First off a visit to Hebron - a town in the West Bank well known for being one of the more volatile places. It's also the site of Abraham's tomb which is housed in a massive church that has been split down the middle to become a mosque on one side and a synagogue on the other. It used to be that both Jews and Muslims used the same shared space, but as tensions have risen and security measures increased that has no longer been possible, hence the wall down the middle.
Whilst in Hebron we met with two of the Christian Peacemaking Teams, who monitor and observe proceedings at the many checkpoints and other physical obstacles that there are in the town. It was tough yet insightful to hear some of their experiences, watch footage of some detentions and treatments of local Palestinian boys, and hear testimony from a 12yr old who had been caught up in a situation where 14 boys and 2 adults were detained, cuffed, beaten and threatened by the authorities before being released with no charge.
We also had lunch on the rooftop terrace of a Palestinian family, supporting their income whilst enjoying the view.
And we went into the mosque (involving going through 2 checkpoints to get in and 1 to get out) and the synagogue (no checkpoints in or out)
A fascinating, insightful, thought-provoking visit
But just when you feel like your brain is at capacity, we went and met with a Jewish man who moved from USA to Israel 32 years ago and lives in a Jewish community a short way outside Hebron.
He generously shared hospitality with us, as well as his story and his perspective. Until now the narratives we have heard have definitely been more from the Palestinian perspective so it was good to hear the other side, albeit one man's take on it all.
I'm still trying to work through it all, and to process the various viewpoints, and I know that will take quite some time, and possibly another visit at least to get beyond the very very tiny tip of a massive iceberg of an issue
But what I am clear about is that for me the key thing isn't about the political ideology, or the religious angle.
For me what makes me want to weep is the violation of human rights. It is seeing what one human can do to another, what one group can do to another, in such oppressive, violent, dehumanising and violating ways.
No matter which side is doing the violating, the oppression, the violence - it is certainly not the response that Jesus would call for, or practice
This land needs so much prayer. Thank goodness for all those who are doing their best to practice non-violence, unity and peace.
May prejudice, assumptions, fear, corruption, power and judgement not get in the way of the pursuit of a better way - whatever that might be.
It is indeed encouraging that there are both Jews & Palestinians who are committed to non-violent resistance in the pursuit of peace in that land. Having met some of them & heard their stories I wonder how they manage to keep on doing this, the treatment of any who dare defy the might of Israel is horrifying.
ReplyDeleteSadly these people are in the minority. But the blessed hope is in the fact that God is not mocked, ultimately he is in control.