The issuing of visas which prevent NGOs from working among Palestinians has been condemned by TEAR Fund NZ.
TEAR Fund Executive director Stephen Tollestrup said issuing NGOS with tourist visas which prevent them working was another element in Israel’s `Matrix of Control’ to frustrate and intimidate the Palestinian population and their NGO advocates.

On July 9th, Ian McInnes from TEAR Fund attended a one day conference at Laidlaw College exploring biblical perspectives on the land of Israel.  This is his brief summary of the day

Israel
The national of Israel and its modern day boarders raise strong opinions within the church and the world beyond. Israel’s capital Jerusalem and in particularly the [...]

There are many stories out there now about the first meeting between Obama and Netanyahu as President and Primie Minister, most are based on the press briefing. You can read all the conjecture from reporters, but it is also good to see the thing they are reporting on for yourself, so here is the press briefing for you to watch.

There is a book coming out in New Zealand that looks at 5 Christian perspectives on the Palestinian/Israeli issue and puts them in conversation with each other. One of the 5 contributors is Steve Tollestrup, the Executive Director of TEAR Fund. In this edition of the Podcast we chat with Steve about the book, the Christian perspective of the issue [...]

Even when a movie scores rave reviews and a truck load of awards there’s still no guarantee you’re going to enjoy it… and you probably won’t enjoy Waltz with Bashir. It’s a grueling watch, not for the faint hearted.
Waltz with Bashir is a 90 minute animated documentary, recorded in modern Hebrew and subtitled, made in Israel last year by Ari [...]

A couple of days ago, I mentioned that Israel’s election was drawing near. With the election now concluded, how has it played out?
Kadima (Israel’s centrist party) narrowly got the most votes with the right wing Likud party just behind. The win doesn’t mean much for Kadima though as the whole thing is about coalitions and it looks like the right [...]

Israelis are set to go to the polls in what is a hotly contested election race that sees the party leading the current coalition, Kadima, and the opposition Likud party running very closely to each other in the polls.
Kadima is lead by Tzipi Livni, the current Foreign Minister. Likud is lead by Benjamin Netanyahu. Both people have very interesting backgrounds [...]

God speaking to Abraham – “And I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are now an alien, all the land of Canaan, for a perpetual holding; and I will be their God.” Genesis 17:8 (NRSV)
Before we go any further, it is important to point out that many English translations of this passage [...]

The leaders of New Zealand churches are deeply concerned about the dire situation in Gaza and support the call for an immediate ceasefire in the region
The escalation of violence and associated increase in civilian casualties is intolerable. It is time for concerted action to end the suffering of the 1.5 million people trapped within the 360 square kilometers of Gaza [...]

In private conversations and in various places online where the Israeli/Palestinian conflict has been discussed, I have voiced my personal support for the Arab peace initiative that was adopted by the Arab League at the annual Arab summit in Beirut in 2002. Many people have expressed little awareness about what it actually is, so I thought I would put the [...]

With reports saying that 46% of Palestinian deaths in this assault on Gaza are women and children and the humanitarian crisis there now being seen as a catastrophe, I would urge you to consider supporting this appeal.
TEAR Fund New Zealand has launched an emergency appeal for Gaza in the wake of mounting civilian casualties and internal displacement caused by Israel’s [...]

I have decided to write this after my latest post about the Israel/Palestinian conflict led to a conversation that probably needs me to fill out some of my theological/biblical studies thoughts a little more. This is a very long article (over 4500 words) so feel free to not bother reading it if this stuff doesn’t interest you. If it is [...]

I’m on holiday at the moment, but I could not sit comfortably without saying anything about the latest violence that has erupted against Gaza.
Israel is now in it’s third day of air-strikes in the densely populated Gaza strip. The first nine hours of the strike saw 100 tons of bombs dropped and the death toll at the time of typing [...]

Warning – this post may offend many. The situation I am about to address is a firebrand that causes high emotion for many people. I am not seeking to make any friends with this, I have just decided that for the first time, I wish to air publicly, some of my privately held opinions on this matter and I believe [...]

Wednesday, 21 May 2008, 9:36 pm
Press Release: Israel Government
Prime Minister’s Office
Syria And Israel Have Started Indirect Peace Talks
Syria and Israel have started indirect peace talks, under the auspices of Turkey.
The two sides stated their intention to conduct these talks in good faith and with an open mind. They decided to pursue the dialogue between them in a serious and [...]