Israel's Challenge, and a Message of Hope
By Jonathan Kuttab
Israeli authorities are very concerned these days about the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem, in the coming month, witnessing as it does the confluence of the Islamic month of Ramadan, the Jewish Passover holidays, and the Christian Easter season. Rumors abound of Israeli extremists wanting to invade the Al Aqsa mosque to assert Jewish claims over it during this season, while pent up frustrations by the Palestinians are bound to be triggered by any such actions, leading to serious consequences.
The problem is that the security authorities in Israel are torn between the need to control a volatile situation and the political directives of an increasingly strident right-wing political stance by the Israeli government and its politicians.
The traditional method that the police have followed so far has been to provide certain “band-aid” measures to contain the “security situation,” without addressing any serious grievances of the Palestinian community. Given the utter stalemate and absence of any attempt to promote genuine peace, or justice, these efforts are doomed to failure.
The problem is not a lack of “band aids.” After all, Israel has created an impressive array of restrictions, administrative measures, points of regulation, and an entire matrix of control over the Palestinian population, including a stranglehold on all economic, travel, social, developmental, and financial matters in the Palestinian territories. Furthermore, it has effectively shackled the Palestinian Authority, requiring it to become an active participant in that control matrix (under the guise of “security coordination”) to the point that the Palestinian Authority no longer holds any credibility among its own population, nor can it speak for them in any effective manner. The attitude within the Isareli government is that it has already won and, as such, does not need to make any concessions towards or negotiate with the Palestinians. At most, it needs to make temporary alleviations in order to prevent an explosion.
Their dilemma is so severe that the Israelis recently sought the help of the Jordanian king, inviting him to meet with Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah to discuss methods for reducing tensions during the month of Ramadan. Israel has also hinted that during the month they will:
Refrain from carrying out home demolitions,
No longer restrict Muslim access to the Holy Sites, and
Increase the number of work permits given to Palestinian workers to work in Israel or the Jewish settlements.
These are three significant measures, but only temporary band-aids.
What is required is a genuine attempt to address the political situation, not temporary palliatives. Palestinians, like all people, want freedom and not just a temporary relaxation of the bonds that restrict them. The Passover season should remind Israeli Jews that the Bible speaks of an end to bondage, not merely a relaxation of the conditions of their slavery. Oppressed people cry out, and the Lord hears their cries. For many, the psalms speak of the anguished cry: “Oh Lord, how long?” Yet, the psalms also speak to the ultimate sovereignty of God in history, of the triumph of good over evil, and of the promised redemption.
The Christian story of resurrection also echoes this theme. Christ’s agonizing crucifixion, the dispersal of his disciples, and his burial in the tomb are not the end of the story. Jesus rises in glory to proclaim a new age and the improbable victory over the power of death itself, ushering the pathway to the Kingdom of Heaven where all oppression shall cease. Can Palestinian Liberation Theology proclaim such a hope for an oppressed people? Can we proclaim that the message of justice must be proclaimed loudly for all Palestinians and that this message is a liberating message of good news for both Palestinians and Jewish Israelis alike?!!
News & Announcements
FOSNA invites you to join us in the following events and activities:
March 27: Israeli Apartheid, Pittsburg Responds. We are very excited to announce a new event from FOSNA Pittsburgh, a Panel Discussion on the Amnesty International Report “Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime Against Humanity.” Panelists include Soheir Assad, Diana Buttu, Jeff Halper, and Jonathan Kuttab. It promises to be an amazing conversation.
April 2: Challenging Corporate Complicity in the Continued Colonization of Palestine: Means and Methods. Hosted by Just Peace Advocates and Al-Haq, this webinar will consider direct approaches to challenge corporate complicity in the continued colonization of Palestine. This will include judicial and non-judicial mechanisms in the Canadian-specific as well as broader international context. Featuring: Wesam Ahmad, James Yap, Jonathan Kuttab, Kathryn Ravey and Tara Alami.
April 3: The Other End of the Sea: An Interview with Author Allison Glick. Hosted by Friends of Sabeel North America, join Jonathan Kuttab in what promises to be a stirring conversation with Allison Glick, author of the acclaimed new novel, The Other End of the Sea. As reported by Mondoweiss, "The depth of understanding that this book demonstrates of the Palestinian experience over the last four decades is astounding." Registration TBA.
April 5: Israel-Palestine Task Force Book Discussion: Beyond the Two-State Solution, with Jonathan Kuttab. Hosted by the Western District Conference of the Mennonite Church USA. Finding a solution to the seemingly intractable violence between Israel and Palestine is a concern for many people. Jonathan Kuttab, a well-known international human rights attorney and executive director of Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA) offers a new vision for bringing peace and justice to the region in his new book, Beyond the Two-State Solution. To register, email: wdc@mennowdc.org.
Weekly
Kumi Now! Connecting activists around the world every Tuesday with the organizations working on the ground in Palestine and Israel to bring a just and lasting peace based on international law and nonviolence.
Week 12: Natural Resources. The West Bank is rich in natural resources. However, due to Israel’s occupation and control over the occupied Palestinian territory, access to and use of Palestinians’ natural resources is obstructed. Rampant throughout the occupied territory, this practice is at its worst around the Dead Sea, where Israel exploits the land for its water and minerals. The Kumi Now community is focusing on this environmental exploitation. Here’s what you need to know about this crisis and what you can do so that together we can rise up.
Sabeel Prayer Service. Join Sabeel every Thursday (6pm Jerusalem) for online Bible Study, discussion, and prayer. Examine scripture in light of the ongoing realities confronting the Palestinian Church and the pursuit of Palestinian liberation.
Wave of Prayer. Subscribe to receive Sabeel's Wave of Prayer, enabling friends of Sabeel around the world to pray over issues of critical concern to the Holy Land on a weekly basis.