Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Where is the Emergent voice?
August 19, 2005
So I’ve been thinking…and I’ve been thinking a lot about Israel and Palestine. Now, much of what I’ll say, please remember that I just spent the summer in Bethlehem, and so this issue is pretty close to me right now in many ways, and that’s why I’m paying extra attention to it recently. But I’ve been thinking…
And after doing some thinking, I thought about going to check out the Emergent “Order” and under #3: Commitment to God’s World, it spells out the following practices:
- To build relationships with neighbors and to seek the good of our neighborhoods and cities.
- To seek reconciliation with enemies and make peace.
- To encourage and cherish younger people and to honor and learn from older people.
- To honor creation and to cherish and heal it.
- To build friendships across racial, ethnic, economic and other boundaries.
- To be involved at all times in at least one issue or cause of peace and justice.
And I think that Emergent is doing some good stuff. It seems like Darfur is the one issue or cause that is being picked up by most Emergent writers and practitioners. And I think that’s amazing and incredibly important. And I know that there are some “Emergent” folks who care deeply about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and so that drove me to do some thinking…
Why is no one writing about it? Out of the 118 blogs on Planet Emergent, I’ve rarely seen a post about the conflict. Especially in the last week, with all of what is happening in the land, I’ve still only seen 1 or 2 posts come from those 118 bloggers - many of whom are hailed as THE Emergent bloggers. So why is there silence on this issue? It just seems to be that if one of our concerns of Emergent is the Commitment to God’s World, then maybe our blogs need to be less about navel-gazing (which has its place and, I confess, mine often is) and more about the care and concern for God’s World, for the oppression that is happening in God’s World, for the injustices and the conflicts that we, as people of faith, should care about.
I’m sure there may be others, but I can think of at least one “emergent” person who has shown his “Commitment to God’s World” when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and that is Jonny Baker. After a visit to Israel & Palestine in 1998 (which you can read about here), Jonny came back and recorded the album, Backbone. It’s amazing - the lyrics and music are just phenomenal, and it’s crazy political and controversial but really something you need to hear [I'm working with Jonny to get some shipped over here and they'll be available on pomomusings.com, so be looking for that in the near future; until then, here is a sample]. Jonny had the advantage of actually traveling to the land and seeing what was happening for himself - and that experience compelled him to share that musically…Thank you Jonny.
Obviously the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is incredibly difficult, it’s filled with grey-area: it’s a story about the oppressed becoming the oppressors, about violence, about injustices, about both Israeli and Palestinian families being torn apart, about homes being demolished, about lives being turned upside-down. I also know that there are SO MANY atrocities happening in the world, so many injustices that people could write about - but not all of them have such a connection to the evangelical Christian world - where so many people just buy into Biblical prophecy, etc., and support Israel so fully. It’s connected in a way that no other issue is. Now, no one is going to solve this anytime soon - but there is so much to this conflict that many in our churches and in the general public just don’t know - and maybe getting some of this information out into the blogging-world is one step that could be made. And so that made me do some thinking, and ask the question: Where are the “emergent” bloggers who care about this issue? I know you are out there. I know you care. But if you care…
Why the silence?
Tags: Blogging, Emergent, Israel, Middle East, Palestine
Posted in 
Adam Walker Cleaveland: 
August 19th, 2005 at 2:55 pm
Adam, you’re absolutely right to raise this challenge. Although I haven’t blogged about it, I do want you to know I’ve been following the situation, concerned about it, eager for a just resolution, dismayed in general by the uncritical American bias towards Israel, and just the other day at a meeting with members of my house church, we loaded up the images of the wall from your blog and passed it around on the laptop as we discussed the disengagement. The violence in the Israel and Palestine is something that we have prayed about numerous times in the past years.
In general I’ve refrained from commenting on contemporary events as of late b/c I generally don’t feel like I have much substantive to add to what people can get at other outlets. But that silence doesn’t mean I’m not following, thinking, or praying about the issue!
August 19th, 2005 at 3:19 pm
Hi,
I understand that their needs to be peace in the Middle East. But…
Ok you must remember the “Palestinians” are not from Israel. They are refugees from the neighboring Arab nations. Palestine was a name given to Israel as an insult to the Jews by the Romans. It is not the name of a culture or people. What has happened to these refugees is awful but the blame falls more on the Arab nations than on the State of Israel. When Britain divided up land 1/3 went to the Jews, Israel, and the rest went to the Arabs, Jordan. Since the State of Israel became a nation, Arab people came looking for work as migrant workers since the country need hospitals to be built, etc. since Israel was nothing more than a wasteland. Since the 60‚Äôs starting with Arafat, an Egyptian, and his ilk, they claim there was after thousands of years a race and culture called Palestinian. This is all political. If the land was so important to the Arab culture then why was it a wasteland while under the Islamic rule during the Ottoman Empire?
I think the US has no business interfering and I think Israel has to make up its mind what to do. YEs we can give aid in the form of food and medicines, and the like. But it is my opinion Israel will fall apart soon. It is giving away its lands. Soon there will be nothing left.
Sorry if I sound too preachy. I took a class on the history of the State of Israel at the University of Miami. I am also a former Orthodox Jew and now Christian. There has to be a way of helping the refugees than cutting up Israel. Once these lands change hands, Jews are not longer able to visit their holy site, as it can no longer sites like Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem (if this has changed recetnly, please let me know).
August 19th, 2005 at 3:21 pm
Cleave: I imagine that many in the emerging movement shy away from this one, not out of apathy, but out of ambivalence. I assume that many were raised in pro-Israel evangelical churches, and they are now suspect of that position. However, the pro-Palestinians seem to be just as immoderate and ideological on the other side (see, for instance, Cindy Sheehan’s recent outspokeness — almost like she’s becoming a pawn for moveon.org). Although I lack the pro-Israel evangelical pedigree, it’s this exact ambivalence that I feel. Further, I am troubled by how much press coverage this gets, being that Israel and Palestine are two of the smallest populations in the world, and there are economic and martial afflictions facing much larger populations that are virtually ignored (by the media and bloggers alike).
August 19th, 2005 at 3:32 pm
P. S. Sorry if I sound frustrated but it just seems everyone is pro-Palestine. I am not a LEFT BEHIND totting, grape juice drinking, Fundamentalist Christian trying to bring Jesus back a bit sooner (I am a fellow Calvinist from the Christian Reformed Church, who I think holds to similar views other Presbyterians). My opinion was formed after taking classes at the University of Miami (a school with a very liberal leaning). I was not brought up indoctrinated to be pro-Israel. But after taking these courses and then meeting people from that region I saw what the media does not tell us.
August 19th, 2005 at 6:00 pm
I think for me, I am insanely interested in what is happening, yet I am overly un-informed about the situation.
I do not know enough, and probably have more questions about the situation, (which I should probably blog) but also I think I am waiting for someone else to be the catalyst about the situation.
August 19th, 2005 at 9:11 pm
Adam,
I think this is a good question to be asking, but I think Tony has given the best answer there is. The Israeli/Palestinian conflict is already dominating news from the MSM, as a single voice I don’t feel I have much to add — nor do I feel compelled to add — to the noise.
My personal engagement with the conflict in the Holy Land has started with a group I am now involved with called a Trialogue — a group of Muslims, Christians, and Jews. Through this group, I am beginning to build relationships with Jews and Muslims in my community, to know them, to understand their faith, to understand the conflict in the Middle East better than I presently do, and to share with them my faith in Jesus.
I encourage others to seek out a group like this in your own community — or start one, if there isn’t already one going. Think globally, act locally.
Shalom,
Steve K.
August 19th, 2005 at 11:59 pm
I applaud those who are working to hear the voices of Christians, Muslims and Jews.
Steve, I belong to a group that does similiar work.
I feel that people often come to the issue with alot of emotional baggage. Myself included of course.
Unless people are willing to hear other points of view its hard.
On my blog, a number of Muslims and Jews and Christians are having a wonderful conversation.
We often forget we are different faiths. and isn’t that in a way, the point?
In real life too, there is a wonderful group the Baptist AME does that has activities for synagogues the Islamic center and churches.
Locally its the best way to start.
Often the anti Israel or anti this or that rhetoric solves nothing.
To me its about people getting to know each other….then progress can happen, one person at a time.
Shalom and thanks.
August 20th, 2005 at 12:06 am
Adam,
With all due respect to you, I have also been to Israel and Palestine, and when you start with the view, ‘its about the oppressed becomeing the oppressor’
it supposes someone is solely to blame.
When we just jump in with an ad hominum statement, well, its hard to have a good talk after that.
When folks feel judged that way they shut down.
And while many of us think we know ‘what its all about’ there.
Often, we don’t.
August 20th, 2005 at 12:40 am
Steve,
I hadn’t noticed your comment on this and I wanted to say something.
Adam has one view, a pro palestinian one. Very very Pro Palestinian, and much more so than many Palestinians I know.
While his experience is valid, many other people may have valid points as well.
I hope when you think and pray on this issue, you will read bloggers who have other, perhaps more unbiased points of view.
Thank you.
August 20th, 2005 at 12:50 am
Tony, so apparently you gave the “best answer” there is…? I don’t know man - I don’t know if its ambivalence…I guess I still would lean more toward the apathy, or not wanting to ruffle the feathers of a majority of pro-Israeli evangelicals. I guess I need to HEAR it or READ it from these folks - at least hear that they know there is more than one way to look at this issue…
I think you might have a bit more optimism for our evangelical brothers and sisters. And you are right, there are crises in this world that are affecting a huge amount of people (like this), and this IS the one that I’ve just been exposed to right now. It does seem to be one that evangelicals just don’t engage in. It’s okay to give money and prayers for Sudanese, for poverty-stricken families in Mexico, Latin & Central America and Africa - but we don’t talk about Palestinians whose homes have been demolished…because that would be critiquing Israel, and…yah, we’re just not going to go there.
As Emergent begins to push some of the theological boundaries, I’d hope that we would have people who would be spokespersons for pushing th boundaries of what injustices are talked about within our circles of influence…
August 20th, 2005 at 12:53 am
Adam
I read the article you reprinted below. How tragic.
As the army pointed out, and was documented by a number of sources (CNN etc) mortar shells were fired by Hamas from this area into Israel. A number of Israeli’s including a young mother in her kitchen died in these shellings.
Read closely from what you posted:
After the death of my daughter, a series of suicide bombs happened in the name of my daughter,” she said minutes later in the interview at her home in Khan Younis. “I approved of it.” She said she did not want civilians to die in suicide bombings, but she acknowledged that when those bombings happened, she “felt better.”
Even the departure of the settlers of Neve Dekalim, who lived only 350 yards from her — and of the army that protected the settlers and killed her baby — will not satisfy her.
“I still don’t feel full revenge has been taken,” she said. “They are leaving now just to protect themselves. We want them to leave all the territory occupied in 1967 and 1948.”
Now if they want them to leave all the ‘occupied territory’ since 48, they want them out of all of Israel.
Is this what you are advocating?
A war is a terrible thing.
Let us all home calm voices prevail and the calls for revenge and murder can be set aside.
August 20th, 2005 at 12:56 am
Talia, I would like to check out your blog, but I can’t find a link to it anywhere.
August 20th, 2005 at 1:06 am
Well I am not sure Adam, no offense to you, but I noticed on your blog on the summer that you have a slogan about resistance that is a Hamas slogan.
Thats a really radical view in my mind.
I prefer more moderate, non judgemental voices if you don’t mind.
You have a right to your ideas, but hey, if you want to quote Hamas, its not really for everyone.
Thats a point of view that isn’t a solution to anything in my view.
Just more of the same cycle.
August 20th, 2005 at 1:12 am
“to resist is to exist’
thats a Hamas line.
We are trying to focus on more moderate stuff. No really far right people on the Isreal side, ( for now) and no one who is into quoting Hamas.
Alot of Palestinians are trying to move the scene away from that towards co existance and peace.
I am more into that type of conversation.
But thanks for asking. I appreciate your interest.
When we broaden our discussion to include more range of ideas ( not that yours are not valid) I would consider having someone more polemic enter the field.
Just not when we are getting started and doing so well.
August 20th, 2005 at 1:13 am
I am sorry! that wasn’t clear, the Hamas slogan ‘to resist is to exist’ is on the top of your summer blog heading.
Thats not what we are about at this point.
But as I said, you are entitled to your own opinion.
And best wishes.
August 20th, 2005 at 1:14 am
Talia, and no offense to you, but I always find it interesting that some people can assume that I’m extreme and judgmental. I met some people involved with Hamas who were not militant, and not terrorists - so I do not think that you can simply lump all people who belong to the political organization of Hamas as being extremist terrorists.
Polemic…? I think that is also a very unfair assumption about my thoughts…
August 20th, 2005 at 1:32 am
Oh Adam I don’t mean to offend you!
If you feel comfortable having a Hamas slogan on your blog thats cool with me.
Its just not what we are about at One Candle thats all.
I mean here is an example, that tragic story of the mother who lost her beautiful baby.
We have to move on from groups like Hamas according to the Palestinians in our group.
They are the ones firing the rockets into Israel and organizing the suicide bombings.
We are against all violence, in any form.
We all agree in our group at least, that enough people have died.
We reject violent groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad since they do not hold our non violent beliefs.
Hamas is illegal in the US, as a US citizen I feel obliged to respect that.
We work inside the lines, Adam, and so far so good.
Its not for everyone, but for us its working.
August 20th, 2005 at 1:34 am
And one could make a good case that quoting an organization illegal in the US on the top of your blog MAY well be a tad over the line when it comes to ‘polemic’.
Again, thats your choice, I say you have a right to think for yourself.
But so do I! :+}
August 20th, 2005 at 1:35 am
Its late here Adam, but I am glad we talked.
I hope you have good luck in the efforts you are making to open the conservation.
God Bless and be well my friend!
Glad you got home safe!
August 20th, 2005 at 1:40 am
Holy Sh*it
In case anyone doesn’t know what Hamas is:
and adam you quote them on your other blog???????
HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement)
Description
The HAMAS (in Arabic, an acronym for “Harakat Al-Muqawama Al-Islamia” — Islamic Resistance Movement — and a word meaning courage and bravery) is a radical Islamic fundamentalist organization which became active in the early stages of the intifada, operating primarily in the Gaza District but also in Judea and Samaria. Formed in late 1987 as an outgrowth of the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. Various HAMAS elements have used both political and violent means, including terrorism, to pursue the goal of establishing an Islamic Palestinian state in place of Israel. Loosely structured, with some elements working clandestinely and others working openly through mosques and social service institutions to recruit members, raise money, organize activities, and distribute propaganda. HAMAS‚Äôs strength is concentrated in the Gaza Strip and a few areas of the West Bank. Also has engaged in political activity, such as running candidates in West Bank Chamber of Commerce elections.
Activities
HAMAS activists, especially those in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, have conducted many attacks—including large-scale suicide bombings—against Israeli civilian and military targets. In the early 1990s, they also targeted suspected Palestinian collaborators and Fatah rivals. HAMAS increased its operational activity during 2002-2003 claiming numerous attacks against Israeli interests. The group has not targeted US interests—although some US citizens have been killed in HAMAS operations—and continues to confine its attacks to Israelis inside Israel and the territories.
WOW! ADAM!
August 20th, 2005 at 1:45 am
Talia, with all due respect, I’d like to keep the comments on this post centered around the issue of the Emergent voice within this conflict…thank you.
August 20th, 2005 at 1:53 am
I agree but you asked me about my blog and I wanted to point out that since you have Hamas slogans on your summer blog I didn’t think it would really be a great fit.
We are about non violent voices.
Yours isn’t a match.
August 20th, 2005 at 1:54 am
wikipedia on Hamas
Hamas is listed as a terrorist group by the European Union, Canada, the United States, and Israel, as well as numerous human rights organizations, and its activities have been condemned by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and by Human Rights Watch in the past.
Suicide attacks are an element of Hamas’ asymmetric warfare against Israel. Because Hamas considers all Israelis to be active participants in an illegal occupation of Palestinian land and because Israel’s policy of universal conscription implies that a majority of adults serve in either the Israeli military or the reserves for some portion of their lives, Hamas does not distinguish between Israeli civilian and military targets. The failure to distinguish between combatants and non-combatants has helped to earn Hamas the label of “terrorist organization.”
Hamas also fights a guerrilla war against the Israeli military and security forces in its effort to drive them from the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and ultimately eliminate the state of Israel and replace it with an Islamic state. As well as suicide bombings (mostly targeting civilians and occasionally against the military) Hamas guerrillas also carry out non-suicidal attacks, such as planting bombs and carrying out shooting attacks in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The organization’s goal to destroy Israel in its entirety has made its leaders prime targets for assassinations in the eyes of the Israeli government
August 20th, 2005 at 1:55 am
I mean Adam I don’t know one other person who agrees with them and calls them a ‘political organization’.
Thats pretty intense if you don’t mind me saying so.
August 20th, 2005 at 12:05 pm
Adam,
This summer through your blog you have helped me put a face on some of the issues happening in Palestine. For this, thanks.
To me the conflict is so ancient and so riddled with so many things I don’t understand, it seems easy to make excuses to turn my head as if I am witnessing an old feud between family members.
Your experiences has helped open a door for me. I don’t have any eloquent words to add to the conversation other than “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” and “Blessed are the peacemakers…” These words I carry in my heart. What would God have me do? What would God have me say?
Peace.
August 20th, 2005 at 12:24 pm
Last week, and rightfully so in my opinion, you mentioned FOTF and what is obviously a misappropriation of undersatnding and grace in their disclaimer about stoping the gay, with the ostensible intention of having readers rethink what Dobsons doing and how beneficial it really is. So if i was to belong to FOTF i would, invariably, be supporting their gay agenda, right. Then how can anyone support Hamas, and yet claim they’re for a peaceful coexistence. Hamas is a terrorist organization. There is no debate on this. Now i applaud your intentions and the passion behind what you do. And, in fact, in light of all the liberal and conservative rhetoric, you’ve handled yourself rather well. Yet, be careful that your emersion into the one culture doesn’t create this myopic view of the whole problem. The Palestinians are well supported in the world. However, we in the emergent community may not be the voice you want, that doesn’t mean apathy, as much as it is what Tony said, ambivalence. You seem to be at risk of alienating people who support your cause by approaching it so obstinately. As a Middle Eastern history major on way to his PhD. in it, i wont even touch this most of the time because the more you read the more you realize that there is no moral high ground here. What was gained in 48 by one, was lost in 67 by the other, regained in 83 and lost in 93…people often return from such emotional and enlightening experiences distraught by a perceived apathy. Some times getting closer to an issue muddles the view. i’m not sure this the case with you. And I pray that it never is. Your passion and heart for an embattled area is inspiring, just remember that not all are called to your area of passion.
August 20th, 2005 at 12:46 pm
Adam,
Bro, I’ve often felt the same way about AIDS and poverty in Africa. People know about it, they know it’s a problem, but it rarely goes beyond that. It’s frustrating because I want people to get passionate, get motivated, and you know what, after all the conversations I’ve had with people, they are becoming more passionate. Just keep being the fire under our butts to educate ourselves and take up this issue. Some people are going to listen to you and get motivated and some could care less bro, which is mind boggling, but true. Keep writing about it, reading about it, and talking about it…
August 20th, 2005 at 2:07 pm
Joel, well said.
I don’t see how from an intellectual or spiritual standpoint how someone can support Hamas and be for peaceful co existance.
Thats not compatable to the love God wants us to show for one another and the witness we need to bear to the world about what is possible if we dare to dream.
One cannot compare trying to convince people to see the conflict in Palestine from the perspective of Hamas to raising awareness of poverty and AIDS in Africa.
August 20th, 2005 at 6:15 pm
Adam,
In my opinion, buddy, it looks like that in order to get credibility here — to start the conversation — you need to condemn in all seriousness violence done in the name of Palestine. That means condemning pebble throwers and suicide bombers alike. Especially bombers who were commissioned by HAMAS.
Once you find the humility to put that condemnation in print — with no hesitation, and without qualification — I think you’ll find that people will be more likely to listen to you. Until then, they will sadly mistake your silence for approval. And that’s not a mistake you want being made.
Peace friend,
- kp -
August 20th, 2005 at 7:28 pm
Jan Bros,
Hey how is the present situation in Israel an ancient problem? We are not talking about Israel versus Rome or Greece. The problem Israel now faces is with its former migrant workers and refugees that were kicked out of their own countries by their own people. These same aliens now claim that Israel is theirs by right.
August 20th, 2005 at 7:43 pm
He has already made clear that he doesn’t have any problem with Hamas in practice.
Words without action have no meaning.
August 20th, 2005 at 8:00 pm
Talia, you have totally taken over the comments section here on this post - and the conversation is not one that this post was supposed to be having. And, as the owner of this blog, I am allowed to change that. So, until you at least let my readers and me know what your blog is, your comments will no longer be published here. It does seem to be a bit unfair for you to call me polemic and a supporter of terrorism, then proceed to comment 17 times on my blog without giving me the chance to even SEE your blog (you can block my comments if you want).
This conversation was meant to be specifically addressing Emergent’s voice in this conversation…does anyone care to comment on that?
And Kellen - then I suppose that conversation is NOT going to happen here. I have condemned suicide bombings before on my summer blog (here and and I talked about stone-throwing here). I cannot and will not condemn Palestinian stone-throwing. As for myself, I believe that non-violent resistance is the best way to resist against the Occupation. But I cannot condemn the youth for acting out in a way that they feel is right. Does stone-throwing have the potential to lead to greater violence? I think it does, and that is something that needs to be addressed and confronted. And I do condemn suicide bombings (while I will still follow that, as many Palestinians do, with the following questions: “Can you even begin to put yourself in their place, and imagine what it might be like…can you see what would drive them to that?”).
For many, Kellen, it doesn’t matter WHAT I say or don’t say - this conversation just simply cannot be a conversation.
Talia, I’d encourage you to lay your cards out on the table - let’s see your blog - let’s engage in conversation - but I won’t have this be a one-sided thing with you littering my blog with comments about your assumptions of me. Gosh, that sounded a little defensive, and I should probably delete that. But…again…it’s my blog…
August 20th, 2005 at 8:52 pm
Glad to represent
August 21st, 2005 at 12:13 am
“I am in no way supporting suicide bombers, but when I hear stories, and when I sit and think about it, part of me wants to say, “Well, what would you do?”‘
you call that a condemnation of suicide bombing? lame, dude, just lame.
And your lack of condemnation for stone throwing is a betrayal of non-violent resistance . . . period.
basically you can’t take a stand on anything here . . .
August 21st, 2005 at 12:25 am
Adam,
There you go man; Reno said it. The bottom line is that with those parenthetical remarks you’re discrediting the “condemnation” of violence you claim to own.
August 21st, 2005 at 12:29 am
I won’t accept that Kellen. I think that it is most certainly appropriate and possible to both condemn suicide bombings and yet, somewhat be able to understand the situations and motivations that could leave one to act that way. That is a paradox, a both/and understanding that I will cling to, and not accept as being “lame dude, just lame.”
I’m sorry.
August 21st, 2005 at 12:49 am
Hamas, even as a “political” organization, is dedicated to the complete destruction of Israel. No one on the “political” side has the least problem with blowing up Jews (or Americans, for that matter.) To claim affinity for Hamas and at the same time claiming adherence to a non-violent philosophy is at the least a jarring contradiction; at the worst it is the worst kind of hypocrisy.
And banning people like Talia who disagree with you (for whatever pretense of noble reasons) shows an inability to address these issues.
Whatever, dude.
August 21st, 2005 at 2:25 am
I’m not sure what the point of a blog is sometimes…not sure at all.
For putting thoughts out and get accused of being a polemic, suicide-bombing terrorist supporter?
For trying to engage in dialogue…? On a blog? Can it actually even happen?
I don’t know…sometimes I wonder if this might actually happen sometime…