Legacies of 1948 Delegations

Interfaith Peace-Builders & American Friends Service Committee

Updates from this Delegation

MEP Delegation
TWC Delegation

May/June, 2008

Interfaith Peace-Builders (IFPB) and the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) co-sponsored two concurrent delegations to Israel/Palestine that included a total of 31 participants in May 2008.

In May 2008, the world commemorates the 60th anniversary of the creation of the state of Israel and the Palestinian Nakba. Nakba is the Arabic word for "catastrophe" and refers to the displacement and dispossession of the Palestinian people. For some, this anniversary will be a cause for celebration, for others mourning or protest. There are often different understandings of the history of 1948 and its ongoing significance to Israelis and Palestinians. IFPB and AFSC delegates heard from individuals who lived through 1948 and newer generations who continue to live with its effects and consequences.

The opportunity to send two groups at one time was a first for Interfaith Peace-Builders—and with a combined 31 people in both groups, it was also the biggest group of people we’ve ever sent!

One delegation is a partnership between IFPB and the AFSC Middle East Peacebuilding Unit. IFPB and AFSC Middle East Peacebuiling have co-sponsored four delegations since 2006. That delegation had18 members. Click here to read more on this group.

The other delegation was a partnership between IFPB and the AFSC Third World Coalition. This is the first time that we worked with Third World Coalition. The delegation participants were people of color and include AFSC staff members, contacts of the Third World Coalition, and others new to the program. Click here to read more on this group.

A photo of delegates from both groups at orientation in Washington, DC.