The Committee for a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine

Committee for a Just Peace Receives
Blessed Are the Peacemakers Award

On October 10, 2005, the World Council of Churches’ (WCC) United States Conference awarded the prestigious Blessed are the Peacemakers Award to Oak Park-based Committee for a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine (CJPIP) and to four other organizations. The award ceremony occurred at the annual meeting of the U.S. Conference for the WCC, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel O’Hare. According to the WCC, Blessed are the Peacemakers awards are given to persons, congregations, and groups that exemplify creative and courageous peace and justice-making efforts in the world. These awards are given annually as part of the organization’s Decade to Overcome Violence campaign.

In granting the award to CJPIP, the Council stated, “As the first year of the Decade to Overcome Violence highlighted the situation in Israel and Palestine, it is particularly fitting that the challenging work of this committee in Oak Park be recognized.”

Accepting the award for CJPIP was chairperson Martha Reese. She commented, “We are honored to accept this award on behalf of peace and justice activists in Oak Park and our nonviolent colleagues in Israel and Palestine. We will continue to bring voices to our community which challenge the one-sided information presented in the mainstream media and to mobilize actions to challenge the U.S. government s role as a dishonest broker in this tragic conflict.”

CJPIP sponsors speakers in the Oak Park area from Palestine, Israel, and the U.S. and organizes film programs, photography exhibits, and discussions. It provides information to local legislators, and cosponsors actions with other peace activists. CJPIP also sponsors the Annual Walk for a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine as an inclusive alternative to the Walk for Israel. The Walk for a Just Peace mobilizes Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and secular activists to oppose the Israeli occupation, stop the violence from both sides, and support the nonviolent peacemakers in Israel and Palestine.

The award was presented by Rev. Hansulrich Gerber, World Council of Churches Coordinator for the Decade to Overcome Violence project. The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of 342 churches in more than 120 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian traditions.

The other four groups recognized are: Play for Peace, Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America, Interfaith Refugee and Immigration Ministries of Illinois, and Interfaith Worker Justice.

The text of the plaque reads:

End the occupation • Stop all violence from both sides • Support the nonviolent peace-makers in Israel & Palestine