A Playlist on Apartheid in Palestine

by 2023 DPF Peace Intern Marci Mazza-Fredley

A Playlist is a way of engaging with an idea or topic. They can be used as small group discussion starters, for personal devotions, or as a place to jump into a subject. 

On the subject of Responding to Apartheid in Palestine, here is:

…Something to break the ice: 

Don’t Put People in Boxes Exercise
(Watch HERE for baseline reference)

This exercise is done with the intention of getting a group of people to come to the unified conclusion that all things which make us unique individuals is how God made each of us- we are all God’s children.

-The groups start by initially separating themselves into groups that identify them together and they stand together in a box outlined on the floor with tape or rope (usually it's initially those who work together, or go to school together, those who live in the same neighborhood/ geographical, separated based on religion or race, ect.) For camp, they can be divided based on grades or geographical location in the region within the CYF or CHI Rho camp.

-The facilitator will ask a series of questions, and if the questions or statements align with you as an individual, you come forward to the center (specifically for camp these statements/ questions are modified). The idea here is that specific unique qualities will shine through in all groups, and therefore connect us with those who we may not have interacted with before because they are “off a different group.” 

-Are you a pastor’s kid/ grandkid? / I am a pastor’s kid

-Are you the class clown? /  I was/ an known for being the class clown/ life of the party

-Are you more introverted?  / I am more introverted

-Do you have tattoos/ piercings?  /  I have tattoos or I have piercings 

-Have you been bullied before?   / I have been bullied before

-Have you ever been the bully before?  /  I have bullied others

-Are you a student athlete?   /  I play sports at home or at school

-If you are comfortable answering, do you identify within the LGBTQIA community? / I identify with the LGBTQIA community

-Do you love science fiction movies?  / I love science fiction movies

-Do you have your driver’s license? / I have my drivers license

-Is this your first time at church camp? / This is my first time at church camp

-When the group comes to the middle, allow the entire participating party to see where all individuals come from (what group) and how they call come together in the middle

-Then two final questions/ statements : I am a child of God & I am a human being. This is to invite all people to step out of their initial boxes and realize that we are all one in the same in the eyes of our creator. 

-This can help dive into the topics surrounding international conflicts, sexism, racism, ect., because it teaches us that everyone has a story and unique qualities that God has given us. Rather than looking at these things as differences that should separate us into a herd-like mentality, they are differences that provide lenses into cultures and perspectives we may not understand. And if we separate people into boxes and groups with labels and titles, we cut off from the very things that unite us together. 

…Something to Watch

Apartheid IDs Explained
This video explains how the Israeli government issues specifically color coded identification cards to Palestinians based on their nationality and location. 

The Present on Netflix
This short film depicts how hard life is for Palestinians having to go through movement checkpoints.

Born in Gaza on Netflix
This documentary shows the life of children and families who live in Gaza. 

…Something to Read/ Evaluate

Kairos Document 
A moment of truth, a word of faith, hope and love from the heart of Palestinian suffering

UN Palestinian Atlases to show where Israeli settlements, movement checkpoints, Palestinian neighborhoods, schools, refugee centers, Israeli military training centers, and land separations are

  • Page 4 AREAS WITH HIGHEST HUMANITARIAN VULNERABILITY

  • Page 15 and 16 Jerusalem and East Jerusalem 

  • Page 17 Bethlehem (outline of Bethlehem wall and A,B,C districts)

  • Page 18 Hebron

  • Page 25 Hebron (specifically H1 and H2 separation)

  • Page 45 Casualties in the context of demonstrations and hostilities in Gaza

…Something to Wonder

I wonder if there is anything I can do to impact the occupation in Palestine…

I wonder how different my life is from a teenager in Palestine…

I wonder what the larger church can do to impact the occupation in Palestine…

…Something to Talk/Think/Journal About

  1. Have I heard about apartheid in Palestine before today?

  2. If so, what have I heard about it? Who’s perspectives were I listening to?

  3. How has the media outlined these events?

  4. What are the differences between this “conflict” and what happened in Ukraine? 

  5. What is the United States doing to stop or perpetuate the occupation in Palestine?  

…Something to Do

There is so much that can be done to help support Palestinians in their fight for justice and equity. While it can be difficult to travel abroad and work on the ground in Palestine, you can do so much right from your phone and computer to help! 

The Disciples General Assembly this summer in Louisville will the resolution GA-2339: Compelled to Witness: Answering the Cry of our Palestinian Siblings. What can you do to help spread the word about this Sense-of-the-Assembly Resolution?

-Go to General Assembly this year and support the resolution being presented!! 

-Encourage your congregation leaders to go to General Assembly and support the resolution! 

-Speak to congregations about how they can implement small changes around the church to ensure they are socially conscious about where their money is going (reference the BDS campaign below)

-Speak to your churches about what social justice avenues the ministry is supporting and actively working with. All struggles are interconnected and to fight for small injustices in your local communities will help build and address the larger injustices happening around the world. 

-Lead a bible study on this topic. This apartheid is often described as a conflict that is equally responsible on both sides, while also being depicted as only a Jew vs Muslim issue. However, it is so important to educate those around you about this issue, and the truths behind why this apartheid exists today, how it developed over time, and what countries are complacent in these actions.

-Read and support the Kairos Document. This is a document written by Palestinians to explain the realities they are living in right now. 

-Read CRY FOR HOPE: A CALL TO DECISIVE ACTION 

-You can also read the response document that Disciples and UCC Leaders issued as a Message and Call in response to the “Cry for Hope”

-Read and interact with the Boycott Divestment and Sanction campaign launched against the State of Israel

-Donate an Olive Tree for $20! There are areas of land in Palestine that are actively being threatened by the Israeli government. To combat intentional adverse possession, Palestinian farmers are planting fields of olive trees to ensure the land stays in ownership of palestine. Buy an olive tree to be planted in Palestine, rather than a Canadian tree to be planted in Israel. 

…Something to Pray

 Prayer for Palestine
from Prof. Kim, Yong-Bock (“Global Kairos.” Global Kairos - A Global Call for Decisive Action, www.cryforhope.org/index.php/prayers)

Oh God!

Oh Allah!

Oh Hananim! *

We are believers in you,

We come together to make a circle of prophetic solidarity with the Palestinian people,

Remembering the day of Nakba of the Palestinian people,

Praying to be prophetic witnesses for the imminent Kairos Palestine,

Believing the day of Nakba will be transformed into the Kairos of homecoming with

justice, self-determination and peace for life together.

Come as the Spirit to give sustainable hope to the Palestinian people and to us, as we participate in the Global Kairos Network.

Amen

* Hananim is a traditional Korean regio-cultural word for God, widely used by Christians and non-Christians.