This week's photo

(click to enlarge)

Boys in Al Aroub refugee camp
(where some families have been since 1948)

Al Arakib Elders

This week's photo of the week... despite their appearance, these men were very happy to be photographed.
They were two of the men I had the privilege of meeting at the Al Arakib village, albeit under difficult circumstances for them - see my post from March. Dignified, resilient, sad but determined.

(Click on the photo to enlarge)

Desmond Tutu - speaking out against the occupation for over 20 years

Today I was reading of Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s involvement in the issue of the occupation and apartheid in Palestine. Interestingly, he became involved while still suffering under apartheid in South Africa. He was in the USA to thank Jews for their support of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, and spoke at a synagogue in New York in January 1989. Following is a little of what he said – powerful stuff if you imagine a Jewish audience in the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, looking forward to being thanked for helping.

 . . . and that is the question of the Palestinians . . . I have to say that I find it very, very difficult to understand Israel’s policy in this regard . . . My position is made more difficult because of two factors. I am a Christian, and many of the Palestinians are Christians – in fact, many are Anglicans – and their anguish tears my heart apart. Second, it is because I am a black South African, and if you changed the names, the description of what is happening in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank could be a description of what is happening in South Africa. It is uncanny and it is deeply, deeply distressing. Israel cannot do that: it is out of line with her biblical and historical traditions. Israel, or shall we say the Jews, having suffered so much, cannot allow their government to cause other people to suffer so much. Jews, having been dispossessed for so long, cannot allow their government to dispossess others. Jews, having been victims of gross injustice, cannot allow their government to make others victims of injustice. It is such a horrific contradiction . . .

His speech caused much debate, but he has continued to speak out against Israel, and given his history, his detailed discussions about the apartheid practices of Israel carry significant weight.

I'm grateful that such prominent figures are so willing to continue to speak out, even into their old age - and despite constant criticism that they could so easily avoid.


Tutu is an amazing figure; here's a link to his Wikipedia biography, and this one is to the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation.