Dead Stones or Living Stones?
The forgotten Palestinians
Salim munayer (inset).
background photo taken
from Jerusalem, looking
northeast towards the
border with Jordan.
Salim Munayer is the founder of Musalaha, a Christian movement for
reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians based in Jerusalem. He
also teaches at Bethlehem Bible College. He visited Kingston, Ont., in
October, and Faith Today interviewed him. By David Lyon and Salim Munayer
BACKGROUND PHOTO: DAVID LYON; INSET : FINESSE PHOTOGRAPHY
FT: Your family has lived in Palestine for
a very long time – long before the State of
Israel was formed. What is your family
background?
SM: My family is Palestinian Christian
from a Greek Orthodox background. My
family has been in the land for genera-
tions. With the Habash family, the Mu-
nayers built the church above the Tomb
of St. George in Lydda. Some of the land
next to Tel Aviv airport used to belong to
our family. In 1948 the city of Lydda was
conquered by the Israeli army which or-
dered the people out of the city. There was
a massacre and many atrocities. My father
and his brothers and sisters found refuge
with 200 Christians in the church under
the umbrella of the Red Cross. They were
able to remain in the city, but not allowed
to go back to their homes.
