Darkness cannot drive out darkness 

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the most intractable and complex imaginable. But more than ever, I believe in the relevance of the Jewish rabbi who taught about mercy, peacemaking and righteousness in a time of violent political oppression. By Jon Kuhrt

Ever since I was at University, I have witnessed the anger and hatred that surrounds and underpins the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Nowhere in the world is there a deeper well of polarised bitterness and recriminatory violence.

From Jewish friends I have learnt more about the reality of Anti-Semitism, its very recent impact on their families and the on-going existential threat they feel as a people. It’s a threat which I think that few of us can truly understand. 

But from within the left-leaning political circles in which I have generally moved, I have heard a very different narrative: of sympathy towards the poverty and suffering of Palestinians and anger towards the military power and ‘apartheid’ policies of Israel.


Dark and desperate

This week the situation is more dark and desperate than ever. The terrorism of Hamas militants led to the death of more than 1300 Jewish civilians, including women, children and babies. As Jonathan Freedland wrote in The Guardian:
 

“In the 75-year history of the state of Israel, 7 October 2023 stands as its darkest day….The Jewish people is small, just 16 million across the world. This week each of us is just one or two degrees of separation from heartbreak.”

In response, Israel has bombed Gaza and killed more than 2,300 Palestinians – and this appears to be just the start.  Their instructions for millions of people to re-locate from Northern Gaza has been condemned by the UN.


Israel’s 9/11

It is significant that many have referred to this as ‘Israel’s 9/11’. In terms of death toll, the last week has already been significantly more bloody than the attacks in the US in 2001.

But the lessons learnt from America’s response to 9/11 are critically relevant because they were an utter disaster in terms of global security. The invasion of Iraq was the worst example. The path of enforcing ‘regime change’ and retaliatory invasions has not made the world a safer place in the 22 years since. It has heightened tensions, fueled grievances and left many countries in a state of anarchy.


A different path

I am not a pacifist. I believe that forms of military response are needed, such as in Ukraine. But what would have happened if George W. Bush had sought a different path after 9/11? If he had taken a moral lead and used the US’s resources to increase understanding, reduce injustice, promote democracy and strengthen international relations?

Retaliation and vengeance simply brings more darkness. Every bomb dropped on Gaza, every father or mother who dies creates children who will also seek revenge for their deaths. In Strength to Love, Martin Luther King wrote:
 

“Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction…The chain reaction of evil–hate begetting hate, wars producing wars–must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.”

Roman oppression

Every day I read the Hebrew scriptures, or what Christians call ‘The Old Testament’ as part of my daily readings. You cannot grow in understanding of the Christian faith without engaging with the Jewish context in which it was birthed.

Jesus was a Jewish rabbi who lived and died under the oppression of Roman occupation. It was a time when the existential threat to Israel was a daily reality. In this context, religious groups such as the Pharisees and Sadducees worked in contrasting ways to maintain their influence. Others, like the Essenes, removed themselves into separatist communities.

But groups like the zealots hated compromise with their oppressors and fought a murderous guerilla war against their Roman rulers. No doubt they would have seen themselves as ‘freedom fighters’ and the imperial forces of Rome as the real ‘terrorists’.


Costly love

And it was into this political turbulence that Jesus emerges, a carpenter turned rabbi from the obscure northern town of Nazareth. And at the heart of his message is grace: the deep and costly love of God which can bring healing, forgiveness and break cycles of retribution:
 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”. (Matthew 5:43)

Jesus’ words both challenged and fulfilled the Hebrew scriptures. Like a tiny bit of yeast works in dough, a small act of grace can transform conflict and bitterness in incredible and miraculous ways.

This can be both personal and political – the Civil Rights movement in the US and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa are examples.


Future suffering

I want to stand with my Jewish friends in the shatteringly terrible events of the last week and condemn the violence of Hamas. But standing with is not to affirm a similarly murderous counter-aggression.

The Christian challenge is to bear witness to both grace and truth. And the truth is that more violence only guarantees further suffering for future generations. In Desmond Tutu’s words, there really is No Future Without Forgiveness.


Choice

This week I unexpectedly bumped into someone with whom I have had significant conflict and a difficult relationship for over a year. After the initial shock of seeing each other, we had a choice: did we ignore each other and simply retrench into the state of conflict we have been in?  Or could we make steps to talk and rebuild some understanding?

We both chose the latter and sat and talked together.  It did not mean easy forgiveness or simple reconciliation – but it has given us something to build on.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the most intractable and complex imaginable. But more than ever, I believe in the relevance of the Jewish rabbi who taught these words in a time of violent political oppression:
 

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” 

 

Image | Mohammed Ibrahim | Unsplash

Jon Kuhrt has worked with people affected by homelessness for 30 years. He is a former government adviser on how faith groups address rough sleeping and is now CEO of Hope into Action. He is a member of Streatham Baptist Church.

This reflection first appeared on his blog Grace and Truth, and is republished with permission

 

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