Reflection 4
Reflections by Linda Bales, United Methodist Church, General Board of
Church & Society, Washington, D.C.
There
is much despair in this land and, although there are signs of hope, the
delegation heard far too many tales of woe. The Israeli settlements
continue to expand in the West Bank. Checkpoints are proliferating as
are other barriers to movement. Poverty rates are increasing in
Palestinian areas. Both Palestinians and Israelis are fearful for their
children due to violence and exclusion seems to be the ruling practice.
Committed
Christians, Muslims and Jews who have lived and worked in the West Bank
for decades as relief or faith-based workers say they feel “more
pessimistic than ever.” Leading spokespersons for both Palestinians and
Israelis express despair. Hanan Ashrawi, an influential Christian
member of the Palestinian Legislative Council living in Ramallah, said
that the internal strife within the Palestinian Authority (the official
government of the Palestinians), is hurting the overall effort for
peace. She stated that Palestinians, however, are feeling very
marginalized, and for her, personally, the last 7 years have led to
feelings of despair and abandonment. “When people feel imprisoned,
people behave in abnormal ways….What is needed is for a peace process to
occur simultaneously with nation building. We can’t do one without the
other.”
She
added: “It’s interesting that only the people under occupation (the
Palestinians) are subjected to sanctions.” She was referring to the
recent sanctions placed on the PA, after its ruling party, Hamas, was
elected through a democratic process. Now, the PA is being punished
through the withholding of aid from the international community, with
the result that teachers and other government workers aren’t being
paid. Quite simply, the infrastructure of Palestinians areas is
disintegrating. “What we’re seeing is the deconstruction of
Palestine,” said Ms. Ashrawi. And yet, when speaking of the expansion
of settlements in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem (clearly contrary
to international law), Ms. Ashrawi said Israel is “given full
immunity.”
The
Israeli Prime Minister’s official spokesperson, Daniel Seaman, defended
Israel’s right to build settlements and more security barriers as a
precaution against violent attacks by the Hamas- ruled Palestinian
Government. He said, “The PA has failed to address extremism. When
Israel receives daily attacks, it requires a response. We’re not
concerned about international criticism, because we have to protect
ourselves. This is not an imaginary fear.” About the wall, Mr. Seaman
said that “we don’t call it a wall. It is a barrier that is making a
difference. No one is happy about it. It’s difficult to explain to a 5
year old that it is a necessary evil to keep people from killing
innocent children.” Mr. Seaman continued to say that Israel supports
the Palestinians’ right to exist. He also defended the right of
Israelis to settle wherever they want because Israel doesn’t consider
itself an occupying force in the West Bank.
Both
Mr. Seaman and Ms. Ashrawi were asked by a delegation member: “If you
were in the White House meeting with President Bush, what might you
say?” Mr. Seaman responded, “Let us solve our own problems.” Hanan
Ashrawi responded, “Deal with reality and the facts.”
Clearly, both Palestinians and Israelis are complicit in the betrayal of
the peaceable kingdom. And, both are called to repent and forgive. As
Christians, we must not condone any acts of violence. Violence and
oppression breeds further violence and oppression. This, I contend, is
one major reason for the spread of extremism.
With
any conflict, however, whether it is personal, corporate, state or
nation, issues of power must be front and center if real resolution is
to be found. In the case of Israel and Palestine, some of the power
realities are named below. One cannot divorce these realities from any
discussion or debate on the Middle East:
·
Israel is a state;
the Palestinians are state-less. Israel is the occupying power in the
West Bank.
·
Israel receives
billions of dollars from the US, while the Palestinians are being
economically sanctioned by the U.S. Aid given to Israel comprises
one-third of the U.S. foreign aid budget.
·
Since 1967, the
Israeli government has illegally destroyed 12,000 Palestinian-owned
homes, displacing 70,000 persons. This violates international law.
·
The Israeli police
have unchecked authority in areas within the West Bank – with no to
little accountability.
·
Palestinians have
oftentimes in recent years mistaken the ability to inspire fear through
violence as a position of power, when in reality it is self-defeating.
So
where are the Peacemakers?
There
are people – both Israelis and Palestinians - who are bringing levels of
peace and understanding to the region. One program we visited was the
Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel (ICCI), an organization
sponsoring a program called the Jerusalem Women’s Dialogue Group.
Finding mutual understanding is the goal of this initiative, and it’s
making a difference. The dialogue group was organized by an Israeli
Jewish ICCI staff person and a Palestinian woman, both being very
committed to finding common ground through story-telling and authentic
dialogue. The group has been meeting for three-and-a-half years and
recently published a book detailing their journey. These women are
claiming the peaceable kingdom and are transforming Jerusalem in small,
but mighty ways.
The
International Center of Bethlehem (ICB) is another effort bringing peace
and possibility to women in one of the most oppressed areas in the West
Bank. ICB began a women’s program in 1997 that has now proliferated
into one of multiple educational offerings for women – primarily focused
on the arts and media. “We’re investing to give women a sense of hope
and, perhaps, it will keep them in the community instead of migrating
somewhere else,” said the director. The director also expressed concern
about the high number of child marriages in Bethlehem and how, for
girls, that appears one way to “get away” from some of the hardships of
daily living. Much she blamed on the occupation. “Occupation is
against everything a human being is to be.”
We
realized, through these ministries, the beauty and necessity of
understanding “the other.” How often we isolate ourselves – even in the
US – from those who are different. Crossing barriers takes effort and a
commitment to discovering the truth through someone else’s eyes. How
grateful we were to meet peacemakers who were taking on risky efforts
for the sake of others. God bless them.
Last
year the General Board of Church & Society of The United Methodist
Church passed a resolution expressing deep concern for the situation in
Israel/Palestine and calling people of faith to be in constant prayer
for the Holy Land. Consistent with the position with the National
Council of Churches USA, which sponsored our delegation to the Middle
East, the resolution supports a safe and secure Israel, “which will only
be possible with a safe, secure, viable and contiguous Palestinian
state.” The statement goes on to say “We recognize that the U.S.
government has significant power to influence the course of events and
we urge it to use this power on behalf of all people for a just,
lasting, and durable peace in the region. Our prayer is that Ezekiel’s
vision of peace will prevail, where all of us ‘shall no more be a prey
to the nations…and none shall make them afraid.’” (34:28 NRSV)
Let’s
hope and pray that the peaceable kingdom will come soon with an end to
fear and oppression. I’m grateful to have had this transforming
experience with some incredible women who believe that women can change
the world. We are all called to lead a courageous life and, has Henry
Nouwen wrote in “Bread for the Journey”: “Courage is a spiritual
virtue…A courageous act is an act coming from the heart. A courageous
word is a word arising from the heart. The heart, however, is not just
the place our emotions are located. The heart is the center of our
being, the center of all thoughts, feelings, passions, and decisions. A
courageous life, therefore, is a life lived from the center. It is a
deeply rooted life, the opposite of a superficial life. ’Have courage,’
therefore means ’Let your center speak.’”
Oh,
God help us to speak as courageous women – from our center – for the
sake of all your children.
