by Kaitlin Neese
The situation in Israel and Palestine has been going on since October. Wars can be scary and confusing, especially for college students navigating their lives. Dr. Jared Burkholder, professor of history and program director for history and political science, explained the historical complexity of the conflict in Israel.
Polarized Opinions
In our polarized world, there is a lot of pressure to sympathize entirely with one side or the other. Often people see political conflicts as black and white without considering the moral complexities that always exist during times of war. Burkholder advised to be sensitive to the crisis Israelis are experiencing and the crisis the Palestinian people continue to face as the war expands.
The Challenge of a Two-State Solution
For decades there has been talk of a two-state solution that would allow the Palestinian territories to become a sovereign nation alongside Israel. This solution seems unrealistic given the increasing numbers of Israeli settlement developments primarily in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. These settlements (outside Gaza) have resulted in the two populations becoming intermingled, making it difficult to see how future boundaries might be drawn.
Religious Diversity
Burkholder said it might be tempting to see this conflict as solely about Muslims and Jews and therefore less relevant to us as Christians. But there are also Palestinian Christians, mostly Greek Orthodox, who live in Gaza and are suffering alongside their Muslim neighbors. Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza City, for example, recently sustained damage from bombs. Though all human suffering is tragic, it is easier to empathize with our fellow Christians who are in harm’s way.
Anti-American Feelings, Israel and Terrorism
How can we explain why there is so much anti-American and anti-Israel feeling in the Middle East? According to Burkholder, history can help us understand this, but much of it is fairly recent, only since the two World Wars. Since the Allies won, much of this territory came under the control of western nations. This led to the United Nations creating the modern state of Israel in 1948 where Palestinians were already living. The majority opinion among Palestinians is that western involvement is a form of colonialism and they see the modern state of Israel as a result of this effort to colonize and subjugate them. This sense of injustice fuels terrorist attacks like those carried out by Hamas. While terrorism is never OK, understanding there is a historical reason why it happens can help us work toward a more peaceful approach to the issue.
Developing A Lens of Understanding
Burkholder encourages us to look at the whole picture. This means understanding all of the reasons behind the conflict, even if they seem complicated.
As we try to understand what is happening in Israel and Palestine, remember the situation involves real people who are losing loved ones as a consequence of the war. Burkholder’s advice is a reminder to reflect on how we can be compassionate and to listen to different perspectives. We are called to love as Jesus loves us.
John 13:34 (ESV) says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are to love one another.” Having a lens of compassion and understanding will help us to love others during times of hardship and difficult situations.
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