We Belong to the Land

Elias Chacour is the Archbishop of Galilee of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. He is the author of Blood Brothers and recipient of the Niwano Peace Prize.Mary E. Jensen, the author of many books and articles, lived in Israel for a year of service and study.

"The conflict of being a clergyman and a Palestinian Arab in Israel forms the backdrop for this human drama as the author . . . tries to serve as a spokesperson for fellow Palestinians against what they perceive as injustices imposed on them by a Jewish state . . . This is recommended for those interested in a local perspective on the communal conflict in contemporary Israel." —Library Journal" … this book presents a diary of oppression that calls out for justice, a justice that can only be politically mandated. Thus, it belongs to the genre of Liberation Theology in which authentic spirituality is linked with political and social action on behalf of the poor. Elias Chacour has told a story that captures the very best of Christian evangelization…. We Belong to the Land should be required reading in every secondary school, from the West to the Middle East, so that the cycle of racism and violence finally can end." —Islamic Studies"Chacour's personal story offers a rare and valuable view inside contemporary Galilee." —San Francisco Chronicle"A wrenching and determinedly honest book that speaks eloquently and without hatred from the Palestinian side of a tragic conflict." —Kirkus Reviews"With the active participation of the villagers [of Ibillin], Chacour was able to initiate numerous village projects, such as the construction of public libraries, community centers, and schools, that improved living conditions in the village, provided new opportunities for village youth, and expressed the villagers' determination to remain on their land ... [This] is not a factual account of the post-1948 history of Israel's Palestinian community; such accounts have been provided by others. Rather it is a personal portrait that conveys, at once, the journey of one man and that of an entire community to regain identity, integrity, and purpose." —Middle East Journal