ISRAEL AND PALESTINE PARTNERS
OUR WORK IN PALESTINE AND ISRAEL
Palestinians and Israelis live in a complex and protracted conflict that impacts their everyday lives. Aside from the threat of violence, the ongoing conflict affects access to healthcare, education, employment and other human rights.
Embrace works with Christians in Israel-Palestine, across the West Bank (including East Jerusalem), Israel and Gaza, to address the needs of their communities through providing both urgent aid and long-term support. Our partners in Israel-Palestine show the love of Christ by bringing people together to build relationships and advocate for a better future, providing medical care for those most in need, speaking up for the rights of people living with disabilities and their families and helping young people to access a better and more secure future.
AL AHLI ARAB HOSPITAL
The Al Ahli Arab Hospital is a private hospital under the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem in the heart of Gaza City. They provide high-quality healthcare to marginalised and vulnerable people living in Gaza, as well as outreach services to reach those for whom travelling to the main hospital would be a barrier to healthcare.
ANAR FOR EMPOWERMENT AND SOCIAL SUPPORT
Anar is dedicated to empowering Palestinian children who have been adversely affected by oppression and conflict. They foster their wellbeing, support their healing process and assist them in realising their full potential through programmes and interventions that utilise creativity and prioritise mental and emotional wellbeing.
AVIV MINISTRY
Aviv Ministry provides shelter, warm meals and care to people living with addictions on the streets of South Tel Aviv. The shelter is run by a team of volunteers who travel from all over Israel to serve this often-forgotten community and share the compassion of God with them.
““I was shown that I am not hopelessly lost and I saw that many other people have got the same problems and have got experiences similar to mine.””
BASR
The Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation offers rehabilitative services to people living with physical and mental disabilities in the southern part of the West Bank. They reach out to marginalised communities and support people with disabilities to earn an income and live independently, including through advocacy work with local authorities and employers.
CARITAS JERUSALEM
Caritas Jerusalem are part of the global Caritas confederation and deliver humanitarian and development programmes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Israel and Gaza. Their services range from supporting agriculture and livelihoods projects, to healthcare clinics and services for older people.
DSPR
The Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees of the Middle East Council of Churches was founded in 1948 to respond to the needs of Palestinian refugees. The central office is based in Jerusalem, but there are five devolved Area Committees in the West Bank, Gaza, Israel, Jordan and Lebanon. DSPR's main focus is to work with Palestinian refugee communities to promote decent living conditions.
““I felt a sense of accomplishment. I have become more confident and have plans for the future, and am more able to control my reactions toward situations.””
EAST JERUSALEM YMCA
EJ-YMCA delivers sports, recreation and training opportunities to people throughout the West Bank. Their services also include a large rehabilitation and livelihoods programme for young people living with disabilities or who have been traumatised or impacted by events related to the ongoing occupation in the West Bank.
EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF JERUSALEM
Centred at St George’s Cathedral in Jerusalem, the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, is responsible for over 30 institutions across Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria and 28 congregations of around 7,000 worshippers.
GAZA YMCA
Gaza YMCA provides sports, recreation and training opportunities for people in Gaza City. They provide a safe haven for families, artists and budding entrepreneurs, as well as offering high-quality summer and evening programmes for children and young people.
““People should learn that there is a bigger picture and two sides to every story and should get to know our neighbours. This is the only way we can ever get to peace.” ”
ICCI
The International Christian Committee in Israel is based in Nazareth and works on a number of community-development projects in the north of Israel. The focus of their programmes are on interfaith relationships, peace building, education, livelihood creation and the protection of girls and women.
MUSALAHA
Musalaha provides reconciliation training and facilitates opportunities for Palestinians and Israelis to come together. Their programme for Palestinian and Israeli women believers, delivers training to empower women to be peacebuilders in and between their communities, through training, conferences and residential encounters.
NECC
The Near East Council of Churches runs primary health care clinics in three of the poorest areas of Gaza. They deliver holistic antenatal and pre-conception care as well as dedicated clinics for mothers and children up to the age of six. In addition to physical health, they operate a programme of psychosocial support and parenting classes.
PALESTINIAN BIBLE SOCIETY
The Palestinian Bible Society works to make the Word of God available to people living in the Holy Land. They also run a number of development and training programmes, including a training centre in Jericho that teaches the model of servant leadership to participants from across the West Bank.
PMP
The Pontifical Mission for Palestine was set up by Pope Pius XII in 1949 to provide education, health, humanitarian and development services to Palestinian communities. As well as delivering their own programmes, PMP also supports smaller grassroots organisations to access international funding. Many PMP projects work to equip and empower young people.
PRINCESS BASMA CENTRE
The Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre provides services for children with disabilities in Palestine. These include rehabilitation therapies, inclusive education, advocacy and the development and dissemination of best practice to other centres in the West Bank. They also have a residential programme for parents to teach them how to better support their children at home.
““The project first gave me good self-confidence which helped me later to overcome my learning disabilities. I received a lot of love from SIRA and this love gave me loads of support to continue to develop in my studies.””
THE SIRA SCHOOL
Run by the Swedish International Relief Association, the school provides education for children with special educational needs in Bethlehem and Jericho. Children are supported to learn in a way that enables and empowers them, with the aim to reintegrate them into mainstream schools. SIRA also provide training for parents and mainstream teachers on how to support children with learning disabilities.
SOCIETY OF ST YVES
The Society of St Yves is a Catholic human rights organisation under the Latin Patriarchate which provides legal aid to those in need, oppressed or marginalised and raises awareness of human and civil rights within society. Part of their work includes legal support and awareness around freedom of movement between the occupied Palestinian Territories.
PALESTINE-ISRAEL PROJECTS LATEST UPDATES
HAMAS-ISRAEL WAR NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
MUSALA
“Is Reconciliation in Israel-Palestine still possible? ”
NECC
“Being a mother in Gaza”
AVIV MINISTRY
“Meet the Christians bringing hope to Tel Aviv’s rough sleepers”
PERSONAL STORIES FROM OUR PALESTINE-ISRAEL PROJECTS
Lara and her mother left the shelter of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza, desperate to try to reach Lara’s ill brother in Egypt. It was a perilous journey - and one that would end in tragedy.