Israeli forces damage Episcopal church in Nablus : Contact your US elected officials to demand an investigation

A message from Rev. Susan Wilder, IPMN co-moderator

On Sunday morning, May 19, our congregation in Springfield, Virginia learned that Israeli forces raided our partner church, the Church of the Good Shepherd, in Nablus during the middle of the night on Saturday. The Israeli army knocked doors off their hinges and did other damage to the building. 

This is one of the partners that our Solidarity with the Suffering delegation visited in February. We met with the parish priest and members of the church. We enjoyed fellowship over kanafeh, and they shared with us their concern about the increased aggression of the Israeli settlers and soldiers. Nevertheless, they continue their faithful work every day. On Sunday morning, in spite of the jarring events of the night before, they gathered in the damaged church to worship as they do each Sunday.

The church I serve in Springfield has had a partnership with this Palestinian congregation for 17 years, and they are our dear friends. Church members from Nablus have come to visit our congregation many times, and we have visited them, stayed in their homes, and worshiped in the very church the soldiers attacked. We are grateful that no one in the church was hurt; we are heartbroken at this egregious violation of their church home, a violent intrusion on a place of peace and prayer.

Write to your US elected officials and ask them to demand an investigation and an explanation from the Israeli authorities.