A new web page has been added to the Church of Scotland site which offers information and links to news from useful sites based in the region.
The Friends of St Andrew’s Jerusalem & Tiberias St Andrew’s day service on 30th November, hosted by St Cuthbert’s Church in Edinburgh, was very well attended and raised almost £1000 for this year’s chosen charity EAPPI. Ian Alexander spoke movingly about the work Ecumenical Accompaniers do in observing, companioning and advocating on return to home. There has been a relentless upward trend in reports written about breaches of international humanitarian law in recent years, and since 7th October 2023 there are no EAPPIs in Israel-Palestine, though many are keeping in touch from home. Those who have been able to go to Bedouin communities and hear what’s happening in Hebron and elsewhere report increasing settler violence and intimidation. Over 140 families who had resisted removal from their land for many years have now succumbed.
Immediately after the service, Rev Dr Stewart Gillan flew back to Israel and he has been reconnecting with partners and staff at St Andrew’s House Hotel Jerusalem (formerly the Guest House.) Rev Muriel Pearson is still Glasgow-based but hopes to return in the New Year. The Scots Hotel in Tiberias has been hosting families evacuated from along the border with Lebanon. At the moment, return to normal tourism and pilgrimage seem a long way off.
Tabeetha School in Jaffa has been coping with teachers and students coming and going and the need to be hybrid – in person and on-line - to accommodate everyone in case of a missile attack. Staff and students are greatly affected emotionally and the school is mindful of this. However thankfully the school is now back to normal operations, and is continuing to emphasise its highly prized diversity.
The awful reality of the situation in Gaza, where OCHA currently estimate 1.9M are internally displaced people, and the death toll rises daily, with over 70% of the dead are women and children, challenges the world community. Following the horror of Hamas’ attack on 7th October, the Church of Scotland spoke to express sympathy with Israeli bereaved and families of hostages. Currently, the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, along with other faith leaders is calling for an immediate ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid, with an ongoing commitment to a solution which is based on a just peace.
A new web page has been added to the Church of Scotland site which offers more information and links to news from useful sites based in the region.
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