Is there hope on the Gaza border?
"The Lord is working behind the headlines. Many Israeli and Arab believers fellowship together.”
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL—Another round of fighting in Gaza has seemingly ended, the conflict unsolved. Both sides have reverted to the status quo, Hamas agreeing to stop firing rockets—for now—Israel withdrawing its troops, and both sides agreeing to continue negotiations. Common ground is only seen in the banter of anti-Israel pundit and pro-Israel lobbyists predicting how long before the next war begins.
Underneath the deafening arguments of this polarizing conflict, there are people suffering and parents on both sides left to bury their children. How would Christ respond and how should Christians stand for love, justice and peace?
“People often approach the Middle East with strongly held dogmas,” says Grace Batchoun, vice president of public relations at Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East. “It is a challenge to simply help people on the street gain a greater understanding of the roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which goes far beyond the most recent Palestinian rocket attack or Israeli airstrike.”
Batchoun says Christians have a mandate to speak up for peace, justice and security for all people. She is disturbed by some Christian voices renouncing all Palestinians and refusing to recognize their legitimate suffering.
“We try to help people adopt an approach based on universal values of human rights for all and protection of civilian life,” she says. “Christians should be mediators of peace. Christians should remember that both Palestinians and Israelis are precious in God’s sight.”
Yet Batchoun adds her voice to the pundits, telling Christians to “abandon biblical preconceptions of the modern Middle East.” She says “Christians in the West are supporting the aggressor [Israel],” but she fails to mention the rockets targeting Jewish playgrounds and homes.
A statement from Rafael Barak, Israel’s ambassador to Canada, underscores that during the fighting, Israel never closed it’s Kerem Shalom crossing to Gaza, allowing 997 tons of medical supplies to cross, even while Hamas fired at the site.
On the other hand, a newsletter from Jews For Jesus highlights how “Christian Zionism” often focuses too much on providing political pressure and material support for Israel, while neglecting the role of evangelism in reconciliation. The letter highlights several cases where the Christian Zionism movement is heavily funding organizations working against missionary outreach to Jewish people.
“Israel is our most fruitful field,” says Andrew Barron, director of Jews For Jesus Canada. “We see more Israelis open to the gospel than Jewish people in other parts of the world. We like to say that the only hope for peace was born in the Middle East.”
This summer, Jews For Jesus was forced to postpone an evangelistic outreach in southern Israel due to the rocket attacks. Barron says they hope to reschedule in 2015, but the decision has not yet been made. However, he finds hope in the reconciliatory work of Israeli believers, both Jews and Arabs.
“Our workers on the ground are actively involved in relating to and ministering with Arab brothers and sisters in Christ. Many Israeli and Arab believers spend time together [growing in their faith]. The Lord is working behind the headlines and we pray the Body of Messiah will make more of a difference in bringing hope.”
Musalaha Ministry of Reconciliation is one such ministry working to unite Israelis and Palestinians. They offer a creative program called Desert Encounters, where they take Israeli and Palestinian youth, young adults and leaders on shared camel treks and hiking trips in the Negev desert.
Salim Munayer, Musalaha director, says as long as the fundamental issues (security and recognition for both people groups and the Palestinian desire for an end to the occupation) are not addressed the cycle of violence will continue.
“Our response as Christians should always look at how we can bless both people,” he says. “First and foremost Canadian Christians can work towards peace through prayer. Pray for peace, for the governing authorities to make godly decisions, and for believers in the land to be a testimony of peace and reconciliation.”
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