Interfaith
Peace-Builders sends delegations to Israel/ Palestine so that U.S.
citizens can see the conflict with their own eyes. Participants
have the opportunity to learn directly from Israeli and Palestinian
nonviolent peace/human-rights activists, to spend time in Palestinian
and Israeli homes, and to experience the situation of Palestinians
living under military occupation. The delegations focus on seeing,
listening to, and recording the experiences and perspectives of
a wide range of Palestinian and Israeli voices.
Some delegations go to Jordan as well
as Israel/ Palestine. Visiting these countries enables participants
to see the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a broader Middle East
context and to get a sense of the larger issues facing the region.
Interfaith Peace-Builders places a
strong emphasis on continuing work on the conflict when participants
return to their homes. The program asks for a commitment from participants
to educate people in their communities and organizations about the
conflict, to write and speak about their experiences, to join with
IFPB, our partner organizations, and other local and national organizations
working to end the conflict, and to work to change U.S. policy in
the region.
Building on a long history of delegation
work in the Middle East, the Fellowship
of Reconciliation (FOR) began Interfaith
Peace-Builders in 2000 as a response to the intensified violence
of the second intifada. Since that time IFPB has consulted
and worked in partnership with Palestinian and Israeli organizations.
We stand in support with Palestinians and Israelis striving to end
the occupation of Palestine, working to ensure the human rights
of both Israelis and Palestinians, and advocating an enduring peace
with justice for both peoples.
In April 2006, FOR and
Interfaith Peace-Builders reached the mutual decision that IFPB
would become an independent program working in partnership with
FOR, starting July 1, 2006. Building on the foundation of
FOR’s strong support for IFPB’s work over the last five
years, IFPB and FOR are confident that a new partnership relation
provides the best opportunity to continue our crucial work on the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
©2007
Interfaith Peace-Builders
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