I would like to ask you to remember 8 Palestinians who should have been here with us, but who were unable to leave Gaza.

In fact, for the past three summers British-Arab Exchanges, a small British charity, has sponsored group of young professional Palestinians to attend a conference here, but each year they have been unable to take up this invitation.

The reason is the ongoing blockade by Israel of Gaza, which not only includes travel, but all but the most basic necessities. Of course this is part of a wider conflict which affects everyone in the Middle East, but it comes home to us when people we know are affected.

Mohammed El-Rantisi, the person who has tried to bring this group for the last three years, has been to Caux several times and was a Caux Scholar a few years ago. The group are members of an NGO, ‘Life-makers’ (Sona’a Al-Hayat). They offer training to young people in schools and universities in the skills of team-working, planning, active-listening, presentation and ‘finding a purpose in life’. They believe that whatever the external circumstances, the Palestinians will not be able develop as a nation without such qualities.

Mohammed believes that the experience of Caux would greatly enhance their work as most Gazans have not been able to travel freely for many years and only see the world through the prism of the international and local media.

Several British young people have come to Caux to host them as they did the last few years.

It goes without saying that we will renew the invitation for as long as it takes to get them here. Meantime, I ask your thought for them and all who have become caught up in that conflict.

Peter Riddell
Secretary

 


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