Wednesday, September 17, 2014

The Faith Forum on Middle East Policy, of which Pax Christi USA is a member, sponsors a "Third Thursday for Israel-Palestine" action each month. This is the action for September. We encourage you to take action and to share this with others.

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While peacemakers everywhere welcome the ceasefire in Gaza, the underlying issues that led to the war remain. The Israeli occupation of Palestinian land, including the Gaza blockade, must end. And the human rights violations inherent in the occupation must not be allowed to continue unchecked. Keep these concerns before legislators this month, by joining in the  World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel, held annually in September and sponsored by the Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum of the World Council of Churches.  This year's theme is prisoners.

Around 4800 Palestinians were in Israeli custody as of March 2014, according the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR). Palestinians detained by Israel face a host of concerns including the practice of administrative detention, and the treatment of minors. Administrative detention, as explained by the Israeli human rights organization, B'Tselem, "is detention without charge or trial that is authorized by administrative order rather than by judicial decree."... The treatment of Palestinian minors by Israel is also of deep concern. A 2013 UNICEF report found, "The ill-treatment of children who come in contact with the military detention system appears to be widespread, systematic and institutionalized..."

Contact your senators and representative today to raise these concerns. Ask them to bring to the attention of Israeli government officials the issue of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody. If they will be traveling to the region soon, ask them to address these concerns in person, otherwise, ask them to contact the Israeli Ambassador to the United States.

Click here for more information and a full script to use in contacting your Members of Congress.