How can Christians help Palestine?
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Lebanon’s Maronite patriarchate, in its monthly statement, expressed solidarity with the people of Palestine. The statement mentioned the atrocities that the people in Palestine and in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa are being subjected to and called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
The Maronite patriarchate has a very special position. It is an institution independent from any political body, yet it is very influential on the Lebanese political scene. Because the Lebanese patriarchate is a very important church in the East, it, along with other Christian churches in the East and the Arab world, can play an important role in resolving this conflict.
The West and its average citizens have a generally negative image of the Arab world. However, the Western world feels a lot of compassion with Christians in the East, who are viewed as the early Christians in the birthplace of the faith. Hence, their voice will be amplified in the Western world.
The church and the Christians can help Palestine by engaging with the Western world. However, by doing so, the Christians will be taking a prominent place in public affairs in the region. We need to remember that Christians were among the pioneers of the Arab renaissance. They have had an enlightening role in our region. The various liberation movements of the 20th century had Christian thinkers behind them. Unfortunately, the role of Christians has been in decline in recent years. Continuous wars and conflict have led to an exodus of Christians from the region. The Western world has been very welcoming to Christian immigration, meaning their numbers and role in the Arab world have diminished.
The Christian exodus has been bad news for the Middle East, as their previous role contributed to the region’s cultural wealth and diversity. Their presence is needed today more than ever. It is needed both in the region and as a bridge to the Western world.
Last year’s Christmas sermon by the Rev. Munther Isaac, a Palestinian pastor and theologian, about Jesus being born under the rubble of Bethlehem had a strong echo in the Western world. The average Westerner tends to listen more to pastors and other clergymen like him than the average Arab or Palestinian. Despite the support the church has shown to the people of Gaza, there has been no organized effort to influence US public opinion.
The church could send clergymen to visit churches in the US to discuss the plight of people in Palestine and, more specifically, the plight of Christians in Palestine. Israel has bombed the third-oldest church in the world in Gaza. The settler movement is eyeing Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives, which is a revered site for Christians. Christians are being driven from their homes to complete the Judaification of the city.
Though the church does not like to get involved in politics, this is a humanitarian issue that needs to be addressed.
Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib
Christians in the East can play an important role in changing the American perspective toward the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, pushing the US to take a more balanced approach. When the average person sees the suffering of the Palestinian Christians, their view of Israel will change significantly. When their view changes, the salience of the issue will increase and they will start pressuring their elected officials to take a strong position on the issue.
This is how policies are formed in the US and this is how lobbying is conducted. You influence public opinion, which then reflects on the political class and on policymaking. Therefore, engagement with the Christian church in the US is key and the Christians from the region are the best emissaries to undertake this task. Israel, for example, has a long relationship with the Christian Zionists. It engages with them despite their antisemitic streak because they constitute a critical mass at the heart of the Republican Party.
But who will take the initiative? How can it be done? The starting point is the church. Churches should start a conference to take a formal position on Palestine. The second step would be for each church to designate a number of clergymen to be sent to the US. Those churches should communicate with churches in the US and organize visits. They should engage with American congregations. This would create a grassroots movement in support of a balanced solution to the problem. This would be relatively easy to fund. One hurdle facing Palestinian activism in the past has been the funding. People are worried about being accused of financing terrorism if they fund any activity related to Palestine. However, no one will attack people for donating to a church.
Once the Christian movement proves itself and makes a difference in American policy, it will automatically gain influence at home. It will also create a platform for Christians to have an increased role in the region. Though the church does not like to get involved in politics, this is a humanitarian issue that needs to be addressed. The results might not be immediate, because changing perceptions and creating grassroots movements are long-term processes, but the potential benefits are definitely worth the effort.
• Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib is a specialist in US-Arab relations with a focus on lobbying. She is co-founder of the Research Center for Cooperation and Peace Building, a Lebanese nongovernmental organization focused on Track II.
