Author: Kairos Puget Sound Coalition

In this pandemic, the nation’s citizens face a crisis that is finally bringing us together.

By Yossi Klein Halevi  | The Atlantic | Apr 30, 2020

Israel’s Jewish majority must finally commit to full equality for the state’s Arab citizens.

During the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese Islamist militia, I was sitting in a restaurant in the city of Haifa when the siren warning of an incoming rocket interrupted my meal. Arab and Jewish diners found shelter in the narrow kitchen, crowding against one another in awkward silence. “Coexistence,” one woman finally said, with palpable irony.

Today, Israel faces its first national threat that isn’t security related, our first civil emergency that has nothing to do with the Arab-Israeli conflict. In the coronavirus, Israel’s Arab and Jewish citizens are facing a crisis that is finally bringing us together.

Continue reading “Israel’s Arab Moment”

A former Swedish diplomat names the complicity of doing nothing.

By Mats Svensson | The Palestine Chronicle | Apr 29, 2020

An emptiness filled me… I felt shame for my lack of engagement. Shame over my colleagues, over my organization and their indifference, over the silence.

For a long time, the movement was slow. Small steps. Limited change, as if we had all the time in the world. The movement was clear to everyone affected, as well as the outside world, but the outside world kept its eyes closed.

The outside world consists, among others, of short term workers. Often diplomats. Sometimes working for a few months, a few years. Less often, for a bit longer. These are continuously replaced. Like an eternal marathon race, one race without a baton. I was one of these.

Continue reading “The autocratic son-in-law and his madness”

A plea from the Kairos Board of Directors expressing concern for the life and future of both peoples with a firm hope for the day when both oppressor and oppressed create a new society for all the people of the land.

By Kairos Palestine | Apr 30, 2020

While we see that the equation of land for peace have lost its credibility and now look impossible for a two states solution, we at KP [Kairos Palestine] are committed for our people and churches to continue to struggle for the values that make for peace.

Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (Amos 5:23-24)

The board of Kairos Palestine raises an alarm regarding the consequences of the third failed Israeli election in less than a year. The resulting coalition entered on April 20, 2020, combines two of the most right-wing parties—Bennie Gantz’s Blue and White and Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud—in a deal that directly threatens Palestinians’ freedom, health and human rights.

Continue reading “The Dire Consequences of Israel’s ‘Coalition Government’”

Now that nearly half of the population of planet Earth are experiencing some form of ‘curfew’, a few suggestions on how to survive the prolonged confinement, the Palestinian way.

By Ramzy Baroud | Al-Bushra | Apr 13, 2020

Call it a ‘quarantine,’ a ‘shelter-in-place,’ a ‘lockdown’ or a ‘curfew,’ we Palestinians have experienced them all, though not at all voluntarily.

Now that nearly half of the population of planet Earth are experiencing some form of ‘curfew’ or another, I would like to share a few suggestions on how to survive the prolonged confinement, the Palestinian way.

Call it a ‘quarantine,’ a ‘shelter-in-place,’ a ‘lockdown’ or a ‘curfew,’ we Palestinians have experienced them all, though not at all voluntarily.

Personally, the first 23 years of my life were lived in virtual ‘lockdown. ’My father’s ‘quarantine’ was experienced much earlier, as did his father’s ‘shelter-in-place’ before him. They both died and were buried in Gaza’s cemeteries without ever experiencing true freedom outside of their refugee camp in Gaza.

Continue reading “A Palestinian guide to surviving a quarantine”

A call for Palestinian leadership to change course on political strategy or face a very real existential threat.

By Professor Kamel Hawwash | Middle East Monitor | Apr 22, 2020

The agreement also includes the application of Israeli Law to wide swathes of the illegally-occupied Palestinian land in the West Bank while US President Donald Trump is still in office.

When it comes to Israel, the international community has once again been exposed for the double standards and hypocrisy it reserves to support the rogue state. Many so-called western democracies have fallen over each other to offer congratulations to an Apartheid state for forming a government that will entrench occupation, oppression, racism and land theft.

Settler-colonialism on steroids has thus been praised for spawning two politicians — both of whom are suspected war criminals — who have supposedly pushed personal animosity and ambition aside to form a government that will, from 1 July, begin to annex large swathes of illegally-occupied Palestinian lands in defiance of international law and conventions, aided and abetted by the US. This in itself is outrageous.

Continue reading “Israel’s new government is being lauded despite apartheid and annexation”

Aid donation to fight coronavirus given after Trump administration has cut millions of dollars of aid to Palestinians

By Reuters /Israel Hayom Staff | Apr 17, 2020

The $5 million will be international disaster assistance from the US Agency for International Development, according to the State Department’s website.

The United States is giving $5 million to the Palestinians to help them fight the coronavirus epidemic, a US envoy said on Thursday.

The donation announced by US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman follows years of aid cuts by President Donald Trump’s administration to the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

“I’m very pleased the USA is providing $5M for Palestinian hospitals and households to meet immediate, life-saving needs in combating COVID-19,” Friedman wrote on Twitter.

Continue reading “US gives $5M to Palestinians amid pandemic”

An Easter message that violence, resilience, steadfastness and compassionate agape will have the last word over hate, racism, discrimination, violence, war and occupation.

By Zoughbi Zoughbi |  HolyLandJustice | Apr 11, 2020

‘I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out’ [Luke 19:40] It is a warning. This statement still speaks loudly and is directed toward leaders and institutions. Whether leaders of an institution, or government, or state, or the world, there will be a driving force challenging all establishments and perpetuators of injustice and oppression.

Greetings from Bethlehem
Greetings from the Holy Land
Zoughbi Zoughbi , Founder and Director
Wi’am, The Palestinian Conflict Transformation Center
Bethlehem

Yesterday [Apr 10] we celebrated Good Friday, when Jesus was crucified, died and was buried. Let us contemplate, while on this road to resurrection… Jesus was born in a cave warmed by animals….Herod was in Jerusalem conspiring to kill him… The Angels helped the Holy Family flee to Egypt, escaping Herod and the Roman Occupation.

Continue reading “Greetings from Bethlehem”