Prophets and Peaceniks

On March 22, 2006 I was back in Jerusalem and oncepreached, for he taught we must love, forgive, do
again visited with Jeff Halper, a 2006 Noble Peacegood to all and it is the peacemakers who are the
Prize nominee in his ICAHD office. Jeff is an Americanchildren of God.
Israeli and the Founder and Coordinator of ICAHDAfter all, who would Jesus bomb? Nobody!
Israeli Committee on House Demolitions.Christian Zionists emphasize-and hope/pray for-
I sought his advice that day after reading his newapocalyptic event that will lead to the end of history
book "Obstacles to Peace: A Reframing of theand they totally ignore Christ's love and compassion
Palestinian-Israeli Conflict."for all. Their theology is the fastest growing cult in
I was encouraged by what he wrote because a partAmerica, partly because mainline churches have
of the issue of reframing the Israeli Palestinian conflictremained silent about the forty year occupation of
is what I have been trying to do by focusing on thePalestine.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights which wasSabeel, the Jerusalem based and rapidly spreading
ratified by Israel in 1948 and was contingent upon itsinternational movement promotes a theology of
becoming a state.liberation and denounces oppression and occupation.
Jeff told me that "Israel has no constitution but has aThe following is excerpted from "Challenging Christian
Declaration of Independence which promised thatZionism" which was compiled after their 5th
Israel would abide by conditions and UN resolutions.International Conference.
They have not fulfilled the agreement which was the"We categorically reject Christian Zionist doctrines as
basis of their independence."false teachings that undermine the biblical message of
The Declaration of the Establishment of the State oflove, justice and mercy. We further reject the
Israel was signed May 14, 1948 the day the Britishcontemporary alliance of Christian Zionist leaders and
Mandate over Palestine expired. The USA recognizedorganizations with extremist elements in the
Israel that very night and the USSR three days later.governments of Israel and the United States that are
The Declaration affirms that the state of Israel "willpresently seeking to impose their unilateral
be based on freedom, justice, and peace aspreemptive strategies and militaristic rule over others,
envisioned by the prophets of Israel: it will ensureincluding Palestine and Iraq. As a result of the April 14,
complete equality of social and political rights to all its2004 Bush-Sharon memorandum of understanding,
inhabitants irrespective of religion…and willthe crisis in Israel and Palestine has moved into a new
guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, educationphase of oppression of the Palestinian people. This will
and culture: it will safeguard the Holy places of allinevitably lead to unending cycles of violence and
religions, and it will be faithful to the principals of thecounter violence that are already spreading
Charter of the United Nations."throughout the Middle East and other parts of the
Jeff has consistently stated that, "Israel is a not aworld. We reject the heretical teachings of Christian
theocracy but is an Ethnocracy, meaning a countryZionism that facilitate and support these extremist
run and controlled by a national group with somepolicies as they advance a form of radical exclusivity
democratic elements but set up with Jews in controland perpetual war rather than the gospel of love,
and structured to keep them in control. The otherredemption and reconciliation taught by Jesus Christ.
day someone mentioned to me that all elections are"Rather than condemn the world to the doom of
bullshit everywhere and if the people in powerArmageddon we call upon everyone to liberate
actually thought elections would change things, theythemselves from ideologies of militarism and
would eliminate them!occupation and instead to pursue the healing of the
"One out of three Israeli children live below theworld. We call upon the Christians in churches on
poverty line. It's probably about 80% for Palestinians.every continent to prayerfully remember the
Jews are like everyone else, those who have beensuffering of the Palestinian and Israeli people, both of
abused grow up to be abusers. Things here havewhom are victims of occupation and militarism. The
been turned on their head: its victim mentality andrecent construction of the Israeli wall on Palestinian
denial about the occupation. Once Israelis accept theland precludes a viable Palestinian state.
fact that they are occupiers they will have to admit"Therefore, we commit ourselves to the following
their State Terrorism."principals as an alternative way: we affirm that all
"Christian Fundamentalism is a big problem. Johnpeople are created in the image of God and called to
Hagee and Falwell have established Christians Unitedhonor the dignity and respect the equal rights of
for Israel and they are the Christian AIPAC. There's aevery human being.
big meeting happening in D.C. which Israel supports"We call upon people of good will everywhere to
with big money. They are the ones you need toreject the theology of Christian Zionism and all parallel
interact with."religious and ideological fundamentalisms that privilege
We conversed on how I should go about this anda particular people at the expense of others.
then I ask Jeff to look into the future and he"We are committed to the power of non-violent
responded, "I think things will blow before people willresistance to defeat the occupation and attain a just
wake up about the injustice which is just notand lasting peace.
sustainable. That is the hopeful part about this"With renewed urgency we warn that the theology
conflict; it will end, for injustice is unsustainable."of Christian Zionism is leading to the moral justification
After I left Jeff I walked down to the Zionistof empire, colonization, apartheid and oppression.
International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem which is a"The ideal and best solution has always been to
group of fundamentalists who financially supportenvisage ultimately a bi-national state in
Israel's policy of Aliyah: the immigration andPalestine-Israel where people are free and equal, living
absorption of Jews. I hoped to ask them aboutunder a constitutional democracy that protects and
supporting the UN Resolution affirming the right ofguarantees all their rights, responsibilities and duties
return to Palestinian refugees but no one waswithout racism or discrimination-one state for two
available to speak to me. I left my card and hopednations and three religions.
someone there would read the WAWA blog and"Justice alone guarantees a peace that will lead to
interact with me. So far, no takers.reconciliation and a life of security and prosperity for
Every right thinking Christian understands thatall the peoples of the land. Working for peace makes
Christian Zionism is a modern theological and politicalus children of God.- April 18, 2004 statement from
movement that embraces the most extremethe 5th International Sabeel Conference "Challenging
ideological positions of Zionism which is detrimental toChristian Zionism"
a just peace within Israel Palestine. TheseThis reporter returns to the Occupied Palestinian
fundamentalists share a worldview that preaches aTerritories November 1-13, 2006 to report on
gospel identified with the ideology of empire,Sabeel's 6th International Conference: The Forgotten
colonialism and militarism. This is not the Gospel ChristFaithful, who are the Palestinian Christians.