10 Things To Do For Peace in Israel and Palestine

1. Sign up for e-mail Action Alerts from Churches for Middle-East Peace at www.cmep.org or info@cmep.org

2. Contact the White House, the State Department and your legislators, asking them to support peace and justice in Israel and the Occupied Territories. Telephone calls and e-mail are preferred due to security risks and delays with regular mail.

President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

White House Comments Line: 202-456-2461
e-mail: president@whitehouse.gov

Secretary of State
Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20520
State Dept. Comments Line: 202-647-6575 Fax: 202-261-8577
e-mail: secretary@state.gov

Senator
United States Senate
Washington D.C. 20510
Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
Web:www.senate.gov

Representative
House of Representatives
Washington D.C. 20515
Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
Web: www.house.gov

Visit the web sites of peace and justice organizations such as:

www.bethlehembiblecollege.edu

www.btselem.org

www.musalaha.org

www.holylandtrust.org

www.jewishvoiceforpeace

At www.trocaire.org/wall you can sign an on-line petition, then send an e-video to your friends

4. Give financial donations to any of the above organizations and/or host fund-raising events in your home

5. Purchase Palestinian arts and crafts for yourself or as presents for others – e.g., olive wood nativity scenes made in Bethlehem (see "Resources")

6. Visit the Holy Land taking an "alternative tour" to gain an understanding of the situation in the Middle East through the eyes of Palestinian Christians

7. Visit Palestine as a volunteer - monitor checkpoints, re-build demolished houses, harvest olives, teach English, participate in non-violent protests, assist with summer camps for children

8. Keep learning - read history books, learn about non-violent resistance, Palestinian liberation theology, Christian Zionism, Jewish Zionism and Islam, and stay current on events about the area. Good sources of news about the Middle East are:

The International Middle-East Media Center at www.imemc.org and the Chicago-based www.electronicintifada.org have daily news updates as well as a wealth of information and resources; you can sign up for regular electronic updates.

The Middle-East link at www.bbc.co.uk provides up-to-the minute news on events in Israel and Palestine.

The Washington Report on Middle-East Affairs at www.wrmea.com produces a 100-page magazine nine times a year that focuses on news and analysis about the Middle-East and U.S. policy in the region.

Regular updates on child-related issues can be found at the Defense for Children International – Palestinian Section at www.dci-pal.org

www.christianzionism.org provides information and resources to challenge Christian Zionism and dispensationalist end-times theology

See also the List of Resources for movies, books and other websites.

9. Connect with Palestinian Christians, either in person locally if possible or long-distance by e-mail – send messages of encouragement and support

10. Pray for all of God's children in the Middle East, for political leaders, for peace and justice

Thanks to Peggi Vander Meulen.