Religion and Conflict: Israel and Palestine November 3, 2004

“Essentially the battle between Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs is not a religious war, although the fanatics on both sides are trying very hard to turn it into a religious war. It is essentially no more than a territorial conflict over the painful question of ‘whose land?’ It is a conflict between right and right, between two very powerful, very convincing claims over the same small country. Not a religious war, not a war of cultures, not a disagreement between two traditions, but simply a real-estate dispute over whose house this is.” - Amos Oz, 2002

The Dome of the Rock

The Wailing Wall

The Dome and the Wall

"If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither, let my tongue cleave to my palate if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy.“ - Psalm 137, Verses 5-7

“Dear Muslim youth the world over: there is no doubt about the situation prevailing in the Muslim Umma, the Muslim nation. This situation is clear to everyone, old and young.... before we had power, then we became weak. We live in humiliation, where we once lived in dignity. We are ignorant where we were once wise. We are now bringing up the world’s rear, where we were once its leaders. “I have decided to take up arms and follow the brigade of Izzs al-Din al Qassam martyrs in order to make the Jews feel some of the suffering and devastation they subject my people to every day, and have subjected them for a long time.” - Ismail Masawabi, suicide bomber, Khan Yunis, Gaza, 2001

Israel v. Palestine A war over land ? A war over rights? A war of faiths?

Timeline: Israel and Palestine First wave of immigration (Aliyah), mainly from Russia st Zionist Congress, organized by Herzl nd Aliyah, mainly from Russia and Poland. 1917Balfour Declaration issued rd Aliyah, mainly young people from Russia 1921Arab anti-Jewish riots. 1922League of Nations confirms British Mandate for Palestine th Aliyah, mostly from Poland. 1929Widespread Arab riots – 70 Jews are killed in Hebron th Aliyah, mainly from Germany Arab Revolt, led by Haj Amin Al-Husseini. 1937Peel Commission recommends partitioning Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states. 1939British White Paper is published, restricting Jewish immigration and purchase of land.

Timeline: Israel and Palestine 1947 UN Resolution to create separate Jewish and Arab states in Palestine is approved Outbreak of 1948 Arab-Israeli War marks failure of UN partition plan Israel invades and occupies Sinai peninsula Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is founded Six Day War: Israel occupies Sinai and Gaza, West Bank, and Golan Heights 1973 Yom Kippur War Israel invades Lebanon to fight PLO; Israel completes withdrawal from Sinai Shimon Peres orders unilateral withdrawal most Israeli troops from Lebanon Intifada begins in Gaza and West Bank Oslo Declaration of Principles PM Yitzhak Rabin assassinated by right-wing extremist Israeli Sharon visits Temple Mount. Renewed intifada. PM Barak resigns Ariel Sharon elected Prime Minister Israel begins construction of “security barrier” in the West Bank.

Theodor Herzl

“We have sincerely tried everywhere to merge with the national communities in which we live, seeking only to preserve the faith of our fathers. It is not permitted to us. In vain are we loyal patriots, sometimes super-loyal; in vain do we make the same sacrifices of life and property as our fellow citizens; in vain do we strive to enhance the fame of our native land in the arts and sciences, or her wealth by trade and commerce. In our native lands where we have lived for centuries we are still decried as aliens… The majority decides who the alien is; this, and all else in the relations between peoples, is a matter of power... If we were left in peace... But I think we shall not be left in peace.” - Theodor Herzl, The Jewish State, 1896

Zionism: The futility of assimilation The identity of the Jews The necessity of a state

Yasser Arafat as a Young Man

The Palestinian National Movement The futility of assimilation: within Israel or within the Arab world The identity of the nation: secular and socialist The necessity of a state The necessity of armed struggle: rejectionism

Excerpts from the Palestinian Charter (1968) “Palestine is the homeland of the Arab Palestinian people…” (Article 1) “Palestine, with the boundaries it had during the British Mandate, is an indivisible territorial unit.” (Article 2) “The liberation of Palestine, from an Arab viewpoint, is a national duty and it attempts to repel the Zionist and imperialist aggression against the Arab homeland, and aims at the elimination of Zionism in Palestine…” (Article 15)

The Crisis of Secular Nationalism

The Failure of Zionism Failing to define the boundaries of the state Failing to maintain a partner for peace Failing to make Palestinians equal citizens Failing to address the religious challenge

Israel: The Religious Challenge The resurgence of orthodoxy The religious parties The religious settlers The challenge to secular Zionism

The Failure of Palestinian Nationalism Failing to accept the reality of Israel Failing to maintain a partner for peace Failing to maintain Arab support Failing to develop good government Failing to address the religious challenge

Palestine: The Religious Challenge The Muslim Brotherhood Hamas Suicide Bombing Politics as Martyrdom

The Way Forward: Human Rights Dimensions of the Conflict

Israeli Rights of Self-Determination The Security Claim: A nation without a state cannot survive The Faith Claim: Zion as God’s home for the Jewish people The Settlement Claim: What we have improved by our labor is ours

Palestinian Rights of Self-Determination The Security Claim: A nation without a state cannot survive The Faith Claim: Jerusalem as the holy site of Islam The Settlement Claim: We were here first

The Way Forward: Sacred Dimensions of the Conflict

Rights and the Sacred The indivisibility of rights The indivisibility of the sacred

Rights and Equality Constraints Rights bearers are equal Self-determination claims are equal Equal rights claims must be negotiated Recognition through equality

Sacred Resources The Children of Abraham What cannot be divided must be shared Recognition through the Spirit