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Voters are weary of spin, contemptuous of the moral deformities of "being on-message" and disillusioned with the journey from managerial "what works" politics to the messianic certainties, says Jill Segger. A different compass is needed in Labour's leadership election and elsewhere in British politics.

During the last few weeks, I have been receiving emails from the Labour leadership candidates. Some of them have sent text messages urging me to text back my voting intentions. These communications have a tendency towards producing a quick, emotional response.

Time to think, not only about the five contenders, but about the very nature of leadership, is essential and Graeme Smith's article Why Labour's next leader should not be a prophet offers plenty of food for thought. So much, in fact, that I found myself subject to a certain amount of confusion, despite his elucidation of the undoubted dangers of certain prophetic qualities.

It is my belief that a good leader must have a vision, even if he or she is not a full-blown visionary - with all the possibilities of lonely obsession and unmoderated zeal which attend that condition. And the bounds of vision and prophecy are divided by very thin partitions. Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech was able to do what no amount of managerial competence or pragmatism - necessary qualities though these are – could ever have achieved.

It is open to question as to whether King was a prophet or an extraordinarily courageous and effective leader. But it is certain that unless vision is subject to alert self-discipline, it may become overblown and grandiose (qualities which are particularly abhorrent to Anglo-Saxons who are suspicious of rhetoric) and is ever in danger of falling in love with its own music to the detriment of engaging those it seeks to inspire. Neil Kinnock, who was capable of passion and eloquence, was derided as "the Welsh Windbag" for that very reason. I suspect that both Lloyd George and Nye Bevan would have met with similar epithets had they lived into our own time.

Voters are weary of spin, contemptuous of the moral deformities of "being on-message" and above all, utterly disillusioned with the journey of Tony Blair from managerial "what works" politics to the messianic certainties of his stance on the Iraq war. Blair has utilised religious belief as both justification and self-exculpation: his proclamation that he would "answer to God" for his actions may well be true. But it is the business of a political leader, particularly a Prime Minister, to answer to the people who elect his party and in whose name he governs.

This is where an overtly confessional approach goes astray and alienates many people of faith and of good faith who rightly demand temporal accountability. "Think it possible that you may be mistaken" we are urged in the Advices and Queries of the Religious Society of Friends. Humility is not the enemy of either conviction or of passion and the conviction politician must retain that awareness if an unaudited sense of their own rightness - and righteousness - is not to lead them into isolation and unreality. Alliances and compromises are likely to be necessary and the man or woman who knows just how far to go in that direction without doing violence to conscience, is likely to be a leader worthy of respect.

Graeme Smith is right to remind us that it is the role of prophets to speak truth to power – to be the grit in the oyster, the gadfly to the conscience - while leaders, exercising power and enacting laws, must offer hope. If "the art of the possible" is to be combined with the moral clarity and vision which is necessary to offer the hope of transforming our profoundly unequal society, a singular integrity will be demanded of the man or woman who would lead the Labour Party from opposition to government.

To clear my mind as to the nature of that integrity, I turned to the Quaker Testimony of Truth. This reminds me that integrity is so much more than refraining from lying. It is to be whole and entire and to have no disjunction between belief and practice; its fruits are consistency and honesty towards self and others. It is to act at all times and in all places with the outer coherence which makes inner conviction clear, whatever the short-term cost may be.

This demands of me, as a Quaker member of the Labour Party, to put aside what may be instinctive inclinations and to seek for evidence of that integrity amongst all five contenders. The interventions of Neil Kinnock, Peter Mandelson and Tony Blair are irrelevant here and the pro and anti arguments about New Labour are secondary, although I hope that the new leader will have the courage to acknowledge that the party of the past 13 years has been neither new enough nor Labour enough.

Unlock Democracy's online 'Vote Match' tool surprised me by revealing that my intended 5th choice was in fact the candidate whose policy views are closest to my own. It would seem that I still have some thinking to do about the relationship between policy stance, leadership qualities, personal inclination and integrity.

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© Jill Segger is a Quaker and Ekklesia's associate editor. She is a freelance writer who contributes to the Church Times, Catholic Herald, Tribune, and The Friend, among other publications. Jill is also a composer. See: http://www.journalistdirectory.com/journalist/TQig/Jill-Segger

Anglicans worldwide are in a tangle over structure and belief, says Savi Hensman. However, for those ready and willing to engage with others, not simply debating specific issues but exploring underlying beliefs about God and love of neighbour, and the spiritual journeys that underpin faith, there may be opportunities to learn and grow.

He was the Word, that spake it:
He took the bread and brake it;
And what that Word did make it,
I do believe and take it.

So wrote Anglican priest and poet John Donne, not seeking to define precisely what happens at communion, an issue much disputed in his time. These lines are sometimes attributed to Elizabeth I, who famously said that she did not want to “make windows into men’s souls”. She also reportedly declared that “there is only one Jesus Christ” and “the rest is a dispute over trifles”.

Though the Reformation was at times bloody in England as well as other parts of Europe, her approach was more pragmatic than that of her father, Henry VIII. Provided those inclined to a more Catholic spirituality did not challenge the state, they could coexist with ardent Calvinists in the Church of England, where worship combined the old and new.

Intolerance and rivalry continued in some quarters and occasionally flared up, and quite a number of members attended church as more a civic than a religious activity. Yet at best, the Church of England offered fertile soil for faith to flourish and develop, occasionally renewed by Wesleyan and other revivals.

Theological diversity was linked with the variety of ways in which churchgoers related to God in prayer and everyday life, and the varying circumstances of the parishes where they sought to serve the community and live out their faith. As autonomous churches were set up in other parts of the world, and Christians responded to social change in different ways, diversity among Anglicans further increased.

While labels such as “traditionalist”, “conservative”, “liberal”, “Anglo-Catholic” and “evangelical” are sometimes used, these may bring more confusion than clarity. For instance, some Anglo-Catholics are implacably opposed to women priests, while others are women priests themselves. The term “evangelical” can encompass anyone from Phillip Jensen, the ultra-Protestant Dean of Sydney, to the gay bishop, Gene Robinson.

Sometimes, the tension between different approaches to faith has been creative, and enabled Anglicans like the late Michael Ramsey, former Archbishop of Canterbury, to play an active part in the ecumenical movement. However, many Anglicans now move largely in circles filled with the like-minded – or, if they are part of a minority in their congregation, diocese or college, try to steer clear of controversial matters. Often, there has been a lack of dialogue, except when disputes have arisen.

In recent years, there has been a drive by some leaders who see themselves as the vanguard of a new reformation in the Anglican Communion, to root out views they regard as erroneous. One response has been to try to develop central structures to decide what is permitted in different provinces, and exclude those who do not agree or treat them as “second-tier” Anglicans.

Understandably, others have pointed out the value of diversity, and called for this to be safeguarded. However there is also a need for better communication so that more Anglicans understand why others hold opinions different from their own.

It is not certain what will happen structurally within the Communion. Yet whatever threats or divisions take place at an official level, Anglicans can make efforts to deepen their understanding of one another, even if the main aim in certain cases might be to convert those who have strayed from 'the truth'!

Some may steer clear of study and discussion along these lines, either because they are impatient with those who disagree, or feel too bruised by past encounters. However, for Anglicans ready and willing to engage with others, not simply debating specific issues but exploring underlying beliefs about God and love of neighbour, and the spiritual journeys that underpin faith, there may be opportunities to learn and grow.

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© Savitri Hensman was born in Sri Lanka. She works in the voluntary sector in community care and equalities in the UK, and she is also a respected writer on Christianity and social justice. Savi is an Ekklesia associate. She has contributed several chapters on Anglican issues and biblical interpretation to the book Fear or Freedom? Why a warring church must change (edited by Simon Barrow, Shoving Leopard / Ekklesia).

The Accord Coalition for inclusive education has launched its 2010 Award for 'good examples' of schools that welcome and involve all.

The Accord Coalition for inclusive education has launched its 2010 Award for 'good examples' of schools which welcome and involve all.

The Accord Award, which was established last year, is the first of its kind. It recognises the achievements of state maintained schools that celebrate the diversity of beliefs, both religious and non-religious, within the school and wider community which go beyond the school’s legal requirements on inclusion and equality.

The prestigious Award is open to all state-funded schools and was won last year by Manorside Primary School in North London, with runners up being the Anglo-European School in Essex and Balshaw’s Church of England High School in Leyland, Lancashire.

The year’s Award will be judged by another respected and experienced panel of experts including Dr Mary Bousted, General Secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers; Baroness Kishwer Falkner, an expert on human rights and multiculturalism; Fiona Millar, journalist and education campaigner; Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain MBE, minister of the Maidenhead Synagogue and chair of The Accord Coalition; and Simon Barrow, co-director of the Christian think-tank Ekklesia and a former assisant general secretary of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.

The deadline for entries is 5pm on Monday 10 November and prizes will be awarded in the New Year. The judges will be looking for schools having an ethos which celebrates inclusion and that pride themselves on building links within and between communities.

The winning school will be announced in the local and national press. Details on the Accord Award can be found at the organisation’s website (http://accordcoalition.org.uk/).

Launching the 2010 Award, Accord Coalition chair, Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain, commented: "Many people sit back complain about the state of our schools. However, The Accord Coalition does the reverse and is committed to seeking out and rewarding those schools that are inclusive, tolerant and transparent."

He continued: "Many schools are remarkably successful at improving cohesion and it is time that those institutions that work hard to build bridges between the different ethnic and religion or belief communities are praised."

Simon Barrow, co-director of the religion and society think-tank Ekklesia, which was a co-founder of the Accord Coalition, said: "This award shows both the diversity and the community capability of education in this country. It rewards and highlights those who are working to break down barriers of religion and belief in schooling, and demonstrates that the arguments for maintaining discrimination in admissions, employment, curriculum and assembly in some schools are outdated and unnecessary."

"It is vitally important to encourage inclusive education through good example rather than cajoling, and to research on the de-benefits of restrictive practices with encouragement towards those schools that show a better way, whatever their background or foundation," he added.

The Accord Coalition was launched in September 2008 to bring together religious and civic organisations and individuals campaigning for an end to religious discrimination in school staffing and admissions.

The Coalition also campaigns for a fair and balanced RE curriculum, for pupils to receive Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education, and for the replacement of the requirement for compulsory collective worship with inspiring, inclusive assemblies.

The coalition does not take a position for or against faith schools in principle, and its members take different positions on this issue. The aim is to create a fresh debate by bringing people together across the divide to argue for reform.

Accord's growing list of members and supporters include the the Christian think tank Ekklesia, British Muslims for Secular Democracy, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, and the British Humanist Association. It also has members from the four largest groupings in parliament.

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Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops in South Africa have urged the government to withdraw and redraft a proposed restrictive media law.

Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops in South Africa have urged the government to withdraw and redraft a proposed media law that critics say would allow authorities to classify virtually any official information as secret - writes Munyaradzi Makoni.

"We believe that the bill violates the spirit of openness and accountability that is so necessary to underpin the constitution's provisions on good governance, essential for a healthy democracy," said South African Cardinal Wilfrid Napier in a statement this week.

Napier was active in the struggle against apartheid and said that there would be practically no right of appeal against rulings under the law, as any appeal would be processed by the same people who made the original decision.

"We certainly do not want government to take us back to the oppressive practices of yesteryear, against which our common struggle was launched," said the cardinal.

Separately, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa warned that the draft law on protection of information threatens to undermine rights including freedom of expression and freedom of religion, "to which we as South Africans subscribed when our elected representatives adopted our constitution in 1996."

In an article published in the Cape Times newspaper, Makgoba said, "What is notable about the Protection of Information Bill as it currently stands is that it seeks to punish not lies or incorrect information ... but rather truthful information based on official documents."

A campaign called Right2know aimed at stopping the secrecy bill seen as a major threat to hard-won freedom was held on 31 August 2010 at Cape Town's St. George's Anglican Cathedral, where South Africans rallied against apartheid in the 1970s and 1980s.

Those who oppose the proposed law say that in its current form investigative journalists could be prosecuted and face a prison sentence of up to 25 years for reporting on government information.

"Tamper with press freedom, and you tamper with the freedom of every citizen to receive and impart information and ideas," said Makgoba, who is archbishop of Cape Town. "We cannot draw a line around press freedom, restricting the rights of journalists, without limiting the rights of all of us."

Napier said that while Catholic bishops accept that some degree of restriction of information is, "both legitimate and necessary," the bishops had grave misgivings about the way this would be done if the proposal becomes law. He said the measure risks entrenching a culture of non-accountability and non-transparency among state officials at all levels.

"The definition of national interest and national security are so broad that they could be used to keep secret matters that ought by right to be accessible to the public," said Napier, who heads the diocese of Durban and was speaking for the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference.

[With acknowledgements to ENI. Ecumenical News International is jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Conference of European Churches.]

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The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has made an impassioned plea to keep a Malawian mother and daughter in Scotland.

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has made a further impassioned plea to keep a Malawian mother and daughter in Scotland.

The Rt Rev John Christie addressed over 2,000 Church of Scotland Guild members at their annual meeting in Dundee’s Caird Hall last week, putting the case for asylum seekers Precious and Florence Mhango.

Mrs Mhango has argued that, if returned to Africa, her daughter will be taken to live with her former husband's family and will be at risk of genital mutilation.

The Moderator based his speech on the Guild’s key theme for the 2010-11 session, “called to love mercy”.

He voiced his bitter disappointment at Home Secretary Theresa May, after she refused to intervene in the Mhangos' case following a joint letter from himself, Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond and the head of the Catholic Church in Scotland, Cardinal Keith O’Brien.

“There are certainly for the three of us, and many others, good reasons for them to be allowed to stay in Scotland," declared Christie. ”This is an opportunity for compassionate love and it would be disappointing, to say the least, if they are deported."

He added: “The New Testament is full of examples between the tension of the law, and grace and compassion. In these set of exceptional circumstances I believe grace and compassion should prevail.”

After Mrs Mhango left her violent and abusive husband, the pair no longer had the right to stay in the UK.

Precious, aged 10, and her mother lost an immigration appeal at the High Court in London and were ordered to return to Malawi in July 2010.

The family, who were staying in Cranhill in Glasgow, hope to appeal against the deportation ruling, but could now be removed at any time.

The Guild, staunch campaigners against injustices such as human trafficking and domestic abuse, have added their support to the battle to keep the two Malawian asylum seekers in Scotland.

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Amnesty International is urging the Slovak government to immediately end the segregation of Romani children in the country’s education system.

Amnesty International is urging the Slovak government to immediately end the segregation of Romani children in the country’s education system.
 
In a new report - Steps To End Segregation In Education - sent to the Slovak government, Amnesty points to serious gaps in the enforcement and monitoring of the ban on discrimination and segregation in the country's educational system.
 
They say that as a result of the gap, thousands of Romani pupils are in sub-standard education in schools and classes for pupils with “mild mental disabilities” or ethnically segregated mainstream schools and classes.
 
While Roma are estimated to comprise less than 10 per cent of Slovakia’s total population, they make up 60 per cent of pupils in special schools, according to a 2009 survey. In regions with high Romani populations, three out of every four pupils in special schools are Roma; 85 per cent of children in special classes in mainstream schools are Roma.
 
“Romani children across Slovakia remain trapped in a school system that keeps failing them as a result of widespread discrimination,” said David Diaz-Jogeix, Amnesty International Europe Deputy-Director.
 
“It deprives Romani children of equal opportunities and sentences them to a life of poverty and marginalisation,” he added, “Segregation in education means a life-long stigma for children whose future chances are brutally limited”.

He insisted that this is “a practice that does not belong to 21st-century Europe and must be eliminated”.
 
Amnesty’s report shows that segregation of Romani children in Slovakia takes various forms: special schools or special classes within mainstream schools designed for pupils with “mild mental disabilities”, and mainstream Roma-only schools and classes. In some cases, school heads have admitted segregating Roma children simply to stop non-Roma parents removing their children in a so-called “white flight” response.
 
One case highlighted in the report is that of Jakub, a boy from a Roma settlement near Bratislava who was transferred to a special class for children with “mild mental disabilities” in his mainstream school after a disagreement with his teacher. Jakub was a scholarship pupil with an excellent academic record whom another of his teachers described as a “genius” who should not have been segregated.
 
The causes of segregation, says Amnesty, are complex and include entrenched anti-Roma attitudes as well as policy failures in the education system such as early and flawed child assessment and insufficient support for Romani children within mainstream education.
 
Amnesty reports that widespread anti-Romani sentiment in Slovakia has led to segregation of Romani children even in mainstream schools and classes. They cite situations in which Romani children are sometimes literally locked into separate classrooms, corridors or buildings to prevent them from mixing with non-Roma pupils.
 
The new Slovak government recently committed itself to eliminating the segregated schooling of Roma, yet Amnesty is concerned that this has not been followed by a clear and unequivocal statement by the head of government that ethnic discrimination and segregation of Roma is unacceptable and will be combated as a matter of priority.

“The choices that the government makes now will affect the lives of thousands of Romani children,” said Diaz-Jogeix, “The government holds the key to allow the Roma in Slovakia full participation in Slovak and European society”.
 
Amnesty is calling on the Slovak authorities to introduce a clear duty on all schools to desegregate education and to provide them with effective support.

They are also urging them to introduce adequate support measures for Roma and non-Roma children who need extra assistance, so that they may achieve their fullest potential within mainstream schools.

Their other urgent suggestions include the provision of of the State School Inspectorate with adequate resources, including robust, detailed guidelines and procedures on how to identify, monitor and combat segregation in practice. And they also want the authorities to begin the systematic collection of data on education, disaggregated on the basis of gender and ethnicity.

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The head of the World Council of Churches has sent a message to Middle East negotiators in Washington to stress the concerns of Palestinian Christians.

The general secretary of the World Council of Churches has sent a message to the Middle East negotiators in Washington to stress the concerns of Palestinian Christians.

The message conveys concern over the final status of Jerusalem, the future of the Christians there and the need for a just peace in the region.

"Now is the time for a just peace," the Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit says in the message from Jerusalem, where he is visiting this week with a WCC delegation. "The Christians here pray for that; all peoples here need it desperately. The time of occupation and violence must end."

The message also talks about the need for the final negotiations on the status of Jerusalem to involve the heads of the local churches. "Palestinian Christians are also concerned about their future here and about their status in Jerusalem," his message said.

In the message Tveit also says the Christians in Jerusalem are "very much concerned by the discourse about religious identity of states in this region, which they fear will marginalize not only their presence and witness but also that of all Christians elsewhere in the region."

The message came as discussions between the Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams were about to resume. At a meeting between US President Barack Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday, 1 September, each of the leaders pledged to work diligently toward peace.

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The Education Secretary Michael Gove has been urged not to “jeopardise green education” after threatening to axe a scheme aimed at creating sustainable schools.

The Education Secretary, Michael Gove, has been urged not to “jeopardise green education” after threatening to axe a scheme aimed at creating sustainable schools.

The news comes after the government controversially cut the schools rebuilding programme and axed a scheme to create 5,000 green work experience placements. Now the Department for Education looks set to drop the Sustainable School Strategy.

The plan was condemned by People & Planet and Friends of the Earth.

People & Planet, the UK's largest student campaigning network, said that evidence from the previous education department and numerous other sources has shown that those schools who implement sustainability have raised standards as well as staff and student wellbeing.

The organisation, which coordinates the Go Green campaign to help schools cut their carbon emissions, called on the government to ensure that there are opportunities and resources for all students to learn about sustainability issues.

“Abandoning a coordinated approach to creating sustainable schools is akin to abandoning hope that the next generation can tackle the greatest threats to our society,” insisted Jamie Clarke, People & Planet's Education Manager, “It further compounds the impression that the coalition government is saddling the future generation with an environmental debt”.

He pointed out that schools produce a fifth of all public sector greenhouse emissions. “Schools need to be at the heart of the green society, preparing the next generation for the challenges that face our world, and to be at the forefront of the future economy,” he said.

Student Matt McMullen added, “It is vital that we continue to support schools to become sustainable, especially at this critical moment, so that we can create a big society where we can tackle the defining issues of our generation. We want a better future.”

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Disabled people are hidden in daily life despite the public believing that they should be given a level-playing field of opportunity, a new poll shows.

Disabled people are largely hidden in day-to-day life despite the public believing that they should be given a level-playing field of opportunity, a new poll shows.

In an opinion survey commissioned from ComRes by the charity Scope, 91 per cent of people stated that they believed disabled people should have the same opportunities as everyone else.

Worryingly, nearly 40 per cent of people who are not disabled and do not have a disabled family member do not know any disabled people.

90 per cent of Britons have never had a disabled person to their house for a social occasion and only a fifth (21 per cent) have ever had the chance to work with a disabled colleague.

The results demonstrate that disabled people are already relatively invisible in daily life, says Scope.

Concern is also growing that the forthcoming Government spending cuts, which are likely to hit disabled people among the hardest, may end up pushing them into further social exclusion and even cut them out of society altogether.

The report by the Institute of Fiscal Studies ‘The distributional effect of tax and benefit reforms to be introduced between June 2010 and April 2014: a revised assessment' (Browne and Levell, 25/08/10) highlights the fact that 20 per cent of current recipients of DLA will lose their entitlement as part of the systems reform.

Richard Hawkes, Chief Executive of Scope, commented: “This is shocking evidence that shows that disabled people are still relatively invisible in day-to-day life. We are deeply concerned that the Government’s spending cuts will end up pushing disabled people even closer to the fringes of society."

He continued: “The Government needs to carry out a full impact assessment before making any cuts to ensure they understand the full consequences of reductions in critical support such as Disability Living Allowance and Incapacity Benefit. These form a vital lifeline for many disabled people and their families."

Hawkes continued,“Without fully understanding the nature of disabled people’s lives, or the impact these changes will have, the Government may find itself causing extreme distress and financial hardship to disabled people which could end up creating greater dependency on the state and an even greater demand on the public purse".

ComRes interviewed 2,030 British adults online between 20 and 22 August 2010. Data was weighted to be demographically representative of all British adults.

The leading disability charity Scope (http://www.scope.org.uk/) "believes disabled people should have the same opportunities as everyone else. We run services and campaigns with disabled people to make this happen. As a charity with expertise in complex support needs and cerebral palsy, we never set limits on potential."

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The Bushmen of Botswana have lodged an appeal against a High Court decision denying them access to water on their ancestral lands.

The Bushmen of Botswana have lodged an appeal against a High Court decision that denied them access to water on their ancestral lands.

In July 2010, Justice Walia dismissed the Bushmen’s application for permission to use a well on their lands inside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, expressing sympathy for the government’s position that ‘having chosen to settle at an uncomfortably distant location, [the Bushmen] have brought upon themselves any discomfort they may endure.’

The ruling came a week before the UN formally recognised water as a fundamental human right. It has also been condemned by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Africa’s key human rights body, for denying the ‘right to life’ enshrined in the African Charter.

In 2002, the Bushmen were evicted from their lands by the Botswana government; a move declared by the High Court as illegal and unconstitutional. However, despite the ruling, the government continues to prevent Bushmen from returning home by banning them from accessing a well which they rely on for water. Without it, they are forced to make arduous journeys to fetch water from outside their reserve.

The Bushmen launched legal proceedings in a bid to gain access to the well, which the government sealed and capped during the 2002 evictions. Even though the Bushmen have said they will raise the funds required to operate the well, the government claims that they need permission to do so and has refused to give it.

At the same time, the government has created new wells for wildlife in the reserve, allowed the opening of a Wilderness Safaris tourist lodge with swimming pool on Bushman land, and is due to give the go ahead for a diamond mine at one of the Bushman communities.

Botswana’s president, Ian Khama, who sits on the board of Conservation International, has described the Bushmen’s way of life as "an archaic fantasy".

Bushman spokesman, Jumanda Gakelebone, said, "Like all human beings, we can’t live without water. We, the Bushmen, are appealing for our basic human right, and the world is watching".

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This report by our partners Christian Peacemakers Teams (www.cpt.org) was written after a number of interviews with Iraqis about how they see the future for their country as the United States withdraws. Their diverse expressed opinions show that the truth is much more complex than the US narrative seeks to present. The contribution of the “surge” to a reduction in violence in Iraq is questionable. Opinions on the reliability of the Iraqi security forces, although not entirely negative, vary widely. Iraq (www.cpt.org/work/iraq ) faces a highly uncertain future, perhaps becoming a success story, but perhaps experiencing more bloodshed. The US should think creatively about ways to support the people of Iraq as they rebuild their country.

Christian Peace...

Politicians need to focus on the human face of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, not their own political agendas, says a prominent churches' leader.

Politicians need to focus on the human face of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and not discard it in favour of their own political agendas, the head of the World Council of Churches has said in the Middle East - writes Judith Sudilovsky from Jerusalem.

"Politicians need to act and prevent this human tragedy," WCC General Secretary, the Rev Olav Fykse Tveit, told ENInews after a visit to Palestinian families who have been evicted by Israelis from their homes in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheik Jarrah.

He said that although there are many holy sites in the Holy Land, the people who live on the land are also holy. "This is not about political principles, this is about human beings. It is a shame that politicians are interested more in their own political interests than in bringing basic human rights," said Tveit, a Norwegian Lutheran theologian.

It is Tveit's first visit to the Holy Land as WCC General Secretary, although he visited the region several times before taking up his post at the Geneva-headquartered church grouping in January.

In addition to meeting with the leaders of local churches, Tveit was scheduled to meet with the Israeli chief rabbis, representatives of several Jewish group partners and the Jerusalem Grand Mufti, a representative of Islam. Tveit also travelled to Bethlehem and Hebron.

On the fourth day of his six-day visit to the Holy Land, Tveit noted that meeting with the family members from about 12 families evicted from their homes in the past two years greatly affected his understanding of infringements of Palestinian rights which are taking place.

Nabil Al-Kurd, 67, whose family was evicted from half of his two-building home, told Tveit that Jewish settlers harassed the families, and that the families' sons as young as nine and 12 have been taken in by Israel police for questioning.

Still, he also mentioned that every week a group of Israelis and others who support them protest against the eviction, along with the affected families.

Al-Kurd's 88-year-old mother, Refqa Al-Kurd, recalled how they woke up one day in the other building and found all their furniture from the front building strewn in their yard. She described how she had been attacked by police when she protested against the eviction.

"There can be no peace for both sides if both sides do not have security," Tveit said. "This has nothing to do with religion; it is an abuse of power. How can there be good relations with these people afterwards? If we love God we are also called to love our neighbours as ourselves."

Zakariah Odeh, the executive director of the Civic Coalition for Jerusalem who briefed Tveit on the situation, said the legal case against the families has been before Israeli courts for 37 years. Israeli settler groups claim the land on which the homes are built is Jewish-owned. Odeh said however about 28 Palestinian refugee families had been settled in the area under a 1956 agreement between Jordan, which had control of the area before 1967 and provided the land, and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency which built the houses.

"This type of situation also destroys Israel … It is not giving [Israelis] the freedom to live as good neighbours," said Tveit. "Churches around the world have the duty to speak out to [those in power] about the responsibility they have towards taking care of the basic human rights here."

The WCC General Secretary said the issue of the presence of Palestinians in Jerusalem, including Christian Palestinians, regarding their residency rights in the city, needs to be addressed. He noted the need of support for local churches to keep their young people from emigrating due to a lack of economic and social opportunities, especially in the city of Jerusalem.

Tveit said it is important for the WCC and local churches to foster awareness of the situation, with programmes such as the WCC's Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel. This enables people from outside to the West Bank to experience life in areas under occupation.

The WCC groups 349 churches, principally Anglican, Orthodox and Protestant.

[With acknowledgements to ENI. Ecumenical News International is jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Conference of European Churches.]

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Malawi is quickly sliding into a dictatorship where it is a crime to hold dissenting views on government policy, church leaders have said.

Malawi is quickly sliding into a dictatorship where it is a crime to hold dissenting views to government policy, leaders of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian - Livingstonia Synod, have warned - writes Frank Jomo.

The charges come after the arrest and subsequent release of the synod's General Secretary, the Rev Levi Nyondo.

"We are shocked and surprised that government could stoop so low to arrest a General Secretary of a reputable church," synod moderator the Rev Mezuwa Banda told journalists in the northern region city of Mzuzu.

"Malawi is sliding back to the era of dictatorship and as a church we will not allow this to continue and I don't think this government will survive this," he said.

Nyondo was arrested on 20 August 2010 after speaking at the funeral of former Cabinet minister Moses Chirambo, who died just days after being dismissed from the government.

At the funeral Nyondo had said it was ironic for the government to praise Chirambo after his death, when it had removed him from the Cabinet.

Nyondo said that the government appeared to want the brother of President Bingu wa Mutharika to lead the country after 2014, but the church opposed this and would instead support Vice President Joyce Banda.

Nyondo was charged with sedition for uttering words that could incite public anger and has since been granted bail by the Mzuzu Magistrate Court.

Synod moderator Banda said the arrest of Nyondo would not intimidate the church into submission, but rather invigorate it to preach the truth. He said Joyce Banda, as a sitting vice president, deserves respect and the church will stand by her if she wants to run for the presidency in 2014.

"The vice president is being humiliated by ruling government officials and even our chiefs. Everyone says she can't be president because they want the president's brother to be the next leader. As a church, we have a critical role of delivering a prophetic message of truth. If the church condones wrongdoing, then it loses its salt to the world," said Mezuwa Banda.

The synod's deputy General Secretary, the Rev Maurice Munthali, said Nyondo's detention marked the first time that a top church official had been arrested merely for speaking the truth.

"As a church we can't believe that in 2010 the government can be so naive to arrest a man of God. This is dictatorship at its worst," said Munthali. "Even the first president of this country, who is said to be the worst dictator, Hastings Kamuzu Banda, did not arrest men of God."

[With acknowledgements to ENI. Ecumenical News International is jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Conference of European Churches.]

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The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches has condemned the killings of the four Israeli settlers near Hebron in the West Bank.

The general secretary of the World Council of Churches has condemned the killings of the four Israeli settlers near Hebron in the West Bank on Tuesday 31 August 2010.

The Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit has also expressed his condolences to the affected families.

In his statement, he rejects any use of violence as a means to gain "the much-desired and needed peace for this region."

"At a time when Palestinian and Israeli leaders are beginning negotiations, the extremists who encourage and legitimise violence must not be allowed to succeed", said Dr Tveit.

"To bring security to both Israelis and Palestinians, the negotiations must stop the occupation and all the injustices that ordinary Palestinians experience each day", he continued.

The General Secretary added that he and the WCC are praying for the success of the peace negotiations which begin in the US tomorrow.

"It is urgent that the leaders take the necessary steps toward a just peace and not bring another moment of disappointment and injustice to the people in the region," he declared.

The Palestinian Authority has also condemned the West Bank shooting attack, which is being interpreted as an action by Hamas to try to thwart the latest round of talks.

Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, opposes the peace talks starting in Washington DC on Wednesday 2 September 2010 and is not taking part.

A statement from the armed wing of Hamas, a group that opposes any dialogue with Israel, said the "Qassam Brigades announces its full responsibility for the heroic operation in Hebron."

The West Bank-based Palestinian Authority said it would take action to prevent a repeat of the attack, which killed four Israeli settlers.

In a statement issued by his office, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said: "We condemn this operation, which goes against Palestinian interests."

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France's main Protestant grouping has added its voice to criticism of government repatriation of Roma migrants and demolishing Roma camps.

France's main Protestant grouping has added its voice to criticism of a government programme aimed at repatriating Roma migrants and demolishing unauthorised Roma camps.

The Protestant Federation of France (FPF) has said that it is "concerned about the new direction of policies concerning the Roma population, one of Europe's most impoverished populations".

The French government began a crackdown on Roma and Traveller communities at the end of July 2010, after outbreaks of violence between Roma communities and police following an incident in which a Traveller was killed by security forces.

The FPF said the French policies on migration were again presenting a challenge to Protestants, who wanted to demonstrate solidarity, a welcome to foreigners and strangers, and support for the weakest of society.

The federation noted that in July it had denounced the "distortions and discrimination faced both by French Travellers and Roma".

It supported a call by the Conference of European Churches and the Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe for 2010 to be a year of churches responding to migration.

French immigration minister Eric Besson said on 24 August his government had repatriated 635 Roma to Romania and Bulgaria since the crackdown, and that this figure would rise to about 950 by the end of August.

France is host to around 15,000 Roma from eastern Europe, especially Romania, according to the London-based Minority Rights Group International. At the same time, there are long-established nomadic Roma and French Traveller communities with French nationality.

The statement by the Protestant grouping follows criticism by Roman Catholic leaders of the government policy.

Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois, the president of the French bishops' conference, told reporters earlier in August that he regretted the "protectionist reflexes of those who fear the future, fear losing what they have, as more and more people are marginalised".

In a 15 August homily reported by the France24 Web site, the cardinal stated, "Can we take part in the growing gap between citizens who enjoy the security of civil rights and those who are marginalised and pushed slowly into exclusion?"

Another Catholic priest, Fr Arthur Hervet, who works with Roma communities, has said he has refused a national medal of honour he was due to receive. Hervet later said he regretted a statement saying he was praying for French President Nicolas Sarkozy to have a "heart attack".

Pope Benedict XVI, in comments seen as an implicit criticism of France, addressed pilgrims in French at Castel Gandolfo outside Rome on 22 August referring to the need, "to learn how to accept legitimate human diversity, just like Jesus came to unite people of all nations and all languages ".

The Strasbourg-based Council of Europe's anti-racism commission has said it is "deeply concerned" about the treatment of Roma communities in France.

In a 24 August 2010 statement, the European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance said Roma were being held "collectively responsible for criminal offences and singled out for abusing EU legislation on freedom of movement".

[With acknowledgements to ENI. Ecumenical News International is jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Conference of European Churches.]

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The future of Iraq is more complex and uncertain than the current US narrative, says a report published today by Christian Peacemaker Teams in Iraq.

The future of Iraq is more complex and uncertain than the current US narrative seeks to present, according to a report published today by Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) in Iraq.

The report quotes Iraqis who shed doubt on the effects of the 'surge', the trustworthiness of the Iraqi military, and the reliability of Iraqi public figures and institutions.

“Iraqis in this report challenge the simplistic success story that the US is telling about Iraq,” says Marius van Hoogstraten of CPT Iraq.

The report, entitled 'Iraq after the Occupation – Iraqis speak about the state of their country as the US military withdraws,' is based on extensive interviews with Iraqi citizens in various parts of the country. It recommends that the US “think creatively” about ways to support Iraqi society before the US military withdraws entirely at the end of 2011.

The United States, which invaded and occupied Iraq in 2003, recently announced an “end of combat missions,” in preparation for a complete withdrawal from the country by the end of 2011.

The report notes that there is no consensus on the future of Iraq, with some interviewees expecting the security situation to get much worse, while others are more optimistic.

However, none expect Iraq to be independent after a complete US withdrawal. “I don't think the American army came all this way, spent all this money, then to leave [Iraq] a prey to others,” one Baghdad resident is quoted as saying.

Although the report confirms an improved security situation over the last few years, it questions the contribution of the 'surge,' - that is, the deployment of US military reinforcements in 2007.

About half of those interviewed pointed instead to the US withdrawal from Iraqi cities in 2009 as the major contributor to the improved security situation.

Many respondents see the increased skill and capacity of the Iraqi security forces as a positive factor, although a majority maintains concerns about their trustworthiness and independence. Another Baghdad resident quoted is worried about a lack of “educational aspects in the field of human rights and loyalty to the homeland” in the Iraqi security forces.

Respondents also express serious concerns about the credibility of Iraqi politicians, the “abominable state of public services” and the economy, and corruption. “The obscene opulence of some – and especially those on the payroll of political interests – is excessive,” says one interviewee in the report, “while the rate of wretched poverty in Iraq continues to pose a humanitarian problem.”

Tensions among ethnic and religious groups continue to threaten the country's stability. Many respondents also fear interference by neighbouring states, particularly Iran.

In its conclusion, Christian Peacemaker Teams Iraq makes clear recommendations. “In its waning days in Iraq, the US should prioritise the Iraqi economy, reconciliation efforts, and a culture of accountability in the Iraqi security forces,” says Van Hoogstraten, stressing also the necessity of US respect for Iraqi democratic sovereignty.

“There's a lot that needs to be done that only Iraqis can do,” the report concludes.

Read the full report here: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/13008

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Christian Aid is launching a new phase of its Trace the Tax campaign for greater financial transparency by multinational companies.

UK-based international development agency Christian Aid is launching a new phase of its Trace the Tax campaign for greater financial transparency by multinational companies.

The charity is asking supporters to help persuade four firms to back its call for accounting reforms which will help poor countries collect more of the tax billions which are rightfully theirs.

All four have assets and subsidiaries in developing countries. They are: Vodafone, Unilever, TUI Travel (which owns Thomson and First Choice) and Intercontinental Hotels Group (which owns Holiday Inn).

Helen Collinson, Campaigns Manager at Christian Aid said: ‘We are appealing to these companies to support our campaign for greater tax transparency, including the call for a new accounting standard to ensure companies report on their profits made and taxes paid in every country where they operate. It is really important to stress that we are not accusing these companies of tax dodging.

‘We want them to become leaders in their sectors and to encourage other multinational companies to support the campaign. By doing this, they will help shape global tax reporting and play their part in fighting global poverty.’

Ms Collinson added: ‘We believe that greater tax transparency will be good for business and we are hopeful that these companies will agree with us. Taxes pay for roads and infrastructure essential to commerce. They create a healthy and educated workforce. Taxes also help to make governments more accountable and countries more stable – all of which would benefit companies doing business in developing countries.’

Christian Aid is encouraging supporters to send messages to the four FTSE companies on postcards and by video, asking them to back the campaign.

International organisations such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recognise that tax dodging is likely to cost developing countries more than the total that they receive in aid in each year. Christian Aid estimates that their annual loss may be as great as $160 billion.

Earlier this year, the charity contacted the CEOs of the FTSE 100 and asked them to complete a survey of their views about tax, development and country-by-country reporting - an accounting standard, which would require companies to be more open about their activities around the world.

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) is the body with the power to introduce country-by-country reporting. It is funded by the Big Four accountancy firms – PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, Deloitte and Ernst & Young – which have significant influence.

Christian Aid has chosen the FTSE Four because each one is audited by one of the Big Four accountants. As well as asking the four companies to publicly support country-by-country reporting, Christian Aid is calling on them to ask their auditor to support it too.

Read Christian Aid's report Poverty Over here: http://www.christianaid.org.uk/Images/poverty-over-report.pdf

You can also buy Christian Aid charity gifts and support present aid online.

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The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches has condemned the killings of four Israeli settlers on the West Bank yesterday (Aug 31).

The Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, has condemned the killings of the four Israeli settlers near Hebron in the West Bank yesterday (31 August) and expressed his condolences to the affected families. He rejected any use of violence as a means to gain the much-desired and needed peace for this region.

"At a time when Palestinian and Israeli leaders are beginning negotiations, the extremists who encourage and legitimise violence must not be allowed to succeed", said Tveit in a statement.

"To bring security to both Israelis and Palestinians, the negotiations must stop the occupation and all the injustices that ordinary Palestinians experience each day", he continued.

The General Secretary added that he and the WCC are praying for the success of the negotiations: "It is urgent that the leaders take the necessary steps toward a just peace and not bring another moment of disappointment and injustice to the people in the region."

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Visitors to the Greenbelt Christian festival, known for its focus on politics and the arts, have returned home after four days of worship, music and talks.

Over 21,000 visitors to the Greenbelt Christian festival have returned home after four days of worship, music, talks and performances. They were urged by Baptist minister Kate Coleman to remember that “God inevitably breaks free from our theological dogmas and challenges us to meet him in a different worldview, a different culture, a different theology”.

Greenbelt, one of Britain's largest Christian events, is known for its focus on society, politics and the arts. This year's theme was “the art of looking sideways”.

Christian Aid and the Methodist Church are among the major sponsors of the festival, which was held at Cheltenham Racecourse from Friday 27 to Monday 30 August.

Addressing the united communion service on Sunday morning, Coleman insisted that, “We're all capable of finding God in unexpected places and in unexpected ways”. She prayed, “Lord give us sidesight – the ability to look over our shoulders into our blind spot, into someone else's reality”.

Prominent speakers at this year's Greenbelt included theologians Stanley Hauerwas and Richard Rohr, human rights activist Peter Tatchell and politician Clare Short. Also drawing in the crowds were poet Roger McGough, the theatre company Applecart and, on the musical side, Courtney Pine and Gil Scott Heron. The programme also included numerous events for children and young people.

“Every time I come to Greenbelt, I learn something new and realise how much more I don't know,” said regular visitor Mark Russ of north London.

“There was space for alternative versions of Christianity,” said Ellen Elliott of east London, who was attending Greenbelt for the first time. She told Ekklesia, “It's quite amazing to come together with so many people, who I think are relatively diverse, who have a spiritual outlook and who are comfortable talking about that”.

Hilary Macmeekin, who was attending the festival with her children and with her parents, said, “The children's festival this year was outstanding. The events are so well-organised. It's just completely all-age now”.

Acts of worship at Greenbelt ranged from Greek Orthodox vespers to Quaker Meetings. A mass run by members of the Catholic Worker movement included a strong focus on the political nature of Jesus' message, with a calling to active nonviolence and resistance to war and oppression.

A large number of campaigning and charitable groups ran stalls and events at the festival. Outer Space had both a pastoral and campaigning function by bringing together organisations affirming lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Christians. The Peace Zone was hosted by members of the Network of Christian Peace Organisations (NCPO).

“We've had quite a range of ways for people to engage with active nonviolence that cater for all ages,” explained Amy Hailwood of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, one of the Peace Zone organisers, “We have had quite a lot of people coming up to ask questions”.

Other peace groups at the festival included Conscience, a group campaigning on the use of taxation for military purposes, who were attending Greenbelt for the first time. Visitors to the group's stall included a soldier who was considering leaving the armed forces after his recent conversion to Christianity.

Many of the political talks and debates had international themes, with Palestine, South Africa and the US all featuring on the programme. Sessions on domestic politics included a panel discussion on faith in politics and a workshop asking what we would each say to David Cameron and Nick Clegg in only two minutes.

But Niall Cooper of Church Action on Poverty expressed disappointment that Greenbelt had not made more space to focus on domestic political issues. He told Ekklesia that “there's no talk of cuts and it's as if the election hadn't happened”.

Greenbelt nonetheless had a powerful effect on some. Amy Poulson told Ekklesia that she is considering becoming a vegetarian after attending a panel debate on meat-eating. Nicki Crow of Cardiff said that at Greenbelt she can be accepted as a Christian in a same-sex relationship. She said that she wanted Christians who have a problem with homosexuality and bisexuality to feel able to attend Greenbelt and to engage in dialogue.

Naomi Jacobs of Nottingham said that Greenbelt had considerably improved access for disabled people over the last three years. “It's still tricky, but there are a lot of things that make it easier,” she explained, while urging Greenbelt to go further and to ensure that more of those working on site had training on disability issues.

Numbers at Greenbelt increased significantly since 2009, despite the economic situation and a call by the socially conservative group Anglican Mainstream for a boycott of Greenbelt. The group are unhappy that the gay human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell was invited to speak at the festival.

Greenbelt visitors questioned by Ekklesia's reporter displayed a range of reactions to the boycott call. Some were unaware of it, while others were very angry.

“It's ridiculous censorship,” said Emily Jesper, “Greenbelt is a perfect opportunity to have discussion. If they can't enter into debate, they might have some problems themselves”.

Clive Gardner of Brighton, who attended Tatchell's talk, said he found him “very fair-minded”. He added, “I think Anglican Mainstream have shot themselves in the foot, because it shows them to be against dialogue and debate, and therefore against growth”.

The religion and society thinktank Ekklesia suggested last week that Greenbelt is showing the institutional churches the way forward in a post-Christendom era.

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Deeply embedded in the religions of the Abrahamic tradition in this region, Judaism, Islam and Christianity, is the sense of loving your neighbour as being rooted in the adoration and love of God, says Mark Beach. Despite the complexities of the politics and religious differences which are steeped in the recent tragedies as much as historical events of Palestine and Israel, this is a powerful resource for change.

Military checkpoints are a way of life for Palestinians in Palestine and Israel. Each day tens of thousands of Palestinians move patiently through turnstiles and narrow caged walkways to go to work, school or home. It is a humiliating experience.

For the Israelis, it could be said that the checkpoints are also indirectly a part of their daily life. It is their sons and daughters who watch as the Palestinians move through the checkpoints to go home, to work, school or worship.

Some of the checkpoints, like the barrier at Shuhada Street in Hebron, lead to an empty, abandoned street with shuttered shops and empty apartments above the street. Palestinians can go only a certain distance along the street before they are turned back.

The checkpoints also carry a metaphorical notion tearing at any sense of neighbourliness that might have been part of the familial and religious upbringing of those entering the turnstiles and those watching them.

Deeply embedded in the religions of the Abrahamic tradition in this region, Judaism, Islam and Christianity, is the sense of loving your neighbour as being rooted in the adoration and love of God.

It is in this context that the Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), delivered a sermon on the Good Samaritan this past Sunday, 29 August, at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, located in the old city of Jerusalem. He spoke in the course of a day in which his WCC delegation saw firsthand many of the barriers that separate people.

The parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 describes the qualities of life as it comes forward in "the great commandment to love your neighbour," Tveit said. The real question is who proved to be a good neighbour in this parable.

In the context of Palestine and Israel with their ever-present barriers and violence, all parties are deprived of fulfilling this purpose in life, to love God and their neighbour, he said. "Religion should not prevent us from doing that."

Despite the complexities of the politics and religious differences which are steeped in the recent tragedies as much as historical events of Palestine and Israel, the story of the Good Samaritan exudes a very simple idea of "loving your neighbour".

The story of the Good Samaritan is a story about a man who for whatever reason wanted to go to Jericho, Tveit said to the congregation at Church of the Redeemer. Along the way, his trip was interrupted by violence. "This story is perhaps more real than we want it to be," Tveit said.

When approaching a checkpoint in Palestine and Israel it is hard not to think about neighbours, neighbourhoods and being a neighbour. For Tveit, "in the end everything is about loving your neighbour."

It is a simple and perhaps naive message from the New Testament. How could such a message of loving your neighbour work in a context as complex as this?

Whom we should love is not so complicated, Tveit said. "Moral life is not very sophisticated: it is loving God, loving your neighbour and loving yourself," he said.

Empty streets, separated neighbours

The manifestation of years of violence within Palestine and Israel has meant empty streets with abandoned and shuttered shops, towering walls and razor wire fences meant to keep some people out and others in. In the end, it has meant neighbours separated, suspicious and in fear of one another.

As Tveit and his colleagues walked the empty Shuhada Street which divides the Palestinian Authority-controlled area of Hebron from the Israeli-controlled area, the silence of the street spoke volumes.

They walked with members of the WCC Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI). The ecumenical accompaniers are volunteers from WCC member churches around the world who accompany Palestinians as they encounter checkpoints, or Israelis as they confront the policies of their government bent on splitting neighbourhoods rather than linking them.

As the group moved along the street, two of the accompaniers were called back to the checkpoint to observe a situation where a Palestinian was having difficulty moving through the checkpoint. In the end the situation was resolved.

The ecumenical accompaniers are always on call. Only Saturday night, in East Jerusalem, members of the Jerusalem team were observing a demonstration of Palestinians and Israelis who were voicing their opposition to the illegal occupation of some Palestinian homes by Israeli settlers.

At a T-junction in the road and under the illumination of street lights, the protestors stood on one side, a group of settlers at one corner across from them and the police on the other corner.

Toward the end of the protest a man from the protestors’ side jumped into the street and yelled at the settlers, causing police to move quickly to intervene. Younger men came running from other directions and for a moment the potential for an escalation in violence was very real.

The ecumenical accompaniers observed and documented the unfolding events with cameras. They had seen all of this before. The situation subsided, and the groups went back to their respective corners until everyone went home later.

But along Shuhada Street in Hebron, which on maps is now a "red line", where were all of the people? Where was the neighbourhood? At one time the street was a bustling market area with traders and buyers.

"Our neighbours need us to love," Tveit said. "Religion is about loving God, loving your neighbour and loving yourself."

The sign of hope Tveit found in the story of the Good Samaritan was not any reported repentance on the part of those who passed by the wounded traveller yet refused to help him. "That would make a good story," he said.

"Our lack of ability for repentance does not limit God's ability to bring love and justice," Tveit.

The fact is, even in the face of checkpoints and the separation of neighbours, indignity and violence, "you cannot take away the truth" of God's love and justice, he said. The parable of the Good Samaritan demonstrated that a long time ago.

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(c) Mark Beach is director of communications for the World Council of Churches, based in Geneva - http://www.oikoumene.org/