At their meeting of 27th February the Rotary Club of Anstruther & District had as guest speaker Maureen Jack from the international organisation ‘Christian Peacemaker Teams’.

CPT is a faith-based organisation and Maureen, who lives locally, supports CPT’s work in Palestine. (http://www.cpt.org/speakers/maureen_jack) There, she and colleagues collaborate with local Palestinian and Israeli peacemakers, with the aim of creating space for justice and peace in a non-violent way.

It was a sobering talk illustrating the many difficulties, dangers and stresses involved in just living in an area of such conflict. Maureen’s talk was illustrated with pictures – many from the city of Hebron and the country around it. In Hebron it was depressing to see the now desolate Shuhada Street – once a busy and prosperous centre.

Maureen pointed out that in such a situation everyone suffers – Palestinians and Israelis too, but she also talked of the hope that does exist. Palestinian and Israeli people joining together in projects, in education, in parties, in peacemaking.

We heard that much of the work of CPT is to help with projects such as the one called ‘Just Living’ – Rebuilding work – Shepherding – Ploughing – Going to school. Trying to make progress through maintaining some kind of - what we would see as - normality.

Following many questions a vote of thanks was proposed by David Mann.