Justice Matters: Palestinians need more than our tears

The picture is one I took from a church on the Mount of Olives, uphill from the garden of Gethsemane. The church recalls Jesus weeping for Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44). The view is across to the Old City, in East Jerusalem.  The most prominent feature is the golden Dome of the Rock, near the Al-Aqsa Mosque - two of the holiest places for Muslims.  These are built on the Temple Mount, where the Second Temple was destroyed in 70AD. The Temple Mount and its West (or Wailing) Wall are the most precious sites to Jews. It is a short walk from there to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is said to be built on the sites of the death and the resurrection of Jesus.

People the world over join in the tears for the people of Jerusalem, as hopes fade that in our lifetimes it will be a place of thriving for people of all faiths and backgrounds.

See In the West Bank, which includes East Jerusalem, last year more than 1000 Palestinians were made homeless by Israeli forces, and a further 337 people in February of this year -  yes, in the middle of a pandemic.  It happens like this: Israel requires permits for new buildings. These permits are never given to Palestinians. Israel’s laws say that homes without permits are to be demolished.  In many cases Israel demands payment from the home owner for the demolition, unless the owner demolishes their home themselves.  Some schools, trees, crops and water systems and villages’ energy systems have also been demolished by Israeli forces and by settlers. Recently one non-violent protestor was shot in the neck at very short range and paralysed.  This Reuters report from 21st March shows the extent to which Israel has control: “Israeli authorities confiscated the VIP border pass of Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki upon his return to the West Bank from a meeting at the International Criminal Court, a Palestinian official said on Sunday.” Other examples of injustice are Legion, see for example B’Tselem.

Reflect Consider the statement, “Israel is an apartheid state with a 72 year history of continuing ethnic cleansing.” Does that seem to you to be a statement that in itself is extreme, or does it describe an extreme situation accurately? 

There isn’t a good old British compromise to be found, in describing what is happening, because despite our media’s misrepresentations, it is not a symmetric situation concerning neighbours in dispute. Palestinians are being dispossessed by a vastly more powerful Israel that controls life and land across the whole of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories of the West Bank and Gaza.

Cherishing my Jewish Israeli friends guards me from projecting the characteristics of the Israeli State onto all Israelis. I can’t guess how many live in fear and with suffering from past violence; others are ardent champions of justice for all, courageously challenging the Israeli State; many are unaware of the reality of life for Palestinians. (How many in the UK do not realise the ways we oppress asylum seekers and the extent to which the UK breaks international law and agreements?) Maybe some politicians do not even see their policies as extreme, nor realise that Israel’s violent actions dehumanise both the victim and the oppressor, although suicide has been the most common cause of death of Israeli soldiers.

Can we gain insight by considering who were the extremists in the Passion narrative? Christ for challenging the religious powers of his day? Those who held religious power? The crowd calling for freedom for Barabbas? Those silently aware but complicit in evil through their inaction?

As Christians, let us imagine Christ where He is, at the Centre.  His gospel was of non-violence (as we see so intensely this week), of inclusion (of those excluded by religion, by society, by race, by culture, by illness), of justice (calling people to that Centre where is peace and from where flow rivers of love). Might extremists be those who take deliberate repeated steps away from that Centre? Those who simply settle with their backs to it?  Concerning Israel/Palestine might the extremists be, not those who name what is happening, but those who are violent,  those who exclude and expel Palestinians on grounds of race and religion, who deny the reality of the history and culture of people called Palestinian, while believing that their actions are justified and mandated by God?  

Given our calling to be in Christ, in the Centre, we can do no other than seek an ever more just and creative future for all in the land,  remembering that all humanity is one and that every work for justice is one that heals us all. Otherwise aren’t we extremists?

Act Palestinians have repeatedly said: “We’d like you to act for justice for us, but just make sure you act for justice for someone.   Even if the occupation stopped, we would not be free until all people are free.” For whom might you take an action this week? 

You might like to read Pope Francis reflection on the Good Samaritan and inclusion. (Fratelli Tutti, chapter 2) and the English-speaking bishops’ communiques on Israel-Palestine. You could read and sign the petition  Cry for Hope.

You could join Sabeel-Kairos and support their work for justice for all in Israel/Palestine.

You could try joining our “See-pray Palestine /Israel”  for 20 minutes of refection and prayer on Tuesday and Friday at 6:30. Come once or come often. Register here.  

You might enjoy an Arabic song, Taste of Love, by  Palestinian Rim Banna

Mike Mineter