“Both sides” - What does one think when one hears that?
We probably think of two parties that might be fairly equal.
Such is not the case with Israelis and Palestinians.
“One Sided”- addressing one party only. Why is that?
In the Background section of the overture # 6 says: “We hear continued pleas from Palestinian Christians (KAIROS, Palestinian churches document, Moment of Truth, 2009) that Western Christians take notice of the suffering of all Palestinians under Israel’s 52 yearlong occupation. Although we recognize the greater level of injustice practiced against the Palestinians, we acknowledge and lament the sufferings of both Palestinian and Israelis in this ongoing and worsening conflict.
“One Sidedness” explained:
Only one side has prisons and thousands of political prisoners are housed there over all these decades. Every Palestinian family is affected by this. Forty prisoners are currently on a hunger strike.
Only one side is allowed to self-determination, the other side is hemmed in by huge concrete walls. These walls are not only on the “Green” line but there are also many walls creating “Bantustans”, areas created for Palestinians in the Westbank, like in South Africa, where the people are impoverished and socially isolated. Gaza is under complete siege by Israeli military by land, water and air.
One side lives in total freedom, although feeling insecure. They have protection through the law courts, freedom of movement and live as if in a democratic state. The other side live under military law by an occupying power. This other side has no effective protection through the law courts and conviction rates are probably similar to China.
The occupying power also transgresses many international laws like the treatment of child prisoners.
One side lives in relative wealth while in many areas the other side live in fear of having their homes demolished. They are even charged to pay to have it demolished or forced to demolish it themselves.
With many internationals and Jewish Israelis, I was part of a demonstration in the Jarrah neighbourhood near East Jerusalem against home demolitions. I was “egged” by some young Israelis driving by .( I was 69 years old and I never thought this would happen to me).
Again one side lives in privileged circumstances and the other in most areas is discriminated against through unequal rationing of water, electricity, taxes, mobility, housing etc., etc.
I have read there are about 60 discriminatory laws against the Palestinians, but I don’t have the list yet.( I will pursue this list)
Well, I have described enough human suffering for now and this continues to this day , it is not sustainable. We have not even mentioned much about Gaza.
I have read the Declaration of Independence of 1948 which sounded wonderful but it has also been transgressed over and over again. In history what the government says and what it does is very different.
The Background section of the overture states the comparison of the apartheid policies of the South African government to the Palestinian situation. The Church spoke up at that time and it needs to speak up now as well. I don’t know why the Classis BC SE advisory committees could not see that.
Part of the problem is that many pastors have gone on pilgrimage trips to Israel, good in themselves, to get an understanding of where Jesus and the prophets walked , but without gaining an understanding of how the present day population fares. As far as I could tell there were not enough or any on the advisory committee that had a real knowledge of how the Christians and Muslims endure life in Israel/Palestine today. I believe the negative view from the committee was due to this lack of knowledge and I was a lone voice, as we were without a pastor at that time.
Our support team had qualified professionals from the CRC plus advice from a Sociology professor who spent a lot of time in Israel/Palestine. He was involved in a similar resolution in his Mennonite church. However, we are not perfect and we made a mistake in the Grounds section on a rewrite of the overture by one of our team, for which I took responsibility.
It takes an incredible amount of time and fact checking to start an overture and bring it to completion.
I totally agree that reconciliation should be a top priority but we do need to know the facts.
In 1948 the Palestinians for the most part had a thriving society, it was not their fault that they happened to live there and they had nothing to do with what happened in Europe.
I do recommend watching the recent film “!948 Creation and Catastrophe”. It is a fair
rendition of a collection of original voices and footage from 1948.
It is opposite from the romantic movie “Exodus” with its wonderful music that stirred every one’s hearts in the 1950’s. The Jewish people no doubt needed support and empathy.
“As [Jesus] came near and saw the city; he wept over it saying if you, even you had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” Luke 19: 41—42.
We do need to pray as our Lord did for Israel and for our countries for insight and wisdom for justice, reconciliation and peace to come.
Thank you Bev. If there is one thing that is lacking in the overture #6 (not a perfect document) it is probably the emphasis on prayer for Israel particularly and all it's people between the Jordan and the Mediterranean.
You sent me one of these videos before and these collaborative efforts are wonderful and should be bathed with prayer, when I tried to open it this time it was blocked somehow.
In deed it is great when efforts of reconciliation work and should be encouraged, it is probably more possible in places like Nazareth and Haifa where the military occupation is more relaxed.
Talking about Palestinian Christians and Messianic Jews:
From my experience in Israel/Palestine, the Christian Palestinians are treated about the same as Moslem Christians.
For example we had a meeting in Jerusalem at the office of "Sabeel" meaning "The Way" a Palestinian Christian organization that attempts with other churches to keep the Church alive and relevant while living under a military occupation. So these are like the "Living Stones" or in many cases from the original church for centuries since the time of the apostles, anyway, one of the pastors was a 90 minutes late because he had to go through one or two military checkpoints.
Messianic Jews are accepted in Israel but according to Lisa Loden , a spokeswoman, they are at times harassed and looked down upon.
Plus recently were reportedly rejected from the right of return or "aliya" for Jews around the world or like grand children of Jews but this could likely be challenged in court.
So John, your comments about the "Palestine Media Watch", this has to be a deliberate misinformation outfit, when the name "Monitor" or "Watch" is used then it is likely a site encouraged by the Ministry of Interior in Israel.
There are credible Israeli Human Rights organizations as I mentioned before.
I mean who would put out a photo of a four year old with a toy machine gun?
We do need to be responsible and careful about our sources.
Preferably we should use sources that care for all people of the land and have a track record for justice and human rights or check with "KAIROS" endorsed by the CRC or even our sister church , the RCA have people with a much longer track record then our CRC.
For example:
The "Jerusalem Post" is very nationalistic and often calls Palestinians terrorists or Arabs (because they are trying to erase that name).
The "Haaretz" ( readership of about 4%), apparently the oldest newspaper in the country is in my mind more concerned about the sanctity of all human life and justice for all.
The "Israel Hayom" or "Today" (readership of about 39%) was started by Sheldon Adelson, the well known business magnate and casino owner from Las Vegas that is sold at no charge, also a very nationalistic paper.
These statistics say a lot.
On this Canadian Victoria day long weekend I should be camping or tending to my raspberry bushes and chickens but here I am doing this!
Jason, thank you for your thoughts "...push back against the obsessive "pro Israel" theology of the dispensationalists....often takes on an unbiblical, racist attitutes towards Palestinian Arabs". If you are looking for good reformed theology on this subject then look no further then "Steadfast Hope: The Palestinian Quest for a Just Peace" It is a study guide by the Israel/Palestine Mission Network published by the Presbyterian Church USA www.theIPMN.org
I also agree with Jason and Bev that there is not near enough sound reformed preaching on this subject!
In Michigan you are blessed with excellent reformed teachers/theologians such as Joshua Vis from the RCA with huge knowledge and experience from the Middle East and Gary Burge who is now in Grand Rapids, I love his writings on the prophets as the basis on how Israel should be behaving. And these guys will take you to talk to ALL the people between the Jordan and the Mediterranian! Too bad I am from far away, distant British Columbia!
Overture #6 is there to promote truth, righteousness, justice and reconciliation for us as induviduals, local churches, national and bi national levels. The Office for Social Justice has an important practical role to play in coordination with liaisons in the Middle East as it is has been doing for a while. The CRC has sent out a number of delegations to Israel/Palestine which that has all been very beneficial.
But The Banner could do more in letting all our people know the truth in love what is really true rather then some news outlets with tons of editorial bent.
For example when a Michael Lynke , Reporter of the Human Rights branch of the United Nations comes out with a special report on how thing are in Israel/Palestine then that could be studied and reported on through our social justice people and the Banner as well , again in coordination with people of the CRC and RCA in the region that can verify it. We need to go forward with truth somewhere.
There is an excellent report from the CRC Office of Social Justice, I believe by Rev. Shannon Jammal-Hollemans, called
"CRC Engagement in Israel and the Palestinian Territories". It is a MUST read for us all and especially for the Advisory committee of the overture #6. It has a brief history, great suggestions and good statistics up to that date.
The report mentions for example working with groups like Musalaha (Gary's choice), Holy Land Trust and Sabeel ( which I have been involved with).
John, I will attempt to answer your 10 questions now from my own experience in the West Bank and a lot of reading: Question #1 and #2 : I don't think it matters what the land was called except that it was called Palestine in recent history and to this day, well a part is supposed to be the state of Palestine and the other Israel, but as we all know, one was allowed self-determination through a couple of powerful allies and the other not.
And even if Israel is the overall occupying power as is the case: Leviticus 19 : 33 says "When an alien resides with in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God".
It looks like the writers of our modern International Law must have some background from Leviticus when it comes to behaviour of occupying powers! I so wish that modern state of Israel were that light on a hill and I could really revell with the wonderful stirring music of the movie "Exodus"!!
The owning of the land was in the old testament always contingient on Israel's faithfulness; sinfulness resulted in loss of inheritance and so land and righteous are linked.
So, "Is this all about land anyway?" As we already mentioned before in our discussions; No not really, we are to act righteously and love whoever lives in the land. Our Lord was also not interested in establishing a kingdom, his message was simply "to love the Lord your God and your neighbor as yourself".
The taking of land illegally, forcefully and without regard of the welfare of citizens that were deeded owners of the land for many, many generations is in deed an aweful and terrible thing to witness. It is what my fellow Christian Peacemaker Team members and I protested against in the Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem, it was a great feeling that many Jewish people stood along side of us, even those orthodox guys with black hats who were actually Judaists (spelling?) protesting the Zionist ideology. I still receive weekly reports of this and other human rights abuses from the CPT. Sometimes I don't want to open those messages because it is so depressing and I can't always handle it.
Even though this advocating is difficult work, I meet so many wonderful human beings. In our chapter of "Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East" or CJPME we work together sometimes with "Sabeel" which is Christian or the local chapter of "Amnesty International". We hosted a meeting of CJPME recently and we had an Egyptian, a Palestinian (no right of return), a Jewish man, a woman who is an Occupational Therapist who worked with people in Gaza from the World Health Organization, whom we met from across our house! There was also a young moslim woman of Lebanese Palestinian back ground who became quite emotional and said "I did not know that any Canadians cared about us." I just about cried along with her. So there is reconciliation and Christian love shown right in our neighborhood and I thank God for moments such as these!
Well, Doug, as I mentioned earlier the publication "Steadfast Hope: The Palestinian Quest for a Just Peace" an excellent study guide by the Israel/Palestine Mission Network from a reformed perspective from the Presbyterian Church USA still available at $10.
Other churches like the Presbyterian church, Mennonite, Reformed Church of America, Episcopalian have their own version and I don't know how many CRC churches but we did have a study group in our East Hill Community Church in Vernon, BC.
So that is one way and there may be others.
The "CRC Engagement in Palestine and the Palestinian Territories" report mostly compiled our church's history to date on the subject, some suggestions going forward and population statistics.
It is too bad that there should be disagreement about that report, one could learn from talking about it.
My point was just that we should be able to trust our own people going to Israel and those that meet them in the "field" so to say.
My experience is that no matter what persuasion of the Christian faith you are whether free evangelical or reformed or whatever coming back from Hebron or Gaza they have pretty much the same story of abuse of human rights and international law.
I am also not saying any party is blameless.
I do recommend going and spending time in Hebron or Gaza, people will not be the same again (not that everybody can just do that).
It is really hard coming back from a place like those (just Hebron for me) and driving home the oppressive conditions people endure for generations now!
So the reason I mentioned Michael Lynke as the Special Reporter for the UN Human Rights organization is because it is not part of any faith group or party and internationally recognized, not because any one mentioned before is more or less righteous.
# 3, Interpretations regarding “Waqf”: Mostly what I found on the internet was that it means an “endowment” which could be on a small personal scale or on important mosques, or other significant buildings. Some are very significant and others not so much, I did not find anything about declaring war, etc. You would have to let me know where to find other explanations?
Probably Islamic laws might vary greatly from let say Pakistan, Indonesia or Palestine; just like there are many laws for orthodox Jews I would think as they are all about laws.
Again overture #6 is not about land and buildings as much but rather the great commandment to love God and your neighbor.
# 4 and # 5, Who has the corner on enmity or antisemitism? It is just as likely Europeans or North Americans, just think of the years of the nineteen thirties and forties or even today.
Actually there were times in Palestine and also Spain where the Jewish, Moslem and Christian societies prospered together.
It is in the forties, fifties and to this day when the Zionist ideology took over that started major discrimination against the local people whether they be Bedouin, Christian, Moslem.
There are Israeli Jews who are not Zionist and just wanted Palestine as before but alas this group is quite small. They are living a bit more like the prophets called for and they were the ones that stood alongside us in protesting house demolitions of Palestinian homes.
Are there no prophets in the land? if anything was missed in the writing of the overture it is like the following:
I should mention prominent groups like “Peace Now” or “Shalom Achshav” in Israel
or in the USA “America Peace Now” This group of mostly Jewish people has organized huge rallies for peace and for a state for Palestinians. Peace Now has extensive maps of illegal settlements and great resources. Prof. Gary Burge: ”When I have been feeling overwhelmed and depressed by the tremendous weight of the injustices in this land, it has been Jewish activists who have given me new inspiration. I believe that the reason of such extensive Jewish effort is because of the prophetic tradition itself. Deep in the heart of Jewish faith is what is ethical and just. This Israeli national harm to their Palestinian neighbors is profoundly offensive to what it means to be Jewish. Orthodox Jews and liberal Reform Jews alike can be seen marching in a city like Jerusalem calling out with the voice of Jeremiah and Amos as witnesses to the crimes they see. Are there prophetic voices in the land? Is Elijah’s still heard? Indeed!”
The Dispensationalist Christian Zionists, I find, are all about the end times and seem to care little of what is going on in Israel/Palestine and is what we of reformed faith should reject.
Preachers like John Hagee seem to have an undying heart for Israel, without any regard of the documented sufferings of Palestinians.
Prof. Marvin Wilson, a specialist on Judaism from Gordon College an evangelical institution says it well: ”The number one obstacle to peace is nationalism, because so often it insists on the denial of the other guy. A biblical view can’t be anti -Arab and pro -Israel, or anti -Israel and pro-Arab. God’s heart is where justice is”.
Christian Palestinianism? A new label, but not mine as I care for all peoples of the land.
“World Vision” the biggest evangelical charitable organization in the world with “the mission to follow our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of God.”
Unlike other Christian charitable organizations they are not involved in politics but network with the local Palestinian churches like Catholics, Orthodox, Evangelical Lutheran and Aglican.
But secondly their Jerusalem office has become an outspoken, high profile advocate for human rights in Israel because they are in the midst of what is going on.
In much the same way does “Sabeel” works with the local churches to improve the lot of both Christian and Moslem peoples. Rev Naim Ateek is himself a pastor with the Anglican church, their focus is very much encouraging congregations, to minister with women, youth, etc.
But also have an international arm like World Vision.
Naim Stifan Ateek, one of the founders of "Sabeel" or The Way", is a warm, gentle, great Christian man. I met him in Kelowna, British Columbia, as I was part of a committee inviting him to speak to a broad spectrum of the community in the Okanagan Valley in a Mennonite church. We prayed and dined together with pastors of the area.
He is one of the Living Stones of the Land where he went to the Nazareth Baptist school, got his masters and doctoral training in the USA. He does legendary work in encouraging the Christians that are left in Israel/Palestine as well inviting Christians world wide to Bethlehem. I was at his office in Jerusalem where we were supposed to meet one of the local pastors but this pastor arrived very late as he detained at Israeli checkpoints.
It is in my mind not helpful to taint him with the same brush as some rogue example from South America
It is not the idea of this overture to have a detailed discussion about Liberation Theology which does have its place in the context of the suffering church in my opinion.
“The role of the Church in the face of injustice is not to remain silent but to speak truth prophetically against oppression, discrimination, human rights abuses, and to call on governments to uphold international law.
Our denomination has previously acted on its obligation to speak to injustice in a similar situation by addressing “Apartheid” in South Africa. It is time again for the Church to use it’s voice in like manner about the ongoing injustices in occupied Palestine.”
I came across this UN ESCWA Report (that is Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia) from 2017 called “Israeli Practices towards Palestinian People and the Question of Apartheid” 71 pages long and I read most of it.
It’s authors are Prof. of International Law, Richard Falk, UN Special Reporter and Virginia Tilley, Prof. of Political Science U of Chicago, who came to the conclusion that the State of Israel is indeed committing the now recognized crime of institutional apartheid against the Palestinian people.
Four Domains:
Domain 1: The use of laws to curtail the capacity of Palestinian citizens of Israel to obtain equal rights with Israel’s democracy.
Domain 2: Highly insecure residency laws for Palestinian residents in East Jerusalem.
Domain 3: Military Law governing Palestinians in the Occupied Territories as a permanent alien population which rejects any claim they may want to make on Israeli political representation for equal rights and conditions.
Domain 4: Policies preventing Palestinian refugees and involuntary exiles from returning to their homes in Mandate Palestine.
These domains interplay on each other to enfeeble Palestinian resistance to Israel’s apartheid oppression.
There is much more on demographic engineering, discriminatory laws, no freedom of movement and practices that cannot be contained in this brief note……we should all read it.
I found at the end of the report under General Recommendations:
“United Nations bodies, national governments and civil society actors, including religious organizations, should formally endorse the principal finding of this report that the treatment by Israel of the Palestinians is consistent with the crime of apartheid.
I don’t know what religious bodies are meant here but I do know that many churches have made resolutions or overtures on this subject.
This is a very pressing issue for us because our governments are heavily involved in this awful stuff and we are implicated in it, the USA much more so and Canada, no matter Conservative, Liberal, all our administrations have supported Israel’s immoral behavior, one just more overtly than the other. Our governments say they support a two state solution but let Israel build more settlements with $4 billion (from the USA) in aid to boot.
There are also counter arguments listed which can be accessed.
This report has yet to make it’s way to the International Court of Justice still.
I feel very sad having to present these things, it feels very heavy on my heart, we have not even talked about Gaza yet. We have been kept in the dark for too many years by a lack of honest reporting. We really do need to pray for all the parties involved and search our souls too.
I admit to you Lubbert that I or we could have listened better before taking the overture to classis a second time. You did inform us that the overture needed significant change for classis to discuss it again. We thought that we had made enough changes to merit an approval by classis but I guess we thought wrong.
What bothered us about the process though was that the advisory committees only included people that knew the one narrative of Israel/Palestine and Not both sides, while there were definitely people in the two churches on the committee that know both narratives.
In particular one person who has very intimate knowledge and heart for the subject was sidelined. This person went to great expense of her own, even lived with a family that endured hardship from the Israeli occupation.
I was told that there were educated people on the advisory committee and indeed some of them were, they have a degree or two; the problem is that they were not really informed though on the whole of the issue.
I agree with Jennifer that the churches could do more for our indigenous peoples and yes, the Anglican church in Canada (in the USA Episcopalian) is more involved here, it is through KAIROS in the Anglican church that I got involved in both our First Nations and Palestinian/Israel issues.
There remain many inequities for our indigenous and settler peoples not unlike in Israel but in our country there is some progress going on, the reconciliation process is happening.
However, for Palestinians and Israelis the situation is getting worse every year. Palestinian families are systematically and illegally dispossessed of their homes and land every week at an increasing rate.
Besides calling for more awareness for our church members the overture has an admonishing word for the Israeli government and its military. Rightly so because as an occupying power under international law there are strict laws that are to be obeyed by Israel , however they tend to ignore them.
One example, since 2000, at least 8000 Palestinian children have been arrested and prosecuted in an Israeli military detention system notorious for the systematic treatment and torture of Palestinian children; see Amnesty International report 2015-16.
No wonder organizations like “NoWaytoTreataChild.org” come into existence. Doug, you are a lawyer, why don’t you check them out and compare notes with their lawyer.
If Naim Ateek of Sabeel shows anger at times it is because it is a righteous anger on behalf of his people and their women and children.
Gaza:
Saturday, June 8, there was an internet conference linking eight cities in Canada, including our city of Vernon, BC, with the chief orthopedic surgeon from the Shifa Hospital in Gaza and a 3rd year dentistry student. They spoke to us and we could ask questions from them directly. We learned about the trauma and psychological harm to men, women and children. It is immensely troubling. (An eleven year old in Gaza has witnessed three conflicts in its lifetime; each of these conflicts were characterized by massive bombing raids on densely populated civilian areas. An estimated 70% of children in Gaza need psychological counseling to address the symptoms resulting from the traumas they have experienced. )
Friends of Sabeel Canada was the main convener of this event and our community’s venue was at the East Hill Community Church auditorium, where I am an elder.
We raised funds for the “Near East Council of Churches” who have a longstanding relationship with Sabeel in their work for psychological support for children and youth through established maternal and child clinics in Gaza’s poorest districts.
We in North America are implicated in all this trauma, I am afraid, as our governments help fund this open-air prison under complete siege by Israel and partially by Egypt on the south border - probably part of a peace treaty with Israel.
Listen, listen slowly to every phrase from this Christian pastor from Bethlehem:
"I am a Palestinian (Christian) living under Israeli occupation.
My captor daily seeks ways to make life harder for me. He encircles my people with barbed wire;he builds wall around us, and his army sets many boundaries around us. He succeeds in keeping thousands of us in camps and prisons. Yet in spite all these efforts, he has not succeeded in taking my dreams from me.I have a dream that one day I will wake up and see two equal peoples living next to each other, coexisting in the land of Palestine, stretching from the Mediterranean to the Jordan."
Rev. Mitri Raheb
Does this not speak to your heart?
It is seldom that we hear from Christians of the "Holy Land" and I doubt if he cares that much what the name of the country is,
he wants to live and breath in freedom and equality.
A large group of Christian pastors sent out the KAIROS Document: a combined cry to the western Church to pay attention to their plight......look it up on the net.
Whether they are Messianic Jews or Palestinian Christians, it does not matter, we should be listening to them.
I happen to have a friend who is a Christian born and raised in Jerusalem. He has no right of return. He is very sad about that. I can go back to bike in my old country where I grew up any time I want.
So I went to check that out. I witnessed the mess over there, not a cruise or a pleasant vacation.
It was very disturbing. You should check it out. I did not go to Turkey, my niece from Aldergrove is working there and in Armenia with a Christian Mission, we gladly contribute to her work. I know what happened there, I read the latest biography about "Lawrence of Arabia "a few years ago, it explained how the whole place was divided up by the colonial powers, mostly Britain. After a while the whole thing smelled to "high heaven" and Lawrence refused to be knighted right in front of the king. In the British Mandate they gave most of the land of Palestine to the Jewish people which we all loved for the sake of the Jewish refugees, it's just that there were people living there. But now the Jewish Israelis are the colonial power. It's somewhat similar to us in Canada being the colonial power and we have to make things right with our indigenous people to be reconciled with them.....but in Israel they are continuing their colonial occupation full speed ahead. In Canada we don't put blame on the indigenous peoples for living here. Why do we want to put equal responsibility on the Palestinian peoples?? So I am doing all I can for all peoples in that area because we are all God's creatures, it is a justice and reconciliation issue that even "The Banner" can touch on. Why can we not talk about human rights issues re. Israel just like we do about Myanmar? I saw a newspaper headline from Israel sometime ago that read "Israel needs to be saved from itself!"; as if to say "we can't do" it to the world. 52 years is enough.
BDS is not the same as antisemitism, nor is criticism of the state of Israel antisemitism as Lubbert implies. The state of Texas had to back down because it impeded peoples free speech.
Posted in: ‘Palestine’ and Overture 6: Ten Questions to Consider
“Both sides” - What does one think when one hears that?
We probably think of two parties that might be fairly equal.
Such is not the case with Israelis and Palestinians.
“One Sided”- addressing one party only. Why is that?
In the Background section of the overture # 6 says: “We hear continued pleas from Palestinian Christians (KAIROS, Palestinian churches document, Moment of Truth, 2009) that Western Christians take notice of the suffering of all Palestinians under Israel’s 52 yearlong occupation. Although we recognize the greater level of injustice practiced against the Palestinians, we acknowledge and lament the sufferings of both Palestinian and Israelis in this ongoing and worsening conflict.
“One Sidedness” explained:
Only one side has prisons and thousands of political prisoners are housed there over all these decades. Every Palestinian family is affected by this. Forty prisoners are currently on a hunger strike.
Only one side is allowed to self-determination, the other side is hemmed in by huge concrete walls. These walls are not only on the “Green” line but there are also many walls creating “Bantustans”, areas created for Palestinians in the Westbank, like in South Africa, where the people are impoverished and socially isolated. Gaza is under complete siege by Israeli military by land, water and air.
One side lives in total freedom, although feeling insecure. They have protection through the law courts, freedom of movement and live as if in a democratic state. The other side live under military law by an occupying power. This other side has no effective protection through the law courts and conviction rates are probably similar to China.
The occupying power also transgresses many international laws like the treatment of child prisoners.
One side lives in relative wealth while in many areas the other side live in fear of having their homes demolished. They are even charged to pay to have it demolished or forced to demolish it themselves.
With many internationals and Jewish Israelis, I was part of a demonstration in the Jarrah neighbourhood near East Jerusalem against home demolitions. I was “egged” by some young Israelis driving by .( I was 69 years old and I never thought this would happen to me).
Again one side lives in privileged circumstances and the other in most areas is discriminated against through unequal rationing of water, electricity, taxes, mobility, housing etc., etc.
I have read there are about 60 discriminatory laws against the Palestinians, but I don’t have the list yet.( I will pursue this list)
Well, I have described enough human suffering for now and this continues to this day , it is not sustainable. We have not even mentioned much about Gaza.
I have read the Declaration of Independence of 1948 which sounded wonderful but it has also been transgressed over and over again. In history what the government says and what it does is very different.
The Background section of the overture states the comparison of the apartheid policies of the South African government to the Palestinian situation. The Church spoke up at that time and it needs to speak up now as well. I don’t know why the Classis BC SE advisory committees could not see that.
Part of the problem is that many pastors have gone on pilgrimage trips to Israel, good in themselves, to get an understanding of where Jesus and the prophets walked , but without gaining an understanding of how the present day population fares. As far as I could tell there were not enough or any on the advisory committee that had a real knowledge of how the Christians and Muslims endure life in Israel/Palestine today. I believe the negative view from the committee was due to this lack of knowledge and I was a lone voice, as we were without a pastor at that time.
Our support team had qualified professionals from the CRC plus advice from a Sociology professor who spent a lot of time in Israel/Palestine. He was involved in a similar resolution in his Mennonite church. However, we are not perfect and we made a mistake in the Grounds section on a rewrite of the overture by one of our team, for which I took responsibility.
It takes an incredible amount of time and fact checking to start an overture and bring it to completion.
I totally agree that reconciliation should be a top priority but we do need to know the facts.
In 1948 the Palestinians for the most part had a thriving society, it was not their fault that they happened to live there and they had nothing to do with what happened in Europe.
I do recommend watching the recent film “!948 Creation and Catastrophe”. It is a fair
rendition of a collection of original voices and footage from 1948.
It is opposite from the romantic movie “Exodus” with its wonderful music that stirred every one’s hearts in the 1950’s. The Jewish people no doubt needed support and empathy.
“As [Jesus] came near and saw the city; he wept over it saying if you, even you had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” Luke 19: 41—42.
We do need to pray as our Lord did for Israel and for our countries for insight and wisdom for justice, reconciliation and peace to come.
Sorry that this one is so long.
Praying for Shalom and Salaam for all,
Posted in: ‘Palestine’ and Overture 6: Ten Questions to Consider
Thank you Bev. If there is one thing that is lacking in the overture #6 (not a perfect document) it is probably the emphasis on prayer for Israel particularly and all it's people between the Jordan and the Mediterranean.
You sent me one of these videos before and these collaborative efforts are wonderful and should be bathed with prayer, when I tried to open it this time it was blocked somehow.
In deed it is great when efforts of reconciliation work and should be encouraged, it is probably more possible in places like Nazareth and Haifa where the military occupation is more relaxed.
Talking about Palestinian Christians and Messianic Jews:
From my experience in Israel/Palestine, the Christian Palestinians are treated about the same as Moslem Christians.
For example we had a meeting in Jerusalem at the office of "Sabeel" meaning "The Way" a Palestinian Christian organization that attempts with other churches to keep the Church alive and relevant while living under a military occupation. So these are like the "Living Stones" or in many cases from the original church for centuries since the time of the apostles, anyway, one of the pastors was a 90 minutes late because he had to go through one or two military checkpoints.
Messianic Jews are accepted in Israel but according to Lisa Loden , a spokeswoman, they are at times harassed and looked down upon.
Plus recently were reportedly rejected from the right of return or "aliya" for Jews around the world or like grand children of Jews but this could likely be challenged in court.
So John, your comments about the "Palestine Media Watch", this has to be a deliberate misinformation outfit, when the name "Monitor" or "Watch" is used then it is likely a site encouraged by the Ministry of Interior in Israel.
There are credible Israeli Human Rights organizations as I mentioned before.
I mean who would put out a photo of a four year old with a toy machine gun?
We do need to be responsible and careful about our sources.
Preferably we should use sources that care for all people of the land and have a track record for justice and human rights or check with "KAIROS" endorsed by the CRC or even our sister church , the RCA have people with a much longer track record then our CRC.
For example:
The "Jerusalem Post" is very nationalistic and often calls Palestinians terrorists or Arabs (because they are trying to erase that name).
The "Haaretz" ( readership of about 4%), apparently the oldest newspaper in the country is in my mind more concerned about the sanctity of all human life and justice for all.
The "Israel Hayom" or "Today" (readership of about 39%) was started by Sheldon Adelson, the well known business magnate and casino owner from Las Vegas that is sold at no charge, also a very nationalistic paper.
These statistics say a lot.
On this Canadian Victoria day long weekend I should be camping or tending to my raspberry bushes and chickens but here I am doing this!
Posted in: ‘Palestine’ and Overture 6: Ten Questions to Consider
Jason, thank you for your thoughts "...push back against the obsessive "pro Israel" theology of the dispensationalists....often takes on an unbiblical, racist attitutes towards Palestinian Arabs". If you are looking for good reformed theology on this subject then look no further then "Steadfast Hope: The Palestinian Quest for a Just Peace" It is a study guide by the Israel/Palestine Mission Network published by the Presbyterian Church USA www.theIPMN.org
I also agree with Jason and Bev that there is not near enough sound reformed preaching on this subject!
In Michigan you are blessed with excellent reformed teachers/theologians such as Joshua Vis from the RCA with huge knowledge and experience from the Middle East and Gary Burge who is now in Grand Rapids, I love his writings on the prophets as the basis on how Israel should be behaving. And these guys will take you to talk to ALL the people between the Jordan and the Mediterranian! Too bad I am from far away, distant British Columbia!
Posted in: ‘Palestine’ and Overture 6: Ten Questions to Consider
Overture #6 is there to promote truth, righteousness, justice and reconciliation for us as induviduals, local churches, national and bi national levels. The Office for Social Justice has an important practical role to play in coordination with liaisons in the Middle East as it is has been doing for a while. The CRC has sent out a number of delegations to Israel/Palestine which that has all been very beneficial.
But The Banner could do more in letting all our people know the truth in love what is really true rather then some news outlets with tons of editorial bent.
For example when a Michael Lynke , Reporter of the Human Rights branch of the United Nations comes out with a special report on how thing are in Israel/Palestine then that could be studied and reported on through our social justice people and the Banner as well , again in coordination with people of the CRC and RCA in the region that can verify it. We need to go forward with truth somewhere.
There is an excellent report from the CRC Office of Social Justice, I believe by Rev. Shannon Jammal-Hollemans, called
"CRC Engagement in Israel and the Palestinian Territories". It is a MUST read for us all and especially for the Advisory committee of the overture #6. It has a brief history, great suggestions and good statistics up to that date.
The report mentions for example working with groups like Musalaha (Gary's choice), Holy Land Trust and Sabeel ( which I have been involved with).
Posted in: ‘Palestine’ and Overture 6: Ten Questions to Consider
John, I will attempt to answer your 10 questions now from my own experience in the West Bank and a lot of reading: Question #1 and #2 : I don't think it matters what the land was called except that it was called Palestine in recent history and to this day, well a part is supposed to be the state of Palestine and the other Israel, but as we all know, one was allowed self-determination through a couple of powerful allies and the other not.
And even if Israel is the overall occupying power as is the case: Leviticus 19 : 33 says "When an alien resides with in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God".
It looks like the writers of our modern International Law must have some background from Leviticus when it comes to behaviour of occupying powers! I so wish that modern state of Israel were that light on a hill and I could really revell with the wonderful stirring music of the movie "Exodus"!!
The owning of the land was in the old testament always contingient on Israel's faithfulness; sinfulness resulted in loss of inheritance and so land and righteous are linked.
So, "Is this all about land anyway?" As we already mentioned before in our discussions; No not really, we are to act righteously and love whoever lives in the land. Our Lord was also not interested in establishing a kingdom, his message was simply "to love the Lord your God and your neighbor as yourself".
The taking of land illegally, forcefully and without regard of the welfare of citizens that were deeded owners of the land for many, many generations is in deed an aweful and terrible thing to witness. It is what my fellow Christian Peacemaker Team members and I protested against in the Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem, it was a great feeling that many Jewish people stood along side of us, even those orthodox guys with black hats who were actually Judaists (spelling?) protesting the Zionist ideology. I still receive weekly reports of this and other human rights abuses from the CPT. Sometimes I don't want to open those messages because it is so depressing and I can't always handle it.
Even though this advocating is difficult work, I meet so many wonderful human beings. In our chapter of "Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East" or CJPME we work together sometimes with "Sabeel" which is Christian or the local chapter of "Amnesty International". We hosted a meeting of CJPME recently and we had an Egyptian, a Palestinian (no right of return), a Jewish man, a woman who is an Occupational Therapist who worked with people in Gaza from the World Health Organization, whom we met from across our house! There was also a young moslim woman of Lebanese Palestinian back ground who became quite emotional and said "I did not know that any Canadians cared about us." I just about cried along with her. So there is reconciliation and Christian love shown right in our neighborhood and I thank God for moments such as these!
Posted in: ‘Palestine’ and Overture 6: Ten Questions to Consider
Well, Doug, as I mentioned earlier the publication "Steadfast Hope: The Palestinian Quest for a Just Peace" an excellent study guide by the Israel/Palestine Mission Network from a reformed perspective from the Presbyterian Church USA still available at $10.
Other churches like the Presbyterian church, Mennonite, Reformed Church of America, Episcopalian have their own version and I don't know how many CRC churches but we did have a study group in our East Hill Community Church in Vernon, BC.
So that is one way and there may be others.
The "CRC Engagement in Palestine and the Palestinian Territories" report mostly compiled our church's history to date on the subject, some suggestions going forward and population statistics.
It is too bad that there should be disagreement about that report, one could learn from talking about it.
My point was just that we should be able to trust our own people going to Israel and those that meet them in the "field" so to say.
My experience is that no matter what persuasion of the Christian faith you are whether free evangelical or reformed or whatever coming back from Hebron or Gaza they have pretty much the same story of abuse of human rights and international law.
I am also not saying any party is blameless.
I do recommend going and spending time in Hebron or Gaza, people will not be the same again (not that everybody can just do that).
It is really hard coming back from a place like those (just Hebron for me) and driving home the oppressive conditions people endure for generations now!
So the reason I mentioned Michael Lynke as the Special Reporter for the UN Human Rights organization is because it is not part of any faith group or party and internationally recognized, not because any one mentioned before is more or less righteous.
Posted in: ‘Palestine’ and Overture 6: Ten Questions to Consider
Comments on Questions 3, 4 and 5:
# 3, Interpretations regarding “Waqf”: Mostly what I found on the internet was that it means an “endowment” which could be on a small personal scale or on important mosques, or other significant buildings. Some are very significant and others not so much, I did not find anything about declaring war, etc. You would have to let me know where to find other explanations?
Probably Islamic laws might vary greatly from let say Pakistan, Indonesia or Palestine; just like there are many laws for orthodox Jews I would think as they are all about laws.
Again overture #6 is not about land and buildings as much but rather the great commandment to love God and your neighbor.
# 4 and # 5, Who has the corner on enmity or antisemitism? It is just as likely Europeans or North Americans, just think of the years of the nineteen thirties and forties or even today.
Actually there were times in Palestine and also Spain where the Jewish, Moslem and Christian societies prospered together.
It is in the forties, fifties and to this day when the Zionist ideology took over that started major discrimination against the local people whether they be Bedouin, Christian, Moslem.
There are Israeli Jews who are not Zionist and just wanted Palestine as before but alas this group is quite small. They are living a bit more like the prophets called for and they were the ones that stood alongside us in protesting house demolitions of Palestinian homes.
Are there no prophets in the land? if anything was missed in the writing of the overture it is like the following:
I should mention prominent groups like “Peace Now” or “Shalom Achshav” in Israel
or in the USA “America Peace Now” This group of mostly Jewish people has organized huge rallies for peace and for a state for Palestinians. Peace Now has extensive maps of illegal settlements and great resources. Prof. Gary Burge: ”When I have been feeling overwhelmed and depressed by the tremendous weight of the injustices in this land, it has been Jewish activists who have given me new inspiration. I believe that the reason of such extensive Jewish effort is because of the prophetic tradition itself. Deep in the heart of Jewish faith is what is ethical and just. This Israeli national harm to their Palestinian neighbors is profoundly offensive to what it means to be Jewish. Orthodox Jews and liberal Reform Jews alike can be seen marching in a city like Jerusalem calling out with the voice of Jeremiah and Amos as witnesses to the crimes they see. Are there prophetic voices in the land? Is Elijah’s still heard? Indeed!”
The Dispensationalist Christian Zionists, I find, are all about the end times and seem to care little of what is going on in Israel/Palestine and is what we of reformed faith should reject.
Preachers like John Hagee seem to have an undying heart for Israel, without any regard of the documented sufferings of Palestinians.
Prof. Marvin Wilson, a specialist on Judaism from Gordon College an evangelical institution says it well: ”The number one obstacle to peace is nationalism, because so often it insists on the denial of the other guy. A biblical view can’t be anti -Arab and pro -Israel, or anti -Israel and pro-Arab. God’s heart is where justice is”.
Christian Palestinianism? A new label, but not mine as I care for all peoples of the land.
“World Vision” the biggest evangelical charitable organization in the world with “the mission to follow our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of God.”
Unlike other Christian charitable organizations they are not involved in politics but network with the local Palestinian churches like Catholics, Orthodox, Evangelical Lutheran and Aglican.
But secondly their Jerusalem office has become an outspoken, high profile advocate for human rights in Israel because they are in the midst of what is going on.
In much the same way does “Sabeel” works with the local churches to improve the lot of both Christian and Moslem peoples. Rev Naim Ateek is himself a pastor with the Anglican church, their focus is very much encouraging congregations, to minister with women, youth, etc.
But also have an international arm like World Vision.
Posted in: ‘Palestine’ and Overture 6: Ten Questions to Consider
To John Span:
Naim Stifan Ateek, one of the founders of "Sabeel" or The Way", is a warm, gentle, great Christian man. I met him in Kelowna, British Columbia, as I was part of a committee inviting him to speak to a broad spectrum of the community in the Okanagan Valley in a Mennonite church. We prayed and dined together with pastors of the area.
He is one of the Living Stones of the Land where he went to the Nazareth Baptist school, got his masters and doctoral training in the USA. He does legendary work in encouraging the Christians that are left in Israel/Palestine as well inviting Christians world wide to Bethlehem. I was at his office in Jerusalem where we were supposed to meet one of the local pastors but this pastor arrived very late as he detained at Israeli checkpoints.
It is in my mind not helpful to taint him with the same brush as some rogue example from South America
It is not the idea of this overture to have a detailed discussion about Liberation Theology which does have its place in the context of the suffering church in my opinion.
Posted in: ‘Palestine’ and Overture 6: Ten Questions to Consider
Overture # 6 Background:
“The role of the Church in the face of injustice is not to remain silent but to speak truth prophetically against oppression, discrimination, human rights abuses, and to call on governments to uphold international law.
Our denomination has previously acted on its obligation to speak to injustice in a similar situation by addressing “Apartheid” in South Africa. It is time again for the Church to use it’s voice in like manner about the ongoing injustices in occupied Palestine.”
I came across this UN ESCWA Report (that is Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia) from 2017 called “Israeli Practices towards Palestinian People and the Question of Apartheid” 71 pages long and I read most of it.
It’s authors are Prof. of International Law, Richard Falk, UN Special Reporter and Virginia Tilley, Prof. of Political Science U of Chicago, who came to the conclusion that the State of Israel is indeed committing the now recognized crime of institutional apartheid against the Palestinian people.
Four Domains:
Domain 1: The use of laws to curtail the capacity of Palestinian citizens of Israel to obtain equal rights with Israel’s democracy.
Domain 2: Highly insecure residency laws for Palestinian residents in East Jerusalem.
Domain 3: Military Law governing Palestinians in the Occupied Territories as a permanent alien population which rejects any claim they may want to make on Israeli political representation for equal rights and conditions.
Domain 4: Policies preventing Palestinian refugees and involuntary exiles from returning to their homes in Mandate Palestine.
These domains interplay on each other to enfeeble Palestinian resistance to Israel’s apartheid oppression.
There is much more on demographic engineering, discriminatory laws, no freedom of movement and practices that cannot be contained in this brief note……we should all read it.
I found at the end of the report under General Recommendations:
“United Nations bodies, national governments and civil society actors, including religious organizations, should formally endorse the principal finding of this report that the treatment by Israel of the Palestinians is consistent with the crime of apartheid.
I don’t know what religious bodies are meant here but I do know that many churches have made resolutions or overtures on this subject.
This is a very pressing issue for us because our governments are heavily involved in this awful stuff and we are implicated in it, the USA much more so and Canada, no matter Conservative, Liberal, all our administrations have supported Israel’s immoral behavior, one just more overtly than the other. Our governments say they support a two state solution but let Israel build more settlements with $4 billion (from the USA) in aid to boot.
There are also counter arguments listed which can be accessed.
This report has yet to make it’s way to the International Court of Justice still.
I feel very sad having to present these things, it feels very heavy on my heart, we have not even talked about Gaza yet. We have been kept in the dark for too many years by a lack of honest reporting. We really do need to pray for all the parties involved and search our souls too.
Posted in: ‘Palestine’ and Overture 6: Ten Questions to Consider
Lubbert:
I admit to you Lubbert that I or we could have listened better before taking the overture to classis a second time. You did inform us that the overture needed significant change for classis to discuss it again. We thought that we had made enough changes to merit an approval by classis but I guess we thought wrong.
What bothered us about the process though was that the advisory committees only included people that knew the one narrative of Israel/Palestine and Not both sides, while there were definitely people in the two churches on the committee that know both narratives.
In particular one person who has very intimate knowledge and heart for the subject was sidelined. This person went to great expense of her own, even lived with a family that endured hardship from the Israeli occupation.
I was told that there were educated people on the advisory committee and indeed some of them were, they have a degree or two; the problem is that they were not really informed though on the whole of the issue.
I agree with Jennifer that the churches could do more for our indigenous peoples and yes, the Anglican church in Canada (in the USA Episcopalian) is more involved here, it is through KAIROS in the Anglican church that I got involved in both our First Nations and Palestinian/Israel issues.
There remain many inequities for our indigenous and settler peoples not unlike in Israel but in our country there is some progress going on, the reconciliation process is happening.
However, for Palestinians and Israelis the situation is getting worse every year. Palestinian families are systematically and illegally dispossessed of their homes and land every week at an increasing rate.
Besides calling for more awareness for our church members the overture has an admonishing word for the Israeli government and its military. Rightly so because as an occupying power under international law there are strict laws that are to be obeyed by Israel , however they tend to ignore them.
One example, since 2000, at least 8000 Palestinian children have been arrested and prosecuted in an Israeli military detention system notorious for the systematic treatment and torture of Palestinian children; see Amnesty International report 2015-16.
No wonder organizations like “NoWaytoTreataChild.org” come into existence. Doug, you are a lawyer, why don’t you check them out and compare notes with their lawyer.
If Naim Ateek of Sabeel shows anger at times it is because it is a righteous anger on behalf of his people and their women and children.
Gaza:
Saturday, June 8, there was an internet conference linking eight cities in Canada, including our city of Vernon, BC, with the chief orthopedic surgeon from the Shifa Hospital in Gaza and a 3rd year dentistry student. They spoke to us and we could ask questions from them directly. We learned about the trauma and psychological harm to men, women and children. It is immensely troubling. (An eleven year old in Gaza has witnessed three conflicts in its lifetime; each of these conflicts were characterized by massive bombing raids on densely populated civilian areas. An estimated 70% of children in Gaza need psychological counseling to address the symptoms resulting from the traumas they have experienced. )
Friends of Sabeel Canada was the main convener of this event and our community’s venue was at the East Hill Community Church auditorium, where I am an elder.
We raised funds for the “Near East Council of Churches” who have a longstanding relationship with Sabeel in their work for psychological support for children and youth through established maternal and child clinics in Gaza’s poorest districts.
We in North America are implicated in all this trauma, I am afraid, as our governments help fund this open-air prison under complete siege by Israel and partially by Egypt on the south border - probably part of a peace treaty with Israel.
Posted in: ‘Palestine’ and Overture 6: Ten Questions to Consider
Listen, listen slowly to every phrase from this Christian pastor from Bethlehem:
"I am a Palestinian (Christian) living under Israeli occupation.
My captor daily seeks ways to make life harder for me. He encircles my people with barbed wire;he builds wall around us, and his army sets many boundaries around us. He succeeds in keeping thousands of us in camps and prisons. Yet in spite all these efforts, he has not succeeded in taking my dreams from me.I have a dream that one day I will wake up and see two equal peoples living next to each other, coexisting in the land of Palestine, stretching from the Mediterranean to the Jordan."
Rev. Mitri Raheb
Does this not speak to your heart?
It is seldom that we hear from Christians of the "Holy Land" and I doubt if he cares that much what the name of the country is,
he wants to live and breath in freedom and equality.
A large group of Christian pastors sent out the KAIROS Document: a combined cry to the western Church to pay attention to their plight......look it up on the net.
Whether they are Messianic Jews or Palestinian Christians, it does not matter, we should be listening to them.
Both have less status in modern Israel.
Posted in: ‘Palestine’ and Overture 6: Ten Questions to Consider
Lubbert:
I happen to have a friend who is a Christian born and raised in Jerusalem. He has no right of return. He is very sad about that. I can go back to bike in my old country where I grew up any time I want.
So I went to check that out. I witnessed the mess over there, not a cruise or a pleasant vacation.
It was very disturbing. You should check it out. I did not go to Turkey, my niece from Aldergrove is working there and in Armenia with a Christian Mission, we gladly contribute to her work. I know what happened there, I read the latest biography about "Lawrence of Arabia "a few years ago, it explained how the whole place was divided up by the colonial powers, mostly Britain. After a while the whole thing smelled to "high heaven" and Lawrence refused to be knighted right in front of the king. In the British Mandate they gave most of the land of Palestine to the Jewish people which we all loved for the sake of the Jewish refugees, it's just that there were people living there. But now the Jewish Israelis are the colonial power. It's somewhat similar to us in Canada being the colonial power and we have to make things right with our indigenous people to be reconciled with them.....but in Israel they are continuing their colonial occupation full speed ahead. In Canada we don't put blame on the indigenous peoples for living here. Why do we want to put equal responsibility on the Palestinian peoples?? So I am doing all I can for all peoples in that area because we are all God's creatures, it is a justice and reconciliation issue that even "The Banner" can touch on. Why can we not talk about human rights issues re. Israel just like we do about Myanmar? I saw a newspaper headline from Israel sometime ago that read "Israel needs to be saved from itself!"; as if to say "we can't do" it to the world. 52 years is enough.
BDS is not the same as antisemitism, nor is criticism of the state of Israel antisemitism as Lubbert implies. The state of Texas had to back down because it impeded peoples free speech.