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Palestine landscape

Easter Initiative 2024

01 March - 05 May 2024

The Easter Initiative is an annual activity of the WCC-EAPPI, setting out to connect the stories of Easter with current realities in Palestine and Israel, to spotlight the challenges of a life marked by violence, war and occupation alongside nurturing hope and highlighting groups and individuals striving for a just peace.

Interview
Dr Michel Abs

In Lebanon, “without peace there is no justice”

When Dr Michel Abs, secretary general of the Middle East Council of Churches, speaks about living conditions in Lebanon, his compassion for his people—and his passion for peace—brim over. In a video interview with the World Council of Churches, he honestly shared his deepest concerns about the current socio-economic crisis in his nation, and how churches are helping.

21 July 2021
News
Dr Souraya Bechealany, secretary general of the Middle East Council of Churches. Photo: MECC

Hope prevails in times of crisis in Lebanon

The fatal blast in Beirut last month became yet another blow to an already plagued country. In recent months, a financial crisis with a free-falling currency and rising unemployment has further undermined the Lebanese economy. Add to that one million Syrian refugees and the COVID-19 pandemic, and the contours of a fragile nation facing monumental challenges emerge.

14 September 2020
News
Rev. Dr Saïd Ailabouni, director for Europe, Middle East & North Africa region at the Global Mission Unit of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC

Dr Saïd Ailabouni: God is on the side of rejected, oppressed, occupied

Born in Nazareth, Galilee, Rev. Dr Saïd Ailabouni moved to the US at the age of 19 to become a physician. But he was so angry at God that he went to study theology instead, becoming a Lutheran pastor. Now he is leading the Middle East & Europe desk of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Since leaving his hometown 50 years ago, he visits his Palestinian family regularly. As the World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel approaches, Ailabouni agreed to share some of his lifetime observations with the Word Council of Churches.

12 September 2019
News
In the interview below, Coptic Bishop Thomas explains why the concept of martyrdom has a lot of answers for the life in the 21st century. © Albin Hillert/WCC

Carrying the cross without fear

The brutal attacks on two churches in Alexandria and Tanta on Palm Sunday with more than 40 victims are not the first attacks on Christians in Egypt. In January, the so-called Islamic State declared threat on Coptic Christians and killed eight. In December 2016, a blast at the Cathedral in Cairo killed 30 people.

12 April 2017
News
Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem. © Albin Hillert/WCC

Holy work for the Holy Land

The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel was launched by the WCC in 2002 based on an appeal from local church leaders to create an international presence in the country. So far, more than 1,800 ecumenical accompaniers have worked to create conditions for a just peace.

29 March 2017
News
Archbishop Antje Jackelen of the Church of Sweden visits Ashti camp in Ankawa, Kurdistan region of Iraq. © Paul Jeffrey/WCC

“We can’t go back as long as we know we are not secure”

Upon her first visit to Iraq, Antje Jackelén, archbishop of the Church of Sweden, had the same questions as many others across the world: “What’s really happening? What can we do to help our Christian brothers and sisters? What can we do to also assist other communities under huge pressure?”

26 January 2017
News
WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit and Ambassador Hans Brattskar, permanent representative of Norway to the UN. © Ivars Kupcis/WCC

Study shows religious and ethnic diversity vital for peace in Iraq and Syria

Analyzing efforts to protect religious communities and groups and build peace in Syria and Iraq, the WCC and Norwegian Church Aid presented a joint study on protection needs of religious and ethnic minorities in Syria and Iraq. The findings were announced on 12 December to the media and public at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

13 December 2016