Israeli and Palestinian peace activists share their visions for the future of Israel-Palestine at Nov. 8 "Engaging for Justice" conference in Northfield

An Israeli and a Palestinian will share their experiences and their vision for the future of Israel-Palestine at a day-long conference planned for Northfield this fall.

“Engaging for Justice: Solidarity with the Palestinian People” is 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, United Methodist Church, 1401 Maple St., in Northfield. In addition to keynote presentations by Daoud Nasser and Jeff Halper, participants will choose from workshops on such topics as the Nakba, international law, Gaza, the Boycott-Divestment-Sanction movement, church engagement and more. The event is held in conjunction with the UN International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (GA Resolution A/68/12).

Speakers include followers of the three Abrahamic faiths—Judaism, Christianity and Islam—as well as academics, theologians, students and, most important, people who have experienced firsthand the consequences of the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

General registration is $40. Student price is $10. Both include lunch. Scholarships are available on request. Registration information is available at http://njpmnteachin2014.wordpress.com/attend/.

Keynote speakers:
Daoud Nassar is a Palestinian Christian and is the director of the Tent of Nations, an educational center located on his family’s farm about four miles southwest of Bethlehem. Despite Israel’s 1991 claim on the land, the family has maintained its legal claim to the property they have owned since 1916. Information: www.tentofnations.org, www.fotonna.org

Dr. Jeff Halper, a Hibbing, Minn., native and Macalester College graduate, is director of ICAHD, the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions. He co-founded ICAHD in 1997 to help resist Israel’s strategy of house demolitions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. His work with ICAHD was cited in his 2006 nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. Information: www.icahd.org.

The event is presented by Northfielders for Justice in Palestine/Israel, an ecumenical group of community members who organize local events to educate and advocate for justice and peace in Palestine/Israel. Members of the committee are available to speak about their experiences in Palestine/Israel. For registration and other information about the event, contact committee member Jenny Hartley at info@njpmn.org.

Workshops:

• The Nakba (“Catastrophe”) -Souheil Ailabouni & Stephen Bennett

• Faiths and a Land Called Holy: Too Much Fundamentalism, Too Little Faithfulness Chuck Lutz

• Democracy or Not! Israel’s Laws that Discriminate -- Phil Benson
  

• The Gaza Strip: A Humanitarian Crisis and the Silence of the International Community -Jehad Adwan

• Using BDS as an Educational Tool -- Sylvia Schwarz

• Conflict and Occupation: Women and Children Carry the Burden -Ibtesam Al Atiyat

• Natural Resources -- David Van Wylen
  

• Challenging Zionism -- Karen Schraufnagel &Ilana Rossoff
  

• Engaging the Churches -- Bill Plitt

• Palestine-Israel in the Media: Past, Present and Possibilities for the Future -- Stephen Bennett