Giving peace a small chance in the Middle East

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March 2002

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Giving peace a small chance in the Middle East
The distinction between optimism and hope is crucial when considering the possibility of peace in the Middle East. Few observers are optimistic, but those with faith, like Jesuit Father Drew Christiansen, try to remain hopeful. "We're not optimistic because the evidence is not there," he says. "But, on theological grounds, we have the virtue of hope, that God can do things we can't do."

A glance at any newspaper reveals the reason for a lack of optimism. Israeli army attacks against Palestinians seem to grow more intense and frequent—especially since September 11—and the so-called "second intifada" rages on, with no shortage of suicide bombers willing to resist Israeli occupation with their lives and the lives of anyone else unlucky enough to be standing nearby. With daily reports of the rising death toll, too often taking young children as innocent victims, it's easy to lose hope.

But Christiansen, a senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center in Washington D.C. and an advisor to the U.S. bishops on the Middle East, believes peace between Israelis and Palestinians is possible. "The question is whether there can be sufficient justice to prevent outbreaks of violence," he says. "The mistrust is enormous on both sides. People in the U.S. don't understand the level of violence in the occupation that leads to the violence of the suicide bombers."

Ending the occupation is key, says Ben Rempell, assistant coordinator for the Interfaith Peacebuilders Program sponsored by the Fellowship of Reconciliation, an interfaith pacifist organization. The project sends delegations of peace activists to Israel and Palestine to learn about the conflict and to advocate for a more engaged U.S. policy when they return. "The occupation is really the root of a lot of the violence in the region," he says.

But Rempell saw signs of hope during his most recent trip just a month ago. He was encouraged to hear some Israelis speaking out for peace, including army reservists who are refusing to serve in the occupied territories. He also met with some Palestinians willing to consider nonviolent resistance. "But they need to hold on to the right to resist the occupation," Rempell explains. "Nonviolence has a bad connotation because of the way it's been used by America and Israel. It doesn't mean to give up or stop resisting."

The new land-for-peace proposal by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah "has some promise," says Christiansen. The proposal offers normalization of relations between Arabs and Israel in exchange for a return to pre-1967 borders. But many doubt the proposal will be accepted by both sides. "I think it will be rejected by those who don't want a peace agreement," Christiansen says.

Although it may not be the vehicle that will ultimately bring peace to the region, Abdullah's proposal is a "wonderful first step," says Rempell. "I'm optimistic about it reframing the discourse about Palestine and Israel toward a more just solution."

Few doubt that such a solution will be reached without the assistance of the United States. The U.S. bishops have urged engagement by the U.S. government and the international community. "This decades-old conflict must receive urgent attention from all parties, including the United States, to put an end to the violence and to return to comprehensive negotiations leading to a just and peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that respects human rights and international law," the bishops wrote in their pastoral message after September 11.

The bishops support both the establishment of a viable state for Palestinians and real security for Israel. Moving toward that compromise will take a real commitment to peace negotiations—something Rempell is convinced will not happen under Israel's current leadership. He also believes the situation might get worse before it gets better. "There are a lot of things that are going to have to be worked out, even if there's an end to the occupation," he says.

"A lot has to happen," Christiansen agrees. "The problem is you need 10 deeds of peace to overcome one deed of violence."—Heidi Schlumpf

For more information:
USCCB list of documents on the Middle East
U.S. bishops post-9/11 statement
Fellowship of Reconciliation
FOR's Interfaith Peacebuilders Program
Woodstock Theological Center

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