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Palestinian Peace Activist to Speak in New Milford
Ending conflict between Palestinians and Israelis and nonviolent resistance to occupation will be discussed when a leader of the Palestinian peace movement speaks in New Milford this month. This event is co-sponsored by St. John's Episcopal, United Methodist, First Congregational and St. Francis Xavier churches of New Milford.
George Rishmawi, a leader of Palestine's nonviolent opposition to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, will speak at Cobbett Parish Hall of St. John's Episcopal Church in New Milford on Sunday, December 15 at 7 p.m. The Parish Hall is located behind St John's, at 7 Whittlesey Ave., just off the New Milford Green. The presentation is free and all are invited to attend.
Rishmawi's topic will be "The Nonviolent Intifada: The Only Hope for Peace in the Holy Land." In a challenge to prospective audiences, Rishmawi said, "There are actions that each of us in Israel, Palestine and in the U.S. can take to bring about peace in the Middle East." His presentation will include what those actions might be.
Rishmawi was born and lives in Beit Sahour—the biblical shepherd's field near Bethlehem. Currently, he is coordinator of the nonprofit Holy Land Trust's Travel and Encounter Program. The Holy Land Trust seeks to strengthen the lives of children, families and communities in Palestine through a wide variety of programs including economic development and sustainability, peace and reconciliation. Rishmawi said, "At Holy Land Trust, we struggle daily to bring encouragement and hope not only to the local Bethlehem community but to all of Palestine." In addition to these local programs, the Holy Land Trust works to raise international awareness about present conditions in Palestine through unique religious and political encounters for travelers to the area.
Rishmawi is also a founding member of the Palestinian Center for Rapprochement Between People, a non-governmental peace organization committed to working for justice in all of the Holy Land. In December, 2000, he helped to establish the International Solidarity Movement, which organizes Palestinian, Israeli and international peace activists to resist Israeli occupation by participating in nonviolent actions such as delivering food and medicines to Palestinians under curfew, and accompanying emergency medical workers in ambulances. Both organizations work in alliance with other Palestinian and Israeli peace groups, including Gush Shalom, Women in Black, Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, Rabbis for Human Rights, and Christian Peacemaker teams.
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