed or imprisoned by Israel. The PA declared that it would not accept the remaining $200 million in protest against the Israeli deduction.

• Lord, we pray for all those affected by the loss of income as a result of the discriminatory practices of the Israeli authorities. We pray that decision makers in Israel may recognize the impact of their policies on the lives of all Palestinians and that they will restore the funds they have withheld. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

• We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

Thursday 8^th August 2019

On the 69th Great March of Return, 66 Palestinian civilians were injured due to the Israeli military’s continued use of excessive force against the mainly peaceful protests along the Gaza Strip’s eastern border. At least 28 children, 4 women and a paramedic were among those injured this Friday, 02 August 2019. Twenty-seven civilians were shot with live bullets and 2 children were deemed in a critical medical condition. For the first time since the Great March of Return started in March 2018, there were no injuries reported in eastern Gaza City. The deployment of Palestinian security forces in official apparel along “Jakar” street, who denied civilians from approaching the border fence, contributed to the decline in injuries.

• Lord, we continue to pray for the people of Gaza as they raise their voices in protest. We thank you for those who are willing to stand up and protect others from harm. May your will be done so that all the people of this land may come to enjoy the fruits of a just peace. Lord in your mercy…hear our prayers.

This week we are encouraged to engage with the second Kumi Care week, thinking about caring for the emotional health of those engaged in activism. This care involves taking a break from challenges and calls to action and taking time to ask yourself how you feel about things in your life.

• Lord, remind us that we are not made to work all the time and we have more energy and enthusiasm when we take sufficient rest. We pray that those involved in activism do not drive themselves too hard, but instead take care of their emotional health. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

On Thursday 1^st August, Israeli police intercepted a bus carrying children on a summer camp field trip in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Issawiyah and detained two of the group leaders. Foreign diplomats have recently visited the neighbourhood to assess the situation as there has been constant harassment by Israeli occupation forces, including the summoning, by police, of two children aged 4 and 6 years for interrogation.

• Lord, we continue to pray for all of those who face oppression and harassment on a daily basis throughout this Holy Land. Cast your protective net over all children so that they may have the opportunity to live a childhood of peace, freedom, and love. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, has declared that Friday 2^nd August marked the start of the Muslim month of Dhu al-Hijjah. This means that Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) will be celebrated on Sunday 11^th August.

• Lord Jesus, with those who build bridges of interfaith understanding, we pray for our Muslim brothers and sisters that they may celebrate Eid al-Adha next week in peace. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

The Palestine Youth Orchestra are currently taking part in a Northern European Tour covering the countries of Norway, Denmark, Belgium, and The Netherlands.

• Dear lord we give thanks to all the Palestinian candles that defy the darkness of occupation. Lord, this is the true image of young Palestinian youth. Give them the opportunity and peace of mind to reflect your beauty, God of light and love. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

The “1001 Laughs Palestine Comedy Festival” will take place this August. Palestinian stand-up comedians will perform for five nights in Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Bethlehem.

• Lord, as we stumble through this life, help us to create more laughter than tears, dispense more happiness than gloom and spread more cheer than despair. We pray that such events will bring joy to our communities. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

• We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Equatorial Guinea. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

Thursday 1^st August 2019

During the 68^th Friday of the ‘Great March of Return’ on Friday 26^th July, 71 Palestinian civilians were injured due to the Israeli military’s continued use of excessive force against the mainly peaceful protesters along the Gaza Strip’s eastern border. At least 30 children, 3 women, and a paramedic were among those injured. Thirty-nine civilians were shot with live bullets and 4 of them sustained moderate to serious injury. 23-year-old Ahmed el Kara died on Saturday 27^th July from wounds sustained by live gunfire.

• Good shepherd, no refugee is a stranger to you, and no one is ever far from your loving care. We pray that you would watch over the legitimate protestors as they continue in their efforts to return home. We pray for healing of the hearts of the family of Ahmed, and all those injured who are enduring unimaginable tragedy and trauma. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Kumi Now this week concentrates on the Women in Black organisation and their topic of Women Under Conflict. Those following Kumi Now are encouraged to read the information about the organisation, their topic, and the case study and then engage with the Kumi Action of holding a vigil in your area.

• Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, you will establish your kingdom with justice and righteousness, (Isaiah 9:6-7). Help us to stand in faith for those who seek to address injustice and to speak truth to those who govern us. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Twelve acclaimed Palestinian writers have imagined what their country might look like in 2048, 100 years after the Nakba saw more than 700,000 expelled from their homes, in what is believed to be the first ever collection of science fiction from the occupied territories. Stories in ‘Palestine +100’ include Majd Kayyal’s depiction of a futuristic solution to the current situation, in which two parallel worlds occupy the same geographic space, to Saleem Haddad’s Matrix-like concept of a “right to digital return”.

• Dear Lord, we thank you that Palestinian writers have come together to use their creative gifts to highlight the difficulties faced by their people living under occupation in Palestine and Israel and to imagine a new world. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

A number of so called ‘Price Tag’ attacks have taken place in various Palestinian towns and areas of Jerusalem. In the Arab town of Kufr Qasim, many vehicles belonging to Palestinian citizens were damaged and racist graffiti was spray painted on walls after extremist Israeli settlers entered the town.

• Lord of justice, we pray that the perpetrators of the “Price Tag” crimes will be held accountable for their actions, and we pray for an end to such violence.  Lord in your mercy…hear our prayers.

The results of the Palestinian Tawjihi (leavers exams) were released in the past two weeks and many young people are now graduating and looking to the future.

• We pray for the thousands of young people who are celebrating their achievement and we remember the students who did not reach their target grades. May the students of Palestine use their education to better their communities and to strengthen the society in which they live. Lord in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Thaer Fakkhoury, a Palestinian journalist arrested by Palestinian security forces due to his articles has been released on bail pending further investigations.

• Lord, freedom of the press is under threat from both Palestinian and Israeli authorities. We pray that all journalists are able to tell their stories without fear of suppression, and we thank you for the work of people who try to provide the public with fair and accurate information and speak truth to power. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Sabeel’s 1^st International Gathering will take place in Palestine from 2^nd – 7^th December 2019. This gathering seeks to build on the theology behind Kumi Now and bring together various organisations working for peace and justice in the land of the Holy One. Registration for the Gathering is now open at www.sabeel.org.

• Lord, as we organise and register for the Gathering, we cry out to you that this year will be the time for Palestine and will be the time of justice for the Palestinians. Lord in your mercy…hear our prayers.

• We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Republic of Congo, Gabon, and Sao Tome and Principe. Lord in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

Thursday 25^th July 2019

During the 67^th Great March of Return, 118 Palestinian civilians were injured due to the Israeli military’s continued use of excessive force against peaceful protests along the Gaza Strip’s eastern border. At least 45 children, 2 women, 3 journalists, and 4 paramedics were among those injured this Friday 19 July 2019. Five civilians, including a journalist and 4 children, sustained serious wounds.

• Lord, we continue to pray for the safety of the protestors and for them to continue to espouse non-violent means to achieve their right to return to their homes. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

As the weekly protest in Kafr Qaddum began to disperse on Friday 12^th July an Israeli occupation soldier shot nine-year-old Abd a-Shteiwi in the head, leaving him on a ventilator in hospital. The young boy had been standing in a doorway around 200m from the protest when, according to a B’TSELEM report, he was shot by an Israeli occupation sniper from around 100m away. The protests are held weekly to protest against the 19-year Israeli closure of the road between the village and Nablus.

• Lord, we pray for Abd and his family at this difficult and distressing time. We pray that the Israeli occupation forces will respect international law, end the use of barbaric force against protestors, and allow Palestinians to move freely on their own lands. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

On Monday 22^nd July, Israeli occupation forces began demolition of buildings in the area of Sur Baher/Wadi Hummus (occupied East Jerusalem) due to their proximity to the Israeli separation wall. Seventeen Palestinians, including nine Palestine refugees, face homelessness, and over 350 others face massive property loss, due to the Israeli authorities’ plan to demolish 10 buildings, including around 70 apartments

• Lord, help us to hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, (Hebrews 10:23) We ask you to strengthen our resolve to speak out against the overwhelming injustice suffered by the Palestinian people with further land confiscations, house demolitions and attempts to eclipse their history. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

On the 25^th and 26^th of July, Sabeel will hold a retreat for Bible Study Facilitators at the Scots Hotel (Church of Scotland) in Tiberias.

• Lord, we give thanks for the young people who continue to gather around your Word and whose hearts are open to your message. We continue to pray for all the Bible study groups and the facilitators who lead them. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

On Monday 15^th July, the Tent of Nations farm began their 19^th annual children’s summer camp. The title this year is ” Growing Strong”. 50 children between 7 and 15 years old are attending the camp. The children take part in two weeks of activities and workshops to encourage them to discover their talents, to focus on their positives, and to believe that they are capable of shaping their own future.

• Gracious God, we give you thanks for the Tent of Nations and their endless struggle to farm their land in the face of ongoing pressure from illegal Israeli settlers. Bless the Nassar family, the international volunteers, and the young people as they learn, play, and grow together in a spirit of nonviolence and positivity. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

• We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

Thursday 18^th July 2019

The ‘Great March of Return’ and ‘Breaking the Siege’ protests continued on Friday. At least 34 Palestinians were injured by live bullets and many others by rubber-coated rounds when Israeli forces attacked thousands of protesters taking part in the weekly Great March of Return at Gaza-Israel border. Tensions were particularly high due to the killing, on Thursday by Israeli forces, of Mahmoud al-Adham who was trying to prevent youths approaching the fence.

• Lord, we continue to pray for the safety of the protestors who courageously demand to have the right of refugees to go home implemented. Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer  

This week the Kumi Now initiative focuses on the Israeli organization of Zochrot and the right for Palestinian refugees to return to their homes. You are invited to read the information about Zochrot and exposé on the Jewish National Fund. The Kumi Action invites you to watch the documentary “A Village Under the Forest” and spread the information of how a state buries the truth under trees.

• Lord, give strength and courage to those engaging with the Kumi Now initiative that they may engage fully this week and the Kumi action. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers

On Saturday, Israeli navy boats attacked Palestinian fishermen near Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, they detained two fishermen and seized their boat after firing live bullets at the boat. The boats are owned by Mohammad and his brother Ahmad Bardawil. Gaza fishermen report daily harassment by the Israeli navy, which prevents them from doing their work and earning a decent living.

• Lord, we continue to pray for the safety of all the people of Palestine who try to make a living under the reality of a brutal military occupation. Lord in your mercy… hear our prayers

Israel is refusing to issue work permits for international academics working at Palestinian universities in the occupied West Bank and is escalating a harsh visa policy that is forcing them to abandon their students and leave the country. Birzeit University, Al-Haq, and Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, are demanding an immediate halt to this policy targeting Palestinian academic freedom and isolating Palestinian institutions of higher learning.

• Lord, you are the teacher of all the people and generations. We are reminded of the attempts of the powerful who tried to challenge your ministry of spreading the message of equality, justice and liberation and are determined not to give in to intimidations. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Six United Nations Special Rapporteurs issued a joint letter to Israel, raising serious concerns about the Israeli government’s plans to forcibly displace 36,000 Bedouin citizens of Israel living in the Naqab/Negev desert.

• Lord, we continue to pray not to lose hope that the powerful will let go of hate and racism, and the poor will remain steadfast and resilient. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Adalah is calling on the municipality in the Israeli city of Afula to cancel its ban on non-city residents entering city parks. “We know that this policy is intended to prevent the entry of residents from Arab communities near the city,” Adalah, whose legal team is arguing the case, said in a statement. Two different TV stations performed undercover work and documented Jews – non-residents of Afula – entering the park unbridled, even after telling the gatekeepers that they were not residents.

• Lord, help all to see the ugliness of racism and discrimination. We give thanks to all people of good will who are brave and patient to challenge the systems of oppression to bring about your will of inclusivity and justice.   Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

In Jerusalem, a group of settlers attacked the closing ceremony for the Terra Sancta Summer camp. The summer camp hosted over 360 children aged 3-14 from different Church communities in Jerusalem. Israeli settlers threw eggs at the audience and injuring a number of the children and guests. 

• Lord, we pray that the people who have terrorized the innocent children be held accountable. We pray for an end to the Israeli military occupation that allows extremism and racism to flourish. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

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

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

Thursday 11^th July 2019

The ‘Great March of Return’ and ‘Breaking the Siege’ protests continued on Friday. Reports state that 95 people were injured by Israeli forces, including 33 children, 1 journalist, and 4 women, one of whom was a volunteer medic. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) has documented that Israeli soldiers have killed 207 Palestinians, including 44 children, 2 women and 9 Palestinians with special needs, in addition to 4 medics and 2 journalists, since March 30th, 2018. According to Protocol 1 of the Geneva Convention, it is illegal to target civilians, which Israel has been doing since the outset of the demonstrations.

• Lord, we continue to pray for the people of Gaza as they raise their voices in protest. May your will be done so that all the people of this land may come to enjoy the fruits of a just peace. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

The Israeli election campaigns have begun over the last few days in preparation for the September rerun election. Far-right Israeli party Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) launched its campaign by calling for Palestinians to be expelled ‘to their countries of origin’. Party head Michael Ben Ari told the audience that, “we want to resettle our enemies in their countries… we’ll give them a bottle of mineral water and even a sandwich. We’ll find them countries of origin they can go to.”

• We pray for respect between peoples and religions. In the week when the Otzma Yehudit party said the Palestinians should be expelled from this land of the Holy One, we pray that all right-thinking people will condemn such words and turn our energies to seeking justice for all, which can also lead us on the path to peace and reconciliation. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Israeli authorities are requiring all high school students – Jewish and Arab – to pass an online government propaganda course that promotes racist ideology before they are allowed to participate in overseas class trips, according to Adalah – The Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, which is now taking legal action to fight this racist practice. Questions include “How do Palestinian organisations use digital social networks?” from the four optional answers, the one seen as correct is “encouraging violence.” Another question asks students to identify the origins of modern anti-Semitism. The exam’s correct answer is “Muslim organizations” and “the BDS movement.”

• Lord, we pray for all high school students as they embark on overseas trips with their class or with summer schools. We pray that a time will come soon when their lives are free from the racist ideology promoted by the current Israeli government and for groups such as Adalah, who are working to bring this future to reality. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

This week the Kumi Now initiative focuses on Sabeel-Kairos UK and Morally-Responsible Investing. You are invited to read the information about Sabeel-Kairos UK, the topic of Morally-Responsible investing, and the case study. The Kumi Action invites you to write to your church and ask them if they have an ethical investment screen in place and whether they invest in organisations which support the occupation or oppression of Palestine.

• Lord, give strength and courage to those engaging with the Kumi Now initiative that they may engage fully with this week and the Kumi action. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Attacks by illegal settlers in Hebron continue daily. On Saturday, 6^th July illegal settlers assaulted 10-year-old Raed Tamimi while Israeli occupation soldiers stood looking on, leaving him requiring hospital treatment for lacerations and bruises. Raed’s father said that he was heading to his pottery shop in the Old City, after returning from the markets’ area in Hebron, and then asked his child to carry some items to take them home in the southern part of the city.

• Lord, we pray for the Palestinian residents of Hebron, particularly the children who are witnessing harassment and aggression on a day-to-day basis. We pray that these attacks from the Israeli settlers will cease as the physical and mental injury they cause are leading to unknowable damage for the future hopes of Palestinians. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

On Monday 8^th July, Sabeel Jerusalem will hold a Bible study for Jerusalem women led by Sabeel founding member Cedar Duaybis.

• Lord, we are thankful for the continuing Sabeel contextual bible study sessions with the community in Palestine. We, specifically, raise before you the commitment of the women who will meet at Sabeel Jerusalem. Lord in your mercy…hear our prayers.

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

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

Thursday 4^th July 2019

On Friday, 28 June 2019, in excessive use of force against peaceful protesters on the 64th   Friday of the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege, Israeli forces wounded 128 Palestinian civilians, including 38 children, 3 women, 7 paramedics, and a journalist. Four of those wounded sustained serious wounds.

• Lord, we continue to pray for the people of Gaza as they raise their voices in protest. May your will be done so that all the people of this land may come to enjoy the fruits of a just peace. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

This week marks one of three occasions in the year designated as a Kumi Check-in when supporters of Kumi Now are encouraged to evaluate the initiative. Comments on the entries or the non-violent actions demonstrating solidarity with Palestinians would be especially welcome during the first week of July by email,(feedback@kumi.now.com)

• Dear Lord, we thank you for the Kumi Now initiative which seeks to inform and to suggest ways of engaging with non-violent actions to show support for Palestinians living under the Israeli occupation. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

An economic workshop took place In Bahrain on Tuesday, the 25th of June and Wednesday, the 26th of June. The event hosted delegations from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Egypt. There were no delegations from Palestine or Israel. The Palestinian Authority boycotted the event after the Trump administration recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Jared Kushner called for major economic investment in the Palestinian Territories, as well as in Jordan, the Lebanon and Egypt, without specifying where such investment would come from. The political details of the White House plan remain secret.

• Lord, we pray for the Palestinian people as they watch their future debated in Bahrain without consideration for the internationally recognised rights and concerns. We pray that they and their supporters may not lose heart but remain steadfast in their pursuit of a just peace in Palestine/Israel. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer

Oman announced it would open an embassy in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah. The official pronouncement coincided with the second day of the Bahrain workshop. It was designed to affirm the sultanate’s continued support for the Palestinian people.

• Dear Lord, we pray that the presence of the Omani Embassy in Ramallah will help their government keep well informed about the struggles faced by Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt broke open a new tunnel running under a Palestinian village in East Jerusalem during a ceremony inaugurating a settler archaeological project. The ceremony, inaugurating the “Path of the Pilgrims” in the Silwan neighbourhood of East Jerusalem, was organized by the settler organization Elad.

• Lord, we pray that the undermining of the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem in the name of archaeology will come to an end. May the US and Israeli officials and settler bodies come to accept that the internationally accepted division of Jerusalem cannot be changed by underhanded means. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Salwa Qubti has finally won her forty-year legal battle with the Israeli military. She has been fighting for the right to visit the grave of her father who died in the Nakba over seventy years ago. His grave lies in the Christian cemetery in the village of Ma’lul in the Nazareth area and an Israeli Air Force base is now located over its ruins. Salwa never met her father as she was born in July 1948, four months after her father’s death and burial. The family were expelled from the village by Israelis and sent to live in Nazareth.

• Dear Lord, we thank you that Salwa will now feel some sense of closure as she has finally been permitted to visit her father’s grave. We pray that she will be accompanied by her relatives to help her travel, as she is now confined to a wheelchair. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer

World Refugee Day was marked on Thursday, the 20th of June. UNRWA records show that the number of registered Palestinian refugees in 2018 came to about 6 million,

which accounts for about half the number of Palestinians throughout the world, (about 13 million). Palestinian refugees live in Jordan, Syria, the Lebanon, the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, while two thirds of the population of Gaza are refugees suffering unemployment and extreme poverty.

• Dear Jesus, when you set out on your ministry in the Holy Land you had no home to call your own. We pray that you will look with mercy on those who have fled and who continue to flee from danger, homelessness and hunger. We pray too that you will bless those who work to bring relief to those suffering poverty and despair. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

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

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

27^th of June 2019

At least 13 Palestinians were injured by Israeli forces as they took part in the Great March of Return on Friday, the 21st of June. The forces used live bullets and rubber coated steel ammunition when they shot protestors.

• Lord we pray for those who were injured in protests in Gaza this week. We pray for the lifting of the blockade on Gaza and for the return of the Palestinians to their homeland. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

The Kumi Now initiative focuses on the work of Sabeel, based in East Jerusalem.

Sabeel is an ecumenical liberation theology movement among Palestinian Christians.

The word ‘Sabeel’ is Arabic for ‘the way’ and also ‘a spring of life-giving water’. The movement seeks to deepen the faith of the Christians in Palestine and to raise awareness of their witness and their concerns around the world.

• Lord, we pray for the work of Sabeel and we pray, too, for the holy city of Jerusalem. You see the sufferings and the deprivations of so many in this city. Strengthen, O Lord our God, the hearts of all those who work for justice here and support them with your Holy Spirit. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

The Friends of Sabeel North America, (FOSNA), are taking part in a joint action to counter Christian Zionism in Washington DC on the 7th and 8th of July. They aim to bring to light the influence of Christians United for Israel, (CUFI). This group has a membership of over 5 million in the US and it is the largest organization driving support for Israel’s oppression of Palestinians. Recently CUFI lobbied the US government to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, for unconstitutional anti-BDS legislation and promotes illegal settlement expansion.

• Dear Lord, we pray for the work of FOSNA and for their deep concern for their brothers and sisters in Israel/Palestine. We pray for those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Al Haq is an independent Palestinian humanitarian organization, based in Ramallah in the West Bank. It monitors and documents human rights violations by all parties in the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. On Monday the 10th of June Israel’s Ministry of Strategic Affairs, (MSA) claimed it had persuaded European and US banks to close down its international account, even though it doesn’t have any accounts with them. It was one of 30 NGOs to be targeted by the Israeli government with unsubstantiated smears and verbal attacks.

• Lord we pray for those in positions of political leadership that they do not abuse their power by trying to silence human rights defenders. Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Palestinian residents of the village of Sur Baher, south east of Jerusalem, have been given until the 18th of July to demolish 100 apartments The Israeli authorities are using the pretext that they are too close to the security fence. The residents will have to demolish their own apartments or they will face heavy demolition costs and fines from the Israeli municipality. So many Palestinians are forced to build without permits as the Israeli authorities refuse to grant them.

• Dear Lord, we pray for the villagers of Sur Baher who will soon have nowhere to live. Slowly but surely the Palestinians are being forced out of their homes. We pray that there would be an international outcry at the way the Israeli government is treating the Palestinian people. Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer.

The water shortage in the West Bank continues. This is a result of years of Israel’s discriminatory water policies. The amount of water allowed to the West Bank has not been increased since 1995, although its population has almost doubled since then. As a result, the average Israeli has access to 2-3 times the World Health Organization’s recommended minimum water allowance per day, while the average Palestinian living in the West Bank has access to only 75% of that minimum amount.

• Lord, water is a source of life, and we pray for the people living in Occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem who continue to live with restricted water supplies, especially during this hot summer, while others in the settlements have uninterrupted access to water. Lord, in your mercy…hear our 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.

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

Thursday 20^th June 2019

The ‘Great March of Return’ and ‘Breaking the Siege’ protests continued on Friday 14^th June. Israeli forces used live ammunition and rubber coated steel bullets injuring 49 protestors, including a female paramedic east of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip. The weekly protests call for lifting the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip and for the return of the Palestinian refugees to their ancestral homes in pre-1948 Palestine.

      ·         Lord, we continue to pray for the safety of those taking part in the non-violent protest. May their cries be heard, and international pressure brought to bear to recognise the right of Palestinian refugees to return to the land which they were forced to leave. Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer.    

The Kumi Now initiative focuses on the work of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, (ICAHD), which works to stop house demolitions carried out against Palestinians. ICAHD also works to achieve peace in Palestine/ Israel by advocating for the equal rights of Palestinians and Israelis. It focuses on the human cost of the Israeli occupation and raises a critical Israeli voice to the public debate abroad. It is estimated that since 1967 Israel has demolished 54,000 Palestinian homes in the occupied territory.

·      Dear Lord Jesus, as an adult you knew what it was like to have nowhere to lay your head, but as a child you were provided with a home. We pray for the Palestinian children who have seen their homes demolished before their eyes. Often their homes are destroyed because the necessary building permits have been withheld by the very authorities who bulldoze their properties. Lord you see the suffering and trauma this inflicts on families. We thank you for the work of ICHAD as they seek to draw attention to the Israeli policy of home demolitions. Lord, in your mercy…

On Monday, the 10th of June, after a 13-year legal battle, the Israeli Supreme court judged that the historic properties near the Jaffa Gate had been legitimately acquired by foreign intermediaries acting for the Ateret Cohanim settler organisation. This decision almost completely removes the essential Christian presence from the Jaffa Gate area.

·      Dear Lord, we pray that these attempts to further weaken the Christian presence in the land of the Holy One will be halted, and that all faiths are free to worship in their holy places according to international law. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

On the 10th of June Hassan al-Awewi gave up his hunger strike after 69 days. His health had deteriorated, and the authorities agreed to end his administrative detention.

Hassan is one of nearly five hundred Palestinians out of a total of 5,400 Palestinian prisoners who are currently held under administrative detention, that is imprisonment without charge or trial. Detention orders can be issued for up to six months at a time and renewed indefinitely.

·      Lord, we pray that Hassan’s health will improve now he is receiving medical attention. We pray that international lawmakers will speak out and require that the Israeli state puts an end to the policy of imprisoning Palestinians without charge or trial. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Despite current political instability, the leader of the centre-left Democratic Party in Moldova announced that it will move the country’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. It would be the first European country to do so.

·      Lord, we pray for the city of Jerusalem. It is a city sacred to the people of three faiths and a city that should be shared in peace by them all. It saddens us to hear of countries making political statements to claim the city for the people of one faith and to try to exclude all others. We pray for the peace and tranquillity of Jerusalem. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

A ground-breaking Palestinian Oral History Map has been launched online as part of an archive created by the American University of Beirut. The project contains over 1000-hours of oral testimonies from Palestinians who lived through the Nakba, describing everyday life in Palestine before 1948, as well as their experiences of displacement and exile. (http://www.palestinechronicle.com/ground-breaking-palestinian-oral-history-map-launched-video)

·      Lord, we thank you for this imaginative project to help Palestinians to reconnect with their history that has almost been erased from the textbooks they read in school. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

·      We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Malawi and Zambia. Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

Thursday 13^th June 2019

The Great March of Return was replaced on Friday with prayers for Eid al-Fitr to celebrate the end of Ramadan. From 30^th March – 7^th June 2019, 131 Palestinians were killed and 13,900 injured by Israeli dispersal tactics and use of live fire (OCHA/UN)

• Lord, our hearts are gladdened to hear that our Muslim brothers and sisters in Gaza were able to celebrate Eid al-Fitr despite the ongoing desperate situation. We pray that the Israeli administration come to realise that the people of Gaza cannot continue to be oppressed and that their legal right to return to their homes must be recognised. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

The Tawjihi (school leaver) exams began last week for students at Palestinian schools. In any context, exams are difficult and stressful enough without the ongoing issues of checkpoints, movement restrictions, and other problems caused by the ongoing Israeli occupation.

• God, we lift up the many students finishing the school year and all of those taking the national Tawjihi exams. We pray for the coming summer months, and the few opportunities available to Palestinian youth. We ask that all young people would be able to enjoy a safe, fun, and productive summer. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

The Kumi Now initiative this week concentrates on Christian Zionism and the work of Peacemaker Trust. We encourage all those engaging with this initiative to read the information on the growing problem Christian Zionism causes in Palestine and Israel and the work of the Peacemaker Trust.

• Lord, give strength and courage to those engaging with the Kumi Now initiative that they may engage fully with this week and the Kumi action. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Last Sunday, churches around the world celebrated Pentecost and remembered the beginning of the Church. Now, as then, the church here serves in a context of occupation and seeks to show an alternative way in a world driven by empire.

• Blessed Redeemer of all the Earth, this week we pray especially for your Church in the Middle East. Stand with the women, men, and children who are your body in the Middle East and send your Holy Spirit upon them. Protect your children from all evil and let the flame of your love, truth, grace, and goodness burn within us all. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) continues to have a presence in Palestine and Israel through the Ecumenical Accompaniment programme (EAPPI). These volunteers, stationed in various places throughout the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem act as a reminder to Israel that the international Christian community care deeply about the ongoing situation and are unwilling to just stand by.

• Gracious and protecting Lord, encourage and strengthen the leadership of the WCC as they look to the future of EAPPI and their presence here in the land of the Holy One. Open the eyes of those who engage as accompaniers to see the realities on the ground and grant them the grace to speak out, so that they may share what they have seen when they return to their homes. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Sabeel Jerusalem will host various groups this week, some for a talk about the realities on the ground and the work of Sabeel, some will join us for prayer, and one will take part in a tour.

• Lord, we are grateful for all of the groups who take time to come to Sabeel whether to find out about the realities on the ground or to hear about the work of Sabeel with the local community and beyond. Grant the staff and volunteers of Sabeel the strength and grace to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, and to share your liberating love with all who they come into contact with. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

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