UK Churches challenged to prioritise peace in Gaza

Pilgrims walk by Separation Wall, Bethlehem. ICN/JS

Pat Devlin gave an online talk on 27 June to the National Justice and Peace Network on ways to support peacemaking in Palestine and Israel.

As someone who first travelled to Palestine and Israel as an individual pilgrim, eager to see the land of the Gospels and then spent two terms as an Ecumenical Accompanier in the West Bank, I have been horrified to see, first the atrocities of October 7th and then the crimes against humanity in Gaza.

I was profoundly challenged by the sermon of Munther Isaac, the Lutheran pastor from Bethlehem which he delivered after Christmas in London when he proclaimed:

"if Jesus were to enter our world today it would be in Gaza among those under the rubble. Jesus under the rubble is the message of God identifying with humanity in its suffering and pain. It is about God who identifies with the oppressed, even being born among them as one of them."

And so he challenged the UK Churches about their response to the situation in Gaza saying:

"We do not exaggerate to say that the credibility of the Churches, of our Christian witness is at stake"

My initial response was to return to the Kairos Palestine document, 'A Moment of Truth,' to see what Palestinian Christians were asking of the World Churches and International Community in 2009 which they felt was a critical moment.

The document starts by describing the daily reality of their situation stemming from the 1948 Nakba and exacerbated by Israeli Occupation since the 1967 including:

- The refugee situation which dates from 1948, and the deteriorating prisoner situation
- The Military Occupation since 1967
- The ever expanding Israeli settlement programme within Palestinian Territory
- Movement restrictions controlled by checkpoints and the separation Barrier resulting in
- Family disunification, deprivation of religious liberty and a truncated economy
- The Blockade of Gaza since 2007
- The status of Jerusalem
- The second class status of Palestinian citizens in the state of Israel
(Now institutionalised through the adoption of the Nation State Law in 2018, leading to leading human rights groups including Amnesty international demonstrating that Israel now fulfils the legal criteria for an apartheid state)

It highlights Israel's disregard for International law and the ineffective response of the International Community, warning that it will lead to the law of the jungle.

It challenges Israel's use of 'self defence against a war of terror' as a justification, saying this distorts the reality of resistance in a situation of dispossession, occupation and blockade.

However it is clear that "Love is the commandment of Christ our Lord to us……..but, seeing the face of God in everyone does not mean accepting evil or aggression on their part. Rather this love seeks to correct the evil and stop the aggression"

So, a creative, non violent resistance is advocated and economic sanctions are identified as the most effective means. Making clear the support for the Boycott, Divest & Sanction campaign first called for by civil society in 2002.

Boycott can be an individual or group activity but requires a mass response to be effective

It can target*:

- Israeli Settlements (illegal under international law)
- Any company profiting from the Occupation
- All Israeli companies, institutions, sporting & cultural entities (NB apartheid definition)

Divestment rests largely with institutions

The church campaign is led by Sabeel-Kairos UK*, partnered by Christian Aid, Pax Christi, Embrace, Amos Trust and asks Churches to:

- identify any companies in their investment portfolio which are currently profiting from situations in which international law is violated, including illegal exploitation of natural resources, illegal construction of the separation barrier and its related infrastructure and illegal settlements.

- To put in place a comprehensive investment screening process, specifically relating to violations of international law to identify companies in their existing portfolio profiting from illegal activity and to prevent future investments in such companies.

The Quakers, Methodists, and URC have committed to the process and a motion has gone to

Anglican General Synod but as yet there has been no response from the Catholic church

Sanctions require engagement from our government but we can

- Lobby new constituency MPs
- Hold new government to manifesto pledges
- Join parliamentary lobbies
- Join Demonstrations & Marches

These are "serious actions in order to achieve a just and definitive peace"

This is the goal of the many Palestinian and Israeli peace building NGOs especially those joint Israeli Palestinian groups who have clung on to their commitment to working together for a common future of mutual respect and dignity. With support from NGOs around the world they have finally achieved this commitment from the G7 last month, "to closely coordinate and institutionalize our support for civil society peacebuilding efforts, ensuring that such efforts are part of a larger strategy to build the foundation necessary for a negotiated and lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace."

Can we support them by responding to their call for the above decisive actions?

LINKS

*Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) www.quaker.org.uk/our-work/eappi

Christ Under the Rubble - Vigil for Gaza, with Rev Dr Munther Isaac: https://youtu.be/YKDk2UT63iU&t=667

Kairos Palestine: www.kairospalestine.ps/index.php/about-kairos/kairos-palestine-document

Who Profits: www.whoprofits.org/

Investing for Peace: www.sabeel-kairos.org.uk/category/taking-action/investing-for-peace/

Communique from G7 Summit: www.allmep.org/news/from-the-g7-summit-g7-heads-of-government-include-unprecedented-language-centering-civil-society-in-official-g7-leaders-communique/