This is more of a reflection on our discussion than a summary, which would be far too long. Is it possible for Israelis and Palestinians to find a solution for how to live together? The 1948 United Nations “settlement” which set up a two-state partition of Palestine (despite warnings that this would cause continuing conflict) followed Britain’s admission that it had failed to secure peace within its Mandate (effective from 1923). Guilt about centuries-old antisemitism and the Nazi Holocaust hampered criticism of Israeli actions, while Israeli awareness of both fuelled an insistence on a strong and Jewish-controlled state that would avoid any possible repetition. Some (eg Keir Starmer) still hope for a two-state “solution”, but the Likud 1977 Original Party Programme declared “between the Sea and the Jordan there will only be Israeli sovereignty” (a mirror image of “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free”) and that a Palestinian State “jeopardizes the security of the Jewish population” (see the separate attachment). One member of the present Israel government would go further: https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-773713
The trauma experienced by Palestinians, especially children in Gaza (and the West Bank), risks breeding further hatred, and whether Israel can permanently suppress this by force is questionable. Reconciliation is never achieved by moderates working together, but only between extremists who realise that permanent conflict can only damage both communities (compare Northern Ireland, where negotiations happened secretly behind 6ft high gates, but Martin McGuinness and Ian Paisley were finally able to work together).
The risk of the conflict widening and leading to a “World War Three” is perhaps exaggerated- at least the oil traders do not judge this to be likely, or the price of oil would be $US 160 a barrel (whereas it is now $125).
Our reading was Mark 11, verses 11 to 23, where Jesus curses the barren fig tree, and urges the disciples to pray that “this mountain” should be thrown into the sea. But any such prayer must begin with forgiveness (verse 25).
It is all too easy to misuse Scripture (Hebrew, Christian or Islamic) to defend your own interests (for example that the land has been “promised” to one group or another). There is some evidence that many Palestinians are descended from Jews who were not expelled by the Romans after the Bar Kochba rebellion of 132-136 CE (and especially from Galilee), and who then converted first to Christianity and then to Islam under successive ruling regimes. But in any case can Scripture be used to determine “rights” in that way?
Resources:
Middle East Eye- David Hearst https://www.middleeasteye.net/users/david-hearst
Jeremy Bowen- “The Making of the Modern Middle East” (2022)- https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/jeremy-bowen/the-making-of-the-modern-middle-east/9781509890934
Graham Adams (tutor at Luther King House, Manchester) – “Holy Anarchy” https://www.collegeofpreachers.co.uk/articles/2023/4-september/book-reviews/holy-anarchy-dismantling-domination-embodying-community-loving-strangeness/
Elias Chacour: “Blood Brothers (1984); “We belong to the Land (1990) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elias_Chacour