In this episode, Jen kicks off the "Touring the Holy Land" series by telling some important stories that are entangled in Holy Land tourism. She takes us back to the dawn of Christian pilgrimage to Palestine in the 4th century CE, and highlights some of the dominant narratives in the American Christian Holy Land tourism industry today. This episode features quotes from some of our listeners who have traveled to Palestine-Israel, and more of their stories will be woven throughout the series.

Stay tuned in to the series as we explore the history of Christian tourism in the Holy Land , the role of biblical archaeology, the ways that tourism is shaped by Christian Zionism and the occupation, and the Palestinian and Israeli-led movement of alternative tourism.

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Across the Divide partners with Peace Catalyst International to amplify the pursuit of peace and explore the vital intersection of Christian faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel.

You can learn more and register for the March gathering hosted by Telos at telosgroup.org/gathering2025

In this episode of theFaith and Activism series, Abeer has a conversation with Amir Toumie about the enduring struggle to reclaim Iqrit—a small Christian village whose residents were forcibly displaced in 1948. They discuss the legal and social fight for the right of return, the unique role of faith in sustaining the community’s hope, and how Iqrit has become a powerful symbol of nonviolent resistance, rooted in spiritual and cultural identity.

In their extended conversation for our Patreon supporters, Abeer and Amir delve into the unseen sacrifices and emotional costs of activism for Iqrit. They explore the personal and communal impact of this long-standing pursuit of justice and how faith continues to anchor the fight for dignity and return. To access this extended conversation and others, consider ⁠supporting us on Patreon⁠.

Amir Toumieis a political and social activist for Palestinian liberation and rights in both the Palestinian communities in 48’ and Chicago. He worked as the Director of Government Relations at the Mossawa Center - The Advocacy Center for the Rights of Palestinian Citizens in Israel. As an activist, Amir co-founded and served as president of the Haifa Youth Movement and is a member of the youth movement in his displaced Palestinian village of Iqrit. While engaging in activism in multiple fields, he has earned a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Asian Studies from the University of Haifa and a dual Master's Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Haifa and the University of Warsaw. Amir is now a 5th-year PhD candidate in Political Science at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and a board member of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at UIC.

If you enjoy our podcast, please consider becoming a Patreon monthly supporter at:https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide

Follow Across the Divide on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠

Show Notes:

https://www.zochrot.org/villages/village_details/48985/en?Iqrit

If you are interested to help Iqrit, or learn more, you can contact Amir at:amirtoumie@gmail.com

Instagram: hrh_amirtoumie

For the series finale, Jen Maidrand joins Daniel Bannoura for a live recording where they discuss the series and answer questions from the audience. Apologies for some of the technical difficulties. This was our first livestream, but we'll make sure this won't happen in future streams.

If you enjoy our podcast, please consider becoming a Patreon monthly supporter at: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide⁠

Follow Across the Divide on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ and⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠