Weekly devotion: Speaking up against injustice
The Society of St Yves
The separation wall between Israel and Palestine
The State of Israel imposes heavy restrictions on Palestinians’ freedom of movement. With very rare exceptions, Palestinian ID holders are required to apply for time-limited permits from the Israeli army to enter large parts of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The human rights organisation B’Tselem describes this as ‘an arbitrary, entirely non-transparent bureaucratic system’ where ‘many applications are denied without explanation, with no real avenue for appeal’.
These restrictions on movement result in a life of constant uncertainty for Palestinians, making it difficult to perform simple tasks and plan their lives, and obstructs the development of a stable economy.
The Society of St Yves is a Catholic human rights organisation working under the patronage of the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem. It strives for a social order that values the dignity of all people in the Holy Land. They do this by resisting and combatting the wrong impacts of the Israeli occupation in Palestine through legal actions and to promote justice and fairness for everybody.
The Society runs a project, funded by Embrace, that raises awareness and provides legal assistance for the Palestinian community in the West Bank on their freedom of movement rights.
Freedom of movement is a universal right for every human being. Without it, other rights are curtailed – such as the right to work, to worship freely and to access health services, etc.
St Yves plays a vital role in providing Palestinians in the West Bank with free legal consultations and services, as well as legal representation when needed in the Israeli courts to remove security bans and travel bans. It also raises awareness among Palestinians about the right to freedom of movement and engages in advocacy.
St Yves manages some 8,000 cases per year in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Bible reading
‘Speak out on behalf of the voiceless, and for the rights of all who are vulnerable. Speak out in order to judge with righteousness and to defend the needy and the poor.’
Proverbs 31: 8-10
Thought
Time and again, the Bible calls on believers to stand up and defend those who are marginalised and oppressed. This includes protecting people from harm (where it is in our power to do so) and speaking up for those who are unable to speak up for themselves. Standing up for justice and doing what is right is what God requires of us – even when this is not easy or popular.
Ask yourself: Sometimes it is easier to stay silent than to speak up against injustice. As believers, where can we find the strength and courage to do or say the right thing?
Prayer
Loving God,
We thank you that you are a God of justice. You are a strong tower, an ever-present help, and you love the needy and the oppressed. Nothing can be hidden from you.
We pray for your blessing to be on the legal and advocacy work of the Society of St Yves. May they protect and uphold the rights of many Palestinians in the West Bank. May their work cause ripple effects in the communities they serve, leading more to live lives free from coercion, abuse and discrimination.
In our own lives, help us to reflect your heart of mercy and compassion. May your love overflow from us to people around us. Keep our eyes and hearts open to people in need, and give us the courage to speak out against injustice.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
You may also be interested in:
Blog: ‘Rockets, bullets and checkpoints are not the final chapter’
Embrace’s Rev Su McClellan reflects on the transformative work of Embrace’s partners in the Holy Land, which is bringing seeds of hope for the future.
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