Can there ever be peace in the Middle East?

ed. note -- This was written at the time of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. That conflict has ended, but peace remains elusive

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Faith in the Public Square
Lompoc Record
July 23, 2006

The newscasts are abuzz with stories of death and destruction. Lebanon is burning and Hezbollah rockets rain down on northern Israeli towns. In many ways there isn't anything new about this current news cycle. For much of the last half century, Israel, the Palestinian (Occupied) Territories, and Lebanon have been the scene of war and regular acts of violence. That Jerusalem means “city of peace” carries great irony.

Who really knows when the current cycle of violence began, but the intensity of this cycle coincides with the killing and kidnapping of Israeli soldiers by a Hamas aligned group, which led in turn to harsh Israeli retaliation.

A northern “front” opened when Hezbollah guerillas based in southern Lebanon crossed the border and kidnapped two more Israeli soldiers. This act of aggression led to a massive Israeli response that has laid waste to much of Lebanon, threatening the viability of an already fragile democracy. All the while, the world stands by watching the violence escalate and the death toll on civilians, whether Israeli, Palestinian, or Lebanese climb. As an ineffectual United Nations attempts to find a solution, the United States has chosen to remain on the sidelines, leaving it to others to find that solution.

As a Christian, I have a personal stake in this region. This is, after all, the land where Jesus walked. Too often we think of this as simply a Jewish/Muslim conflict, but in doing so we forget the ancient Christian community that lives in the region - though these numbers have been greatly diminished by emigration during the last half century. Although I've never been to the region, I remain connected.

I join with Christians, Jews, and Muslims, Israelis, Palestinians, and Lebanese who wish to see a permanent end to the violence. Peace can be had, but people on all sides must choose a different course of action.

The National Council of Churches has issued a statement that calls on our government to join with the world's other governments in working to bring an end to the current hostilities and then engage in the difficult work of resolving the deeply rooted issues that have prolonged the violence.

It also calls on all the parties in the region to immediately end the hostilities and look to nonviolent strategies of engagement. But it doesn't just speak to governments; it speaks to the religious communities in the region and beyond. To the religious communities closest to the violence it calls on them to advocate for and teach the way of peace.

Finally, it calls on member churches to pray “for all those who have suffered and died as a result of this violence, and their families and communities, and to engage in humanitarian and advocacy actions for peace.”

The path forward will be difficult and fraught with dangerous roadblocks. Many don't want peace. Hamas and its allies (including Iran) are committed to the destruction of Israel. A small coterie of Israelis, together with their evangelical supporters, look to the restoration of greater Israel. Either course will lead to the displacement or death of millions. It's a course that the vast majority of Israelis and most Palestinians don't support, but there are enough partisans to keep the conflict hot for the foreseeable future. In the meantime innocent civilians, Jewish, Muslim, and Christian suffer loss of life and property.

We've reached an impasse - the chosen course of action isn't working and it never has. There is some hope in the course suggested by the National Council of Churches, which includes a call on each of us to do our part.We can start by being informed about the conflict and the parties who are involved in it. We can make our voices heard in the public square, and we can pray that peace will prevail. Perhaps you, like me, feel that your loyalties are challenged by this crisis. My Jewish friends want me to back Israel, while Muslim friends encourage my support of the Palestinian cause. It's truly a complex issue. As I write this I don't know where things will be come Sunday morning, but I'll continue my prayers that peace will come to the City of Peace and to its neighbors.

Dr. Bob Cornwall is pastor of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Lompoc (www.lompocdisciples.org).

July 23, 2006