The Israeli-Hamas war is front page news that is very discouraging. No one seems to know how to bring it to an end, and I certainly don’t either. Not that it would matter if I did anyway since I am not one of the movers and shakers of the world.
But I want to suggest a few things all of us might bear in mind as we think about this tragic situation, talk to family and friends about it, and support or not support our government’s actions and policies as it responds to what is happening.
First, we should never forget that war represents evil at its worst. It is an expression of our worst instincts and penchant for debased behavior. It is a witness to hatred and madness, and a complete lack of human imagination in solving tensions and conflict.
Second, war is always caused by human beings who make specific choices that have horrible consequences. War is a chosen path nations follow. This includes wars scholars label “just.” It comes down to this. War is hell on earth human beings create.
Third, no nation has clean hands when it fights a war. War always involves civilian casualties – men, women, and children – who have nothing to do with the war starting, but who become its victim. Innocent Israelis and Palestinians are being killed in this war, and they have in every war up to this point.
Fourth, the reasons for war are hardly ever what governments say they are. The Israeli police just released a report that concluded Hamas was not involved in the kidnapping and killing of the three Israeli teenagers that was a primary reason Israel went to war and was used by Israeli citizens as an excuse to justify their lynching of an innocent 17 year old Palestinian boy. Governments never tell the truth when their leaders want to go to war.
Fifth, violence almost always begets more violence unless and until the underlining causes of war are addressed. The war between the Israelis and the Palestinians has been going on since the founding of the state of Israel in 1948. Every war has produced the seeds of another one. And this one will, too. That is the nature of Middle East violence because the root causes of all the wars fought since 1948 have never been addressed in a serious way.
Sixth, political leaders always play a role in making war. Current Hamas and Israeli political leaders made many decisions that helped fuel this war, and will continue to do so. If anything, the current crisis confirms the failure of leaders on both sides to do what they could have for the sake of peace.
Seventh, peace that balances justice for Palestinians and Israelis must be the goal of politicians whose leadership is worthy of public support, including American. Israel has a right to exist. Palestinians have a right to a homeland. That ought to be the starting point for negotiating a lasting peace.
Finally, American Christian leaders who support Israel uncritically and blame Hamas uncritically are contributing to war in the name of God. Without exception their support of Israel is motivated by a theology that believes the rebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem is a necessary step to God bringing an end to human history that will include the end of Jews unless they become Christians. These people are the worst kind of Christians. They stir up rabid emotions in their followers without regard for truth or concern for peace and justice.
I realize I have said nothing any of you don’t already know. But I needed to say it anyway, partly, I suppose, because at the heart of my concern about what is happening is the worry over how many more beautiful Israeli and Palestinian children will die before parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and all people of good will rise up and demand that their political leaders start choosing peace over war.
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You gave a tremendous statement of truth, and I want to thank you for it.
I am very grateful for your affirmation, Revered Rezash.
Thanks for your clear & concise thoughts & writing on what I think is the most important issue of our time. I think if mankind doesn’t decide to sit down and resolve differences rationally instead of blowing each other up, along with many innocent people as you note, our world is in for some serious trouble. Blowing each other up is obviously NOT working. The only people benefiting from that approach are the weapons manufacturers. They must love it, as they haul their profits to the bank.
It is sad that wars and arms make money, Wally. What a commentary on the times we live in.
“Without exception their support of Israel is motivated by a theology that believes the rebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem is a necessary step to God bringing an end to human history that will include the end of Jews unless they become Christians.” I NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS !! WHAT THEOLOGY IS SAYING THIS? WHERE’S THE DATA TO SUPPORT THIS ASSUMPTION??
Go read some of the writings and sermons of mega-church pastor John Hagee or Pat Robertson, and the like. It’s called Christian Zionism. How could you have not heard about it? These are real people and it is a real movement within conservative Christian circles. Before his death, Jerry Falwell was one of the main voices for Christian Zionism. “Christianity Today” did a survey some time ago that found 25% of American Christians believe it is their biblical responsibility to support the state of Israel. I support Israel as well, but not for any biblical reasons.
I’m not quite sure that just because this so stated 25% believe this way that it then means that the sole or even partial reason for any or all of these people believing as such is for the purpose of rebuilding the temple of Jerusalem. It could be because they believe it is their biblical responsibility to look out for a historically persecuted people (or maybe just anyone), one that is located in a region where every surrounding nation would like nothing more than to have every Jew eliminated, without taking it to a Christian Zionist reasoning, or perhaps another reason altogether. It’s quite a leap to instantly place Christian Zionism as the sole reason for such an answer. I would guess a great many people, conservative Christians included, support Israel because the Jewish faith is much more in line with their own faith than that of Islam. Furthermore I would guess that, quite simply, they trust Jews to a much greater degree than they do Muslims. Not all Muslims are bad, but the world doesn’t have a widespread problem with suicide Jewish and Christian bombers inflicting terror. Our security screenings at airports and heavily attended venues are not the result of actions taken by the bad apples within the Jewish and Christian faith. When such a terrible action does happen at the hand of a Jew or Christian, it is truly the rarity in comparison. Feelings of distrust about Muslims, especially in comparison to Jews, do have a substantial factual, non-biblical basis for support, and it is therefore quite logical and natural to transfer this greater trust of Jews into greater support for Israel over Hamas.
What statements have been made by Hagee, Robertson, and the rest of the clan about the current crisis that reflect the views you say exist “without exception”? Have there really been zero statements made that waiver even the slightest in wording or intent? “Without exception” is certainly a bold claim, and those words do make it a very difficult to believe position if one really thinks about the gravity of the statement and doesn’t subscribe to instant liberal head nodding (it happens on the other side too). Just finding one “exception” in wording or intent makes your whole argument fall apart. From the start this gives much more the appearance of a purely unfair position to place against this group that you clearly do not like or respect. But perhaps it truly is “without exception”; nevertheless, we have far too much talk revolving around a general theme that there is essentially nothing the “other side” can say or do that is ever right or good. Maybe once we start fixing THAT we can all get somewhere. Instead both sides would much rather write and talk about how bad the “other side” is religiously and politically.
Very well expressed, David. The words, “without exception” bothered me too–way too “exclusive” a statement. I haven’t heard of any John Hagee, so if he exists because you say so, OK. Not going to read him–more important things to read. I didn’t realize that anybody takes Pat Robertson seriously; he’s mostly a tv personality.
You don’t know who John Hagee is, or that Israeli politicians pay attention to Christian Zionists, and don’t think Pat Robertson still has the following, suggests to me that you need to do some homework before you comment on columns I write on these subjects.
David, I applaud your summation paragraph–well stated, logical, fair. I “got educated” and googled J. Hagee, and I saw nothing very impressive about his presentation webpage. Statement of beliefs had support for Israel # 11 out of 12 beliefs. I think his group shows support for Israel because Jesus was a Jew. I think many people support Israel for many reasons, one major reason being that they are a democratic society ‘midst non-democratic nations, fighting for themselves. I don’t see much cause to give Hagee or Robertson much credence for “impact” on much of anything.