You can donate to Bethlehem Bible College / Shepherd Society “Gaza Cries Out” relief effort by selecting this link.
https://shepherd-society.org/donations/gaza-donation/
“Gaza Cries Out” Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR6ZW7W_d4U
Today, we received this message from the Abuna, Elias Chacour
It is happening.
The Israel-Palestine world as we knew it is passing away. I thought it might come in my lifetime. I did not foresee it happening this soon. Israel will once again attempt to bomb and siege its way out of this confrontation. They may succeed, temporarily. Soon after however, does anyone doubt that we will be right back where we are today?
Of the 15 million or so people that make up the Israel-Palestine world, about half are Israelis and half are Palestinian. How long can one half of a population suppress the legitimate aspirations of the other half, and expect to “manage” the situation?
The vast majority of Israelis have never been to the West Bank or Gaza. Many are ignorant of their suppression of Palestinians. For them, the “Palestinian situation” was a vague reality they did not need to deal with directly. It was “out there.”
No longer.
Make no mistake.
There are the two significant actors that could bring an end to this insanity. (Insanity: Implementing the same failed policy again and again, yet expecting a different result each time.) Both the State of Israel and the United States hold the “power of empire” and are in positions of enough strength and influence to effect change. Is 75 years too short a time to realize that past policies have not and will not bring peace and justice to all peoples? Do Israelis feel secure today? Do Palestinians enjoy equal human rights? Is American foreign policy served by regional instability?
Settler colonialism, apartheid policies, an oppressive occupation and a siege of Gaza are the core realities in which this violence erupted, and lead to the question, “Which parties are actually interested in peace with justice?” Regional stability, Israeli security, and the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people will come only by addressing these core issues.
Bart Den Boer
KWM Executive Director
Join Us Thursday, Nov. 2
Dinner with Mark Braverman
Event is free, but tickets required.
More Info Here
We at Kairos West Michigan add our voice to the chorus of individuals and organizations condemning Hamas’ violent attack on Israel and proclaiming that violence has not, does not, and will not bring equal human rights for all the peoples of Israel-Palestine. (Churches for Middle East Peace, Jewish Voice for Peace, Amnesty International, Breaking the Silence, B’Tselem, Indiana Center for Middle East Peace…)
We also continue to call out both the State of Israel and the United States government for the extent they have ignored the humanitarian pleas for just and equitable treatment of all peoples in Israel-Palestine. As Americans we bear significant responsibility for the violence plaguing Israel and Palestine. We have allowed and supported the State of Israel to expand its policies of settler colonialism and apartheid, and its continuous oppressive occupation of Palestinian territory. These are the core issues preventing a just peace.
Oppression begets violence, and vice-versa. Therefore, unless the parties, including the United States, address the core issues preventing equal human rights for all, the atrocities of this past weekend will be only a precursor to worse violence to come, including the possibility of wider regional involvement. We strongly encourage all parties to immediately cease hostile acts and begin to seriously address these core issues.
Bart Den Boer
Kairos West Michigan
We add our voice to the chorus of individuals and organizations ….
See accompanying links for statements by Jewish Voice For Peace and Churches for Middle East Peace
All over the world, people are getting the idea!
Bart and Den Boer in Maria-Theresa Square, Innsbruck, Austria. Saturday, Sept. 16
KWM / KNOW Activist Advocacy Report
On Wednesday, September 6, four speakers and eight silent witnesses met via zoom with Alec Daman, foreign affairs aide to MI District 4 Rep. Bill Huizenga.
Prior to the meeting KWM and KNOW (Kalamazoo Non-violent Opposition to War) submitted to Alec Daman about 350 signatures on a petition supporting the passage of H.R. 3103. KNOW and KWM have become important partners in this effort!
Speakers: John Kleinheksel, Bart Den Boer, Amy Damashek, and Said Abu Bakr.
Bart framed HR 3103 in the broad terms of “equal human rights for all,” emphasizing the following….
2. What happens when a friend does not honor a basic American value: equal human rights for all?
3. Occupying an entity equal in population and almost as large as the occupied is very challenging. It necessitates tactics that invariably infringe on human rights, including collective and “preventive” punishment.
1. Nighttime home invasions
2. Detention of minors
3. Detention w/o charge, trial, or legal representation for indefinite periods.
4. Lack of freedom of movement within the occupied zone
5. The occupation has been in place now for 56 years.Security for Israeli’s and Palestinians has not appreciably improved regardless of tactics.
4. The United States has no business telling Israel how to conduct its foreign and domestic policy. However, it does have the calling and duty to use our influence to promote equal human rights for all peoples. HR 3103 is a reasonable measure toward that end, preventing U.S. funds from being used to deny human rights to the innocent.
Amy Damashek, a Western Michigan University professor active in the Kalamazoo area Jewish community, referenced home demolition, lack of education, unequal water rights, and child detention, among others violations, and advocated for holding Israel accountable via H.R. 3103.
Said, a Palestinian born WMU professor whose family has personal experience with the Nakba, is seeking justice for the Palestinian people. He referenced the U.S. as a country of law and order and pointed out that it is actually already against U.S. law to support countries that violate human rights. Said asked that we apply U.S. law to friend and foe and alike, noting that the occupation of Ukraine by Russia is no different from that of Palestine by Israel. The U.S. should model “equal human rights morality” to the world.
Alec inquired, “Why are children being detained?”
Said noted that it seems to a means to intimidate the population and gather intelligence. John said, “To instill fear in the populace by taking children away from their parents and holding them for many days without communication.”
John urged Alec to look carefully at the bill, honor American values, and reach across the aisle to support this bill. He noted that hundreds of people in District IV support H.R. 3103 He asked for Alec’s reaction and if Alec had any follow-up questions.
Alec gave a brief overview of Rep. Huizenga’s representation in southwest Michigan, promised to review H.R. 3103 with Rep. Huizenga, also promising that Rep. Huizenga will continue to support all laws preventing senseless violence.
John once again thanked Alec for the meeting. Alec thanked us for meeting with him and cordially signed off.
Apartheid and Settler Colonialism: Tools from the Past Used by Israel Today
In the past year, at least three respected human rights monitoring organizations have identified Israeli practices against Palestinians as apartheid: Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and B’Tselem (the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights). Apartheid is any policy that is founded on the idea of separating people based on racial or ethnic criteria. It is important to note that these practices are systematic efforts by the Israeli government, not simply actions due to the ingrained prejudice of a few bigots.
Settler colonialism is a system of oppression that aims to displace a population of a nation (oftentimes indigenous people) and replace it with a new settler population. Against the expressed wishes of the United States early this summer Bezalel Smotrich, the Israeli Finance Minister, announced plans to double the number of settlers in the West Bank from at least 500,000 currently to more than 1,000,000. These settlers live in settlements that are illegal according to international law and built on land belonging to the Palestinians.
Israel is a friend of America. Both settler colonialism and apartheid are anathema to our values as freedom-loving Americans and supporters of democracies around the world. Friends do not allow their friends to commit human rights violations with impunity.
The Palestinian Families and Children Act, or H.R. 3031, would prevent the expenditure of your tax dollars in support of these practices. Contact your representative.
Michigan District IV Residents: Take a stand HERE
All Others: Take your stand at https://nwttac.dci-palestine.org/united_states.
Equal Human Rights For All The Peoples Of Israel-Palestine
Fifth Reformed Church (Grand Rapids) Film Series: The Law and the Prophets
Film synopsis: The premise of the film is that Israeli law violates the civil and human rights of Palestinians as a matter of standard, accepted policy. The film tells the story of determined individuals, Israeli, Palestinian, and ex-pat, who are trying to expose this injustice. The Law and the Prophets aims to explain the mechanisms of control that promote both settler colonialism and apartheid, perfected through decades of civil and military rule of Palestinians both within Israel, and in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Dates / Times: Tuesdays, August 8 and Sept. 12, 1:00-3:00 pm at
Location: Fifth Reformed, 2012 Griggs St. S.E. Grand Rapids, MI
We will show this 2-hour film in two sessions at Fifth Reformed. Each session will be one hour of film followed by half-hour of discussion. Bart Den Boer will lead the first session; Marlin Vis the second. While it is a senior’s group, all are welcome.
Equal Human Rights For All The Peoples Of Israel-Palestine
“Friends,
If you are following the news coming from Israel and Palestine, you might be wondering what’s the background and the context for the recent violence. Shai Goren is a tour guide …. and a partner in peacemaking.
These NGOs: Ir Amim, Emek Shaveh, and Peace Now, created this video narrated by Shai to explain the sensitive situation of al-Aqsa Mosque/ Ḥaram al-Sharīf/Temple Mount. The video is in Hebrew but has English subtitles.”
Aziz Abu Sarah, Crossing Boundaries
