Pilgrimages for Peace: an alternative way of visiting the Holy Land

Pilgrimages to the Holy Land are an enduring tradition for a variety of religions as the place has great significance for them all. For Christians, the Holy Land holds importance as the place where Jesus' birth, ministry, death and resurrection took place. Many Christian pilgrims appear not only ignorant of recent Middle East history but surprised to find an Arab Christian presence at all. Palestinian Christians invite Christian the world over to engage in a different type pilgrimage; to “Come and see” the truth of their reality. They will assure pilgrims of encounters through which they will come to know the facts about the people of the Holy Land - Palestinians and Israelis alike. Above all, they invite pilgrims to “say a word of truth and to take a position of truth with regard to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land." Come to get informed and to talk about this critical issue with Mr Rami Kassis, director of the Alternative Tourism Group.