Where do we Christians stand in this conflict?
The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is essentially a political one, between two peoples on nationalistic basis. Still it has religious connotations, as both peoples, Israelis and Palestinians, refer in this conflict to their religious memories and to their holy places. Therefore, this conflict has also a Christian aspect, because it is in and around the places where Christianity started. This conflict is also and mainly a direct threat to the survival of the small Christian community of these holy places.
In the Palestinian Occupied Territories Christians are Palestinians. There is also with them an important international Christian presence. In Israel also there is a local, although smaller, Israeli and Jewish Christian presence as well as an international Christian presence. On both sides Christians are an integral part of their people, they are an integral part of their aspirations, as well as of their sufferings. And they are paying the same heavy toll in order to reach peace, justice and security.
In Jerusalem, we are thirteen traditional mutually recognized Churches: Orthodox (Greek), Eastern Orthodox (Armenians, Syrians, Copts and Ethiopians), Catholics and Protestants. All of us have a common reflection on the situation. The conflict and its sacrifices have their impact upon the daily life of our faithful in their parishes as well as of all Palestinians.
Our position as Churches is to be the voice of the oppressed and the poor. To give a voice to our faithful as well as to the international community inviting it to put an end to the tragedy of which both peoples are victims. What I have said so far is our common position.
“In the face of the Palestinians we see the image of God. In the face of the Israeli we see the image of God. And the love of God is addressed to them both. We see that the oppression imposed upon the Palestinians takes away this image, and we have to renew it constantly in the face of the Palestinian and in the soul of the Israeli. Today, whatever be the situation, we have to go back to the basic truth that both, the strong and the weak, have to recognize: no human being should remain a victim of the oppression of his brother. The Palestinian must not remain victim of the oppression. The Israeli must not remain victim of the fear in which he is living. Putting an end to oppression is at the same time putting an end to fear and insecurity. The basic evil must be eradicated, and the basic evil is occupation. Then the land will know security and live in peace with its two peoples Israeli and Palestinian. We believe in the grace of God who is the giver of peace and who can take away fear. We have to work together in order to accept and to recognize each other, instead of nourishing a mutual fear of each other”.
Msgr. Michel Sabbah is the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and President of Pax Christi International.
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