Dear Friends,
Thank you for your quick and faithful action last summer 2015 which contributed to a reprieve for the village of Susiya in the southern West Bank. Without our global advocacy, the plight of Susiya might have gone unnoticed with tragic consequences.
The United Church of Canada has received an urgent action appeal from the World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) this last week about threatened demolitions to the community of Ein ar Rashash in the Nablus Governorate in Area C of the occupied West Bank.
We are sending you this Take Action and a sample letter addressed to Foreign Minister Stephane Dion with a request for you to please write Minister Dion and ask him to denounce these potential breeches of international humanitarian law that will result in the forced displacement of this community and to call on with the Israeli government to halt the demolition of Ein ar Rashash. The demolitions could take place at any moment so we urge you to take action today to prevent the mass demolition of this village and the forced displacement of its 112 residents.
Please write to your Member of Parliament to ask them raise your concerns with the government and take action. You can use the template attached to contact your elected representative also.
The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) is in close contact with the affected communities and is actively monitoring the effects of these policies. You can view some of the latest photo essays written by EAs on this issue at the above (EAPPI) link.
Please send copies of your letters and emails to:
Christie Neufeldt, Program Coordinator, Public Witness
cneufeldt@united-church.ca
Wendy Gichuru, Program Coordinator, Africa/Middle East Partnerships
wgichuru@united-church.ca
We have also received news that Israeli authorities have begun demolishing structures in the village of Khirbet Jenbah, in the 918 Firing Zone, in the Southern Hebron Hills. Fearing that the authorities could execute 30 demolition orders on February 2nd, the Society of St Yves issued an Urgent Call for Protective Presence in Masafer Yatta. Read more here: https://www.facebook.com/SocietyofSt.Yves/posts/1109714295735862?fref=nf
The United Church and partners continue to monitor these situations as closely as we can.
Thank you for your support!
Wendy Gichuru
Program Coordinator/Coordonatrice de program
Africa & The Middle East/l’Afrique et le Moyen Orient
Church in Mission Unit/Unite de l’Eglise en Mission
The United Church of Canada/L’Eglise Unie du Canada
Toll-free/sans frais: 1-800-268-3781
Voicemail/boite vocale: 416-231-7680, ext/poste 4038
Fax/telecopieur: 416-233-3103
Email/Courriel: wgichuru@united-church.ca
www.united-church.ca
Local Global Advocacy Network 