The 2017 Just Faith Delegation traveled under the auspices of the Interfaith Network for Justice in Palestine and was co-sponsored by American Muslims for Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, and the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship.
Read eyewitness accounts, reports from meetings, and experiences with Palestinians and Israelis below.
Exclusive content is also available on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook under the hashtag #justfaith17.
While 23 members of the delegation arrived safely, 5 were prevented from boarding the flight to Israel. The Jewish, Muslim and Christian leaders were possibly singled out for their public support of the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) on the state of Israel. Upon arrival at the Lufthansa check-in counter at Dulles International Airport, an airline employee informed the group that the Israeli government had told the airline not to let them board.
At a time when Israeli forces increased the daily repression of Palestinian civilians, including those exercising their freedom to worship, to speak, and to protest, this interfaith delegation sought to respond and act in solidarity. Israel's actions to bar faith leaders and activists from witnessing and lending an interfaith voice for peace is concerning.
This delegation was Eyewitness Palestine's 62nd, successfully exposing more than 1,200 people to the daily realities facing Palestinians in their quest for justice.
We believe in the power of eye-witness experience and transformation. Given the opportunity to speak directly with Palestinians and Israelis, delegates return to the United States better informed, more energized, and with a deeper understanding of the possibilities for true justice in the Middle East.
The words that are currently coming to me fall far short of the outrage and grief I feel. There is so much to say, but the event that is fresh in my mind - and in my ears - is yesterday’s attack on Muslim worshipers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque by the Israeli government. The very least I can do is to bear witness to their resistance.
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