The Forum for discussion of Israel and Palestine is a unique and timely initiative, seeking to promote and facilitate dialogue between Christians, Jews and Muslims in the UK on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
This important topic is often 'the elephant in the room' in inter faith dialogue, hindering progress in relations between these three major faiths.
FODIP equips and provides opportunities for encounter, where people of different faiths can engage with the issues together. It also seeks to inform through the provision of articles and papers.
As the talks begin in Washington, this week’s articles from the Common Ground News Service address some big issues
Reflections on the Mideast peace talks by Louise Diamond.
Love in times of conflict by Khaled Diab.
Environment first by Sarah Ozacky-Lazar.
Hope for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by Aziz Abu Sara.
One Solution: Two States by Lara Friedman.
To Boycott or Not
At the Christian arts and music festival Greenbelt, a panel held on August Bank Holiday Monday offered an opportunity for festival goers to consider ”The time is now right to boycott Israeli goods (Class discuss).”
The distinguished panel included Palestinian Jonathan Kuttab and Abe Hayeem, a well-known Jewish campaigner for Palestinian rights.
The few hundred people present, sitting on the grass in the aptly named ‘Hebron’ tent, heard both men make passionate pleas for boycotts, their arguments centred around the fact that Palestinians themselves were calling for this, and also because they believed this would put pressure on the Israeli government to end the occupation.
Speaking in a personal capacity, FODIP Director Jane Clements disagreed, believing that this was an easy but negative activity and would not make for real change in the region. Agreeing with her was former Christian Aid spokesman on interfaith relations, Nigel Varndell, who called among other things for support for the DEFRA stance on labelling to better identify goods made in West Bank settlements.
Also participating was Steve Hucklesby, Policy Advisor for the Methodist Church, who also spoke in favour of a boycott and who outlined briefly the background to the recent report to the Methodist Conference.
The meeting was chaired by Greenbelt veteran Martin Evans of Just Peace.
Following a lively question, answer and discussion session, Martin invited personal statements from the floor – or the grass. A following straw poll showed a majority of those present clearly in favour of Greenbelt making a boycott of Israeli goods official policy. Discussion continued for sometime afterwards.
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PLEASE SIGN UP TO OUR ONLINE FORUM AND CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION!
This important topic is often 'the elephant in the room' in inter faith dialogue, hindering progress in relations between these three major faiths.
FODIP equips and provides opportunities for encounter, where people of different faiths can engage with the issues together. It also seeks to inform through the provision of articles and papers.
As the talks begin in Washington, this week’s articles from the Common Ground News Service address some big issuesReflections on the Mideast peace talks by Louise Diamond.
Love in times of conflict by Khaled Diab.
Environment first by Sarah Ozacky-Lazar.
Hope for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by Aziz Abu Sara.
One Solution: Two States by Lara Friedman.
To Boycott or NotAt the Christian arts and music festival Greenbelt, a panel held on August Bank Holiday Monday offered an opportunity for festival goers to consider ”The time is now right to boycott Israeli goods (Class discuss).”
The distinguished panel included Palestinian Jonathan Kuttab and Abe Hayeem, a well-known Jewish campaigner for Palestinian rights.
The few hundred people present, sitting on the grass in the aptly named ‘Hebron’ tent, heard both men make passionate pleas for boycotts, their arguments centred around the fact that Palestinians themselves were calling for this, and also because they believed this would put pressure on the Israeli government to end the occupation.
Speaking in a personal capacity, FODIP Director Jane Clements disagreed, believing that this was an easy but negative activity and would not make for real change in the region. Agreeing with her was former Christian Aid spokesman on interfaith relations, Nigel Varndell, who called among other things for support for the DEFRA stance on labelling to better identify goods made in West Bank settlements.
Also participating was Steve Hucklesby, Policy Advisor for the Methodist Church, who also spoke in favour of a boycott and who outlined briefly the background to the recent report to the Methodist Conference.
The meeting was chaired by Greenbelt veteran Martin Evans of Just Peace.
Following a lively question, answer and discussion session, Martin invited personal statements from the floor – or the grass. A following straw poll showed a majority of those present clearly in favour of Greenbelt making a boycott of Israeli goods official policy. Discussion continued for sometime afterwards.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS?
PLEASE SIGN UP TO OUR ONLINE FORUM AND CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION!
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