For the next few days in Washington, D.C., 1,200 people are gathering in the name of a “pro-Israel, pro-peace” U.S. policy. Because of my broken leg, I can’t be physically there. But my mind and spirit and 40 years of…
A few days ago I received a mass e-mail from the ACLJ. For those who don’t get their daily dose of Christian talk radio, ACLJ stands for the American Center for Law and Justice. Think of the ACLJ as the…
During these days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Jews are called on to reexamine our own actions — our “missings of the mark.” The emphasis is on OUR sins — not those of individuals alone, but of the community…
Just the basic facts about Anna Baltzer make her a provocative presence. She’s a 30-year-old Jewish-American woman who is arguing passionately for justice for Palestinians.
But she mixes her passion with a crisp description of life in the Occupied Territories of…
Every so often, I will begin the week with a post about something that I believe deserves further reflection and comment from the God’s Politics community. This is one of those events, so I invite both our bloggers and readers…
It is undeniable that the Palestinian people — Muslim and Christians — have suffered in pursuit of a homeland. For more than 60 years they have endured the pain of dislocation. Many wait in refugee camps in the West Bank,…
Two days, in comparison to years of conflict, is not a lot of time, but it was long enough for a broad spectrum of Christian leaders to find hope in a growing consensus around a way forward for peace in…
I’ve written a lot on Palestine and Gaza in recent years. Any of us who travel (or read) know that peace in the world can’t be separated from peace in Israel — peace for Jews, and peace for Muslim and Christian…
In last week’s SojoMail, the quote of the week was from an Israeli squad leader describing the incredulous reactions of his men when he took measures to protect civilian lives during the invasion of Gaza. Later I found a more…
Ishmael and Isaac, brothers of the same father and different mothers, together buried their father Abraham. Esau and Jacob, twin brother and rivals, reconciled. When they met after many years, Jacob said: “for truly to see your face is like…
Each time I write about the Middle East, I feel compelled to repeat three concepts.
First, casualty counts. Currently, 4,908 Palestinians have been killed and 1,062 Israelis have been killed since September 2000. (That’s according to B’tselem, the Israeli Human Rights…
Today is the sixth day of freedom after my four-day imprisonment. Every once in awhile I am hit by the incomprehensible contrast between absolute freedom and absolute confinement. During those four long days I didn’t do much else but be…
A year ago I became haunted by the notion that Christians, Muslims, and Jews are going to blow up the world unless we learn to get along. I wished — well, actually, I prayed — that I might become part…
We at Sojourners continue to be deeply concerned for the safety and well-being of Philip Rizk, who was arrested and detained by Egyptian secret police Friday evening following a rally north of Cairo in support of the people of Gaza. Philip has…
My dear friend Philip Rizk was kidnapped on Friday night by Egyptian secret police. The events of that day, and updates since, are available in other places (such as here and the Facebook group) but I just wanted to note the…
Friday evening I was in Washington D.C. and received an urgent message from Egypt. The major player in helping us get medical equipment into Egypt duirng the early days of the recent 22 day war in Gaza was Philip Rizk. Friday…
Today I listened to a persecuted woman, mother to mother. Idia, the wife of disappeared pastor William Reyes, held my daughter Amara on her lap as I fed the 10-month-old a late lunch.
…Since the disappearance (of my husband William) I’ve…
Beyond anguish, what can we say about the massive death and destruction in Gaza and the traumatic fear of falling rockets in Israel? How do we shape not just the temporary palliative of “cease-fire,” but a true alternative? Not just…
For the next few days in Washington, D.C., 1,200 people are gathering in the name of a “pro-Israel, pro-peace” U.S. policy. Because of my broken leg, I can’t be physically there. But my mind and spirit and 40 years of…
Just the basic facts about Anna Baltzer make her a provocative presence. She’s a 30-year-old Jewish-American woman who is arguing passionately for justice for Palestinians.
In 
Former President Jimmy Carter just published a new book about the ongoing violent unrest in the Middle East titled, 
.
