Christian Perspectives

by Samia Nasir Khoury

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?" (Matthew 6:25)

When we read that scriptural passage during one of our recent worship services at the Sabeel Centre, I could not help but reflect closely on those lines and the lines that followed. Christ assures us that we are much more valuable than the birds that the heavenly Father feeds, and the lilies of the field that he clothes.

Indeed we might be more valuable, but certainly not under this brutal military occupation where life has no value whatsoever. People get killed by the dozens and the oppression stifles every aspect of our life. So how are we supposed not to worry?

By Stephen Sizer

There are two essential questions which this article will seek to address: one political and one theological. They are multifaceted and interwoven.

The political question is this: How should Christians view the situation in Israel/Palestine today, where two peoples claim the same territory? How should they regard the State of Israel? As a democracy or apartheid state?

Updates from Marthame and Elizabeth Sanders in Zabadeh, Palestine

Easter Greetings to those of you who celebrating this morning. Today is Palm Sunday here in Zababdeh, as the three families of the church - Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant - celebrate the major feasts together. In the past, busses would leave from the village for Jerusalem to take part in the grand procession following Christ's footsteps from the Mount of Olives into the Old City. For the last three years, the closures and travel restrictions have made that tradition impossible. So the ecumenical precession around the village would have to represent the walk to Jerusalem.

by Tony Davies

Nov 2nd 2002

We joined the Christian Peacemaker Team school patrol at 7 am. Soldiers told us that no children could go to school because of the curfew. However, after discussion, they did let though a girl we were accompanying and other girls were also allowed to go to school.

When we got near the boys' school, boys were running out into the road, encouraged by the headmaster. Then two tear gas shells were fired about 70 yards from an armoured vehicle at one end of the street, and another two came from the other end. Two vehicles rushed along the street a couple of times. They go fast partly to scare people but also to reduce the chance of being hit by the stones and bottles which the boys throw at them.

from: Tony Davies

1 November 2002

This morning we joined CPTers walking round town. Curfew was being observed in the centre, but further out to the north many people were out and even taxis were running. We asked some boys about curfew. They said they were breaking it because they were so fed up with being indoors. It is Friday, so there is no school today. It is so wrong that the Palestinians in Hebron are having to remain indoors.

Shops were open by the hospital so we bought some food. Someone had been out earlier and had not found anywhere open. This is the only government hospital for 160,000 people living in Hebron. There are only 23 medical beds, and 40 surgical beds. There are also two private hospitals but they are beyond the means of most people, though they are able to deal with injuries inflicted by the soldiers and settlers as the costs are covered by the Palestinian Authority.

from: Tony Davies

Oct 31st 2002.

With three other Quakers from Britain, I took a minibus from East Jerusalem to Hebron. When we reached the turning into the town there were surly settlers with guns who ordered us out of the minibus and demanded the ID cards of the Palestinians. When they let us back in, one of the settlers saw me getting my camera ready on my lap and demanded it. When it was explained that I had not taken a photo he was placated. He asked if I was a journalist. I said no and he let us go on our way. The settlers have no right to do this, but the law here is gun law. The settlements, of which we passed a number on the way from Jerusalem, occupy a large area of the Occupied Territories and are all illegal under international law, built on land stolen from the Palestinians by force.

by Samia Nasir Khoury

Yesterday I received a message from an American friend of mine which ended with a question: Why is the Palestinian violence considered terrorism, whereas the Israeli violence is not?" The suicide bombing in Jerusalem and Haifa had not taken place yet, and I did not think she expected an answer because she knew very well what the situation is like here. She had lived in the country at one time, and has been here also after the Israel occupation.

Yet it is a question that warrants an answer, especially after those horrible scenes in Jerusalem and Haifa. And you know why: because good, genuine people get taken for a ride by the language of the powerful. The narrative becomes lopsided and so does the media. Therefore, it is very natural that, in a country like the USA, violence by Palestinians is looked upon as "terrorism" whereas the state violence by Israel is considered "security measures."