Sunday, October 26, 2003: 3:30 p.m. "Peace Prospects: Israel & Hope"

Abuna Elias Chacour, author of Blood Brothers, and peace activist, will be speaking at St Peter and Paul Church, Benton and Ellsworth, two blocks East of Wesley United Methodist. We are very fortunate to have a world-renowned figure speaking so close to home. Tell others about it and bring your friends.

Wednesday, October 8, 2003: 7:30 PM: ARABIA AND SALIM SHAWAMREH PRESENT "THE RIGHT TO A HOME AND A HOMELAND"

Come hear the courageous words of Arabia and Salim whose home was demolished four times, in the village of Anata, outside of Jerusalem. To be held at Wesley United Methodist Church, 21 E. Franklin St., Naperville, Illinois.

Salim and Arabia began building a home on land that they owned, as so many Palestinians do. They had finished their home, and were eating lunch when soldiers appeared at the door, and announced "You have 15 minutes to clear out your belongings, before we will demolish the house." Salim and Arabia called Jeff Halper, Israeli co-founder of Rebuilding Palestinian Homes, a trusted friend. He came to the Shawamreh home and tried to intervene. They were both bruised and beaten by the Israeli Army. While the family and Jeff watched as a bulldozer rammed through Salim's daughter's bedroom, they decided together that the best way to resist the cruelty of home demolitions under the Occupation, was to rebuild again.

Thus was born "The Global Campaign to Rebuild Palestinian Homes."Over the past seven years, hundreds of Israelis, Palestinians, and internationals have helped rebuild this home and 18 others. Thousands of people around the world have followed this case. Our Peace Center has now been built on their site, named "The House of Arabia" and in honor of Nuha Sweidan, a pregnant Palestinian woman killed in Gaza in March 2003 when an Israeli bulldozer demolished her home on top of her, and of Rachel Corrie, an American volunteer who was killed by an Israeli army bulldozer two weeks later, as she was trying to protect a Palestinian home in Gaza from demolition.

People around the world are lending a hand- Come and Join Us! Meet Arabia and Salim in person!

Tax-deductible donations can be made to Global Exchange/Rebuilding Homes