Travis M. Clark

As previously mentioned, I spent a couple of weeks in the Middle East – specifically Israel & Palestine – in May 2007. It was there that I signed up to for two separate email newsletters: one was with a Christian-Palestinian reconciliation group Musalaha and the other at a Jewish shop in Jerusalem called Shorashim.

With the current events from the Gaza-Israel conflict going on, it’s been a busy time for both newsletters – Shorashim has been emailing daily updates and Mushala just sent something out the other day. Taking a look at what both are saying gives an interesting look into what both sides think and perceive towards what is going on. The first is an excerpt from Shorashim:

Major Roee Rosner, 27, from Holon was killed and another soldier sustained minor injuries during an operation in the central Gaza Strip, Thursday.The incident took place near the Kissufim crossing. Rosner, a company commander, and another serviceman, were wounded when an anti-tank missile was fired by Palestinian gunmen at a building their force, which is part of the IDF’s Haruv Company, was entering.The Haruv Company is part of the IDF’s Kfir Brigade. The company was in training when its forces were called to take part in Operation Cast Lead. Kfir Brigade companies are usually deployed in the West Bank.

My condolences go out to the soldier and his family. War is a terrible and tragic thing that I cannot begin to understand or comprehend. This is the type of thing that Shorashim mentions – it is usually lamenting and mourning the loss of whatever Israeli soldier may have passed away in the conflict. The point I’d like to raise is that while this soldier must be laid to rest, the death toll has risen to over 500 for Palestinians in Gaza. And that’s where Musalaha’s point is raised:

The Palestinians claim that though Israel left the Gaza Strip in 2006, the army is still controlling the borders making it the biggest open-air prison in the world. In the last 18-months, 1.5 million Palestinians have been under siege and were prevented from receiving sufficient water, medical aid and food supply. For the Palestinians, Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza was just an excuse to expand their control in the West Bank and build further settlements. The Palestinians also believe they have a right to self-defense. For them, the Israeli reaction is disproportionate. The number of Israelis killed cannot be compared to the hundreds of Palestinians killed.

To compare the death and destruction that the Palestinians in Gaza have suffered through with the losses of Israeli soldiers would be comparing apples and rocks. There isn’t anything to justify the tactics and loss of life incurred on the Palestinians. At least from my vantage point. With that in mind, how am I to know who is amongst the dead? And you can’t imagine Israel to go invade Gaza and expect no casualties to arise from the situation. It’s simply not logical. A group of my friends from school may try and venture to the holy land in May of this year – here’s hoping to stability and peace are once again restored in the lands.

What rings the true difference between these two sides is the faith element brought into it by Musalaha. As a Christian-Palestinian group, they aim to preach reconciliation and forgiveness between the two sides. They last few sentences ring true, calling both sides into action:

We need to attempt to relieve the pain of the innocent even if we feel our side’s reasoning for war is justified. Instead of pointing the finger, let us look within ourselves and repent. Then let us look at the other side with compassion and love, with a love that transcends societal boundaries, rocket fire and airstrikes.

That is taking a stand above finger-pointing, above using scapegoats, or anything else imaginable. Just owning up and resolving the issues that have plagued that part of the world for decades. Sounds pretty easy to me.