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.
