May 23 through June 4, 2005

 

Interfaith Peace-Builder Delegation
arrives in Israel-Palestine

May 26, 2005

The Fellowship of Reconciliation is pleased to report that its twenty-seven person Interfaith Peace-Builders delegation crossed the Allenby Bridge from Jordan without incident early this morning and is safely in Jerusalem.

Twenty-seven U.S. citizens from diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds departed on Tuesday, May 24 for two weeks in Jordan, Israel, and Palestine as part of the Fellowship of Reconciliation’s 15th Interfaith Peace-Builders delegation. The delegation is led by Ilise Cohen, Joe Groves, and Gretchen Merryman-Lotze.

During their stay in the region, delegates are scheduled to meet with peace and human rights organizations, humanitarian assistance workers, community and religious leaders, refugees, settlers, and representatives from across the political spectrum. The purpose of their visit is to gain deeper insight into the issues surrounding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, to examine the effects of United States foreign policy in the region, and to support the Israelis, Palestinians, and others who are working for a nonviolent and just peace.

This delegation also includes several FOR nonviolence trainers who will visit the Holy Land Trust in Bethlehem, observe a local village training led by Palestinian nonviolence trainers, and share skills and techniques with their Palestinian counterparts in a two-day workshop.

The delegation includes the following people:

  • Sami Abed, a local business owner from Felton, CA.
  • Shaina Adams, a recent graduate of Trinity University, and resident of Corpus Christi, TX.
  • Tom Brackett,  an Episcopal priest from Asheville, NC.
  • Geoff Browning, a Presbyterian elder and parent and community volunteer in Emerald Hills, CA.
  • Janet Chisholm, the program coordinator of FOR’s Creating a Culture of Peace program from Nyack, NY.
  • Don Christensen, a UCC minister from St. Paul, MN.
  • Ilise Cohen, a vice-chair of FOR’s National Council from San Francisco, CA.
  • Charles Day, a retired psychologist and current teacher of meditation and Buddhism from Des Moines, IA.
  • David Drake,  a Psychiatrist from Des Moines, IA.
  • Jeanine Hillis, a diversity specialist with the city of San Diego, CA.
  • Mig Hunter, a retired elementary school PE specialist from San Diego, CA.
  • Joe Groves, the program coordinator of FOR Interfaith Peace-Builders in Washington, DC.
  • Tom Johnson, an attorney from Osceola, MO.
  • Lisabeth Kaplan, a paramedic from Carmel Valley, CA.
  • Swan Keyes, a resident of Berkeley, CA.
  • Ramsey Kysia, a writer and activist from McLean, VA.
  • Jeremy Lucas, an Episcopal priest from Athens, AL.
  • Penny Lucas, a nurse from Athens, AL.
  • Amy Marsico, a stage manager for the touring musical, “The Phantom of the Opera,” originally from Canfield, OH.
  • Megan McNamara, a paramedic from Felton, CA.
  • Gretchen Merryman-Lotze, an educator from Washington, DC.
  • Richard Moss, an office manager for a construction company from Watsonville, CA.
  • Donna Nassor, an attorney and adjunct professor at New Jersey City University from Wyckoff, NJ.
  • Walter Peemoller, a real estate title examiner from Branchville, NJ.
  • Peggy Ray,  a retired substance abuse counselor and resident of the Bronx, NY.
  • Liz Walz,  a coordinator of lay formation at St. Vincent de Paul parish in Philadelphia, PA.
  • Zara Zimbardo, a graduate student at the California Institute for Integral Studies from San Francisco, CA.

Upon their return to the United States in the second week of June, delegates will share their experiences with the public, the media, and their political representatives. Media interested in interviewing the participants when they return, and groups wanting information about speaking engagements, should contact one of the people listed below.

The delegates will be sending back regular reports during their trip, which we will forward to our email network and post on the FOR website. If you are not part of our email network and wish to receive delegation reports and updates on the work of FOR’s Interfaith Peace-Builders Program, please email middleeast@forusa.org or phone us at 202-244-0821.

©2003 Fellowship of Reconciliation