Cornerstone Issue 65
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ISSUE 65, SPRING 2013 ISSUE 65, SPRING1 2013 CORNERSTONE A PUBLICATION BY SABEEL ECUMENICAL LIBERATION THEOLOGY CENTER “Let Justice Roll…” (Amos 5:24) Photo by Rich Wiles Rich by Photo IN THIS ISSUE Human Rights and Divine Rights Human Rights and Divine Rights by Naim Ateek 01 by Naim Ateek The Law Around Here Jewish religious extremist settlers have been heard to say by Gerard Horton 04 that they are not interested in human rights but in divine Disputed or Occupied? by Gerard Horton 05 rights. They are referring to certain biblical texts that they understand and interpret in an exclusive way. They believe The Hole in the Wall by Ray Dolphin 08 that God has given the whole land of Palestine exclusively to Women’s Voices 12 the Jewish people. They believe that God is the God of Jews in a special way. They also believe that the Torah mandates Glimpses of Our Activities 14 the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians, whom they regard as What is Wrong with Settlements? Canaanites and Amalekites, so that Jews can live and practice by Gerard Horton 16 their laws as demanded by God free from the defilements of gentiles. This, they believe, is their God-given mandate Which Peace and Whose Security? by Hind Khoury 20 2 ISSUE 65, SPRING 2013 and they practice it by encroaching on the human rights of the Palestinians so that Palestinians will pack up and leave. These settlers commit crimes on a daily basis against the Palestinians and are protected by the Israeli army. The government of Israel is unable to control or deter these settlers. Such a claim about divine rights reflects Images © AFP/Getty an ancient concept of a tribal god with Women harvesting olives by the Wall his tribal people whose tribal land is occupied by their ancient enemies. when it results in the oppression of their human dignity reflects the dignity These settlers are not living in the others in the name of the Bible. I would of their creator. Such a theological 21st century; they have attuned their like to believe that most Israelis, as concept, when appropriated, is enough mentality to an antiquated biblical most Christians, do not entertain such to inspire many people to recognize that narrative that dates back thousands of extreme positions but unfortunately, human dignity must always be upheld years and that reflects three exclusive they comprise a silent majority. and must never be denied to any person theologies, namely, an exclusive – regardless of differing backgrounds. theology of God, of a people of God, In this issue of Cornerstone we would This concept is, therefore, rooted in and of land. like to touch on some issues that relate the theology of God as creator. God to international law and human rights as creator has created all people equal Obviously, these settlers keep and how they relate to the conflict and has endowed them with life and a hammering down these exclusive claims over Palestine. My responsibility is to common humanity. We are not giving a that can neither stand nor be considered introduce this issue from a Sabeel faith- scientific perspective about the mystery in a modern court of law; but as far as based perspective. and the complexity of the universe these extremists are concerned (and this and the way it came into being; we are includes the right-wing government of A theological perspective talking about a pragmatic faith that Israel), they do not care what human- gives people meaning here and now. made laws and courts say since they are It is important to begin by saying that only answerable to higher divine laws. when the Universal Declaration of Therefore, we believe that one of the This convoluted thinking is also shared Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted best ways to describe God is as a loving by millions of Christian Zionists in by the UN General Assembly on father/mother who loves all people different places around the world. December 10, 1948, it was motivated equally. As Christians, we can add that by the terrible atrocities committed we have come to know God’s love more Such arguments are acceptable to all during WW2 and the terrible effects clearly in and through Jesus Christ, who those Jews and Christians who believe of colonialism on indigenous people. lived fully as a human being. Through in a literalist reading of the Bible where Undoubtedly, some of those who were his teachings, lifestyle, and relationship every word is divinely inspired and inspired to produce the UDHR were with others, he has become a model for therefore, divinely ordained. They are influenced by the ethical values of a life lived in its fullness. Even through not willing to apply any critical thinking Christian faith. his suffering, death, and resurrection, or utilize the most basic elements of he has become a paradigm for all those logic or even common sense. For many One of the theological bases is the who take a courageous stand for truth of us this is an absurd and warped way religious concept that human beings and just-living. During his life, Jesus of dealing with Scripture especially are created in the image of God and emphasized the love of neighbor and ISSUE 65, SPRING 2013 3 directly confronted the racism of the faith perspective, the UN has taken that Add.1). For the Palestinians and many people of the day. Our concern for role. Its ethical foundations are rooted people in the world who care about human rights and human dignity stems in religion and its laws are articulated justice and peace in Palestine, the report from our Jesus paradigm – the way he and adopted in a universal way so that was a breath of fresh air because it was loved and cared for others, especially they can apply to all people. Due to clear enough and courageous enough the most vulnerable. From our faith the human propensity to exploit others, to address the violations of the Israeli perspective, the UDHR, the Geneva human rights had to be enshrined Government. However, from the point Conventions, as well as various UN through international laws so that they of view of the oppressed, this was yet conventions are nothing less than the could become binding on all humans another wonderful report (added to many elaboration and amplification of the and governments. At times we see that like it) that on the one hand was a sign biblical dictum of the love of neighbor even when constitutions exist, some of hope for the oppressed that there were as Jesus Christ has emphasized. people find loopholes to exploit others. still people who spoke the truth without This is why it is important to stay succumbing to the pressure of powerful Moreover, when the UN uses words vigilant in order to ensure that human oppressors; and on the other hand, it was like “inalienable rights,” it means that rights are respected and exercised. the disappointment that comes from the these rights are inherent, absolute, lack of a mechanism of enforcement that and indisputable, and every human United Nations, Israel, render these reports practically worthless. being is entitled to them. From a faith & enforcement When such things are repeated time perspective, therefore, they are God- and again, they cause the oppressed to given, fundamental or natural rights; What has always amazed me is that when lose hope in the institution that stands they are ours by virtue of being human the UDHR was adopted in December behind these reports. and cannot be given or taken away. 1948, it was signed by Israel. This was These rights are often said to include: done despite the fact that hundreds of In summary, I would like to emphasize the right to life; to liberty and freedom thousands of Palestinian refugees had two connected points: It is mandatory of speech; to self-determination; and to by then been displaced by Israel and that the UN find better ways to the pursuit of happiness. had their human rights violated. The execute, enforce and implement all its greater impact at the time, however, human rights conventions. Secondly, Thankfully, the UN has enshrined was the holocaust. Clearly, the human when more people and governments various human rights conventions in tragedy of the Palestinians did not yet around the world begin to use these international law in order to protect have any impact. international human rights conventions the weak from falling prey to dictators, as the basis on which to adjudicate, abusers, and exploiters. By doing so, the How can the international community legislate and administrate grievances, it UN in many ways complemented the work in concert to implement what will be possible to conceive a time when best ethical and moral teachings found the global community in its best most people will see them as a reliable in the various religions. At times it had and highest moments of human supplement or even a substitute for to rise above certain religious teachings consciousness had agreed on? How can the confusing and often contradictory that are equivocally ambiguous and the UN implement these resolutions moral tenets of religion. In other words, conflate some of those human rights. regarding the Palestine-Israel conflict the universal human rights regulations that can bring about a just peace for all can then help safeguard and protect the The Bible has, for example, much to the people of our area? rights of all people transcending many say about caring for the vulnerable in As a case in point, on December 24, of the exclusive traditional and religious society: the poor, the orphan, the widow 2012, the UN Human Rights Council practices.