The Joining Hands for Justice Network of Palestine has been struggling in an attempt to maintain continuity in a fragile and oppressed environment. Despite the hurdles that the occupation imposes, the organizations involved are vibrant, committed and highly involved in their communities, as well as contributing to the collective efforts of the network.
In May the network worked on a three phase initiative to address isolation that results from occupation, related to the different organizations' ministries: tourism, women's and children's issues, workers' rights, and economic empowerment. Phase I would follow the form of research within each organization to look at how they are isolated, and how they would like to address it, Phase II would bring the organizations together to develop an instrument used for education and advocacy (such as a DVD, book or other tool), and Phase III would be to reach out to churches in the U.S. to encourage their participation in advocacy, as well as job creation.
Once the war in Lebanon occurred, the organizations have had a great deal of trouble meeting together, and communities to which they minister have moved from a fragile existence to one of survival mode. In light of the in ceasing crisis related to the withdrawal of funds as a result of the democratic election of Hamas, as well as no wages being paid to government workers (now in its third month), the network is in the process of re-evaluating the program as originally organized. Members are seeking to produce a program that would take less time to address the needs of Palestinians.
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