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ISSUE 83, SUMMER 2021 CORNERSTONE A PUBLICATION BY SABEEL ECUMENICAL LIBERATION THEOLOGY CENTER BEING FAITHFUL WITNESSES: SERVING GOD IN A CHANGING IN THIS ISSUE WORLD Being Faithful Witnesses: Jean Zaru Serving God in a Changing World Jean Zaru p. 1 Sisters and brothers, Armenian Community of Jerusalem: Surviving Against all Odds From the heart of Palestine, a land besieged and violated Dr. Bedross Der Matossian p. 4 by Israeli military occupation, I have come to join you The role that Jerusalem plays in Armenian issues today. From the midst of Palestine, a tortured nation Dr Gaby Kevorkian p. 8 held in captivity, I stand with you today. Moments like August 4 Nayiri Baboudjian Bouchakjian p. 10 Both my life experience in Palestine and my ecumenical work in many corners of the world requires that I share On the Armenian Genocide and Denial: Interview with Palestinian director Mohammad Bakri with you the story of my people, a story of human hurt Elise Aghazarian p. 16 and hope. I represent a narrative of exclusion, the denial of basic human and community rights. But, I have a We are still here Nora Arsenian Carmi p. 20 message of hope. A message of hope embodied in the spirit and will of all those who refuse to submit to the On the ports of Haifa: chronicles of an Armenian family forces of oppression, violence and injustice, structures of Conversation with Palestinian author Maisoon Assadi Elise Aghazarian p. 23 domination, colonialism and foreign occupation. The Good Will Win, Eventually… Dr Hrayr Jebejian p. 27 2 ISSUE 83, SUMMER 2021 The situation in Palestine calls on all direst of circumstances, where today pation could not have lasted so long of one’s resources: physical, mental, as Palestinians none of our rights without outside assistance. Propor- emotional and spiritual. And in are guaranteed. We stand with our tionate to its population, the state the darkest nights of the soul, we Muslim sisters and brothers at the of Israel is the recipient of more seek your affirmation and actions, margins of life in Palestine, sharing a U.S. aid than any foreign state in especially as governments and power common reality of prolonged suffer- history. This aid, combined with systems have failed us because of ing and waiting, and acting together political support from the U.S., en- their power politics, absence of will in hope for a brighter future. ables Israel to tighten its grip of oc- and shortsighted self-interest. cupation and make our lives more Seventy years ago we were cast difficult, more unlivable. The truth The current atmosphere in Jerusalem outside the course of history, our has been so twisted that anybody is highly charged, and the situation identity denied, and our very hu- who dares to speak out for justice in the Holy Land is surely far more man, cultural and historical reality is now associated with terrorism or complex than that which we en- suppressed. We were victims of the anti-Semitism or, according to the counter in Luke’s presentation of the cruel myth: ‘a land without a people theology of some, against God as first century. Even my identity as a for a people without a land.’ And we they understand God’s purpose in Palestinian Christian is not easily continue to be victims of an exclusive this world. explained to anyone living outside agenda—an agenda that has usurped my immediate context. You see, I our rights, our lands and confiscated, This is all done in the name of the am Christian, and I am Palestinian. as well, our historical narrative. so-called Christian Zionists, and as One part of my identity cannot be indigenous Palestinian Christians separated from the other. And as Our country is becoming one gi- we have no choice but to answer to such, we, Palestinian Christians, are gantic prison and one vast cemetery. that claim and to the many religious often referred to as the embroidery The people, land, houses and trees leaders who exploit the Bible to en- work of our people; that is, we are have been brutally treated. Fear and dorse the legitimacy, policies and an interwoven and an integral part insecurity have replaced compassion conduct of Israel. These Christians of the whole society. and trust. have established a linkage between biblical Israel and the modem nation Although we are the modern heirs Relations have become hard and state of Israel. Evils of discrimina- of the disciples of Jesus in Jerusalem tense. When almost every aspect tion, oppression and dispossession and despite our rich contributions of life is framed in oppression and are justified by reference to biblical to the Middle East, we have become humiliation, moral space is di- texts. David Ben-Gurion called the unknown, unacknowledged and for- minished. Our own humanity is Bible the Sacrosanct title deed to gotten by much of the world. We are threatened and role models for our Palestine for the Jewish people. a highly educated community with children become hard to find. deep historical roots, a community As Palestinian Christians we must that is, unfortunately, diminishing People are tired and depressed. They liberate our theology from such an every day as a result of political and are traumatized by the violence that understanding. God for us is a God economic pressures. Our future is is perpetuated against them which of justice and compassion, not a uncertain; the pressures are enor- affects both their physical and men- God of vengeance and exclusivity. mous. tal health. My people need time As Palestinian Christians, we have to mourn, to heal their wounds, to long been forgotten, even unknown, And as we are part and parcel of pacify their children and to find their and certainly unacknowledged. We our society, not outside of it, it is a daily bread. have suffered, as have all our people daily challenge to remain faithful, from dispossession, displacement to witness to our faith in these, the Our oppression and the Israeli occu- and oppression. And we are then ISSUE 83, SUMMER 2021 3 blamed for the history, politics and brought me into relation with many Many Christians differ in their un- theology of others. religious traditions. Many think- derstanding of witness and mission. ers struggle with religious diversity. In many of the places I have visited, In spite of our different life experi- Others, as activists, are concerned the churches’ concerns about evange- ences, we are very much influenced with militarism, the degradation of lism relate to its growing influence in by each other’s contexts. Where the environment, racism and sexism. their context as well as mine, of sects Islam is demonized, we are asked to Many are working from a faith based and new religious movements. The love our neighbors and not to bear on peace and justice issues. Often stories are very similar from Russia to false witness against them. Western times, I have found that dialogue the Pacific, from the Middle East to missionary movements, past and within the Christian tradition and South Africa. The churches are dis- present, in spite of their good works among these various groups is not turbed by a massive influx of Chris- have sometimes been a source of em- easy. tian charismatic and fundamentalist barrassment and division, especially groups and by the aggressive meth- in Palestine. Some of these difficulties concern ods of recruitment they use. I am our understanding of witness, mis- disturbed by their theology where sion and the Bible. Let me begin by they generally advocate nationalist stating that I personally cannot take or religious exclusiveness and the the Bible literally. subordination of women. They reject many of the political and ethical The stories in the Bible reveal peo- values of modern democracy, basic ple’s perceptions of God but not the human rights, pluralism, freedom of full reality of God. The view that the speech, sharing of power and respon- Bible is to be understood in a literal- sibility. Their literal understanding of The International Christian Embassy ist way must be surrendered. There the Bible is frightening and violent in Jerusalem is another story. Politi- are many narratives that are prob- and, more often than not, justifies cally, it is pro-Israel in its expansion- lematic, containing texts of unsur- my oppression and dispossession as ist policy with regard to settlements passed violence, which are an affront mandated by God. This is serious, and is against any peace process that to moral sensitivities. Every effort even dangerous. will end occupation. I find their should be made to rescue the Bible theology violent and exclusive. It from serving as a blunt instrument Must we not re-focus our efforts is pro-Israel but anti-Jewish. Fortu- in the oppression of one people by towards articulating a religious vi- nately, there are many faithful wit- another. In Palestine, the Americas sion that can contribute to a global nesses in Israel/Palestine. The Chris- and South Africa the Bible has been outlook and a discourse of radical, tian Peacemaker Teams, the members used as a tool of oppression rather democratic human community and of the accompaniment programme of than liberation. well being for all? the World Council of Churches, the International Solidarity Movement If we want to know what God has joined by local Palestinians and Is- been up to in the world, the Spirit raelis, all bear witness to peace and bids us to keep our eyes and ears justice. We have many others who open to the witnesses of others. After join us in our non-violent struggle all, the Spirit is about movement, on many fronts and do support in and the presence of God.