Photo Gallery and Resources from Learning Forum with Shadia Q.
When we planned the Service of Prayer for Peace in Palestine and Israel on January 19 followed by a Learning Forum with Shadia Qubti we did not yet know that this would be the first day of the Hamas-Israel Ceasefire. Our prayers and laments uttered in the same hours as the Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners were being released took on an added sense of poignancy.
Following our potluck lunch, Shadia with her grace and disarming presense put us all at ease as she spoke to us about her marginal position in Israeli society - as a woman and Palestinian Christian she was a minority within a minority. In the words of one participant, "[the presentation] shed some light on the very fraught events of the last months. I think that all of us had our views expanded by this." A learning that will stay with me--that is not widely reported in the mainstream media--is the use of plea bargains by the IDF with Palestinian prisoners imprisoned under administrative detention. The prisoners are offered to be released if they will sign a plea bargain confessing (in part or entirely) to having committed certain offenses. This may lead to false confessions in order to end their unbearable situation and avoid remaining imprisoned indefinitely.
The photo gallery includes an image of books for further learning. Shadia has also contributed a chapter in a forthcoming book. Her chapter, "Noticing Sumac in Unexpected Places: Engaging Palestinian and Indigenous Writings on the Land" will be included in The Cross and the Olive Tree: New Palestinian Theological Reflection Amidst Gaza soon to be published by Orbis Books.
Kairos Canada has a "Just Peace in the Middle East Ecumenical Hub" where you will find a list of ecumenical resources.
You can also find further resources at the United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine and Israel
Trinity Grace United Church in Vancouver is holding a film series "See Palestine Together." The next one is this coming Tuesday, January 28 featuring, "Food as Weapon and Resistance." Doors open at 6PM and film starts at 6:30PM.