MIDDLEEAST CRISIS. CHALLENGE CONSCIENCE OF ‘WE THE PEOPLE’ OF THE WORLD
Wars and peace are not merely physical or political phenomena; they are deeply rooted in the human psyche. They originate in the minds of individuals, shaped by their emotions, beliefs, and the extent of their spiritual and personal development. The quest for war or peace in any given mind is directly linked to the level of emancipation and growth that individual has achieved. Life, in essence, is an experiment with truth, a journey where we seek to align ourselves with what is true and just. Every misstep on this path disrupts not only personal peace but also the collective harmony of the world.
In the current political climate, especially in the Middle East, we see leaders driven more by emotions of hatred, fear, and self-interest than by a sense of moral duty or truth. This trend has led to a global pattern where opportunism, manipulation, and the exercise of raw power blur the lines between what is right and what is wrong. Modern advances in communication and technology have further facilitated the distortion of truth, allowing the cunning and deceitful to present falsehoods as truth. Predators are portrayed as victims, while the unscrupulous are often lauded as paragons of virtue. This moral inversion forces us to ask: who is responsible for this situation?
Do we, as a global society, possess a shared moral compass to guide our actions and decisions? Should we not come together to reassess and establish a unified understanding of justice and ethical conduct on the international stage? There exists within each of us a deep, instinctive urge to pursue truth and justice, a drive that has historically propelled human progress—morally, spiritually, and technologically. When we witness acts of injustice, our conscience, attuned to a “truth beat,” compels us to respond. Failure to do so brings about a sense of inner turmoil and suffering, both for the individual and for society at large.
The political and religious institutions of the world have failed to establish lasting peace in the Middle East. Theologies, which once served as moral guides, have become corrupted and distorted. Religious leaders across all faiths have misinterpreted sacred texts and history, confused their followers and exacerbated the crisis. This distortion has blurred the ethical lines for many, creating a situation that demands not only political resolution but spiritual and moral introspection. It is not just the Israelis and Palestinians who need to reflect but all stakeholders involved in this prolonged conflict.
A thorough, objective examination of historical events is necessary to understand how we arrived at this point. Such an analysis must rise above ethnic and religious affiliations, requiring each party involved to acknowledge their wrongdoings. Remorse, forgiveness, and reconciliation are crucial to moving forward. This quest for peace must be rooted in the pursuit of truth, drawing inspiration from figures like Jesus and Gandhi, who both lived and died for the principles of nonviolence and justice.
Historical Context and Reflections
1. Discrimination against Jews: The persecution of Jews, which persisted globally well into the 20th century, often fueled by certain Christian institutions, was a betrayal of both Jesus Christ’s teachings and basic human values. The Christian community’s role in fostering an environment of hatred that contributed, however indirectly, to the rise of figures like Adolf Hitler, must not be overlooked. Even today, remnants of this hatred persist, such as Holy Week prayers in some churches that continue to vilify Jews. It is the responsibility of the civilized world to eradicate these remnants of hate from our collective consciousness.
2. The Zionist Movement: The Zionist movement’s goal of establishing a separate Jewish state in Palestine, initiated in 1885, was, in retrospect, a misguided endeavor. While Jews have an undeniable right to live in peace and free from discrimination in the lands of their birth, the creation of a separate nation at the expense of Palestinians who had lived there for centuries was unjust. This displacement sowed seeds of resentment that continue to bear bitter fruit today.
3. No Nation Based on Religion: One of the key lessons to learn from this conflict is that the creation of any nation based on religious identity is inherently problematic. Whether it’s the notion of Jewish exceptionalism, the caste system infested Hindutva in India, Salvation only for Muslims theology or apartheid in South Africa, all of these are manifestations of a dangerous superiority complex. Such attitudes are as harmful to society as an inferiority complex is to the individual. Nations and societies should be built on shared values, not exclusive religious identities of theology of superiority of one over the other.
4. Palestinian Refugees: The displacement of millions of Palestinians following the creation of Israel in 1948 and the subsequent influx of Jewish immigrants into Palestinian lands has exacerbated the crisis. Despite international promises, such as the Balfour Declaration, which assured the rights of the non-Jewish communities in Palestine, many Palestinians found themselves stateless and living as refugees. Their suffering, largely ignored by the international community, led to the growth of hatred toward Israel, fueling a cycle of violence that continues to this day.
5. Global Indifference: The world’s response to the plight of the Palestinians has been largely inadequate, perhaps due to the sympathy extended to Jews in the aftermath of the Holocaust. However, the global community’s failure to address Palestinian suffering is inexcusable. Sympathizing with one group’s suffering does not justify the infliction of suffering on another.
6. The United Nations Resolution 181 (1947): The U.N.’s plan for partition, which proposed the creation of separate Jewish and Palestinian states, was a practical solution to the conflict. However, Israel’s unilateral declaration of statehood in 1948, without implementing the resolution’s full provisions, further complicated the situation. The Palestinian people continue to bear the brunt of this oversight, with many still living as refugees to this day. The United Nations has passed nearly 90 resolutions concerning the Middle East crisis, many of which met with refusal by Israel to comply with. Israel’s reluctance to halt Jewish settlements in captured lands has raised serious concerns about its commitment to justice.
7. Nonviolent Struggles: The unfortunate turn toward violence by some Palestinian factions, while born out of despair, has eroded the international sympathy they once enjoyed. The teachings of nonviolent leaders like Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela seem to have had little influence on the region. Violent resistance, especially targeting civilians, only undermines the legitimate grievances of the Palestinian people and makes peace harder to achieve.
8. Failure of Christian church to stand witness for truth. The attempt of certain sections of the Christian Church blindly supporting Jews quoting bible is very condemnable. It only shows how the holy bible is being misinterpreted by these self-styled pundits. Their actions will drive away the free-thinking faithful particularly the youth, from the Church and eventually from God. It is hard to understand why the Christian community is failing to stand witness for truth as Jesus did and commanded them to follow His path. It is not true that almighty God has selected Jews, a tiny section of the human race as his chosen people and has been leading them as commander in chief guiding them to shower all types of cruelties on non-Jewish people. It is wrong to believe that Jesus Christ, the embodiment of truth, and as Christian’s believe, the embodiment of Almighty God Himself, would endorse the actions of the hardcore ultra-right Jews annihilating the Palestinians especially the women and children. Jesus taught that God is LOVE , unconditional, eternal and without borders. He exposed the Jewish stigma of looking down on the non -Jewish people. Just look at the stories of the Good Samaritan, the Knanaaya widow etc. He requested drinking water from a knanaya women and drank it. Obviously, he came to the world to show and teach that all human beings are created equal
Path to Peace
The solution lies in mutual recognition and the upholding of justice:
1. Israel and the West must recognize that might does not equate to right. The use of military power to impose solutions, without considering justice for Palestinians, will only perpetuate the cycle of violence.
2. The international community must stand for what is just and right, not for opportunistic interests. The media, governments, and institutions must reflect this commitment in their policies and actions.
3. Religious institutions, especially the Christian Church, need to stand for truth. Blindly supporting any party in the conflict due to religious dogma, while ignoring justice and truth, is deeply harmful. This failure to stand witness to truth alienates young believers and erodes the moral authority of these institutions.
4. Empathy and Reconciliation: The way forward requires a profound shift in both Israeli and Palestinian societies. Both must embrace empathy for each other’s suffering and acknowledge their shared humanity. Only through mutual understanding, forgiveness, and the rejection of violence can true peace be realized. Jews should understand that a peaceful existence is not possible without understanding the Palestinian cause and treating them as equals. The outstanding capability of the Jewish community in transforming desert to paradise like place should be used to lead communities including Arabs to prosperity. The Palestinian people should denounce and discard violence. The Islamic countries and clergy should stop aiding them to engage in violent methods to claim their rights
Amidst the chaos of political maneuvering and violence, it is the ordinary people—the Jews and Palestinians—who must awaken to their shared destiny. They must foster empathy, shed hatred, and work toward a future based on justice and coexistence.
Leaders may have failed, but the power for peace resides in the hearts of individuals, we the people