![]() ![]() He inked a deal with the Israeli government threatening Canadian BDS proponents, also a line taken by Steven Blaney at the UN, smearing the BDS movement as anti-Semitic. The challenge is to be not intimidated by the recent bullying tactics of people like John Baird. I think there is a growing gulf between how Canadians and our government sees the region. There is also a belief, a hope, that Europe is realizing the apartheid nature of the situation and will become increasingly uncomfortable with it, expressed in support for BDS, turning to international law, and other forms of non-violent resistance.ĬTIP – Turning our minds to Canada, what do you think our most important challenges are with respect to Israel/Palestine? ![]() People seem to believe that they are in for a long struggle, to cast off the yoke of apartheid. Compounded by the ever-expanding settlements seizing the best land, the two-state solution is now widely understood as mirage. Israel unabashedly lifted the veil, exposing its true colours, its attitude toward non-Jewish Palestinians. The summer’s devastation of Gaza seemed to have changed everything. I prayed with friends and colleagues in our Gaza church, restored after it was struck by an Israeli laser-guided missile.ĬTIP – Back in the West Bank – how can you describe the mood today? Fear? Discouragement? Anger?įather Assaly confronts young Israeli soldiers blocking access to Hebron, West Bank I circulated my observations under the title, When apartheid becomes a polite understatement. I understood the frustration of being members of a community targeted simply because they are not Jews. I heard the pain of an entire population imprisoned, besieged, attacked and slaughtered. I was struck by the flags planted in one rubble pile after the next, as a statement that they might be devastated but not defeated. ![]() In summary, I saw endless blocks of rubble in Shuja’iyya where thousands once lived, where a hospital once stood, in which children still played at great risk. CFOS raised over $40,000 for Gaza since the summer and so this was also an opportunity for our partners to give some context to the need. It is both a show of solidarity and in a small way which Gazans really appreciate, an overcoming of the siege. I have felt for years that it is important for visitors to make the effort to cut through the isolation of which Gazans are ever-conscious. How long did you go for? What for? What did you see/hear? It was truly a moment of hope.ĬTIP – I understand you also went to Gaza. A brilliant young Bethlehem woman explained why BDS must go beyond just boycotting goods from the West Bank and bring pressure on Israel itself. It brought together over 300 people from abroad and locally. This conference in Bethlehem featured speakers from churches in Brazil, South Korea, India and South Africa. It was a watershed moment having a profound impact on churches throughout the world. It was a grass-roots Palestinian Christian call out to the global church endorsed by all the Jerusalem Heads of Churches. In 2009, KP issued a document called A word of faith, hope, and love from the heart of Palestinian suffering. This was the Kairos Palestine (KP) 5th Anniversary Conference. I went to become better informed, to renew and increase my understanding, so that I can be a more integrated and effective advocate.ĬTIP – Who was there, and what were you discussing? I anticipate that much of my time the rest of my years will be devoted to striving for a just peace with reconciliation in Palestine. I hadn’t been back for eight years, quite a long spell for me. Living there in the early 90s changed my life. I interviewed him after his return from the Kairos Conference in Bethlehem, held in December 2014.ĬTIP – Father Assaly, why did you go to the Kairos Conference this time? What was your objective? ![]() While there he was appointed Anglican Vicar of Gaza, returning to Canada after three years. He has been a member of the Church’s Middle East Working Group since the late-80s, and is Chair of Canadian Friends of Sabeel (CFOS). Robert Assaly was ordained an Anglican priest 23 years ago in Ottawa. In 1992 he was sent to be the Director of the Middle East Council of Churches’ Jerusalem office. ![]()
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