Getting it right on Israel …
On Israel/Palestine –
The Vatican’s Middle East Synod gets it right in “urging the international community to take necessary legal steps to put an end to the occupation of the different Arab territories.”
And the Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church gets it right in voting to join the BDS (boycott, divest, sanctions) movement by boycotting goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories.
Meanwhile there are two bills in the Israeli Parliament which threaten to limit Palestinian life in the city of Jerusalem. One bill proposes that only Israeli citizens may lead tours in Jerusalem – which would exclude Palestinians tour guides (who are already limited to those select few with a Jerusalem ID or work permit), and which would mean that even fewer tourists would both sides of a very complex and important story. Another bill makes Jerusalem “a national priority zone” – which could be used to increase Israeli building projects in East Jerusalem.