“Christmas in Bethlehem” Focuses on Plight of Palestinian Christians

Citizens for Justice in the Middle East (CJME) is hoping Kansas City area church members will give some thought to not only what took place in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago but to what is happening there today. CJME has developed a program, which focuses on the plight of all Palestinians, and specifically Palestinian Christians.

Leaders of the different Christian denominations in the Holy Land worry that Christianity as a living, breathing faith community will perish in the place where Christianity was born if more is not done improve conditions for Christian Palestinians and the Palestinian people in general. Accordingly, CJME is providing some elementary information about the Christian community in the Holy Land and what people can do to help.

Citizens for Justice in the Middle East has a brochure “Christmas in Bethlehem,” which is available to Kansas City area churches during this Christmas season. It presents some basic facts about the plight of the Christian Palestinians in the Holy Land, who, along with other Palestinians, are suffering from the hardships of the Israeli military occupation.

CJME also is offering a speakers program entitled “Christmas in Bethlehem: Troubled Times in the Holy Land.” The program is available as a three-part series or single presentation.

Our speakers are drawn from a diverse group that includes Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Catholics, Quakers, Muslims and Jews. Our common commitment is to a just and equitable end to the conflict that will include security and self-determination for both Israelis and Palestinians and respect for human rights and international law.

For more information on ordering the brochure and requesting speakers go to the following web site: http://www.cjme.org/bethlehem04

"Let peace begin on earth and let it begin with me” is a song familiar to many. American Christians have a role to play as peacemakers, but peacemaking requires understanding. Our brochure and speakers program is a tiny step in that direction.

Kansas City-based Citizens for Justice in the Middle East (CJME) seeks to educate the American public about the issues involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to end U.S. support for the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. CJME believes U.S. policy should recognize the rights and aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians, only by respecting the need to provide both parties in the conflict with security and self-determination can a viable and just peace be assured.