De La Salle Brother rallying for peace

De La Salle Brother Peter Bray, living in Bethlehem, wishes for a peaceful end to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Bray, the vice chancellor of Bethlehem University in the West Bank and a Taranaki native, has just finished a speaking tour to New Zealand at the request of the Catholic Bishops, where he discussed Palestine and ways in which New Zealanders might contribute to establishing peace in the region.

Br Peter belongs to the De La Salle Brothers, a group of religious men who have made it their life's work to help young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, via their commitment to providing them with a quality education. The Brothers' work often takes them to remote locations where the local government has difficulty convincing school officials to set foot.

The University where Br Peter serves is one of those supported by the De La Salle Brothers.

The Bishops expressed their dismay at the continued persecution of the Palestinian people and lamented the lack of progress toward peace.

In his presentations, Bray addresses four main topics: a short historical overview of the conflict, its impact on Palestinians, what the Palestinians are doing (the University emphasises a non-violent reaction), and what New Zealanders may do to stand in solidarity with Palestinians.

Many people on both sides of the debate have been hurt because it has dragged on for so long. Bray, though, maintained faith that things might improve.

In 2015, Br Peter remarked to the Pope that as his tenure in Bethlehem lengthens, his ability to see a possibility for peace decreases. However, he is heartened by other hopeless-seeming examples, like South Africa, Northern Ireland, Germany, and East Timor. Peace seemed impossible there, but it arrived nonetheless, he said.

During the 1981 Springbok Tour, New Zealand publicly protested apartheid. Bray thought it would be beneficial if New Zealanders spoke out against the Israel-Palestine issue and rallied others to do the same, adding that the two issues of inequality and injustice were the ones he was most interested in researching. He said he wasn't anti-Semitic but rather opposed to the unfairness of the Israeli government.

Since he has lived in Bethlehem since 2008, Br Peter has seen firsthand the difficulties his pupils have had while interacting with the Israeli soldiers. Some of the individuals he knew had been arrested and detained without cause, while others feared being questioned by the military.

His Jerusalem-based students take the bus, unsure of when they'll arrive or if they'll be detained. Palestinians have had their homes, livelihoods, and lives destroyed by Israeli forces and settlers.

Br Peter doesn't aim to tell Palestinians what to do but hopes his presence reminds them that they are not forgotten in this world and that the 3,200 pupils would continue to get an excellent education and be given reason to have faith in the future.

Throughout his 15 years at the University, Br Peter has strived to keep it a safe haven from the surrounding turmoil. He sees the increase in Israeli soldiers shooting and killing Palestinians and worries it will become routine.

On the 17th February, Br Peter received the Doctor of the University (Honouris Causa) from the Australian Catholic University (ACU) for embracing the values and principals of education in the Catholic tradition and for significant contributions to education and educational administration in Australia and overseas. To read the full story click HERE .