This reader is developed for use by members of the Peace and Solidarity Mission of the Peace for Life delegation who will engage in an exposure-solidarity visit to Palestine and Israel and onto a strategy session in Jordan from November 4-14, 2007. The reader will reach delegation members in five segments. Each segment will contain distinct aspects of the problems and is sent in stages only to avoid delegates receiving a bulky document in one single stage. It will, of course, be necessary to co-relate all the information and analysis. Hopefully, all the information will assist members of the delegation to get a preview of a reality which is getting more and more complex by the day. It would also surely support the process of being able to probe the issues even further during the actual encounters with people in Israel and Palestine and thus generate thoughts and reflections that equip PFL to document, analyze and expose how the occupation of Palestine and the oppression of the Palestinian people relates to the broader Middle East conflict and the imperial and neo-colonial ambitions of the dominant North and its allies, including political, economic and military instruments of domination. The materials in this reader should also begin to provide pointers for practical ways of undertaking solidarity initiatives with the struggling people of Palestine and the Middle East; and contribute to the task of drawing up an action agenda for South-South solidarity that will integrate PfL efforts with WCC and other ecumenical initiatives. In line with these aforesaid goals, the following have been agreed upon as the five main segments of the reader. Should delegates prefer additional or alternative information, they are encouraged to write to the PFL Secretariat and this information will then be passed on to the producers of the readers.

The area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, best known as the Holy Land or the Land Of Peace, due to the co-existence of the world’s three main monotheistic religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam - has, in practice, never been holy or peaceful. A more fitting term for this area would be the Land Of Holes or the Land Of Wars. Despite the special attention given to this land by God, those in the region wanting to prove their loyalty to his Word have always chosen a different path – a path that would never satisfy God or his messengers. According to sundry holy books, God promised Abraham, even before he had children, that he would be the father of a mighty nation and that he and his descendants would be given the land of Canaan. Abraham had two children; Isaac, the youngest, and Ishmael, the oldest. Jews believe they are descendants of Isaac and Muslims believe they are descendants of Ishmael. Christians believe that Abraham is “the ancestor of all who believe.” The Koran mentions that the prophet Mohammed is a direct descendant of Abraham. Jews see Abraham as their grandfather and the first person to introduce them to God. Surprisingly, it seems that Abraham is the father of everyone.