Faith
Understanding Barriers to Lasting Peace in Israel
Faith Facts
- Biblical truth calls for honesty in identifying obstacles to peace.
- Numerous historic peace offers to Palestinians have been rejected by their leaders.
- Official documents still call for struggle instead of peaceful coexistence.
Christian leaders recently called for a ceasefire in Gaza, suggesting that lasting peace depends on Israel’s actions and a change in attitude. They stated, “A credible peace must start with a ceasefire, but it will not last without a fundamental shift in the attitudes and behaviours that, for too long, have maintained Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory and thwarted Palestinian self-determination and statehood.”
However, history shows that the path to peace has been repeatedly hindered by Palestinian leadership rejecting viable two-state solutions offered in 1937, 1947, and several times since 1993. Israel fully withdrew from Gaza in 2005, granting the opportunity for Palestinian self-governance, yet conflict continued.
Much of the resistance to long-term peace is rooted in foundational Palestinian documents. The 1968 Palestinian National Charter states, “Armed struggle is the only way to liberate Palestine,” and sets out a call for continued conflict as a central strategy.
The charter highlights, “Absolute responsibility for this falls upon the Arab nation – peoples and governments – with the Arab people of Palestine in the vanguard.”
The Hamas Covenant echoes this sentiment, declaring the land as an Islamic trust and rejecting peace agreements. It reads, “The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf consecrated for future Moslem generations until Judgement Day. It, or any part of it, should not be squandered: it, or any part of it, should not be given up.”
Christians are called to promote honest dialogue and faithful prayer for all those suffering in conflict. True pathways to peace require transformation of hearts in accordance with Biblical mercy and justice.