Palestinian Christian Voices

It is believed by many that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a Jewish-Muslim issue. The fact is that there has historically been a small but significant Christian present in this area -- one that unfortunately has gotten smaller since 1948. It is this Christian presence that has sought to connect with Christian communities in the US and share their view of the situation in Israel and Palestine.
Among those Palestinian Christian voices is Naim Ateek, a Palestinian Anglican priest, theologian, and founder of Sabeel. Ateek's visit to Southern California, which included a conference at Pasadena's All Saints Episcopal Church is profiled in a LA Times piece today.
Sabeel is the center of what is called Palestinian Liberation Theology, a theology rooted in the struggles of the Palestinian people for self-determination. They advocate non-violence, but also encourage tactics such as divestment by American churches. It is this voice that has encouraged those, like Jimmy Carter, to compare the Israeli occupation to South Africa's Apartheid regime.
Ateek's message is controversial because he has often compared the Palestinian struggle and sufferings to those of Jesus. Occupation is, he believes, the Palestinian cross.
This is an important, though often, discomforting voice. As a Christian who values his Jewish friends and understands the Jewish desire for self-determination in their historic homeland, I also wish to affirm the deep longings of the Palestinians -- both Muslim and Christian -- for a homeland.

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