Stockton Heath Methodist Church recently hosted Father Fadi Diab, Rector of St Andrews Church in Ramallah in the West Bank, Palestine.
The visit was organised by Sabeel-Kairos UK, which is a campaigning Christian charity that works for human rights, justice and equality for Palestinians in partnership and solidarity with the Christian community in the Holy Land.
There was standing room only in the church as Father Diab talked about the background to the current situation in the West Bank and Gaza. He described the displacement of Palestinians after the war and the continuation of oppressive occupation by the Israeli government. Israeli settler unrest in the West Bank has left hundreds killed, houses demolished, children traumatised and livelihoods devastated. In Gaza, the situation remains critical with shortages of water, food and medical supplies.
The audience of nearly a hundred listened intently; comments later clearly reflecting the interest that so many had in the historical reasons for the ongoing oppression which are not always apparent in media reporting.
There is a rising voice of support for Palestine in the UK churches which was indicated by the recent Anglican Synod passing a motion to stand in solidarity with Palestinian Christians, and the Methodist Conference receiving the Kairos document which renews the call for justice and an urgent global Christian response.
