Peace Education and Action Center

Book Talk on Israel/Palestine Conflict

Constance Hammond, the author of "Shalom/Salaam/Peace: A Liberation Theology of Hope" will be in Sarasota on Thursday, April 30th at 6:30pm for a book talk at Sarasota News and Books, 1341 Main Street.  Constance A. Hammond is an adjunct faculty member at Marylhurst University in Portland, Oregon,where she teaches a class on Israel/Palestine. Her degrees include a B.S. and M.Ed. from the University of Oregon, Eugene ; an M.Div. from Harvard Divinity School, and a D.Min. from San Francisco Theological Seminary and she was ordained in the Episcopal Church as a Deacon in 1986 and as a priest in 1987.

From the first chapter’s overview of the historical, scriptural and theological rationale for the present situation in Israel/Palestine, the author leads us through the realities of life in Israel/Palestine with its politics, wars, security wall, settlements and ongoing struggles between the Palestinians and the Israelis. The ownership of land, water rights, human rights and religious rights are among the main issues that weave through this book---a book which is about two peoples and three religions struggling for their very survival. Lifted up for us are examples of key figures who are promoting peace and justice---some at the cost of their lives.

The second chapter offers Liberation Theology as a viable way to bring peace in Israeli/Palestinian. The indigenous Christian community in Israel/Palestine (which has been reduced to a minority of between one to two percent) is lifted up as a people of hope for the area. With the ongoing violence from the Israeli Defense Force (IDF), who routinely bulldoze homes and make air attacks upon civilians while searching for terrorists, and the extremist Palestinian Muslims who have bombed buses, cafes and markets in their suicide bombings, the Palestinian Christians are the only ones who have not yet resorted to violence. They have managed to maintain a non-violent stance, out of their faith base, as they have been forced out of their homes and villages and towns and cities and had restrictions imposed upon them by the Israeli government.

Be they indigenous Palestinian Christians or International witnesses and supporters of peace, or Jewish or Muslim peace seekers---all are given as examples of what is possible in an impossible situation.   

This event is sponsored by the Peace Education and Action Center and Sarasota News and Books.