The Buchanan Initiative for Peace and Nonviolence at Avila University is presenting a “Christmas in Bethlehem” program on Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 12 noon (Central time). The Rev. Dr. Alex Awad will speak via Zoom about current realities in the historic city of Bethlehem.
Dr. Awad was dean of students and a full-time professor at Bethlehem Bible College for 24 years. He is the author of two books, Through the Eyes of the Victims, an account of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as seen from a Palestinian perspective, and a memoir, Palestinian Memories: A Palestinian Mother and Her People, as well as numerous articles.
A United Methodist minister, Dr. Awad sits on the board of trustees of the Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace (PCAP), a non-sectarian, ecumenical alliance of Palestinian American Christians that helps churches and other faith-based groups form a clearer understanding of the realities in Israel-Palestine and advocate for peace through justice.
Jonathan Kuttab, a human rights lawyer who practices in the United States, Israel and Palestine and is an expert on international law, will answer question from those attending virtually or in person on the Avila campus.
A Palestinian Christian, Mr. Kuttab sits on the board of Bethlehem Bible College as well as PCAP and is a co-founder of both the Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq and Non-Violence International. He is executive director of the Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA), the author of Beyond the Two-State Solution, and a recognized authority on Israel and Palestine.
The Dec. 8 program will present photographs of contemporary Bethlehem. It is co-sponsored by Citizens for Justice in the Middle East, a group of concerned citizens from the greater Kansas City area that advocates for a responsible U.S. foreign policy in Israel and Palestine that recognizes the needs, rights and aspirations of both peoples.
To RSVP to attend the presentation, open the flyer by clicking here, then click where it says “Click here to RSVP.” A link to join the webinar will be sent to you closer to the date of the event. (If you have trouble clicking through to the sign-up, be sure to double click somewhere on the flyer to make sure it’s fully open.)
After the presentations by Alex Awad and Jonathan Kuttab, those attending the webinar at Avila University can join small discussion groups if they wish.