Christian peacemakers in Hebron have held a memorial service to mark the first anniversary of the death of Iraq hostage Tom Fox.
Fox was a member of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) in Iraq, taken hostage with Briton Norman Kember, and Canadians James Loney and Harmeet Singh Sooden.
Fox was killed after kidnappers held him hostage for four months.
During the short commemoration, the group planted an olive tree beside the CPT apartment in Hebron.
Approximately fifty Palestinians, internationals and members of the CPT Hebron team met beside the Ibrahimi Mosque, before walking in two groups to the dividing fence and gate outside the CPT apartment.
The fence prevents Palestinian access from the Old City market to Shuhada Street.
Palestinians, along with two members of CPT – Ilse Muehlsteph and Abigail Ozanne – walked through the Old City market with the tree. Another group took a different route carrying a commemorative plaque. The two groups then met on either side of the gate. A few words of Fox’s last writing from Iraq, entitled ‘Why are we here?” were then read out.
During the memorial event, the participants passed from one side of the gate to the other, to show the need to transcend barriers in order to make peace.
Children from the Old City planted the olive tree beside the fence symbolizing hope for the future.