Sept. 14, 2009 issue
Famous visitor disappoints
By Kathleen Kern Christian Peacemaker TeamsPage:
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An Open Letter to Mike Huckabee:
Kathleen Kern, of Rochester, N.Y., serves with Christian Peacemaker Teams.
I wrote in a previous column that you were one of the 2008 presidential contenders I would most like to meet. I appreciate high-profile Christians modeling a good-natured sense of humor. My heart warmed to you when you said that, even though you disagreed with Barack Obama on most issues and did not want him to become president, you were excited, as someone who grew up in the segregated South, that a black man could become president.
So, my brother in Christ, your recent trip to Israel and the occupied territories has saddened me. Had you been just another U.S. politician pandering to the pro- Israel vote, I would have sighed and let it pass.
But you, Mike, whose faith in Jesus I believe to be sincere, who has witnessed the toxic effects of racism, how could you have chosen as your tour guides racists who believe it is acceptable to drive Palestinians off land their ancestors have farmed for centuries, to demolish their homes, to jail them without charges, to assault and kill them with impunity?
How could you have fraternized with Hebron settlers who danced in the streets when Baruch Goldstein slaughtered dozens of men and boys at prayer in 1994? With those who applauded the rabbi who spoke at Goldstein’s funeral and declared, “One million Arabs aren’t worth one Jewish fingernail.” How could you commiserate with Israeli families — who, you wrote, shouldn’t be told by the U.S. government that they “can’t add a nursery to their house when they welcome a new baby or … can’t add a classroom to their schoolhouse” — when thousands of Palestinian homes and schools have been destroyed or received demolition orders because a settlement moved in next door?
I have worked in Hebron with Christian Peacemaker Teams since 1995, and over the years have witnessed these settlers, faces alight with joy, attacking Palestinian children, women and men who happened to be outside at times when the settlers and their supporters achieved critical mass for rampages.
I and my coworkers, as well as Israeli police officers, journalists and human rights advocates, have also been attacked by these settlers — always with smiles on their faces. Those smiles haunt me more than the physical pain of the attacks.
CPT also has a project in the South Hebron Hills, where the Israeli government has been trying to wipe off the map thousand-year-old villages of shepherds and subsistence farmers who have mounted a creative nonviolent resistance to this expulsion that would have made Martin Luther King Jr. proud. We became involved with these villagers because settlers were attacking children as they walked to school in the village of At-Tuwani.
I implore you to reflect on what Jesus meant when he spoke in Matthew 25 about his followers’ responsibility to care for the least of these. I’m pretty sure that includes Palestinian schoolchildren under attack.
It includes Palestinian Christians — some of whom trace their family’s lineage back to Pentecost in the Book of Acts — who watch as fellow Christians applaud the denial of their human rights.
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Comments
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Regarding Ms. Kern's frequent criticism of Israel, the land Israel now occupies was deeded to a people, chosen by God. God then entered into an everlasting covenant with them. God repeatedly uses the word 'everlasting' in Genesis in reference to the covenant.
A careful study of the Bible reveals that Israel currently occupies only a fraction of the land God deeded to his people. Therefore, the land which is currently occupied by the Palestinians really belongs to Israel. Someone needs to tell them.
God also states clearly in the last verses of Ex 23 that his chosen people should never make a covenant with those nations who occupy the deeded land. Today's Israel should avoid entering into any peace talks. They need to hold on to every inch of ground they now occupy. There is plenty of other space, outside current Israel, available for Palestinians to occupy and develop.
Of all the nations that occupied the land, deeded by God to his people, only the Jew has remained a separate people in the world today. It is truly remarkable that the Jews, driven from their homeland centuries ago, again became a nation on their deeded ground, May 14, 1948. This had to be God telling the world, if you are smart, don't mess with my people.
In Genesis 16:12, God speaks to Hagar regarding her son Ishmael and his descendents, "And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren".
God also states clearly in Genesis 12:3, "And I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee, and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed". Although Ms Kern is not cursing Israel, I am believing it to not be a good idea for her, a non-Jew, or any non-Jew, to criticize God's chosen people.
If Christian Peacemaker Teams are looking for areas needing peace and justice assistance, I suggest they go into those countries and support Christians who are being beaten and killed for their faith.
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I must agree in so far that any message to or about Israel must 1) affirm Israel's right to a secure existence and condemn the usage of terror as a tactic. Sometimes it seems like CPT tends to de-emphasize these factors in their reporting and calls to action.
That said, it is also important to address the Palestinian issue in a constructive manner that values Palestinians fully as human beings. Israel has failed to do this since its inception in 1848 [1948 is the correct year of Israel's independence as a modern nation-state. — editor]. Just as Palestinians cannot claim to be working for peace while launching rockets at Israeli settlements, Israel cannot claim to be working for peace while building new settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Israel has always been dependent on aid--both monetary and military--from the West. This aid has been the determining factor at just about every point. While I believe that our aid to Israel should continue, it is also in Israel's best interests to find some sort of viable path to peace.
Finally, I can but wonder about the "disappointment" in Mike Huckabee. I do not agree with what he did, but I cannot say I am "disappointed." "Irritated" perhaps, but "disappointment" would imply that I had expected differently from Mr. Huckabee. His previous statements left little reason to expect differently.
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I might add, though, that I fully disagree with Dale's statement that "it [is] not a good idea for... ...any non-Jew to criticize God's chosen people."
Last I checked, we all worship the same God, whether Christian, Muslim, or Jewish. Spiritually, we are all children of Abraham and of Moses. Therefore, we all fall under the same commandments and word, which Jesus' life embodied. We are all God's chosen.
The very concept of human rights and dignity come from our faith and from the commandments in the Bible. Actions which violate human rights fail to keep the faith. As such, they are absolutely grounds for criticism.
Dale, you have repeatedly demonstrated a pressing need to pass judgment and condemn anything that is not to your liking. I am amazed that you, of all people, would be against criticizing wrong actions.
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Dale, you never fail to drive me to the Bible for further study. Thanks! I need it! It is thrilling! It would be helpful if you did "a careful study of the Bible". In Genesis 12:3, that you refer to, there is the phrase "a great nation." In Genesis 17:2-8 "many nations" (plural) is stated 3 times. So why the emphasis upon one nation (Israel) today? That argument does not stand up under "a careful study of the Bible".
You write, "God repeatedly uses the word 'everlasting' in Genesis in reference to the covenant." The word "everlasting" appears in Genesis 8 times. Three times it is connected with the covenant to Abraham. "Everlasting covenant" does not appear until Genesis 17:7 in relation to Abraham. The first time it appears is in regards to the rainbow, Genesis 9:16. The first covenant (my covenant) God established with Noah. "My covenant" (or variations) (everlasting is not attached to it) appears 13 times--9 times before Genesis 17:7. "Covenant" or "a covenant" or "the covenant" appears 5 more times, but not always with Abraham or his descendants.
The promise of Genesis 12:3 is explained in Genesis 26:5 ". . . because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws".
The children of Israel could not go into the land of Canaan unless they kept the Lord's commands. Deut. 6:17. The command to keep God's commandments comes many times in the OT and the NT. Disobedience brings consequences. Israel disobeyed many times!
In the New Testament we no longer keep the feasts, the Saturday Sabbath, the sacrifices, the stoneings to death, etc. that were commanded in the Old Testament.
In 1 Peter 2:9, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you our of darkness into his wonderful light." Is that referring to the Jews? No, it is Christians. We are a chosen people. Or did not God choose us? Yes, before the foundations of the earth.
I agree with Dale and Jim, we should not criticize God's chosen people. That is why I decided some time ago that on this site I would no longer criticize. But if you do not "correctly handles (plural in NIV) the word of truth", you will probably see my writing again.
God made his covenant with his chosen people in the Old Testament, if they kept his commandments. Genesis 12:3 is to Abraham, not all the chosen people.
Some people like to cherry pick what suits their already-made-up-minds, but the Bible is not cherries. It is the Word of God. Some say it is inerrant, and then they change its meaning and what the Bible says.
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Les- One point of clarification. Criticism is part of healthy dialogue and discussion, and quite necessary if one sees someone else acting wrongly, particularly if others are harmed by those actions. I am mainly saying that criticism does not have to be adversarial, as it would seem that Dale is stating.
Finally, apologies for the typo above. Yes, Israel was granted nationhood in 1948.
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I believe the Palestinian people are encouraged by Arab extremists to be confrontational to the Israeli people to provoke responses by Israeli military that are then judged, by some, to violate human rights.
To those who believe that Christian, Muslims and Jews all worship the same God, Jesus says He is the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Him. John 10, He is the door and the good shepherd, John 11, He is the resurrection. In addition, we have John 3:16 and Romans 10:9. These and many other scriptures state clearly that Jesus is the devine Son of God, therefore, He is God in the flesh who came here to die and shed his blood for our sins. Further, the shed blood of Jesus must first cleanse the individual's heart of sin for the Holy Spirit to take up residence. Otherwise, the individual is not a born again child of God.
Christians consider the Bible to be the inspired and infallible Word of God, therefore it is reliable for reproof and instruction in rightousnes. No other religion having another book can make that claim.
For those who are believing that lasting peace in the middle east can be accomplished if Israel withdraws from the West Bank, consider EVIL APPEASED IS NEVER SATISFIED. PEACE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF TROUBLE, BUT THE PRESENCE OF GOD. Jesus says, "Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? Nay, but rather division. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world griveth, give I unto you." And now the warning in I Th 5:3, For when they shall say, peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Anyone who listened to the speeches of Netanyahu of Israel and Ahmadinejad of Iran at the UN this week should clearly understand there is no basis for peace. Can there be any hope of peace when Ahmadinejad, a man of hate, acknowledges Iran continues to develop nuclear capibilities, continues to discount the Holocaust and repeatedly expresses his desire to wipe Israel off the map. Further, a man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.
If someone wants to judge my opinions as passing judgment, so be it. When things I read are not aligned with the Bible, I will speak up.
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Dale, you make several false assumptions here. First is that Jews and Muslims do not read the Bible and do not worship the same God. Second, you assume that a demagogue like Ahmadinejad of Iran speaks for the entire Middle East, and that the disappearance of Israel continues to be the guiding principle of the Arab world. Third, you assume that those who criticize Israel are calling for its existence to cease. I addressed the third point above, and while I cannot speak for everyone, most people do not desire an end to Israel.
Jews have the Old Testament, as do Christians and Muslims. Jews also have the Talmud, which is a collection of cases throughout history that provide illustration to the application of God's law, but it is all based on faith in God. Now one can argue, as Dale seems to in his last statement, that Judaism is invalid, but then how can they also be the chosen? How can a people who are dedicated to following God's law as an act of faith in God, and who believe forgiveness is readily available in teshuvah--repentance--be outside faith in the God of Abraham?
Just as Christians, Muslims recognize the validity of the New Testament. They share the idea that faith in Christ is a necessary part of salvation, even if they do not assign the same level of divinity to Christ. Muslims have the Koran, given by the prophet Mohammad, but its passages do not contradict the previously given testaments. Like Christians and Jews, Muslims believe that forgiveness comes from repentance to God. How are Muslims outside faith in the God of Abraham?
Historical fact does not support Dale's summation of Palestine's situation in the Arab world. To be sure, Palestine has been a rallying point for the Arab nationalist movement in the past, and some rogue Arab leaders have made reference the Palestinian plight to rally populist support at home, but the disappearance of Israel is no longer widely supported, and no major move has been made to threaten Israel since the 1973 Yom Kippur war. Saddam tried in 1990, but no one supported him. Indeed, the Arab world is moving toward peace.
The Arab Peace Initiative of 2002 calls for a dual-state solution that would maintain Israel as a nation and grant Palestinian independence. Israel would have to find a “just settlement” for the Palestinian refugee crisis—something that Israel created in 1948 (See Benny Morris, 1948)—and withdraw from the occupied West Bank, Golan Heights, and Gaza Strip. In return, relations with all Arab countries would be normalized. (Full text is available online.) Egypt and Jordan have already normalized relations, in 1979 and 1994, respectively. Peace is therefore a matter of Israel and Palestine settling their differences in a just manner, and should be of good incentive for both parties.
Ahmadinijad continues to threaten Israel, although this tactic has brought him neither domestic nor foreign policy success. He is hated at home—note the protests—and isolated in the Arab world. Why should Netanyahu allow the leader of Iran to hinder negotiations between Israel and Palestine for peace? Moreover, a meaningful peace settlement between Israel and Palestine would effectively tear the rug from under Ahmadinijad.
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Jim,in your first paragraph you indicate I made several false assumptions. I have no desire to play the assumpton game because I consider it an excercise in futility. Therefore I choose not to respond to any other items in your comments.
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Dale, have it your way. Nevertheless, I would recommend a few books for you or whoever else is interested in the subject. These historians are considered authorities on the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Benny Morris, 1948. Eugene Rogan and Avi Schlaim, The War for Palestine. Avraham Sela, Middle East Politics and the Quest for Regional Order.
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