On December 6th, 2017, a congressionally backed President Trump declared his intention to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. To the delight of many Jews and Evangelical Christians and to the dismay of most Palestinians, May 14th was the date selected for the relocation. It’s a controversial day in that it represents both the 70th anniversary of Israel’s independence and the 70th anniversary of Palestine’s Nakba, or catastrophe.
The decision, in defiance of international wisdom, has further destabilized the region and catalyzed deadly protests.
On this webinar, we will hear from Israeli expert, Sari Bashi (Human Rights Watch), Palestinian American expert Greg Khalil (The Telos Group) and Palestinian Christian Sami Awad (Holy Land Trust). Together, they will offer historic and political commentary on what is currently transpiring in the region and how the rising tension in the Middle East could impact the outlook for peace.
This briefing will also be about our formation. How are we, as Everyday Peacemakers to move beyond confusion & paralysis on this issue to restorative action within our families, networks, and world?
You will walk away from this conversation with an understanding of the significance of this moment as well as with sharpened tools for constructive, healthy engagement.
Sari Bashi – Israel/Palestine Advocacy Director of Human Rights Watch
@saribashi @hrw
Sari Bashi is the Israel/Palestine Advocacy Director at Human Rights Watch. Prior to joining Human Rights Watch, Ms. Bashi co-founded the Israeli human rights group Gisha and served as its executive director of Gisha from its foundation in 2005 until 2014. She writes and lectures on international humanitarian law and Israeli policy toward the occupied Palestinian territories, especially Gaza. Ms. Bashi has received fellowships from Yale Law School and the Echoing Green Foundation for her work with Gisha and has taught international law at Tel Aviv University. Ms. Bashi clerked on the Israeli Supreme Court for Justice Edmond Levi and is a licensed attorney in Israel and New York. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree (summa cum laude) from Yale University and a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School. Prior to studying law, Ms. Bashi worked as a correspondent for the Associated Press in Jerusalem and conducted research on ethnic identity among Ethiopian immigrants to Israel as part of a Fulbright Scholarship.
Greg Khalil – President and Co-Founder of Telos
@gregkhalil @telosgroup
Before founding the Telos Group, Greg lived in Ramallah, the West Bank, where he advised the Palestinian leadership on peace negotiations with Israel. Although Greg was born and raised in San Diego, California, much of his extended family still lives in Beit Sahour, a predominantly Palestinian Christian town near Bethlehem. He has lectured widely on the Middle East and has been published by The Review of Faith & International Affairs and The New York Times. Greg is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles and Yale Law School.
Sami Awad – Executive Director of Holy Land Trust
At a young age, Sami was influenced by the teaching of his uncle Mubarak Awad, the Palestinian activist who promoted nonviolent resistance to the occupation during the first Intifada (popular uprising) and was arrested and deported by the Israeli government for his peaceful / nonviolent activities. Through working with Mubarak, Sami was introduced to great leaders and visionaries of the global nonviolence movement; from Jesus to Gandhi to King.
Sami has engaged himself locally and globally through promoting and engaging in nonviolence, healing and transformation work. Holy Land Trust is committed to supporting, training and developing NVC in the Holy Land.
Sami Awad holds an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Divinity from the Chicago Theological Seminary, a Master’s Degree in International Relations from the American University in Washington D.C. and an undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Kansas.
Jer Swigart – Co-Founding Director of The Global Immersion Project
@JerSwigart @GlobalImmerse
Jer has been working in the field of peacemaking and conflict transformation since 2005 when he acted as the liaison between an international NGO, the faith community, the Pakistani military, and the United Nations in the aftermath of a massive earthquake in Northern Pakistan.
Informed by that unique multi-cultural experience, his career as a church planter and Lead Pastor in the San Francisco Bay Area, and because of his deep engagement within national and international conflicts, he co-founded The Global Immersion Project in an effort to form men and women into Everyday Peacemakers who are equipped and mobilized to reach across boundaries and seek human flourishing.
He specializes in creating dynamic, collaborative spaces of integrative learning that move students beyond theory and into practice. Jer completed his undergrad work at The University of Northwestern-St. Paul and his M.Div. at Fuller Theological Seminary where he focused his studies on innovative leadership in peace and reconciliation and was the recipient of the prestigious David Allen Hubbard Award. He currently resides in Bend, OR with his family and writes HERE.
Panelists
Sari Bashi – Israel/Palestine Advocacy Director of Human Rights Watch
@saribashi @hrw
Sari Bashi is the Israel/Palestine Advocacy Director at Human Rights Watch. Prior to joining Human Rights Watch, Ms. Bashi co-founded the Israeli human rights group Gisha and served as its executive director of Gisha from its foundation in 2005 until 2014. She writes and lectures on international humanitarian law and Israeli policy toward the occupied Palestinian territories, especially Gaza. Ms. Bashi has received fellowships from Yale Law School and the Echoing Green Foundation for her work with Gisha and has taught international law at Tel Aviv University. Ms. Bashi clerked on the Israeli Supreme Court for Justice Edmond Levi and is a licensed attorney in Israel and New York. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree (summa cum laude) from Yale University and a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School. Prior to studying law, Ms. Bashi worked as a correspondent for the Associated Press in Jerusalem and conducted research on ethnic identity among Ethiopian immigrants to Israel as part of a Fulbright Scholarship.
Greg Khalil – President and Co-Founder of Telos
@gregkhalil @telosgroup
Before founding the Telos Group, Greg lived in Ramallah, the West Bank, where he advised the Palestinian leadership on peace negotiations with Israel. Although Greg was born and raised in San Diego, California, much of his extended family still lives in Beit Sahour, a predominantly Palestinian Christian town near Bethlehem. He has lectured widely on the Middle East and has been published by The Review of Faith & International Affairs and The New York Times. Greg is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles and Yale Law School.
Sami Awad – Executive Director of Holy Land Trust
At a young age, Sami was influenced by the teaching of his uncle Mubarak Awad, the Palestinian activist who promoted nonviolent resistance to the occupation during the first Intifada (popular uprising) and was arrested and deported by the Israeli government for his peaceful / nonviolent activities. Through working with Mubarak, Sami was introduced to great leaders and visionaries of the global nonviolence movement; from Jesus to Gandhi to King.
Sami has engaged himself locally and globally through promoting and engaging in nonviolence, healing and transformation work. Holy Land Trust is committed to supporting, training and developing NVC in the Holy Land.
Sami Awad holds an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Divinity from the Chicago Theological Seminary, a Master’s Degree in International Relations from the American University in Washington D.C. and an undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Kansas.
Facilitator
Jer Swigart – Co-Founding Director of The Global Immersion Project
@JerSwigart @GlobalImmerse
Jer has been working in the field of peacemaking and conflict transformation since 2005 when he acted as the liaison between an international NGO, the faith community, the Pakistani military, and the United Nations in the aftermath of a massive earthquake in Northern Pakistan.
Informed by that unique multi-cultural experience, his career as a church planter and Lead Pastor in the San Francisco Bay Area, and because of his deep engagement within national and international conflicts, he co-founded The Global Immersion Project in an effort to form men and women into Everyday Peacemakers who are equipped and mobilized to reach across boundaries and seek human flourishing.
He specializes in creating dynamic, collaborative spaces of integrative learning that move students beyond theory and into practice. Jer completed his undergrad work at The University of Northwestern-St. Paul and his M.Div. at Fuller Theological Seminary where he focused his studies on innovative leadership in peace and reconciliation and was the recipient of the prestigious David Allen Hubbard Award. He currently resides in Bend, OR with his family and writes HERE.