For the eighth consecutive year Christmas celebrations will take place in a difficult climate for all peoples in the Holy Land . Nonetheless, many individuals and groups refuse to give up, and are searching for non-violent ways to voice their rights and work for a peaceful and just future for both peoples. We pray for justice, peace and security for Israel and Palestine . All individual members and member organisations and partners are invited to email Advent and Christmas wishes, and prayers for peace to our friends in Bethlehem . This a “low level action” in which all individuals and local communities can participate.

Pax Christi International, the International Fellowship of Reconciliation, Church and Peace, the Justice and Peace Commission of Jerusalem, the Presidency of the Conference of European Justice and Peace Commissions, as well as the Asian Center for the Progress of Peoples are supporting this initiative which has been put forth by other partners in Palestine—the Arab Educational Institute, Library on Wheels for Non-violence and Peace, the Centre for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation and Wi’am Center.

Please e-mail your Christmas messages and prayers for peace before 25 December. English is the preferred language; however, non-native English speakers may also send wishes and prayers in their mother tongue. These messages will simultaneously go to Bethlehem and be posted on the website of IFOR (www.ifor.org) as well.

Read messages:

Bethlehem , the birthplace of Jesus Christ, is still first and foremost a city of peace. Sending a wish or a prayer by email is an important way of communicating to many people who long to hear a word of hope. Our partners in Bethlehem greatly appreciate receiving wishes and prayers from people outside the region, both as personal and spiritual gestures of comfort and hope on the occasion of Christmas. These messages are one way of breaking through the isolation our Bethlehem partner’s experience. Wishes and prayers will be printed and handed out as personal messages, educational materials (e.g. at schools), and in the context of interfaith prayers (in places of worship) and in the new established peace house of the Arab Educational Institute opposite the Wall at Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem. The wishes and prayers could also include ideas for non-violent actions. The action will be launched in November 2007.

Please distribute this message by e-mail as widely as possible.

With kind regards,

Claudette Werleigh

Secretary General of Pax Christi International

Dr Hildegarde Goss-Mayr

Hon. President of International Fellowship of Reconciliation

Marie-Noëlle von der Recke

Church and Peace General Secretary

( European Network of Faith Communities Committed to Nonviolent Discipleship )

Fr. Frans Bouwen

President Justice and Peace Commission - Jerusalem

+ Msgr. Leo Schwartz

President Conference of European Justice and Peace Commissions

Linda Noche

Coordinator Asian Center for the Progress of Peoples