Invest in Peace events in Bournemouth, Kingston and Southampton have provided the opportunity to hear the stories of two peace activists: one Israeli and one Palestinian. The events were organised in partnership with Solutions Not Sides and supported by the Board of Deputies of British Jews and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI), with the endorsement of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.
Bournemouth – 19 September 2019
In Bournemouth more than 100 people heard Palestinian Ruba Huleihel and Israeli Michal Katoshevsky speak about their hopes for reconciliation. They were joined by the Mayor of Bournemouth, Cllr Susan Phillips.
Both speakers talked about their family backgrounds, their childhoods in Israel / Palestine, and how they each came to be peace activists. They answered questions from the audience about topics such as a two-state solution, the history of the region, and education.
The event was held at the Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation in partnership with St Peter’s Church Bournemouth.
Southampton – 17 September 2019
In Southampton, over 70 people, together with Alan Whitehead MP and Mayor of Southampton Councillor Peter Baillie, heard the two peace activists at Avenue St Andrew’s United Reformed Church. The church hosted the event in partnership with Southampton Hebrew Congregation and South Hampshire Reform Jewish Community.
‘When I lose hope that a solution will be found, I remember the people who inspire me, and that gives me hope again’, said Ruba Huleihel.
‘There is no way that I can lose hope – I want to live in a land where everybody has safety and security’, commented Michal Katoshevsky.
The Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Peter Baillie, said: ‘Thanks to the work of the local Council of Faiths, Southampton is somewhere people of different faiths and cultures can live together. We are glad to support this sort of initiative.’
Alan Whitehead MP, said: ‘Whatever solution is finally achieved, people from both sides of the debate will still need to live and work together as fellow citizens, understanding each other’s point of view.’
Dr Claire Le Foll of the Parkes Institute for the study of Jewish/non-Jewish relations said: ‘This sort of meeting is in the spirit of our founder, Rev Dr James Parkes, who helped found the Council of Christians and Jews and worked throughout his career in promoting religious tolerance and mutual respect between those of all faiths and none.’
Professor Tim Sluckin of the Southampton Hebrew Congregation and Rev Dr Sarah Hall of Avenue St Andrew’s United Reformed Church said: ‘We have been delighted to work together on this event, and hope that our congregations will get to know each other better as a result.’
About Invest in Peace
Board of Deputies Vice President Stuart MacDonald said: “We’re proud to have initiated an Invest in Peace programme which presents challenging dialogues to packed and highly engaged meetings across the country. This is about helping to export peace, rather than importing conflict.”
The Revd Peter Colwell, Deputy General Secretary of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, said: “With so much violence, hatred and suspicion in the world, there is a critical need for different faith groups to come together. Our message to extremists on all sides is simple: You will not divide us. This project delivers that message loud and clear.”
The Invest in Peace initiative, the first of its kind at a national level, invites Christian and Jewish communities in Britain to come together in support of Israeli-Palestinian peacebuilding projects. Each event is jointly hosted by a church-synagogue partnership.
To find out more about previous Invest in Peace events, read this reflection from Peter Colwell, Deputy General Secretary of CTBI.
