Arab Educational Institute Center

Pax Christi International issues a statement towards an active ban of Israeli settlement products, 30 January 2013. Given an uncertain post-election political landscape in Israel, Pax Christi International calls attention to an issue which was largely neglected in the Israeli election campaign and is not nor looks to be a priority in the negotiations about the formation of a new Israeli government: the illegitimacy of the Israeli occupation and the continuation of the settlement policy. Pax Christi International therefore supports new initiatives by international civil society towards an active ban of Israeli settlement products. 

The approach of AEI

 During last year’s November vote in New York on the recognition of Palestine as an “observer non-member state” in the United Nations, some hundreds of Palestinians came to watch the event on a large screen which was attached to the Separation (or Apartheid) Wall in northern Bethlehem. During the climax of the event, a Palestinian Spiderman climbed up the 9-meter high gate in the Wall and planted a Palestinian flag on top, right next to an Israeli military watchtower. The audience cheered.

Was that action a form of “empowerment”? In a way, yes. The wonderful climb was a statement saying that Palestinians could stand up against the Wall rather than resign themselves to be locked up. But the sense of empowerment was limited to a moment.

NGOs in the West Bank sometimes ask themselves whether empowerment (and also development) is at all possible under occupation. Empowerment should after all enhance the capacity of people to change their reality. One could argue that a genuine and positive change is impossible as long as the Israeli occupation lasts. Yet shedding the occupational yoke requires the empowerment of those suffering under it. No occupation has gone by itself or by international intervention only.

Saturday June 4. On the closing day of the World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel, the Christian Organizations in Bethlehem and Jerusalem held a liturgy in the Emanuelle Church near the Bethlehem-Jerusalem checkpoint.

Religious Education Conference in Palestine at the Peace Centre/Bethlehem

The Arab Educational Institute – member organization of Pax Christi International in Palestine–organized a conference on the 4th and the 5th of March 2011 at the Peace Centre Hall in Bethlehem under the patronage of Mr. Abdallah Shakarnah – Director of the Ministry of Education office in Bethlehem. The conference title was “How can it inspire moral courage & leadership among Palestinian youths?" During the discussions some international speakers made comparative presentations about Bradford U.K situation. Some religious figures, Christian and Muslim religious education teachers from both government and private schools attended the conference.

The family group meeting took place in the Sumud Story House on Wednesday 14.11.2012 at 6:00 pm. The General director, Mr. Fuad Giacaman, started by welcoming the families' members who always show their commitment and loyalty by attending our monthly meeting.

Then, we all listened to a poem song entitled "Mr President" by Magida El-Roumi- a famous Lebanese singer- which describes the present Arab regimes and their leaders and the suffering of the Arab people as a whole.

After that, Mr. Fuad had introduced Mrs. Maysoon Qawasmi who works as a journalist for the Palestinian news agency Wafa, and who also holds training sessions to empower Palestinian women in the West Bank. So Mrs. Qawasmi talked thoroughly about her experience in the latest municipal elections as she headed an election list consisted of 12 women. Mrs. Maysoon's session was followed by a discussion during which some members of the family group had some questions and interventions regarding the women's rights and status in the Palestinian society.