ISSUE 77, Winter 2018 CORNERSTONE A Publication by Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center

Liberated In This Issue

Jesus Christ Liberator – Then and Now p. 1 by Love by: The Rev. Naim Ateek Extremism in the Christian Palestinian Community p. 5 Closing Sermon by: Mrs. Violette Khoury Jesus Christ Liberator, Then & Now Concerns of Palestinian Muslims p. 8 by: Dr. Mustafa Abu Sway by: The Rev. Naim Ateek Concerns of Palestinian Christians p. 11 by: Patriarch Michel Sabbah As we come to the end of our conference, I would like An Israeli Jewish Perspective p. 13 to reflect with you on our major theme, Jesus Christ by: Rabbi Arik Ascherman Liberator, Then and Now. My focus is on that Kairos Colonial Christianity and Indigenous Societies: moment when Jesus Christ introduced a new theological Australia and Palestine p. 16 by: Katalina Tahaafe-Williams breakthrough that no one before him had accomplished. I assume that many would suppose that I will be talking How Long, O Lord? p. 20 about Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. Granted, by: The Rev. Canon Richard Toll we consider that as the ultimate act of love. But that A Palestinian Theology of Liberation - Book Launch p. 21 is not my focus at this time. I would like to point to by: The Rev. Páraic Réamonn / Mrs. Cedar Duaybis 2018 Spring Witness Trip p. 22 2 ISSUE 77, Winter 2018

Local sheikhs and clergy from the Sabeel fall clergy retreat sharing lunch at , . another Kairos moment that happened during Jesus’ as well as the challenges and difficulties along the way. life. I would like to focus on an important defining Certainly, Jesus was seeking God’s guidance in fulfilling moment in Jesus’ ministry that resulted in a new and God’s will. fresh understanding of God and human relationships. It was indeed a theological revolution. The Concept of God During this conference we have been reflecting on the It is important to note that by the time of Jesus, the state of the Middle East in light of widespread religious basic theological understanding of God was already extremism and its threats and challenges. I would like to crystallized. It was during the Babylonian Exile that pick up from where I ended my sermon at the Church of Jewish religious thinkers were able to formulate their Nativity in Bethlehem. I concluded my presentation by basic religious beliefs about the oneness of God. Most saying that the antidote to religious extremism is found of the time before the exile, the Israelites were vacillating in the love of neighbor. But what is the background in their worship of many gods. Yahweh was a favorite of this, and what was unique about what Jesus Christ god for them but not the only god. Sometime during did? My objective is to recapture that moment when it the exile, Yahweh was acknowledged as the only God. happened THEN; and, by the grace of God, to allow it The belief in the one God became the cornerstone of to rejuvenate and galvanize us NOW. I will relate it as Judaism. It was expressed in the words of the Shema, a story. “Hear O : The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, Many of you know this, but please bear with me. The and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deut. baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan by John the Baptist 6:4-5). Rightly, it made the Jewish people proud of must have been a uniquely meaningful experience to this great discovery; but it also led to haughtiness and Jesus Christ. He felt that he received God’s special arrogance. Other nations were considered not on a par blessing and call for a special mission. It is quite probable with the Jewish people and were even despised. that after his baptism, Jesus spent time with John the Baptist. He also spent several weeks in the desert around How Similar Is THEN to NOW Jericho, to reflect on the meaning of the kingdom of What do we hear from the right-wing Israeli government God and God’s mission that he was called to undertake, and the Israeli Jewish religious extremists? They say: The ISSUE 77, Winter 2018 3 state of Israel is our state. It is the state of the Jewish was their God alone, and that only they were God’s people, and the Jewish people alone. Jerusalem is our special people. For them, the Leviticus text of loving Jerusalem, and it is ours alone. The whole land is our the neighbor as one’s self was closed to outsiders. It only land, and it is ours alone. When you hear such words applied inside the ethnic family of the Jewish people. continuously and incessantly, what chance does peace Jesus decided to open it up. have? At the time of Jesus, God was boxed-in as an ethnic god for an ethnic community, and elaborate Jesus left and moved to Capernaum where laws and regulations began to develop around God and he started to practice what he believed about God: He the people of God as well as against the outsiders, the taught all the people that came to him. He healed the gentiles. As an example, Leviticus chapter 19 contains a sick regardless of their ethnic background. He even number of injunctions: “You shall not hate in your heart healed people on the Sabbath which earned him the anyone of your kin; … You shall not take vengeance ire and anger of the religious leadership. Moreover, or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you Jesus was willing to enter into the homes of gentiles, shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord” something religious Jews avoided. He spent time with (19:18). The phrase “any of your kin” or “any of your the Samaritans and he praised the faith of gentiles people” are repeated very often, making it clear that over the faith of Jews. His life was threatened, yet he these are injunctions governing relationships within continued courageously to do good to all, to teach the community itself but not outside of it. Apparently, and to heal. Jesus turned faith upside down. Jesus although Jesus himself was brought up in this kind of became very popular among the people. As always, it teaching, and in such a closed mindset, at some point is the religious leaders who are more conservative who in his life he felt that such beliefs contradicted his obstruct the movement of the spirit of God. understanding of God. For Jesus, the situation reflected bigotry and racism. What Is the Greatest Commandment? The real theological Kairos moment that sparked the Nazareth and Capernaum revolution came when an expert in the law asked Jesus, After his baptism, Jesus decided to go back to Nazareth “What is the great commandment?” Jesus started to give and to discuss his understanding of the nature and him the traditional religious answer. “Hear O Israel, The character of God. On the Sabbath, he went to the Lord our God is one Lord and you shall love the Lord synagogue. He read a passage from Isaiah (61) about with all your heart, mind, and strength.” To everybody’s liberation and justice. But when the words of the surprise, Jesus did not stop there. Jesus continued by prophet were turning racist against gentiles, he stopped saying that there was another commandment that is just in mid-sentence and refused to call on God’s wrath like it. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” What and vengeance on the enemies of the Jewish people. He stopped with the mention of jubilee, the year of God’s favor. It is the year in which the debts of the poor are cancelled, the slaves are liberated, and the land is returned to its original owners. In discussing his views, Jesus talked about a gentile Phoenician widow from Lebanon who looked after prophet Elijah for a few years during a severe famine, and a gentile Syrian general who was healed of leprosy by Prophet Elisha. Jesus’ words were clear, namely, God is the God of all people and cares for all, regardless of their ethnic backgrounds. The fundamentalist and nationalist community in Nazareth could not bear it. They threw him out. For them, Jesus’ Closing communion service for the 10th International Sabeel Conference, St. conception of God was wrong. They believed that God Peter’s Primacy, Sea of 4 ISSUE 77, Winter 2018

This was the prophetic voice of Jesus ChristT HEN, and this is the prophetic voice that is needed NOW – your voices, our voices. Jesus liberated the two texts. By liberating the two texts, he liberated love. By liberating love, Jesus liberated their understanding of both God and neighbor. Both God and neighbor had been boxed- in within a small community of faith. The rest of the people of the world were left outside God’s grace and love. But God cannot be boxed-in. God’s Spirit has always been active inside as well as outside the religions of the world. Before Christ accomplished this liberation, had someone asked, “How can I show God that I Young people passing through the checkpoint, Old City, Hebron love him?” the answer would have been, “Keep God’s commandments.” After Jesus linked the two loves, i.e. did Jesus do? He reached into the religious tradition of the love of God and the love of neighbor, the test for the people and pulled out an injunction from Leviticus checking the genuineness of our love of God is our love (19). It was meant to apply only to a fellow Jew. Jesus of neighbor. The early Christian community recognized stripped the exclusive implication and dropped out the this well. “Those who say, ‘I love God,’ and hate their phrase, “any of your kin; or any of your people” and brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a opened it up. For Jesus, there is no exceptionalism. brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God Everyone is included. You shall love your neighbor, whom they have not seen. The commandment we have regardless of his/her ethnic or racial background, as from him [Christ] is this: those who love God must love yourself. their brothers and sisters also” (1 John 4:20-21). Due to human propensity it is possible to claim loving God, Jesus removed the sting of racism. Later, when Jesus was and at the same time to commit all kinds of atrocities asked “who is my neighbor?” he gave them the story of against one’s neighbor. One can be very religious and the Good Samaritan. The Samaritan was considered an still be a racist. The antidote for all of that is to realize enemy, but he was the only one to stop and help the that true love of God demands the love of neighbor. badly injured Jewish person. Furthermore, Jesus did not only release and liberate the love of neighbor from its Friends, this is the revolution that Jesus Christ closed ethnic prison, he lifted the injunction and placed accomplished. We need to recapture it anew. It is the it alongside the great commandment of the love of God. best antidote for racism and the best cure for many Jesus’ revolution consisted of two important points: 1. of the ailments of our world today. The Apostle Paul It was Jesus who first removed the exclusive boundaries wrote, “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, that closed the love of neighbor and confined it within therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” a very narrow ethnic community. After stripping the (Gal 5:1). We have an important role to play. Jesus exclusionary material, he opened it up for all and gave Christ liberator THEN and NOW leaves us with a great it a universal application and implication making it challenge: You are the light of the world; you are the salt an all-inclusive commandment that brings in even of the earth. Let your light shine and let your presence, one’s enemies. 2. Jesus Christ lifted up the injunction like salt, make a difference in the world today. Amen. to love the neighbor and placed it alongside the first great commandment of the love of God. It was Jesus Christ who was the first to join and connect the two commandments together. Then he concluded, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the The Rev. Naim Ateek is the co-founder of Sabeel, Jerusalem and prophets” (Matt. 22). currently serves as Chairperson of the Sabeel Board. ISSUE 77, Winter 2018 5

Separation Wall and Israeli-only road build on stolen Beit Jala land Extremism in the Christian Palestinian Community

By: Mrs. Violette Khoury

There is no doubt that we are origin of all extremism is one, the has been induced into our minds entering a new era where extremism one who profits from it and wants and to which we have been receptive and racism are expanding and to find justification for its policies. because of our lack of awareness. becoming not only acceptable A priori we would think that God forbid that it will spread to but a mainstream and normal Christian Palestinian extremism is our hearts if we remain passive way of thinking. Extremism is an objective fact in this country, but and indifferent to it. Extremism is everywhere, in Israel, in the Middle after considering a broader and nothing less than an intoxication of East, whether we talk about ISIS deeper view, I believe that we can our minds that will kill our society. or Islamophobia, but perhaps the talk about virtual extremism which And don’t forget the role of the 6 ISSUE 77, Winter 2018 mass media that enhances the global from a background where we lived of belonging that controls and extremism and spreads the idea by under military control. We were segregates. This same division was focusing directly or indirectly on segregated; we needed permits; we adopted by the British mandate extremism and by so doing, the idea were oppressed; we were controlled; and then by Israel. “Mellat” is the becomes a matter of fact. We repeat we could not express ourselves, and structure of belonging to a small it, talk about it and respond to it, so we were afraid. Fear was the master group rather than to a nation. I the fiction becomes a virtual reality of our behavior and we were not remember my first identity card that we start to believe, accept and free to be ourselves. There, I saw on which it was specified, “Mellat” justify, and so we end by acting what freedom means. You can go – Christian. So, we were brought accordingly and it becomes a fact. and speak and express yourself. up to be Christians, Moslems or This is, indeed, what is happening Freedom is a beautiful gift from . This structure made it easy on the ground here among the God that we didn’t know while we for Israel to create a new nationality Christian Palestinian community as were living under occupation. The for the Druze community that, de well as the Muslim community. third feeling was strange. I missed facto, became a separate entity and, my Moslem part and, somehow, now Israel is about to create a new 1. Who Is the Christian also my Jewish part. It was too Christian Aramaic nationality that Community? homogeneous Christian for me. would not recognize us as Arabs or First of all, they are Palestinians. It was there that I realized that we as Palestinians. For example, in the Second, they are Palestinians. Third, Palestinians are forged and shaped Golan Heights, the Druze are still they are Palestinians. They are an to live in a pluralistic, harmonious identifying themselves as Syrians or integral part of the Palestinian community and to form a beautiful, as Arabs, but in Israel they simply people. They have the same rich mosaic. We cannot detach identify themselves as Druze. This challenges, are subject to the same ourselves from each other. This policy of fragmentation, separation rules and face the same destiny as harmony in the social structure has and isolation creates the “other” the non-Christian Palestinians. been the strength that helped the and gives the feeling of a fragile and Whether they are in Israel or in Palestinian internal refugees with vulnerable existence and, therefore, the West Bank or in Jerusalem or Israeli citizenship to overcome the the need to protect ourselves. in Gaza or in the refugee camps ethnic cleansing during and after or in the diaspora, the Palestinian the Nakba. They survived and The Christians are made to feel suffering is the same: denial and reconstituted a society without any crushed between two majorities: injustice, but it is lived in different foreign help and with no internal Jews as Israelis and Moslems as aspects. help at all. Arabs. The invisible separation walls imposed by the system create As a Palestinian Christian, I The unity helped the Palestinians, ignorance and prejudice. The remember when, in 1960, I went to the so called “Arabs of Israel,” to ignorance creates fear, the fear study in Rome. I am a Palestinian, emerge as an entity, an entity that creates suspicion and therefore the Christian, Israeli citizen and this was Israel has an interest to weaken “other” becomes an enemy rather my first approach to western society. and enfeeble in order to control than a partner. For example, if I There I discovered three feelings and disperse by applying the rule consider myself a Christian, then that I’d never had before. The first of “divide to win.” This is based the Muslim becomes the “other,” was “Peace.” I discovered that peace on the structure of society that and so on. And, in a certain way, exists; peace is a reality; peace is not was made by the Ottoman Empire that “other” becomes responsible for a fiction; peace is not a dream. I’d which had divided the Palestinian our problems because it is easier to never experienced that before, but society into “Mellats.” “Mellat” reach the one who is closest to me, I saw there people living in peace. has the definition of sect rather who is near me, than to blame the The second was “Freedom.” I came than of religion. It is a structure high and unreachable authority and ISSUE 77, Winter 2018 7 the laws that I cannot change. And as social, cultural, and political. 4. We have to communicate so, the field for friction is ready. There is a need for reciprocity openly with each other, to learn between the church and the people. about and to know the “other” 2. The Local Christian Structure It is a mutual responsibility. The as they are, and not as we see The less than 2% of the population, church cannot ignore the political them in the stereotypes that we Christian local community, is divided aspects that affect our daily life and have for them. This will build into thirteen official denominations existence as a community. Standing trust rather than suspicion and in the Holy Land. In Israel there for justice and rights is not being love rather than hatred. are seven that are recognized. Our politicized. This common current 5. We need to develop a healthy first belonging, according to the behavior tends to separate religion existence, to work, invest, system that we are living in, is from politics which creates a deep and develop a productive to the denomination and here is gap between the church and its community rather than a where extremism starts to emerge. people. Jesus Christ, himself, was consumer one. We have skills Besides, there is constant talk about not involved in politics, but he stood and potential that are not the “tiny presence of Christians in for justice and challenged injustice. exploited. We need investments the Holy Land,” about the danger of and entrepreneurships rather Christian disappearance. The local We need a national church, a than charity. We need action Palestinian church is becoming a church that will help us face the and not just talk. We’ve become minority. We are less than half of challenges and stick to the teachings a story to talk about. It is high the total number of Palestinians of Jesus Christ and prevent the rise time to talk with us rather than in Israel. This argument is a very of extremism. to talk about us so that we will important argument by itself, but it 1. We must create awareness, not be uprooted from the land is also an indirect insinuation to the awareness to tell the truth and to which we belong and from Christians that they do not belong not to be afraid of the truth. the nation to whom we belong. here, that they have no future and Truth is life and liberation. thus it is an inspiration for them to It prevents the darkness of leave. suspicion and prejudice. 2. We need a proper reading of 3. The Role of the Church plans made for us and a proper The church is an important interpretation of the facts. This part of our identity. By absence is the wisdom required to avoid of nationality I am introduced falling in the traps to which as: Arab, Palestinian, Israeli, we only react and therefore we Christian, Catholic, Melkite. My accomplish the plan that was denomination is part of my official meant for us. identity; it is the closest authority 3. We need a leadership that will to which I belong. For me, this help us to stand up and take is Melkite. Everyone needs this our responsibility in our hands. identity to be married or to be We cannot remain passive or buried. Therefore, the church has indifferent or feel powerless. a civil role as well as a spiritual role. No one is insignificant. If we There is a direct relation between do what we can and give all that the church and the people. The we can, like the one who gave Christian community needs a two fish and five loaves to feed church involved in their challenges five thousand people, we can Violette Khoury is the Coordinator of in all aspects of life: spiritual as well make a difference. Sabeel Nazareth. 8 ISSUE 77, Winter 2018 Concerns of Palestinian Muslims

by: Dr. Mustafa Abu Sway

I would like to begin by thanking excluded us Palestinians totally East Jerusalem were kicked out Sabeel for hosting this conference. from the Lake. If you go of their city. When we talk about Sabeel for us as Palestinian Muslims back to the map, we have been “birr,” we open our arms, but we and Christians is a place where we excluded unjustly. One person, one need to be in a relationship that is can get together, where we struggle share of water for Jew, Christian, based on justice. The polity has to be together, but also where we can Druze, Muslim—one share of water conducted according to justice. The celebrate being Palestinians, sharing for each person and it should not be Quran speaks about the possibility and breaking fast together during otherwise. of social and economic relationships Ramadan with our Christian There’s a special place in Islamic with people of the book but it is brothers and sisters with whom we theology for the people of the book also the polity itself that is a shared share this land. and what I would like to highlight responsibility between us and we When we talk about liberation, for you today, is what we call the need to advance this position, we need to be liberated from our paradigm of “birr” which has no especially amongst us Palestinians, own pigeon holes and reclaim the English equivalent. I will explain. whereby we are before the law on one human family. Any ideology, Usually we use “birr” in relationship equal footing, but we need to have whether advanced by Muslims, to our parents. The best possible dialogue away from cameras, away Christians or Jews or whoever, that relationship of “birr” is with our from the light, and simply deal with puts one group above another, is not parents. The Quran uses the same the everyday issues that plague our loyal to this one human family. We word to relate to the people of the society. need to be seen on equal footing, book. There are two conditions: It’s easy for me to speak about and you know very well that there first, that those people of the book the challenges in terms of the is no eleventh commandment, should not fight us in terms of occupation, but I should also speak “Thou shalt have a nation state.” our religion, probably what we about the challenges that I have in God created us as different peoples would call today “islamophobia,” my heart. I need to live up to the and tribes so that we may know and second, that we should not be Quranic model when I deal with each other, and knowing each driven out from our homes which my Christian brothers and sisters other is not simply saying, “My basically has been and still is the because it’s very clear that on the name is Mustafa.” We need to rub case. What took place by force in ground there’s a big difference shoulders on the ground, fighting 1948 is still taking place under the between the ideals and the reality. poverty, fighting disease, fighting guise of law. People lose their IDs; And Christians sometimes do suffer illiteracy, making sure that the one they lose their residency, especially only for the reason that they are billion people on earth who do not in Jerusalem. Between 1967 Christians. have fresh water and sanitation will and 1994, a quarter of a million At the end of the cold war, Samuel have fresh water and sanitation, Palestinians from the West Bank, Huntington advanced the theory regardless of their background. All East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip of the clash of civilizations, and people deserve fresh water, and this lost their residency. After 1994, the for me, particularly, I addressed is why, if we go back to the Partition highest number being in 2008, over this theory, of course critiquing Plan, I would say ‘no’ because it four thousand Palestinians from it. First and foremost, it drops all ISSUE 77, Winter 2018 9

Member of Fall Witness Trip with young boys from Hebron economic issues from the equation, to Jericho? In the wildest claims it this way, and if you’d like to talk that we are bound to have conflict of Zionism they talk about three about contemporary belongings, because of our cultural differences. thousand years of history, which is, think about the whole Peruvian Civilizations do not fight each of course, not true. Jericho is ten Catholic Church that was converted other; civilizations do not have a thousand years old. It’s the oldest to Judaism and they performed the will of their own. There is always known agricultural settlement in aliya. They came here as settlers, someone who makes a decision to the world. There were no Jews, returning. What kind of returning go to war, always someone who Christians or Muslims, but there if they were indigenous to South declares war. Civilizations depend were those people who lived in this America? This puzzles me, but the on each other; they feed each other; land, who had history, who built idea is not having people living they enrich each other. And, in their own place and had agriculture. somewhere; it’s about coming and fact, we might think of one human You cannot deny the fact that seeing that the people do have a civilization with particular issues many people came and went and place, and they have their own pertaining to specific regions. We the problem is in exclusive claims. history rather than myth. need to go beyond the idea of clash. We should not, as we struggle for The Balfour Declaration reduced It would be very silly to think that freedom, have exclusive claims us Palestinians to non-Jews as if we the way we eat or the way we dress based on thinking that history don’t have an identity of our own. is the reason for us to be in conflict. began with any one of us. History Sadly, practically all international When I think about the Palestinian did not begin with any one of us, resolutions reduce us during that issue, I tend to go back to Jericho. because we don’t know particularly period to non-Jews when we were I go long before the first Zionist when history began. No one is basically a majority in the land. The convention. Why do I go back originally from anywhere, let’s put approach to us was to marginalize 10 ISSUE 77, Winter 2018 us, to push us out of the realm of Two policemen approached him to achieve our freedom and end the history. and told him to stop working for a occupation. In Jerusalem, the challenges that we moment, and to ask for permission I have been asked to also address the face as Muslims are practically the before he could resume work. So, in challenges that Muslims face in the challenges that face the Christians. essence, they have no problem with West. Let me say that Islamophobia If we talk about the lack of freedom the work. It’s about who is the boss. comes from ignorant people who do of movement, both of us, during It’s part of occupied Jerusalem, and not know the real story. They know our holidays, need permits if we the end of the occupation will mean neither the history nor the theology come from the West Bank or the the end of the problems at Al Aqsa of Islam. Let me put it this way. The Gaza Strip. We need permits; we Mosque. Prophet himself, peace be upon him, don’t have freedom of movement One problem in East Jerusalem, when the early Muslims in Mecca and if we don’t have freedom of and this goes for all of us as were persecuted, sent two waves of movement, we don’t have freedom Palestinians, not just Muslims, is Muslims as refugees to Abyssinia of worship. People do not have the right to play. Our kids have (Ethiopia) because there was a just access to their respective holy the right to play at proper places Christian king in Abyssinia where places, especially in Jerusalem. And and playgrounds. Ehud Olmert, they could find refuge, where they not only on special occasions. For former prime minister, when he could find a safe haven. So, when Muslims it’s become systematic. was mayor of Jerusalem, was on your Muslim brothers and sisters People from outside Jerusalem are record as saying that 96% of public cross the deadly Mediterranean in excluded unless they have permits, parks are in West Jerusalem. This these boats, and there are Christians and there are conditions for this. discrimination does not only apply too on these boats, let’s look at the For Muslims, on specific occasions, to public parks. Whether it’s root of these problems that drive men have to be fifty years old. It maternity clinics, public libraries, them to go northward or westward. used to be forty, then it became public pools, name it, there’s a gap There are real issues on the ground forty-five, then it became fifty, and between West Jerusalem and East that we need to address. sometimes even when you are fifty Jerusalem. We need more than one I would like to say that violence you are not allowed. I remember thousand classrooms, according is not the only reason. You can when I was with the head of the to Ir Amim, so that every child in see the famine in Somalia. It’s a Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce East Jerusalem will be in school. shame, not only for the Arabs or and we were at one of the gates Housing is extremely rare. If you’d the Muslims, but it’s shameful that leading to Aqsa Mosque. He was like to apply for a building permit, the world watches while over a at the time 86 years old and he was most people would not be able to hundred children in Somalia die in not allowed to enter. In fact, on afford it. It’s politically motivated. a 48-hour period because of a lack that day, nobody was for a while. People can pay up to $30,000 for of food. Going back to the issue At al Aqsa Mosque, the Waqf the permit for an average apartment of violence and extremism. It is administration, which is part of the and that’s beyond reach. This is contextual. Violence is contextual; Jordanian ministry of Waqf, has why people ultimately decide to it is not textual. When reading the a hard time running the affairs of build without permits and then same texts through and through you the Mosque, which is a very large they might face demolition and know very well that the plan of God establishment, with hundreds of be forced to pay for the bulldozers for humanity is peace. employees including physicians and of the municipality. This brings residential engineers. And to give us to the topic of Caterpillar and you a hint of how things are, one BDS, which is basically a healthy of the engineers went with a couple alternative to violence or to the use Dr. Abu Sway is a Professor of Philosophy of plumbers to replace a rusty pipe of force. Nonviolence should be the and Islamic Studies at Al-Quds University in in the eastern part of the Mosque. way forward as we struggle together Jerusalem. ISSUE 77, Winter 2018 11

Celebrating an impromptu football match at Shuafat Refugee Camp. Palestine 4 – Witness Visit 0! Concerns of Palestinian Christians

by: Patriarch Emeritus Michel Sabbah

In this land, in Palestine and Israel, is also part of our daily life. The is fed by it, leading to political we are Christian Palestinians and regional reality is a reality of death, instability and religious extremism. we have the same concerns as civil war, foreign interference and Here in Palestine, we have seen everyone in the region. We live in an extremist Muslim reality known manifestations of religious a land disputed today between two as the Islamic State. But our first Jewish extremism in many acts peoples, Palestinians and Israelis. and main concern is reaching a of desecration of Muslim and Christians are Palestinians. just peace between Palestinians and Christian holy places. These acts Besides this local reality lived here Israelis. This struggle is the main have been condemned by the Israeli in Palestine, the regional reality frame of our daily life. Everything authorities, but the authorities 12 ISSUE 77, Winter 2018 have not taken any serious punitive human beings, equal to anyone. elect people who are more human, action against the perpetrators. All Christians and Muslims would who have more respect for human There is an anti-Christian extremism be anchored on this solid basic life, and for the stability of peoples within Israeli society. We know that foundation: we are all human beings in our region. officially the Israeli authorities are equally created by God. Everyone Religious extremism, in Palestine, against it, but extremism is there. has his/her own religion, but in Israel, and in the region, exists and Christian Zionism is an essential building the country, our common is a concern for all. Our present concern for us as Christians and home, we are all the same; we are and future will always be a joint as Palestinians. The attitude of the human beings. effort with all people of good will to Christian Zionists is a mortal threat After interreligious relations, our find the right way to live together, to us; they use the Word of God to concern is to achieve what seems to knowing that the essence of all kill us, to tell us that our land is not be impossible to achieve: a just peace religions is a relation with God, and ours, and our homes are not ours. To between Israelis and Palestinians. a relation of respect and love with the Christian Zionist, I simply say This conflict is part of our fears and all men and women, in one’s own two things: first, the Word of God is a cause for emigration. It is also, religion and in all different religions. a word of life for all, for Israelis and for political considerations, a fertile Our land is holy, a land for God Palestinians. If you use the Word place for all kinds of extremism and humanity, but it has been made of God, you know well that God is and internal instabilities within the a land of death, of people who hate love; so, you, too, when you refer to Palestinian society. and kill each other. Jerusalem is at the Word of God, should be filled What about ISIS? It is true that ISIS the center of the struggle because with the same love of God for all, is a local genuine Muslim reality. it is holy. What holiness remains for Israelis and Palestinians. It is true that Muslims are killing in it? The human being, the temple As for Muslim extremism, the basic Muslims and Christians. It is also of God, is being destroyed. Holy normal relation between Muslims true that ISIS was not born alone, places are there with past memories. and Christians is a relation of persons and until now it is still supported But for many, God is not here. belonging to one people, having the or exploited by foreign western This is our condition. Will we remain same history and the same future. political realities both international in it forever? Apparently, according In our daily life, we have had, and (USA and Europe) and regional. to the vision of the “rulers,” yes! still have, easy and difficult days. The conclusion of that is the This is the vision; what is today will But besides this normal trend of following: those who killed and remain forever. This is our concern life, there is also the fact of local forced Christians to emigrate are as Christians, as Palestinians, and as mounting extremism in local not only ISIS, but also and mainly human beings. religious currents or movements those political decision-makers in such as tahrir (liberation party), the US and Europe. Our concern, salafis (exclusive fundamentalists), our fear, is from the West, not the or Da’esh (ISIS -the Islamic state in good peoples or the churches of the Iraq and ). West, but the political decision- There is still a large popular base in makers who are planning to create the Palestinian society able to live a new Middle East. a normal life, with mutual respect Dear international friends, if you and collaboration. The mainline are truly concerned about the future political leaders in the Palestinian of Christians in this region, ask government are following this line. your governments about the truth H.B. Patriarch Michel Sabbah served as Our concern is to build together of their politics here in Palestine the Archbishop and Latin Patriarch of a society in which every citizen and in the region. As peoples who Jerusalem from 1987 to 2008 and is co- feels entirely at home, as entire live in and elect democracies, try to author of the Kairos Palestine Document. ISSUE 77, Winter 2018 13 An Israeli Jewish Perspective

by: Rabbi Arik Ascherman

Today is the Fast of Esther. Those war. Many, many Israeli Jews at huge military benefit, and certainly of you who remember the Book of that time thought simply that not the settlements. But into that Esther, this is the day that we fast this was going to be the end, that vacuum have come the forces that in remembrance and solidarity with finally the Arab world was going were unleashed by that miraculous Esther who, before she went to King to succeed in throwing us into the victory of 1967, because people Ahasuerus, fasted for three days. sea and that Israel was going to be who were religious, and it is sadly And it’s basically that same message destroyed. We can now look at true I must say as a Rabbi, that the as some have summarized most revisionist historians who can tell vanguard of the extremist (and I Jewish holidays, “They wanted to us that maybe things were actually would agree that it is much broader kill us. We won. Let’s eat.” There a little bit different, that the balance and wider than that), is coming from is this long historical consciousness of power wasn’t quite that way, but religious circles. These are people that is ingrained in our psyche that was what those people in the who, if 1948 was the beginning of that the world hates us and that bomb shelters were feeling. And our redemption (not that we had, all we can do is ignore the world again, when we were not only not more or less, all the biblical land and look after ourselves. The basic destroyed, but won this seemingly of Israel in our hands), then this narrative of Zionism is that after miraculous victory, you had a was surely God’s doing and so, to two thousand years of statelessness few lone voices in the wilderness reject that gift, to return land, that and homelessness, which was the at that time (I imagine that Uri would be like slapping God in the direct cause of repression for Jews, Avnery was one of them) who said face. It would be a sinful thing to that we need to have again control that this was a potential moral do. Rather, our religious command of our destiny, something which I, disaster. Our first prime minister was to redeem and to occupy and as a Zionist, identify with, although was no longer in power. David fill the land by any means possible. it’s a little more complicated than ben Gurion also said that what we So, these powerful Messianic forces that, of course. should do is try to immediately were unleashed in a new way in If we want to talk specifically about parlay this victory into peace, but 1967. religious extremism, and I would most people felt differently. It also The next point I’d like to make agree that we are a people and not has to be said that at the time, there is the mutuality of the feeling of just a religion, when the state of was a cartoon conference, the three victimhood that we all feel in this Israel was created, we’d been praying no’s —no peace, no recognition, land. Say to any Israeli or Palestinian for two thousand years to return to no negotiation. At the time, there that they are a victimizer, and they our homeland, and we added to our was a debate among Israelis about would be furious, outraged. “How prayers that Israel is the beginning whether we would get security dare you say that. I’m a victim.” of the sprouting of our redemption. through territorial compromise, There was a late 19th, 20th century And many people did see this as through territorial depth or through rabbi who, getting back to the God’s hand in history. And my parlaying land for peace, but it Passover story, said the reason why wife remembers in 1967 huddling didn’t seem a reality that something the children of Israel had to stay in in a bomb shelter. Her dad had could be done. their homes when the angel of death been off for who knows how long; Today, you’d be hard pressed to passed over Egypt was because she hadn’t seen him; he’d been out find military experts who would even when your cause is just, any fighting or preparing for the coming say that this territorial depth is of contact with violence corrupts, and 14 ISSUE 77, Winter 2018

Interfaith fellowship, Buq’ata, Golan Heights that the difference between being a propaganda, many truly believe victims. Everyone wants to portray victim and a victimizer can be less that they are the victims. Many themselves as the victims. than a hairbreadth, and sometimes see themselves as a misunderstood I would like to offer two or three we can be both at the same time. minority and that most Israelis don’t things that point to some possibility When we are all so ensconced in understand or agree with them. The of hope. First, from the Israeli our holy victimhood, it is hard to logic that they have such a powerful side, our extremism is based on get beyond. Once I saw an amazing hold on the current government, a the fact, in the psychology of your little play that was like a game show, government that is doing everything average Israeli Jew, that there’s with Israelis and Palestinians each it can in so many ways to continue nobody to talk to. We want peace trying to score points by showing to pave the way for the settlement but there’s nobody to talk to. Then who had suffered the most, and enterprise, is something that just you convince yourself that you unfortunately, that is very deep in gets passed over. It is true that there never really wanted what you can’t the psychology of how we think, is a majority of Israelis who would have. A week before Sadat came to that the world will support us and say at some level that settlements Jerusalem, an opinion poll showed understand us if we just can show are a problem, that eventually there a clear Israeli majority opposed our victimhood. must be territorial compromise. But to what a clear majority of Israelis Even among the settlers, as not now, because there’s nobody to supported a week later. The act of incomprehensible as it is for us talk to. But they also, in a totally an Egyptian President coming to to understand, and it’s not just illogical way, see themselves as speak to the Knesset in Jerusalem ISSUE 77, Winter 2018 15 made it real. It could really happen, wanted to take over the Negev. But some concern by some of your and opinions changed overnight. If again, when you expose people to governments, and the fact is that tomorrow, and unfortunately I don’t facts, people said, “that sounds fair.” when any of us go and stand in see any ice-breaking move made by You had a clear majority of Israelis front of a bulldozer, or help rebuild any Israeli leader at the moment, that said that we should be fair to a home, or defend Palestinian but if the foreign ministers of the the Bedouin, that we should not be or Israeli Arab rights in different Arab League were to say tomorrow, moving Bedouin from their villages kinds of ways and I think everyone “You’ve been ignoring our peace by force, and should be recognizing here has the same experience when proposal for too long. We’re coming villages. In other words, as is often people come to us and say, “Our to Jerusalem next week. We won’t true in history, you can’t ignore the children have to meet you because take ‘no’ for an answer. It’s time to fact that even though many of the what they know of Israeli Jews is finish this,” I do believe that again people voted for the parties that … and our child who wants to be you would see Israeli Jewish public are now running our country, that a terrorist when he grows up …. opinion change overnight. the populace is much less extreme, We want them to know that not Another piece of hope is that, unlike much more desirous of being fair, all Israelis are like that.” When we what we’ve seen recently in the of being just, of being more decent expose some of the Bedouin leaders constituencies of the United States of than the government of Israel at this to some of our studies, they say, what percentage of people get their point. “You have to translate that. Our information from fake news versus Even when you hear this thing that I people need to know this because something closer to the truth (and wish I could still believe, but I can’t they are so convinced that there is I won’t say that traditional sources anymore, that we have the most no hope for any kind of positive always tell the truth either), facts moral army in the world, it’s not just interaction or any kind of support still count for something here, and propaganda; people really believe it; or solidarity from our fellow Israeli so, for example, we’ve taken some they want to believe it because that’s Jews.” And so, all of us have things public opinion polls. In 2013, 90% what they aspire to. And that’s what that we can do that can break of Israeli Jews subscribed to the idea says to me that it’s not just rubbing through the extremism which that the Bedouin are taking over the the nose of the naughty puppy in so often is based on making our Negev. Let’s unpack that. What the mess it’s made, but holding up a victimhood sacred, not knowing the does that mean? 70% thought that mirror and saying that I know that facts, and, therefore, having this fear the Bedouin wanted 25% or more you are good people who want to be of the other. of the Negev; the media said they just, but it’s time for a reality check. wanted 43.9%. If all the outstanding It’s not an easy task, but it’s a little land claims of the Bedouin were to bit easier than if I felt I was dealing be recognized and honored, what with an incorrigibly evil people. If percentage are we talking about? I couldn’t have faith in the basic Anyone want to guess? It’s 5.4%. goodness and decency of my own And your average Israeli Jew said, people I couldn’t be doing what I’ve “We’re not sure we believe you been doing for at least twenty-one because that’s not what we heard in years. the media, but if that’s true, then The last point of hope is that we can that sounds fair. We repeated that make a difference. You can make a with an even more serious study difference. In many cases where we in my former organization last have been able to succeed to preserve Rabbi Arik Ascherman is founder and former director of Rabbis for Human Rights, and is April. We’ve done something right Palestinian villages or whatever, it’s presently co-founder of the interfaith human because we found out that now because of the concern that you’ve rights organization, “Haqel – Jews and Arabs only 51% thought that the Bedouin expressed, that’s translated into in Defense of Human Rights.” 16 ISSUE 77, Winter 2018

Remains of Maronite church, Banias, Galilee

Colonial Christianity and Indigenous Societies: Australia and Palestine

by: Dr. Katalina Tahaafe-Williams

Early in the 17th Century, a devout continent in April of 1770, in a assumed that this land was free for Portuguese by the name of Pedro de place called Botany Bay, which is the taking by the British Empire. Queirós unsuccessfully tried to find not too far from the current Sydney It never occurred to him that he what was known to Europeans at airport. Then Captain Cook sailed was infringing on the rights of a the time as the mythical southern up the east coast until he reached people who had lived there since continent, and although this the northernmost point where he time immemorial. In fact, he knew Portuguese Roman Catholic was proceeded to take possession of nothing about this people at all, unsuccessful in his effort, he still felt the whole country, including the and my assessment is that it was of that he could name this mythical indigenous peoples, in the name of no interest to him to get to know southern continent Australia del King George III of England, calling the indigenous people of the land Espiritu Santo, the Southern it New South Wales. Australia, as a before making such an outrageous Land of the Holy Spirit. It was name for this continent, was coined claim on their country. Captain Cook, however, an English much later in the next century. But this is a story that is replicated Protestant, who made the decisive Captain Cook did encounter all over the globe, from the Pacific landfall in the world’s smallest Aborigines in his brief visit, but he Oceania region to Africa, from the ISSUE 77, Winter 2018 17

Americas and the Caribbean to Asia the distant past. Time was circular society was divided into many by European British colonialists. not linear, as each generation relived different tribal groups, speaking In the situation of the aboriginal the dreaming activities. Both ritual more than three hundred languages Australians, this is a people who and daily life were integral to this and many more dialects. Nor did are so ancient that they represent present reality. For Aborigines there the newcomers understand the the oldest continuous habitation was no division between the sacred delicate checks and balances which of any one people in any one place and the secular. The sacredness allowed these people to coexist in on the planet. Until the first fleet was embodied in the land itself tribal relations. Intertribal relations, touched Sydney harbor, eighteen and particularly in sacred sites and though often marked by some years later after Captain Cook objects. Each separate group had skirmishes of violent confrontation, arrived, the Aborigines had lived on its own special sacred sites, sacred were based on a well-developed the continent in isolation for over totems, songs and ceremonies and etiquette of courtesy and mutual forty thousand years. They lived the stories that they told of their obligation. Within each grouping, in a unique and deeply spiritual ancestral spirits were passed on kinship obligations, including the harmony with the environment, from one generation to another sharing of food and possessions, had a harmony that grew out of their in songs and through a vast oral a high priority. understanding that the land itself tradition. These stories, of course, So, when the first ships unloaded was sacred. This is an ancient people were not just stories, but they had its dismal cargo of prisoners in who did not presume to own this practical application as well, for they 1788, the aboriginal observers were land; rather, they understood the provided rules and had information curious but in many ways apathetic. land to own them. about the environment and its care. Their long isolation had left them Two hundred years ago, the Theirs was a highly complex and all- quite innocent to the ways of the Aborigines were nomadic hunter/ embracing spirituality. Under their world. They never imagined that gatherers who lived well most of gentle care, Australia was truly a they would be invaded and taken the time, took care of their hunting land of the spirit. over and dispossessed of their grounds and of their game. Their The first white observers saw none land. The prisoners, carrying with seasonal patterns of migration of this, of course. Seeing no forms of them assumptions of white British ensured sufficient food despite worship that fit their expectations, Christian supremacy, decided that the harsh and capricious nature they assumed there were none. But, the Aborigines were depraved of the Australian climate. They in fact, aboriginal culture had a rich savages, completely devoid of exercised a gentle mastery over an variety of religious manifestations. culture, religion and morals, and so environment that white people Everyone was involved in some way the destruction of forty thousand would find alien and bewildering. in the rituals, though some were years of dreaming in a few brief They understood intimately where restricted to men only, or to women decades was the tragic outcome of to find food and water in places only, or to the older members of this meeting of two very different that would seem to be barren to the the group. There was, however, cultures. rest of us. Early white settlers and no priestly caste which obviously For Australia’s Aborigines, the explorers died of thirst or starvation confused Christians who were used dreaming turned to nightmare in in places where Aborigines lived in to hierarchy, nor did they realize that the wake of white settlement. The relative prosperity. But their stone religious knowledge was the most introduction of exotic diseases age weapons would offer them no valuable possession in this culture such as smallpox, measles and protection against the nation that which set little store by material influenza, from which they had no ruled half of the world at that time. possessions and goods. The white immunity, decimated them. The Aboriginal reality was the dream; it settlers were further confused by the loss of their traditional hunting was the reality from which all life rich diversity of groups, for at the grounds caused widespread hunger. was derived, not merely an event in time of white settlement, aboriginal The white settlers, if they cared at 18 ISSUE 77, Winter 2018 all for the native population, simply With a few honorable exceptions, was offended by practices such as assumed that in such a vast country the leaders of the Christian polygamy and infanticide in some the Aborigines would be able to churches in the Australian colonies areas. They failed to understand move on to other areas to hunt and failed to champion the cause of the survival realities that made gather. They had no understanding the victimized aboriginal people. the latter a necessary evil or to of the complex territorial divisions Only rarely did Christians speak recognize the profound spiritual which controlled tribal movements. out publically in their defense. reality that supported this alien Displaced Aborigines were faced Too often they colluded with the culture. Even missionaries who had with either starvation or tribal notion that Britain was destined to the best interests of Aborigines at warfare. Aboriginal women heart, nevertheless assumed were forcibly abducted, that the Gospel and European molested and raped. civilization were inseparable. Many suffered horribly The converted Aborigines were and the retaliation of their expected to abandon all vestiges menfolk was interpreted of traditional life. And it is as criminal violence and true that in our contemporary heavily punished. The discourse on missionaries and spread of venereal disease the missionary enterprise, there affected vast numbers of are a lot of missiologists who the population. At the want to advocate that without frontiers of settlement, as missionaries many of these it moved inexorably across indigenous cultures would the continent, the level of have been totally extinct. And bloodshed was certainly it is true because in many much higher than white situations, not just in Australia records show today. but also in other indigenous The cumulative effects on situations around the globe, traditional aboriginal society missionaries have stood were certainly traumatic. A between the state and invaders culture that had survived and the indigenous population all manner of natural and and helped them to survive. climactic disasters over But when you look at the thousands of years was reality that indigenous people readily undermined. Most around the globe continue to surviving Aborigines had face at this very moment, to no alternative but to work this very day, for what good for their new white masters, was this? You almost feel at often under brutal and degrading rule this new land. The destruction times that we say, ‘OK, we brought conditions and the payment in white of the original way of life, even of the trouble on you, but we’re now flour, sugar, tea, alcohol and tobacco the people themselves, was seen helping you, so you must be grateful destroyed what physical health they as the inevitable consequence of to us.’ It seems strange to me that had left. So catastrophic was the their destiny. Indeed, some saw it indigenous peoples in various parts cumulative effect of white invasion as praiseworthy, believing that the of the world are being told that they that many colonists assumed that heathen ways of the defiant black need to be grateful for hospitals and Aborigines were a dying race, people were to be eradicated at schools that were built for them. doomed to rapid extinction. all cost. Judeo-Christian morality Indigenous people in Australia ISSUE 77, Winter 2018 19 were doing quite well without and how they got to where they of colonial Christianity on the lives the invaders, and for many, many are today because I don’t believe of these peoples. The only thing I centuries, and whether they needed that these stories are told well can say is that colonial Christianity the education brought by the settlers enough. And I don’t believe that has been truly complicit in the and colonizers, I’m happy to debate our younger generations, let alone displacement, in the deprivation this as well. Education for progress, our older generations, really know of both these peoples. The for survival in the world that we live the stories in their details. There’s commonality between the two in today, yes, there’s a value there, such a mystique about indigenous situations is this: The Palestinian but when is it that we can have a peoples. There is a sense of lost hope people have suffered in the very mutual exchange with indigenous and hopelessness that surrounds same way as the indigenous peoples people so that we can take from them. How are we to tell the stories of Australia. When it comes to them what they have to offer by way in such a way that those of us who Palestine, however many times the of education? This could relate to have power, who have a voice, are current regime, the Israelis, say how we live with nature, how we truly inspired to do something? We they have ruled over this land from live on the land, or with medication continue to advocate for human ancient times to this day, it is still and medicines that they have rights at the United Nations. We not their land. And I know that as known for many generations, or continue to produce papers. We Christians we hear all the time of their understanding of cosmology continue to theologize. We continue the affinity of the Jews to their land. and navigation skills on the to preach and proclaim the word in Yes, they have an affinity to the land oceans. Some of this knowledge our churches. But still, indigenous which they claim was promised to has been passed from generation peoples are at the frontline of the them by God, but there is enough to generation and is still valuable worst human rights violations evidence in the biblical texts that for us today, even with advanced around the globe. Their very we claim to be our sacred texts that technology and all the gadgets that existence and their very humanity, says that there were people here are now available to us, apparently their connectedness to the land before they came and those people to make us more efficient. that gives them the soul to live … have continuously lived on this land The situation of indigenous people they are constantly being deprived to this day. But power and might, in Australia is currently as dismal of these things. I don’t know how backed by military weapons make it as ever. We will have people tell my theologizing from this podium impossible for indigenous peoples us that there’s advancement and is going to make any difference. I to make any claims to the land. So, benefit from so many things that just know that my soul is devastated if this is not an example of Christian have happened over the years, but each and every moment I’m having extremism and fundamentalism in my perception is that indigenous a conversation and a dialogue with the way that these lands have been people are still at the very bottom an indigenous brother or sister. taken over, then I don’t know what of the social, political, economic, The sense that these are spiritual is. and cultural hierarchy in Australia beings that are just drifting and and, as I am responsible for the not anchored to anything because indigenous program of the World what they have been anchored to Council of Churches, this is what I for generations and for centuries in have perceived in the meetings and the land has been taken away from forums I’ve had with indigenous them. Dr. Katalina Tahaafe-Williams works peoples from around the globe. What do we do from this with the World Council of Churches in Geneva on its migration, indigenous, The other day we did a workshop on conference? I’m supposed to do and multicultural ministry programs. the spirituality of the land. I believe some comparative analyses between Her experience includes working with that it is so significant to continue to the indigenous people of Australia indigenous peoples in New Zealand and tell the stories of indigenous peoples and the Palestinians, and the impact Australia. 20 ISSUE 77, Winter 2018 How Long, O Lord?

By: The Rev. Canon Richard Toll

For thirty-four years I have been of discrimination have been passed criticize them for an illegal military coming to Palestine/Israel. Each in the Knesset against Palestinian occupation. So, the church remains time I come with hope, but I leave citizens of Israel. silent as thousands upon thousands with despair. One hundred and There are now six million Palestinian of human rights violations occur in sixty internationals from fifteen refugees worldwide, descendants of the occupied territories. countries gathered in Bethlehem the refugees who were forced out of And in Gaza thousands are killed, and Nazareth this past March at the Palestine in 1948 and 1967. Over live under siege and occupation. tenth international conference of five hundred villages and towns were Medical supplies are not available. the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation destroyed by the Zionists in 1948 Water is not drinkable. Israel does Theology Center in Jerusalem. The and the population of those towns not adhere to the Oslo accords on conference addressed: and villages became refugees, now fishing rights. · 100 years of Great Britain’s living throughout the world, some Collective punishment of Balfour Declaration in 1917 still in refugee camps in Bethlehem, Palestinians (illegal under that opened the door for Jerusalem, Jordan, Lebanon and international law) has been a Zionists to begin taking land Syria. continuing policy of the military from the Palestinians to make a The Psalmist asks, ‘How long, O occupation. homeland for the Jewish people. Lord?’ How long, O Lord? · 70 years ago, the United Nations There is an unsustainability to the It depends on people of good will partitioned Palestine and gave military occupation. It violates who will challenge the system 53 percent of Palestine to Jewish human rights through its use of a state that does not adhere people and the remaining 47 of military laws that exclude to international law and violates percent to Palestinians. Palestinians from travel, visiting standards of human rights that are · 50 years ago, the Zionists took Jerusalem and their holy sites, acknowledged by every religious the remaining 22 percent of and from education opportunities group in the world, including many Palestine and occupied it with and permits for building homes, Jewish people inside Israel and military force. Since that as confiscation of land and house around the world. occupation, the state of Israel demolitions continue. How long, O Lord? has transferred 600,000 settlers The state of Israel is losing its soul It seems that God is waiting for into the Palestinian Territories over what they have done and are people like you and me to do in opposition to international doing to the Palestinians as they something. law. continue to claim land from the Three million Palestinians are under Palestinians and as settlers do so in military occupation in the West the name of their God. Bank and East Jerusalem. Two The state of Israel is a state that million Palestinians are under siege needs to be criticized as all other and occupation in Gaza. states. But the state of Israel refuses Rev. Canon Richard Toll, DD, DMIN, Two million Palestinians in the state to abide by international law. is presently President of the Board of Israel are second class citizens They resent any criticism and call of Trustees, Friends of Sabeel, North since they are not Jewish. Many laws people anti-Semitic who dare to America. ISSUE 77, Winter 2018 21 Book Launch

by: The Rev. Páraic Réamonn / Mrs. Cedar Duaybis

On Friday, November 3, 2017 130 worldwide church - a calling the people gathered at Notre Dame Western church finds particularly Center in Jerusalem, as Sabeel, challenging - is to stand with the together with Bilda (Swedish poor and the downtrodden. But that Christian Study Centre), The calling is also to invite those who tread Educational Bookshop and the them down to stop doing that - to Tantur Ecumenical Institute invite the exploiter, the oppressor and hosted a book launch to introduce the dominator instead into the new Rev. Naim Ateek’s latest work, A community of those who live as equals Palestinian Theology of Liberation; because we are all God’s children. The Bible, Justice and the Palestine- My friend Robert Smith was blogging In that complex conversation, the Israel Conflict (Orbis, 2017). recently about the New Christian Palestinian liberation theology that Following are excerpts from Zionism. He concluded that all of Naim began now almost thirty years endorsements given by Cedar us are confronted with a threefold ago, and that continues today in his Duaybis and Rev. Páraic Réamonn: task: “Now is the time for a new own writings but now also in the conversation about Jewish-Christian- writings of so many others, is an Rev. Páraic Réamonn: Muslim relations, a new conversation essential voice that must be heard. From Gutiérrez and Ateek, Gustavo about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Let my last word therefore be Walter and Naim, I and many others and a new conversation about Brueggemann’s word. “This important have learned that the calling of the historical Christian responsibility.” book will be a great learning among us to which Western Christians of every ilk should pay attention.” May it be so.

Cedar Duaybis: The context is Palestinian, the experience is Palestinian, the need is Palestinian and the theologian is Palestinian, but the Theology is liberating, and the Theology is liberated. “A theology of liberation is a way of speaking prophetically and contextually to a particular situation, especially where oppression, suffering and injustice have long reigned.”

Rev. Páraic Réamonn is currently serving as pastor of St. Andrew’s Scots Memorial Rev. Naim Ateek, Rev. Páraic Réamonn and Cedar Duaybis at Notre Dame Ecumenical Center for the Church in Jerusalem. Cedar Duaybis is book launch for “A Palestinian Theology of Liberation.” a co-founder of Sabeel. 22 ISSUE 77, Winter 2018

Meeting at the Maronite Church with the only remaining Christian family in Ein Qiniyye, a Druze village in the Israeli occupied Golan Heights 2018 Spring Witness Visit

Join Rev. Naim Ateek, co-founder of Sabeel, as we focus on the Christian community in the Holy Land. More complete information can be found on the Sabeel website, www.sabeel.org or by contacting Sabeel ([email protected]).

Meeting of Maronite and Syrian Orthodox priests, Golan Heights Maronite church in Ein Qiniyye, a Druze village in the Israeli occupied Golan Heights Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center P.O.B. 49084 Jerusalem 91491 Visit our newly Tel: 972.2.532.7136 Fax: 972.2.532.7137 revised website at

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Purpose Statementof Sabeel

Sabeel is an ecumenical grassroots liberation theology It encourages individuals and groups from around the world movement among Palestinian Christians. Inspired by the to work for a just, comprehensive, and enduring peace life and teaching of Jesus Christ, this liberation theology informed by truth and empowered by prayer and action. seeks to deepen the faith of Palestinian Christians, promote unity among them, and lead them to act for justice and love. Sabeel strives to develop a spirituality based on justice, peace, non-violence, liberation, and reconciliation for the different national and faith communities. The word ‘Sabeel’ is Arabic for ‘the way’ and also a ‘channel’ or ‘spring’ of life-giving Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center water. P.O.B. 49084 Jerusalem 91491 Tel: 972.2.532.7136 Sabeel also works to promote a more accurate international Fax: 972.2.5327137 awareness regarding the identity, presence, and witness of Cornerstone: [email protected] Palestinian Christians as well as their contemporary concerns. or visit our website at: www.sabeel.org