Jesus’ way of the cross is something Palestinians know intimately. Every day in the West Bank, Gaza and in Israel, Palestinians suffer at the hands of the governing authorities—standing at the checkpoints; watching their homes being demolished; seeing their sons and daughters, brothers and husbands arrested or killed by Israeli soldiers. This is daily life for Palestinians.
Jesus is condemned to death
Palestinian children gather around the body of Hisham Saad during his funeral in the Gaza Strip, April 4, 2012. According to Palestinian medical sources, Saad was killed by Israeli forces near the border between Israel and the east of Gaza City. (Reuters/Mohammed Salem) http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=474015
Jesus accepts the cross
Marwan Barghouti, a popular Palestinian leader arrested in 2002 for his leadership in the second intifada (the popular uprising against Israel’s occupation) is serving a prison term of five consecutive life sentences. Israeli peace activist Uri Avnery has called him the “Palestinian Mandela.” This week he was placed in solitary confinement for calling for “a large scale popular resistance” against the occupation, based on Israel’s continuing settlement-building. He said the settlements show that Israel is not an honest partner in peace negotiations. The peace process is a sham. http://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2012/04/05/what-marwan-barghouti-really-means-to-palestinians/
Jesus falls the first time
On December 11, 2011, Mustafa Tamimi, participating in the weekly protest in his village of Nabi Saleh was shot in the face with a tear gas canister and died from his wounds. In the photo, taken by other demonstrators, Mustafa is protesting the presence of Israeli soldiers and the theft of village lands for the building of the wall. The red circles show the tear gas canister being fired by an Israeli soldier from inside the armored vehicle. http://972mag.com/mustafa-tamimi-a-murder-captured-on-camera/29459/
Jesus meets his mother
Hana Shalabi, imprisoned again in December, began a hunger strike to protest Israel’s practice of administrative detention. In this photo, her mother holds a poster supporting her. She and Hana’s father also participated in the hunger strike. Hana was released last week—not to her home and her family, but exiled to Gaza for three years. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17582868
Simon of Cyrene carries the cross
Vittorio Arigoni was one of many international activists who come to Palestine to support the popular movement against Israel’s occupation and theft of land. He had dedicated his life to Palestinian freedom and he was kidnapped and killed a year ago, in Gaza. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13088630
Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
Lisa teaches English at Dar al-Kalima (school) in Bethlehem, a ministry of the Christmas Lutheran Church. In the midst of suffering and humiliation that the children of Bethlehem and their families experience daily, Dar al-Kalima teaches the children skills they will be able to use as leaders of Palestine, giving them self-confidence and hope for the future.
Jesus falls the second time
Mahmoud Zakut was shot dead on March 30, in a Land Day protest of several thousand people on the Gaza border with Israel, when dozens of youths walked towards the border fence. After firing warning shots, Israeli troops opened fire on the crowd, killing Mahmoud and wounding 37 others. Watch a USA Today news report.
Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
A weekly sit-in by the families of Palestinian political prisons inside Gaza’s International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) http://mondoweiss.net/2012/04/in-pictures-gaza-rally-welcomes-hana-shalabi.html
Jesus falls the third time
The suffering of Palestinians is so often described in shootings, beatings, imprisonment—but daily deprivations are probably the most damaging to the people. Israel controls the importation of diesel oil to fuel the generators for Gaza’s electric power. http://www.pri.org/stories/world/middle-east/gaza-residents-granted-temporary-reprieve-from-fuel-crisis-but-shortages-still-loom-9288.html
Jesus is stripped of His garments
When Hana Shalabi was arrested in December, she reports that she was strip searched by a male Israeli soldier and an afidavit filed with her lawyer documents her humiliation. http://gazatvnews.com/2012/03/hana-shalabi-on-hunger-strike-for-22-days/
Jesus is nailed to the cross
Most every day in Palestine, someone is arrested and imprisoned by Israeli soldiers. After the prisoner exchange that released 477 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, there were still 5300 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, including 22 elected legislators. Photo: parents of Ibrahim, who was arrested in June, 2010 for throwing stones in the village of Beit Ummar.
Jesus dies on the cross
Palestinians die almost daily in the West Bank and Gaza. Juliano MerKhamis was killed April 4, 2011 http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israeli-actor-juliano-mer-khamis-shot-dead-in-jenin-1.354044
A year later, on the anniversary of his death—The UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory called Wednesday for the murderer of Juliano Mer-Khamis to be brought to justice. "On the first anniversary of the murder," Maxwell Gaylard said he would remember Mer-Khamis as a "visionary and courageous peacemaker and a champion of culture and freedom of expression". He called "upon all concerned authorities to intensify the efforts to bring his murderers to justice." http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=473921
Jesus’ body is removed from the cross
Photo shows Hana Shalabi being treated by paramedics upon her arrival in Gaza. She was released from Israeli prison after her hunger strike. http://www.smh.com.au/world/palestinian-prisoner-released-after-hunger-strike-protest-20120402-1w8p3.html
Jesus is laid in the tomb and covered with incense
This artwork on Israel’s security wall in Bethlehem makes a statement about the link between Palestinian suffering and American ideals and values, and between Palestinian oppression and US military aid to Israel.
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