Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
The entrenched positions of Israelis and Palestinians are a result of perceived intransigence on both sides and a history of violent conflict and missed opportunities for peace. Much of the discourse on both sides appeals to instincts rather than intelligence, entrenching hatred at the expense of encouraging human understanding. In recent years this has been exacerbated by the latest intifada, which reignited after the riots at al-Aqsa mosque in September 2000. Israel’s construction of the 'separation barrier ' has increased Palestinian resentment and has been seen as an excuse for Israel to make territorial gains beyond its 1967 borders. Ongoing statelessness, meanwhile, leaves the Palestinians without protection and without rights such as freedom of movement.
Recent years have been characterized by increased barriers to contact and understanding. A principal constraint to peace in the Middle East is therefore the incompatibility of each side’s perceived needs, particularly Israel’s perceived need for security and the Palestinians’ perceived need for freedom and statehood. The status of Jerusalem and the issue of refugee further complicate matters. Recent events in the region – Hamas’ political successes and the Israeli invasion of Gaza – make it essential to improve and increase opportunities for informal contact and non-threatening dialogue.
Concordis International ‘treads carefully’ on the Israeli/Palestinian issue, not wishing to duplicate effort, but seeks opportunities to contribute. For example, we assisted the Annapolis Friends Peace and Justice Center with expert advice on its work with the Palestinian/Israeli Geneva Initiative, bringing Palestinian and Israeli together for three days of intensive discussions in August 2008 on the difficult issue of access to water supplies.
We continue to allocate limited resources to continuing research and maintaining a network of contacts in the region. Our activities have included:
- Advice in 2008 to those facilitating dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian specialists on equitable access to water resources;
- A consultation in September 2009 on the role of UK churches in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, bringing together experts and leaders from UK churches with an interest in the area, in order to seek common ground on theological and other issues that divide Christians and convince them to promote the Bible's view on peace;
- A booklet currently in preparation that informs British Christians regarding common ground and areas of difference on the conflict.
