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As the World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel commenced, Nora Carmi offered a morning reflection at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva on 16 September. Carmi is a civil society worker on justice and peace issues who is from the Orthodox community.
Speaking on “Humanity and Equality in God’s Creation,” the theme of this year’s World Week for Peace, Carmi said she was speaking as a Palestinian Christian.
“The challenge still remains to love God, neighbor and one’s enemy, where in our case, the neighbor and the enemy are the same,” she said. “In an area where there is not one state, the situation is not simple and we need to apply humanity and equality within and beyond the existing entities on the same ground.”
Carmi lamented the fact that oppressive measures continue against educational, environmental, archeological and religious sites. “Despite the recognition of 139 countries of the State of Palestine, we are enduring Israeli interference and have not achieved our aspirations for an independent state,” she said.
After prayers, Nora Carmi visited the piece of the old Berlin wall, placed in memory outside the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva.
This year's theme has been chosen to challenge racism, xenophobia, stigmatization, exclusion driven by populist policies and other growing trends. An International Day of Peace will be observed on 21 September.
Read full reflection by Nora Carmi
World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel
Concept note and resources for 2019 World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel
Photo gallery: Morning prayer and reflection by Nora Carmi
