Press Release: Seattle Sabeel Conference, February 19-20, 2010

SEATTLE, Washington (November 9, 2009) - This February, Seattle will host the premiere event of Sabeel – Puget Sound, a nonprofit working with and on behalf of Palestinian Christians to promote justice through nonviolence in the Holy Land. Featuring internationally-acclaimed speakers and a vibrant array of activist voices, this conference will explore the situation in Israel and Palestine today, the experience of occupation, the role of U.S. policy and nonviolent strategies for peace.
 
“The United States, Israel and Palestine: What Does Justice Require of US?” will be held at Saint Mark’s Cathedral (1245 Tenth Avenue East) on February 19th & 20th and will include several notable speakers as well as informative, provocative workshops lead by local activists. The keynote address will be delivered on the 19th by the founder and leader of Sabeel, the Rev. Naim Ateek. Speaking from his unique perspective as an Arab-Israeli citizen, Ateek has been called the ‘Bishop Tutu of Palestine’ and is the respected author of many books and articles including Justice and Only Justice: A Palestinian Theology of Liberation and A Palestinian Christian Cry for Reconciliation.
 
Speakers will include senior lecturer on Politics and Government at Ben Gurion University and author of Israel’s Occupation Neve Gordon, The Evergreen State College professor of International Politics and Middle East Studies Steve Niva, and war crimes investigator/co-founder of Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights Tom Nelson. Jewish-American author of Fatal Embrace:  Christians, Jews, and the Search for Peace in the Holy Land Mark Braverman will focus on the role of religious beliefs and theology in the current discourse on Israel/Palestine and will speak about the future of interfaith relations. 2006 Nobel Prize nominee and coordinator of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) Jeff Halper is also slated to speak at the conference.
 
Parents of Rachel Corrie and founders of the Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice, Cindy and Craig Corrie, will present a talk and also lead a workshop on activism. Insight from former CIA members will be provided by Kathleen and Bill Christison; Kathleen a former CIA political analyst with 35 years of experience with Middle East issues, the author of Perceptions of Palestine and The Wound of Dispossession and co-author, (with Bill), of Palestine in Pieces: Graphic Perspectives on the Israeli Occupation.
 
Co-sponsors to date include the Palestine Concerns Task Force of the Church Council of Greater Seattle, the Middle East Focus Group of Saint Mark’s Cathedral, the Episcopal Bishop’s Committee for Israel/Palestine, American Jews for a Just Peace, the Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice, Jewish Voice for Peace, American Muslims of Puget Sound, Middle East Peace Builders, and the Rauschenbusch Center for Spirit and Action.
 
All friends of Sabeel are receiving this early notification and are encouraged to take advantage of the limited number of reservations by acquiring theirs early! Space is limited!  Reservations may be made by calling Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800-838-3006 or through www.brownpapertickets.com. For more information, find us on Facebook or see the Friends of Sabeel website: www.FOSNA.org
 
 
Contact:
BrittaLisa Gess, Communications Director
brittalisa@gmail.com