Please join us on Sunday at 6 pm in Clifton.

We'll be capping off our FOSNA NJ chapter launch weekend with a protest outside L3Harris Technologies in Clifton. L3Harris specializes in, as they put it,

"electronic warfare". The supply components for JDAM missiles and F-35 fighter jets. Their surveillance and communication technology is also used in the West Bank at military checkpoints and at the US/Mexico border. Our tax dollars fund shareholder profits for weapons of war and are supplying the perpetrators of racial profiling and ethnic cleansing.

FOSNA-NJ Launch with the Palestinian American Community Center (PACC)

Sunday, April 14th @ 3:00pm ET

Join PACC as we welcome the newly formed New Jersey Chapter of the Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA), a Christian Voice for Palestine, into the community with Keynote Speaker, Jonathan Kuttab! 

This event will be held IN PERSON on Sunday, April 14th from 3-5pm at PACC (388 Lakeview Ave Clifton, NJ 07011). 

*Lunch will be served. 

Faith Based Organizing for Palestine

Saturday, April 13th @ 10:00am - 4:00pm ET

Join a day-long networking, discussion and strategy sessions, including a keynote presentation by Jonathan Kuttab, executive director of Friends of Sabeel North America, for "Faith Based Organizing for Palestine" as part of FOSNA New Jersey's launch weekend.

Is Peace Possible in Palestine/Israel?

April 8, 5:15 p.m.
McBride Gathering Room, Numen Lumen Pavilion

Elon University

Jonathan Kuttab is a co-founder of the Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq and Nonviolence International. A well-known international human rights attorney, he practices law in the US, Palestine and Israel.

Pennington said the committee’s principal objective in developing these programs is to ensure that Elon students have ongoing opportunities throughout the semester to learn about this conflict and its many contexts.

“We hope that they hear from our speakers and faculty and engage with one another productively and respectively on issues that spark deep disagreement,” Pennington said. “Students can and should develop their own perspectives on these events, which will continue to shape their futures. Our job is to give them the tools to make sound, informed judgments. That’s what it means to be a global citizen.”

Additionally, Elon faculty and staff with expertise relevant to the current conflict will host regular lunchtime discussions at the long table in Lakeside Dining Hall throughout the semester. Students may sign up to join any of these conversations, which range across a variety of topics. Students interested in participating should email Brian Pennington at bpennington4@elon.edu to learn more about upcoming discussions and to sign up.

Speaking Truth, Seeking Justice: Stepping into the Whirlwind of Israel/Palestine

Community-Wide Conference - Binkley Baptist Church                    

Saturday, April 6 9:00am to 12:30 pm

The Conference will feature:

• Plenary Address from renowned speaker, Jonathan Kuttab, Executive Director of Friends of Sabeel North America and international human rights lawyer

• Breakout Sessions 

• Panel of experts in the field and Question and Answer Session with Mr. Kuttab

The Conference is open and free to all, but registration is required.

Easter Reflection by FOSNA Executive Director Jonathan Kuttab in Truthout, “This Easter, Palestinian Christians Will Be Praying for Palestine’s Resurrection”

Wed, Mar 13, 2024 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM EDT

15 King's College Circle- Paul Cadario Conference Centre

15 King's College Circle Toronto, ON M5S 3J3 Canada

Jonathan Kuttab was the head of the legal committee that negotiated the Cairo Agreement of 1994 between Israel and the PLO. He is the co-founder of several important organizations that are committed to human rights protection or non-violent action: the Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq, Sabeel in Jerusalem and North America, and Non-violence International, with its headquarters in Philadelphia. He is also President of Holy Land Trust. He is the author of Beyond the Two-State Solution.

The event is located at the Paul Cadario Conference Centre. For detailed instructions on getting there, please visit:

https://www.dunlap.utoronto.ca/frb-followup-workshop/getting_to_the_paul_cadario_conference_centre.pdf

The Lenten Ceasefire Campaign Presents—

A Political Education Primer: Christian Zionism, B.D.S., and the Pursuit of a Christ-Centered Response to Apartheid, Dispossession, and Genocide in the Holy Land

Tuesday, March 12, 2024 @ 3:30-5:45 PM Pacific / 6:30-8:45 PM Eastern 

To Register: bit.ly/3V6qFhK 

Join the Lenten Ceasefire Campaign for an intensive evening of political education, self-examination, and conversation as we explore:

1. The Immediate Context:

1. What is the situation on the ground in Gaza and throughout Palestine? How did we get here? Are we bearing witness of Genocide in real time? 

2. Christian Zionism: 

1. What is it? How does it influence both American Christianity and American Policy? How is it impacting the situation on the ground in Gaza and throughout Palestine? And, what is a faithful, Christ-centered response to Christian Zionism?

3. Palestinian Christians:

1. How are Palestinian Christians responding to the crisis in Gaza and throughout Palestine? What message do they have for western Christians, and what responsibility does the Western church have for our Palestinian siblings? How might we amplify their message?

4. Boycotts, Divestments, and Sanctions:

1. What is B.D.S.? Why is economic and cultural activism important? Is B.D.S. a proper Christian response to the crisis in Palestine, particularly Gaza, and Israeli apartheid? How might communities of faith mobilize to make an impact for justice and peace?

Featuring:

Zeina Ashrawi Hutchison: Zeina serves as Director of Development and Expansion for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC). Zeina is a Palestinian-American rights activist and community organizer with notable experience in the political arena, currently the only Arab American elected to a political party’s Central Committee in Virginia and has been heavily involved in policy and the election process at the state and national level for years.

Mimi Kirk: Mimi Kirk facilitates the Master of Arts in Arab Studies thesis workshop and the Arab Studies Certificate Capstone at Georgetown University. She is Program Manager at the Middle East Studies Association and a writer and editor with expertise in Palestine and US foreign policy toward Palestine/Israel. Mimi is currently the president of the board of Americans for Middle East Understanding (AMEU). She is an Editorial Consultant at Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network, having previously served as the organization's commissioning editor and managing director from 2016 to 2020.

Daniel Bannoura: Daniel Bannoura was born in Jerusalem and has lived both in Palestine and the US. A lecturer at Bethlehem Bible College, Daniel is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Theology from Notre Dame University. He has a special interest in Christian-Muslim relations but has long been involved with Kairos Palestine and Christ at the Checkpoint. In addition to his long track record of Palestine advocacy and education, Daniel is the founder of Ultimate Palestine.

Allison Tanner: Allison serves the National Organizer for the Apartheid-Free Communities Campaign with the American Friends Service Committee. In addition, Allison serves as Pastor of Public Witness at Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church, in Oakland, CA, and is the Palestine Advocacy Representative for the Alliance of Baptists.

About the organizers: 
This Political Education Primer is an initiative of the Christians for Ceasefire Coalition.

A broad coalition of national and local Christian organizations and nonviolent peacemakers have envisioned a Lenten Ceasefire Campaign rooted in the transforming power of Jesus’ way of active nonviolence. This Lenten campaign has arisen out of collaboration during months of creative nonviolent resistance action for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The policy goals are:

• immediate, sustained bilateral ceasefire

• demilitarization rather than sending weapons

• release of all hostages and Palestinian prisoners held without due process

• robust humanitarian assistance, including funding UNRWA, the UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees

• end the siege on Gaza and end the occupation

• a political process to address root causes, accountability of harm, and a lasting just peace

  
  

Theory of Change: The theory of change is that Jewish and Muslim leaders have organized mass demonstrations, prayers, and risk-taking. If Christians visibly appeal in mass through prayer and risk-taking to President Biden and members of Congress with Christian commitments, we may deepen and shift their sensitivity toward incentivizing de-escalating steps and a sustaining ceasefire that will save lives, create space for genuine accountability, and illuminate our sacred dignity. This will create better conditions for addressing the root causes and a sustainable just peace.

The organizations involved with this Lenten campaign acknowledge that both Hamas and Israel have committed horrible violence. We believe that the focus must shift to diplomacy, accountability mechanisms, and strategic nonviolent peacebuilding, and that neither war nor retribution is accountability. We believe urgent action is needed to stop the mass slaughter, destruction, and generational trauma.

• Lenten Ceasefire Campaign Endorsements

• Churches for Middle East Peace

• Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Provinces

• Dorothy Day Catholic Worker

• Festival Center

• Franciscan Action Network

• Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA)

• Georgetown University Medical Students for Palestine (GUMS4PAL)

• Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

• National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd

• National Council of Churches, USA

• Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace

• Pax Christi USA

• Quixote Center

• Sisters of Mercy of the Americas - Justice Team

• Sojourners

• United Church of Christ

• Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual (WATER)

Join Pittsburgh Friends of Sabeel this Lent for a 2 part event in lament over Gaza.

Part 2: Service of Lament: Grieving with God over the Death and Destruction in Gaza

Sunday, March 10th

4:00 - 5:30pm

Eastminster Church

250 N Highland Ave

Pittsburgh PA 15206

Part 1

Sabeel presents:

Challenging Apartheid and Religious Extremism: Zionism and Antisemitism

with Hadar Cohen, Thomas Suarez, and Anthony Lerman

1:00pm ET

Join Pittsburgh Friends of Sabeel this Lent for a 2 part event in lament over Gaza.

Part 1: Gaza: How Did We Get Here? The Context of Our Lament

Sunday, February 25th 2:30 - 5:30pm

Valleyview Church

601 N Aiken Ave

Pittsburgh PA 15206

Part 2

Almost four months into the war on Gaza, the International Court of Justice has directed Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza, yet refrained from ordering a ceasefire. In December 2023, the Supreme Court of India rubber-stamped the government’s unilateral abrogation of Article 370, which previously afforded Kashmir a special status that included the right of self-determination. Discussions of the international rule of law, settler colonialism, and its violence have taken the center stage. At this dark moment in history, we must address the connections, parallels, and distinctions between Palestine and Kashmir, for as the Indigenous Peoples in North America remind us, the settler colonial project and genocide is ongoing.

The present situation demonstrates once again how legal apparatuses, be it UN outfits or Supreme Courts, fail to uphold justice currently and historically: affirming abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir, failing to prosecute illegal settlements and the breaking of treaties and documented land rights, refusal to prosecute genocide when it fits official legal definitions, not following up with charges when official human rights institutions (like OHCHR) document violations, not upholding the right of the occupied people to armed resistance against an occupier, and so on.

The roundtable addresses the legal frameworks providing parallels and distinctions between settler colonial projects in Palestine, Kashmir, and Turtle Island. It aims to demonstrate how the Indian, Israeli, Canadian, and US governments build on each other's actions to reinforce their settler colonial agendas, what lessons have been learned from North American settler colonial experiences, as well as what the ICJ ruling on Gaza means for India, a state under two genocide alerts.

The event consists of two threads: the first one will cover the broader themes of legal framework and ramifications in Turtle Island, Palestine, and Kashmir; the second will hone in on the lived experiences from the three geographies, providing a grounded view of resistance and ways forward as they relate to settler colonialism.  

Speakers:

- Turtle Island: Sylvia McAdam (Assistant Professor, Windsor Law) & Megan Scribe (Assistant Professor, Toronto Metropolitan University)

- Kashmir: Imraan Mir (Attorney, writer, researcher) & Ather Zia (Associate Professor, Anthropology and Gender Studies, University of Northern Colorado)

- Palestine: Jonathan Kuttab (International Human Rights attorney) & Mariam Barghouti (Palestinian American researcher, writer, journalist based in Ramallah)

- Moderators: Azeezah Kanji (Legal academic and writer, Toronto) & Dean Accardi (Assistant Professor of History and Global Islamic Studies, Connecticut College)

This week we are joined by Reverend Naim Ateek, Reverend Carrie Ballenger, Reverend Elaine Enns, and Ched Myers for a special Christmas service.

The Readings of the week:

Romans 16:25-27 

25 Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith-- 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever! Amen.

Luke 1:26-38

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

This year’s JGML features Jonathan Kuttab, internationally renowned human-rights lawyer and author. See the poster below. Distribute it widely. Attend with all your friends and colleagues on November 15th at 7 PM Eastern in the Victoria College Chapel (room 213), 91 Charles Street West, Toronto M5S 2C7.

Jonathan Kuttab’s theme will be "Peace is Possible". Exactly the message of hope we need in these darkest of times. 

This in-person lecture will also be held online for those outside the Toronto area with purchase of a ticket for more information contact us: info@friendsofsabeel.ca

FOSNA is one of 500+ endorsing organizations of this week’s National March on Washington at Freedom Plaza in Washington D.C.

On Friday, November 3rd at 11:30am PT / 2:30pm ET, join Sabeel on Zoom for a theological discussion and reflection on the current situation in Palestine.

Speakers include: Rev. Naim Ateek, Cedar Duaybis, Rev. Munther Isaac, Fr. Michael Lapsley, and Rev. Waltrina N. Middleton.

Sabeel-Kairos UK is Taking Action for Palestine this Autumn with their 4-week Hope for Palestine series. Week 2, "Hope for what?" explores solutions with FOSNA Executive Director Jonathan Kuttab.

Oct 1, 7pm GMT+1, 2pm EDT

This series is FREE to all Sabeel-Kairos paying members. Non-members will need to make a donation of £10 for the series.

We Are All Part of One Another - Webinar Series

Jonathan Kuttab's Book Launch - The Truth Shall Set You Free

Thursday September 28, 2023, Noon-1:30pm ET

Hosted by Maia Carter Hallward, with Special Guest Mubarak Awad, NVI Founder. 

RSVP Here! 

Join us as we welcome Jonathan Kuttab to speak about his memoir along with special guest Mubarak Awad. Jonathan Kuttab is a co-founder of Nonviolence International, a Palestinian Human Rights lawyer-and Christian pacifist. In this marvelous memoir, he takes us on a personal journey from anger and thoughts of violence to his deep commitment to unrelenting peaceful activism. Be forewarned: This is not the journey of a starry-eyed idealist. It’s a true life story of a man who has witnessed violence, terrible injustice, suffering and heart-wrenching losses. 3 of the chapters are devoted to nonviolence and the work of his cousin Mubarak Awad who will also be joining the book launch. After discussion of his book we will transition into talking about nonviolence and the future of Palestinians and Israelis today.

Jonathan will be joined by NVI founder, Mubarak Awad. Mr. Awad is an adjunct professor at the American University in Washington, DC at the School of International Studies. He focuses on promoting peace dialogue and transforming post-conflict societies, as well as teaching graduate courses on the methods and theory of nonviolence. Recently, we celebrate the first ever Mubarak Awad Day. Check out this page for inspirational comments from people who have been influenced by his work. https://www.nonviolenceinternational.net/mubarak_awad_day

Hosted by: Dr. Maia Carter Hallward is a full professor at Kennesaw State University, Georgia, USA, in the School of Conflict Management, Peacebuilding, and Development and Executive Editor of the Journal of Peacebuilding and Development. Maia has published widely in the fields of international relations, civil resistance, and international conflict management, including textbooks on International Conflict Management (2019, Routledge) and Nonviolence (2015, Polity). A former intern at Nonviolence International, she became a vegetarian for environmental reasons at 13.

Join PARCEO and Haymarket for a discussion on challenging antisemitism together with all forms of injustice.

Wednesday, September 27 · 7 - 8:30pm EDT

Eventbrite's fee is nonrefundable.

About this event

• 1 hour 30 minutes

• Mobile eTicket

Please join PARCEO and Haymarket Books on Wednesday, September 27th at 7 PM for the launch of our “Curriculum on Antisemitism from a Framework of Collective Liberation” grounded in a deep commitment to challenging antisemitism and all forms of injustice.

This new curriculum was created by PARCEO, together with educators, scholars, and activists. The need for educational resources on antisemitism within a pedagogic framework of collective liberation is particularly important for this moment–as rising white nationalist violence targets many of our communities, including Jews, Muslims, Black people, immigrant communities, trans and queer people, among others, and as false charges of antisemitism are directed at seekers of Palestinian justice.

Join PARCEO and Haymarket Books for a discussion on a new curriculum on the importance of combatting antisemitism as part of our broader struggles for justice.

Welcome by Nina Mehta

Opening/Moderated by Robin DG Kelley

Remarks from Jamil Dakwar, Nyle Fort, Abby Saul, Lesley Williams

Closing by Mark Tseng-Putterman

***Register through Eventbrite to receive a link to the video conference on the day of the event. This event will also be recorded and live captioning will be provided.***

Speakers:

• Robin DG Kelley, activist, scholar, writer; Distinguished Professor and Gary B. Nash Endowed Chair in U.S. History at UCLA

• Lesley Williams, activist and educator against racism, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinianism.

• Jamil Dakwar, human rights lawyer and chair of Adalah Justice Project’s advisory board

• Abby Saul, early childhood educator and social media specialist

• Nyle Fort, minister, social justice organizer, scholar; Assistant Professor of African American and African Diaspora Studies, Columbia University

• Nina Mehta, community educator and co-director, PARCEO, an education, resource, and research center

• Mark Tseng-Putterman, a historian of Asian American community politics, Cold War imperialism, and social movements.

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This event is co-sponsored by Haymarket Books and PARCEO. While all of our events are freely available, we ask that those who are able make a solidarity donation in support of our important publishing and programming work.

NorCal Friends of Sabeel Presents: Dr. Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkain

"The Developers" and the Land/Life-Grabbers in Palestine: Between Silwan and the Armenian Quarter

September 15th @ 3pm; University of California, Berkeley (412 Eshelman Hall)

As an in-demand speaker, Prof. Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian is the Lawrence D. Biele Chair in Law at the Faculty of Law-Institute of Criminology and the School of Social Work and Public Welfare at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Global Chair in Law- Queen Mary University of London. Her research focuses on trauma, state crimes and criminology, surveillance, gender violence, law and society. She studies the crime of femicide and other forms of gendered based violence, violence against children in conflict ridden areas, crimes of abuse of power in settler colonial contexts, surveillance, securitization and social control.