Tag: West Bank

A Christian Look at the War Against Gaza: Episode Nine with Dr. David Crump

Rob Dalrymple has become a good friend of mine, so it was fun to do this interview with him. We began with a few technical difficulties, but it smooths out quickly.

We discuss several different but related topics: Palestinian life in the Occupied Territory of the West Bank; Christian Zionism and its relation to the modern state of Israel; the current war against Gaza; and the ethical demands for citizenship in the kingdom of God today.

I hope you find this conversation interesting, challenging and educational. I pray that it will move you to action in protesting the current war, calling for a ceasefire and negotiations.

Call you elected representatives and ask them to please demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

17 Year Old Boy Murdered in Aida Refugee Camp

Aida Refugee Camp is where Terry and I live when visiting the West Bank and Israel. It is filled with children.

Yesterday we received the following email informing us that one of these children had been murdered by Israeli soldiers.

As shocking as this story may be — and I hope it does shock you — I am sorry to say that its details are not unusual. We live in a cruel world where average, ordinary people commit horrible acts of cruelty every day.

Below is the email. (Emphasis is mine):

Dear friends,

This morning, just after fajr prayers, the seventeen-year-old
Mohammed Ali Aziah from Aida camp was killed by an Israeli sniper.
Mohammed, who was in his last year of high school, was shot when he
was on the roof of his house to study. The occupation soldiers raided
the camp, and placed snipers of rooftops and the watchtower next to
the UNRWA school and clinic.

After Mohammed was shot in the chest, the occupation army
prevented the Red Crescent ambulance from entering the camp, and
instead moved Mohammed’s critically injured body near the great key
of return. He had to wait there until the occupation authorities
arrested him and took him away. Mohammed died from his injuries
shortly after.

We are devastated by the senseless death of Mohammed, who was still
a child and had a bright future ahead of him.

During the raid that killed Mohammed, five people from Aida camp
were arrested, bringing the total of arrests from Aida and Al-Azza camp to 65. One of them is 32-year-old Hanin Al-Massaeed. She is the
first woman who was arrested from our community, and we are
worried about her well-being after worrying reports of physical
violence against women in Israeli prisons.

Please keep calling out to politicians and institutions in your country to
release Palestinian political prisoners, and end this injustice and
suffering.

Best wishes,
Anas Abu Srour
Director of Aida Youth Center

A Christian Look at the War Against Gaza: Episode Seven with Lisa Loden and Richard Harvey

My friends Lisa Loden and Richard Harvey are both Jewish Christians. Lisa lives in Israel. Richard resides in England.

Today Rob talks with them about their Jewish, Christian perspectives on the current war. Their commitment to following Jesus as the Prince of Peace during a time of war provides a powerful testimony to the presence of God’s kingdom in this world.

I will make only a few brief comments of my own to follow up on some of the issues raised in the interview:

First, I believe it is long past time to stop using the history of Jewish suffering, as horrific as it is, to excuse Israel’s current oppression of the Palestinian people.

Second, by Richard’s own definition of terrorism, Israel is now committing acts of terrorism against the people of Gaza.

Finally, I completely agree with Lisa when she says that this war is not about Israel’s self-defense.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

A Christian Look at the War Against Gaza: Episode Six with Jonathan Kuttab

Jonathan Kuttab is a Palestinian Christian from East Jerusalem. He is a human rights lawyer who has practiced law in the USA, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Jonathan is also the author of several books, including Beyond the Two State Solution, which I highly recommend.

Today Rob talks with Jonathan about the war against Gaza, the death of the two-state solution, as well as his Christian commitment to non-violent living in the kingdom of God.

Former Israeli Peace Negotiator Critiques the Storyline of Israeli Victimhood and Promotes a One-State Solution

Daniel Levy worked as a peace negotiator for Israel in the days when such negotiations were taking place.

Here are two short clips where Mr. Levy expresses a few hard truths about Israel/Palestine.

Kim Iversen Shares What She Learned When She Visited the West Bank

Ms. Iversen not only describes what she saw in the Occupied Territory, she also reads the moving descriptions of Palestinian suffering posted by others.

Palestinians are human beings too.

Israeli Violence Against Palestinians Increases Throughout the West Bank

Journalist Nida Ibrahim describes and illustrates the escalating violence against Palestinians that is spreading throughout the West Bank, one of the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Reposting: Israelis filmed abusing bodies of Palestinian fighters

I understand that this video is being blocked when folks try to access it through this post.

Try this instead: Open your computer and place the following url address into your web brouser. Do not include the quotation marks at the beginning and end of the url address. I’ve only added those to prevent the video’s transfer into this post. Capich? The video should come up.

“https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efgSONavf90”

This video is grotesque. Here is my advisory warning.

To watch the video, click the link. It will take you to the YouTube page for viewing.

It shows severe violence, both in actions and language, directed against Palestinians by both Israeli soldiers and Jewish settlers in the West Bank.

This is not unusual.

I apologize for the severe nature of the video. But I think it is important to see that this is real life for Palestinians in the Occupied Territories.

A Christian Look at the War in Gaza: Episode Four with Saleem Anfous

Today in episode four Rob Dalrymple interviews Saleem Anfous. Saleem is a Palestinian Christian who lives near Bethlehem in the West Bank. He works as a tourguide and describes what it is like to live under Israeli military occupation.

Notice how Saleem is not filled with hopelessness or despair. He is realistic. But his hope is in Jesus Christ.

A Christian Look at the War in Gaza: Episode Three with Dr. Bruce Fisk

Tonight Dr. Rob Dalrymple interviews another good friend of mine, Dr. Bruce Fisk. They discuss a wide range of issues, including the founding of modern Israel, the history of Hamas, and Christian Zionist beliefs in Israel’s “favored nation” status with God.

Check it out. It will be well worth your time.