This week’s roundtable includes perspectives from three leaders of faith-based organizations speaking out and organizing in the wake of the terror attacks and Israel's declaration of War on Hamas. The conversation begins with reactions to the horrific terror attack coordinated and carried out by Hamas militants and the ways faith-based groups are lamenting and engaging in advocating for the oppressed and suffering.
Each talks about the challenges of offering nuance and history on the occupation of East Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank and reflects on the media coverage and the dominant narratives following the horrific attack. Speaking to the response from their respective communities to the risks of speaking out and remaining silent, each offers their experience and reflects on where they look for hope.
The conversation begins with reactions to the horrific terror attack coordinated and carried out by Hamas militants and the various ways each organization is engaging and organizing people of faith and goodwill in their respective networks.
From reflections on the media coverage to the challenges of providing context and history to the conflict, each offers their experience and reflects on where they look for hope.
Roundtable participants include:
Joyce Ajlouny
American Friends Service Committee
Eva Borgwardt, political director of IfNotNow, a movement of American Jews working to organize their community to end U.S. support for Israel's system of apartheid and demand equality, justice, and a thriving future for Palestinians and Israelis.
Eva Borgwardt
IfNotNow
Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, Rev, Cannon leads the coalition of Churches for Middle East Peace. Cannon is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) and formerly served as the senior director of Advocacy and Outreach for World Vision U.S. She is the author of several books, including A Land Full of God: Christian Perspectives on the Holy Land.
Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon
Churches for Middle East Peace
Many faith organizations have issued statements calling for an end to the violence:
This week's closing music, New Hope by Audiobinger, PALESTINE by Saif Eddine Benmehdi,
Palestinian string music, performed by The Lajee Kids for IrelandPCS, and
Palestina, composed by Nasheed and performed by Nuran Asan,
all used under a Creative Commons By Attribution 4.0 license.
Additional music by Blue Dot Session.
