April 16, 2012 issue
Event in Holy Land faces Israeli-Palestinian conflict
By Sheldon C. Good Mennonite World ReviewOn a recent trip to the Holy Land, Mennonite pastor Lee Suderman experienced a “reality check.”
A Palestinian youth is forced to lift his shirt at an Israeli military checkpoint in the West Bank city of Hebron. — Photo by Ryan Rodrick Beiler
As part of the Christ at the Checkpoint Conference — an event for Christians, especially evangelicals, to gain awareness of issues of peace, justice and reconciliation — he and 14 others took a 6 a.m. walking tour that included the Israeli separation barrier in Bethlehem.
The controversial barrier is being constructed by Israel seemingly to separate Israelis and Palestinians, but often divides or confiscates Palestinian land.
For Suderman, walking up the gangway of the 20-foot-high barrier in Bethlehem and then going through a turnstile “seemed like cattle going through the dehorning chute.”
“We were about to go through the metal detectors when our visit was cut short by the appearance of an officer who posed a concern to our guide,” said Suderman, of North Newton, Kan. “We quickly exited to avoid possible detention — something local residents experience regularly, making their lives very difficult.”
That experience, along with glimpses of Palestinian life near the barrier and the March 5-9 conference, was life-changing for Suderman. Prior to the trip, he had “many political, theological and human rights concerns with how statehood for Israel has evolved over the years, especially as exacerbated by unbalanced U.S. policy and the emergent prophecy-oriented Zionism in some evangelical circles.”
Zionism is the movement to preserve a Jewish homeland in Palestine that many interpret as requiring the establishment of the nation of Israel as a Jewish state.
“This conference was the first time I felt I’d heard these complex issues treated in such a thorough, objective, respectful and compelling manner,” Suderman said. “It helped me synthesize differing interpretations of Scripture and my concerns for human rights, with a strong, personal sense of integrity and confidence.”
Bethlehem Bible College, a Mennonite Central Committee partner, organized the Christ at the Checkpoint conference, which was intended to create an ongoing forum for Christian peacemaking in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a historically divisive topic. In addition to walking tours, the conference included Bible studies, worship, workshops, panels and site visits.
More than 600 people from 20 countries participated, including Palmer Becker, a former Mennonite pastor and professor; Linford Stutzman, a professor at Eastern Mennonite University; three MCC Palestine workers; and student groups from Eastern University in St. David’s, Pa., and Wheaton (Ill.) College.
Comments
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There was an article last month with the alarming headline “Life and death at the checkpoint.” It featured a photo of a youth wearing a pink shirt. Fortunately, no actual life and death tragedy had occurred at the checkpoint. Now here is another article about the conference attendees, ”some of whom took a walking tour of the Bethlehem area.” Amazingly, there’s the photo of the same youth in the pink shirt, who, it turns out, had nothing to do with the conference or the tour. He must be the Checkpoint Poster Boy. Out of 600 attendees, it is sad that apparently only fifteen actually roused themselves to take the tour to the checkpoint. But to be fair, the conference venue was the Jacir Palace, a five-star InterContinental hotel with valet service and eleven restaurants and bars. Who would want to leave!
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Christ at the Checkpoint: a "christian event" to "GAIN AWARENESS OF ISSUES OF PEACE, JUSTICE, AND RECONCILIATION'. And yet, the only criticism is that Israel is mistreating the Palestinians. Let's look at an extremely brief history of how Israel became a nation. In 1947, after the Holocaust--over 6 million Jews slaughtered--and over 800,000 Jews driven from/forced to leave Arab/Muslim countries (for which they were never reimbursed for the loss of their homes/personal belongings), the Jews were given a land in which to live as a nation. The Jewish people agreed the Palestinians should also have land to become a nation. However, the Arab/Muslim/Palestinian countries/peoples did not want Israel to be established as a nation and began the 1948 war to prevent Israel from being established. Ever since, THE MUSLIM/ARAB/PALESTINIAN COUNTRIES/PEOPLES HAVE VOWED TO DESTROY ISRAEL/JEWS (just like Hitler). And the Mennonites/Anabaptists have now joined in the 'hallelujah chorus' of championing such vows and hatred toward Israel/Jews. Mr. Good reports and Mr. Suderman states that walking up the gangway of the 20-foot-high barrier in Bethlehem and then going through a turnstile “seemed like cattle going through the dehorning chute.” Do/did they feel the same way when going through the airport/s in the US when departing to go to the 'oppressive' nation of Israel? Do Mr. Good and Mr. Suderman and their ilk/fellow attendees at the 'christian' conference know and understand why such measures are in place--because of terrorist threats by Arabs/Muslims? If Mrs. Good and Suderman were to read the news that is not presented by our media, they would know that Israel is under almost daily attacks by the Palestinians via rockets and other weapons. And what would they say to or how would they assist the Palestinian man in the area controlled by the Palestinians/Arabs/Muslims who recently was arrested and thrown into prison for selling his home to a Jewish family and the sale immediately made null and void by the Arab/Muslim authorities? No Jew is safe/or can live in an Arab/Muslim nation. Neither can true Christians. They will be attacked/killed for 'defaming Islam' if/when they witness that Christ is the Way/Truth/Life. I challenge Mr. Good and Mr. Suderman to hold their "Christ at the Checkpoint" conference in a Muslim land and voice their 'christian' opposition to the persecution of Christians in those lands. (and they wouldn't/won't find any Jews in those lands). They would be attacked/thrown into prison/killed if they would/were to try that. Matter of fact, they would not even be allowed to hold such a conference because it 'defames Islam'. GAIN AWARENESS OF ISSUES OF PEACE, JUSTICE AND RECONCILIATION. What a joke!! and mennonites/anabaptists believe this mantra fed to them by their 'leadership'/the mennonite world review.
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