From Balfour to Banksy

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An interview with Miranda Pinch about her new film.

100 years ago Britain’s Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour set in motion the vision of Israel… His ‘Balfour Declaration’ had another, disastrous impact: the dispossession of the Palestinian people.

This film looks at other visions — including a wide range of views from occupied Palestine today, ranging from anger to attempts at envisioning a future. It also shows the vision of another Englishman: the contemporary artist Banksy, who has created in Palestine a hotel that is also a remarkable satirical art installation.

Find out more about the film here http://www.balfourtobanksy.com

Olive Tree Planting in Palestine

_DSC3707One of the Five Marks of Mission widely adopted as an expression of contemporary Christian mission is “to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth”.

Peacemaker Trust is therefore enthusiastic to support the Olive Tree Planting Campaign organised by the Joint Advocacy Initiative of the East Jerusalem YMCA\YWCA of Palestine and Alternative Tourism Group (ATG). Continue reading →

The Jerusalem Declaration on Christian Zionism

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Statement by the Patriarch and Local Heads of Churches in Jerusalem

“Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)

Christian Zionism is a modern theological and political movement that embraces the most extreme ideological positions of Zionism, thereby becoming detrimental to a just peace within Palestine and Israel.   The Christian Zionist program provides a worldview where the Gospel is reduced to an ideology of empire, colonialism, and militarism. In its extreme form, it places an emphasis on apocalyptic events leading to the end of history rather than living Christ’s love and justice today.

We categorically reject Christian Zionist doctrines as a false teaching that corrupts the biblical message of love, justice and reconciliation.  Continue reading →