As we upgrade and insulate ...

Dear Joy and Jeremy - and copied to Joy's brother, Andy because of the reference to their father.

As we upgrade and insulate our building, buildings in Gaza with desperate, starving people inside them are being flattened by rockets and missiles.  A nasty way to die.  This will go on through this year when, last year, seven days of ceasefire brought hostage releases in exchange for Palestinians held in Israel.

There are many horrors of death and injuries, just as there have been for the last 76 years.  But, now on a much larger scale and done to the Palestinians much more than they do to the Israelis.  Should we be issuing a statement for a non-violent resolution, with the other churches and faith leaders in Halesowen?

Your dad once told me that he thought that Israel was the robber in the story of the Good Samaritan.  That makes the Palestinians the man who got beaten up and robbed.  Your dad was right.  Today there is no Good Samaritan to help the Gazans and the people in the Occupied West Bank who are also being killed and injured.  The nearest we get to the Good Samaritan is the United Nations relief agencies, MSF and their hospitals that are also attacked and closing.

A statement, from all Halesowen faith leaders, calling for a ceasefire, a terrorist rather than civilian targetted approach, with hostage releases will make no difference.  However, it may be seen in the Halesowen News, the Express and Star and heard, perhaps on Premier Christian Radio.  A good New Year's resolution.  And it sets a very good example to other leaders to follow civilised, land sharing, nonviolent and, indeed, Christ-like behaviours.

Every blessing to you both - and Andy

Tim

 Haaretz article

FROM WIKIPEDIA:

"The 2014 Gaza War, also known as Operation Protective Edge, and Battle of the Withered Grain was a military operation launched by Israel on 8 July 2014 in the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian territory that has been governed by Hamas since 2007."