Dear President Obama: Do not visit the Nativity Church

American President Barak Obama is planning to visit Bethlehem and the Nativity Church as part of his visit to Palestine/Israel. The church of the Nativity, of course, is not the only thing to see in Bethlehem. There are other important things to see. I suggest that as the President enters the town, from Jerusalem I presume, that he takes a look to his right, and he will see the Separation Wall. It is hard to miss. It is that ugly concrete structure that gives you the impression that you are inside a big prison. I am sure the President will notice how the Wall is killing life in Bethlehem, cutting deep into our neighborhoods.

As he continues on his way through the main street, I suggest he pays attention to his right, to the Azza refugee camp. I hope it reminds him of the misery of more than 5 million Palestinian refugees today, who are still waiting in hope for a just resolution to their suffering (see UN resolution 194). 

I know that the President is planning to visit the Nativity Church to pay homage to the child of Bethlehem. If so, then I would like to remind him of a story the person he is planning to give homage to once said - and it it the story of the Good Samaritan. It is a story about mercy. It is also a story about apathy. The two men who did not do mercy were religious. They were so occupied, it seems, with the religious task ahead, that they neglected to see the suffering of the man they passed by. I mention this story because we in Bethlehem are tired of people visiting our town on a daily basis on a "religious duty" without paying attention to the plight and suffering of the people of Bethlehem. This is why we were so moved by the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem. Would the President do the same? 

This is why I suggest, President Obama, and since your time in Palestine/Israel is so precious, that you visit other urgent places in Bethlehem. If this is about a religious duty, then there is nothing more religious than speaking the truth and working for justice and reconciliation. May I, therefore, suggest, that instead of visiting the church of the Nativity, that you go instead to the town of Beit Jala and visit the area of Cremesan. There you will hear from Palestinian Christians how they are fighting to keep their land from being confiscated, and maybe you can join them in their weekly prayer. You will be giving, after all, homage to the child of Bethlehem, when you show compassion, and work for peace and justice. It is Jesus who said after all: "Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God".

Christ at the Checkpoint III - Why Another Conference?

The third Christ at the Checkpoint conference will take place in Bethlehem in March 10-14, 2014. The conference will be organized by Bethlehem Bible College, and will follow the success of the first conference in 2010, and the second one in 2012. The theme of the conference will be "Christ at the Checkpoint III - Your Kingdom Come", which is based on the Lord's prayer.

So why are we doing a third conference? This is a question we asked ourselves as we were assessing the last conference and considering and planning the one in 2014. To begin with, the occupation, the wall, the checkpoint, and the conflict with its many aspects are still there! We cannot ignore our reality. Our call as Christians is to be peacemakers and to lovingly challenge all forms of injustice. Today it seems that the conflict is still far from being solved. In fact, over the last few years the situation has deteriorated. In the last year we have witnessed the Gaza war, severe economical struggles of the Palestinian National Authority, expansion of settlements, the Palestinian UN bid, and the continual deadlock of the peace process.

The situation in the wider Middle East is no different. The bloodshed continues in Syria, with no light in the horizon. Iraq and Egypt are in turmoil, and it is evident that the new "democratic" reality did not produce the hoped-for stability and freedom Arabs longed for, and in many cases Arab Christians are suffering as a result.

The level of hatred and animosity is also on the rise, and this, probably more than anything, is one of the biggest hinderances for peace and stability in Palestine/Israel and the Middle East. Radical and racist voices are becoming louder and louder, and we are in a desperate need of a new paradigm of hope, acceptance, and love. Sami Awad says it best:

For anything to move forward in the Holy Land, a relationship of trust and respect must be established between the peoples. Peace is not just negotiated agreements between politicians. Peace is the process of building trust and respect between the peoples of the land. To be able to see each other with new eyes. To be able to really understand who the “other” is. To appreciate them—their culture, their heritage, the narrative that they bring to the table. Trust and respect are the foundations.

It is with all of this in mind that we will meet at the checkpoint again in 2014. Christ at the Checkpoint is our attempt as Palestinian Christians to bring Jesus into our context, which we defined using the symbol of the checkpoint. We want to ask:

"What would Christ say and do if he is to stand in front of a checkpoint today?"
"What would his message be to the Palestinian crossing the checkpoint? And to the Israeli solder who is stopping him?"
"What is the Christian calling in the midst of this reality?"

We have chosen the phrase from the Lord's Prayer "Your Kingdom Come" as the theme of the coming conference. The Christ at the Checkpoint manifesto begins with: "The Kingdom of God has come. Evangelicals must reclaim the prophetic role in bringing peace, justice and reconciliation in Palestine and Israel."

Therefore, we also want to ask:

"How would the kingdom of God look like, today and now, in Palestine/Israel?"
"How should the teachings of Jesus shape our thinking, attitude and action regarding the conference?"
"What would 'kingdom acts' look like today?"

The mission of Christ at the Checkpoint is, therefore, to Challenge Evangelicals To Take Responsibility To Help Resolve the Conflicts in Israel-Palestine By Engaging With the Teaching of Jesus on the Kingdom of God.

We invite you to join us in March 10-14, 2014 in Bethlehem as we pray, worship, study scripture and seek together to bring the reality of the kingdom of God on earth.

We hope to see in Bethlehem in 2014!

For further details and updates about the 2014 conference, please check the conference website www.christatthecheckpoint.com

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/christatthecheckpoint

Twitter: https://twitter.com/christatcheckpt

My Sermon at All Souls Langham Place Church: God Rules in the Middle East

Last Sunday I had the privilege of speaking at All Souls Langham Place Church in London. It was Epiphany Day and so I spoke from Matthew 2:1-12 about the visit of the Magi to Bethlehem. The title of the sermon was God Rules in the Middle East. After the service, there was a Q and A time. It was indeed an honor to visit this renowned church, and be at the same pulpit from which John Stott preached for many years.

You can listen to the sermon here.

O Little Town of Bethlehem. A Prayer for Bethlehem.

The song O Little Town of Bethlehem from Bethlehem Bible College Choir's Christmas Album "Bethlehem"

A Biblical Devotion on Land Confiscation: Kairos Palestine Christmas 2012

Kairos Palestine has produced an advent booklet for this Christmas season. The booklet highlights four themes that are relevant to the Palestinian daily experience under the occupation: Settlements, Land Confiscation, the Separation Wall, and the Water issue. In addition to updated facts about these four themes, which were provided by the Applied Research Institute in Jerusalem (ARIJ), the booklet also includes biblical devotions about these themes. I wrote the part on Land Confiscation, and I used the text in 1 Kings 21 about the vineyard of Naboth. The booklet can be accessed here. In it I say:

The way in which Naboth and Ahab related to the land manifested a startling contradiction. One treated it as a gift, the other as an entitlement. One believed that it belonged to the community; the other wanted it for his empire.  

The attitude of Naboth is similar to that of many contemporary Palestinian farmers. It is no surprise that Palestinians take the olive tree as a symbol, for it reminds them of their rootedness and belonging to the land. This attitude can be summarized by the words of Brueggemann:  

"Naboth is responsible for the land, but is not in control over it. It is the case not that the land belongs to him but that he belongs to the land."

Read the rest on the devotion here.

Rev Alex Awad 10 Reasons To Support Palestine UN Bid

Rev Alex Awad, Dean of Student at Bethlehem Bible College, and Pastor of East Jerusalem Baptist Church, gave the following 10 reasons as to why Christians Should Support the Palestinian Bid for Observer Status at the UN. Rev. Alex is the author of Palestinian Memories, and has been doing advocacy on behalf of the Palestinian people for many years.

1. There are as many Palestinians as Jews living in the territories between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea . While the Jews have their independent State, the Palestinian population has no State and no independence. Most Palestinians have been living under military occupation for the last 46 yrs. What Mahmoud Abbas is doing at the UN, is to help his people have an observant status at the UN (not full membership). Americans, who champion freedom and independence around the world, should not stand in the way of Palestinian independence.
2. Palestinians seek independence on only 22% of the total land (only within the Gaza Strip and the West bank). Before 1948, 86% percent of the land (Israel/Palestine) belonged to them and they were two thirds of the population.
3. Palestinians at the Oslo agreement recognized Israel rights to 78% of the land. Israel has never officially recognized the right of Palestinians to have a State on any part of the Holy Land .
4. If Israel continues to deny Palestinian independence in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Israel becomes an apartheid state. Half of the population of Israel will be Palestinian Arabs, Christians and Muslims who are disenfranchised. Israel must choose between allowing Palestinian statehood and becoming an apartheid regime.
5. Consequently, Palestinian Statehood will save Israel from losing her Jewish majority. Within a few years, there will be more Palestinians than Jews between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea . Moving towards Palestinian statehood will not only bless the Palestinians, but will save the State of Israel.
6. Palestinian Evangelicals are overwhelmingly in support of a future Palestinian State next to the State of Israel.
7. If the international community fails to support Palestinian independence, the alternative is a sharp rise in radicalism, fundamentalism and violence that will harm Israel , the Palestinians, the Arab States , the US and the many nations around the world. Radicalism and terrorism thrive where injustice prevails.
8. The PLO is not a terrorist organization. Leaders of the PLO such as Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad, have committed themselves to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict non-violently.
9. God calls His people to stand with righteousness and justice. We do no favor to the Jewish people when we close our eyes to the injustices taking place in the Holy Land. 
10. In case you still have doubts, we urge you to "come and see" the realities on the ground. You are most welcome!

Palestinian Christians Support Bid for Statehood

On November 29, Palestinians will bid to become a "non-member observer state" in the United Nations. If approved, this will be a major step towards full statehood for Palestinians. Israel, and more importantly, the Unites States, are against this move, not least for fear of possible war crime investigations against Israel. Israel's rational has always been that a final resolution cannot be achieved unilaterally, but only through direct negotiations. Ironically, Israel achieved its own independence unilaterally and through the United Nations.

Palestinian Christians leaders have sent a strong message of support for this step. A statement signed by 100 community leader says:

We believe the Palestine Liberation Organization's initiative to enhance Palestine’s status in the United Nations to an Observer State is a positive, collective, and moral step that will get us closer to freedom.This is a step in the right direction for the cause of a just peace in the region. We fully endorse this bid, just as we supported Palestine's application for full membership of the United Nations a year ago.

The bid for statehood is seen by many as a last attempt to rescue the two state solution. In practicality, the two state solution is as good as dead. The Israeli settlements and the separation wall cut deep into Palestinian territories, and make it practically impossible to achieve a sovereign Palestinian state. Israel's insistance on expanding the settlements speaks louder than any statement about its desire to achieve lasting peace, and make its common appeal for Israel's right to defend itself harder to grasp.

In the same time, the one state solution remains a vague concept, and is very unlikely to gain approval beyond some academic circles. The Palestinian national identity is as strong as ever, as evident by the wide support for the first attempt in September 2011 to obtain statehood through the UN. The recent war in Gaza fueled the Palestinian national sense, and increased the animosity towards Israel. Israel on the other hand does not see it in her best interest to annex the West Bank. The last thing Israelis want is a majority of Arabs in Israel. The war in Gaza helped to strengthen the already hostile attitude most Israelis have towards Palestinians.

Which leaves us with the current status quo: The continuation of the occupation of the West Bank, the siege over Gaza, and a system of separation currently in affect in the West Bank that allows Israel to protect the settlements and sieze control of most of the Palestinian territories. (A system that was described by Desmond Tutu as apartheid)

The current status quo is very fragile, as proven by the lastest war in Gaza. The Israeli government will be delusional if it assumes that Palestinians will simply agree to remain in the current situation. The current status quo can only produce more hatred and division, and can easily yield to more violence in the future. Palestinian pastor Alex Awad warned last year before the first bid for full statehood:

The danger is this, if the Palestinian Authority fails to deliver to Palestinians an independent Palestinian state due to US and Israeli political maneuverings, in the near future, the secular Palestinian government will surely fall and only Hamas will be left to lead the Palestinian struggle for independence. This does not bid well for Israelis, Palestinians, future peace talks or for the Christian communities in the Middle East. 

Despite Hamas's somehow surprising support for the current bid, Awad's warning seems valid. If peaceful methods fail to achieve justice for the Palestinians, then the voices calling for a militant solution will be louder. All of this makes the statement by Palestinian Christians more urgent. The Palestinian's cause is a just cause. The time has come to do right to the Palestinians. It is time to unit in support for justice for Palestinians through peaceful means. Palestinians deserve freedom and dignity, and any step that brings this just and moral cause forward should be endorsed.

The Employment of Religion in the Gaza War

It is Operation Pillar of Defense (In Hebrew Pillar of Cloud) vs. Operation Stones of Hard Clay (A reference to a Quranic Verse). Both Israel and Hamas are employing religious symbols to their military actions. Pillar of Defense is a biblical reference that comes from the book of Exodus 31:21-22:

And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people. (ESV)

The implication of course is that God is on Israel's side in this war.

Hamas is of course no different. The phrase Stones of Hard Clay (In Arabic Hijarat Al Sajjeel حجارة السجَيل) comes from the Quran Surat Al Fil:

Have you not considered, [O Muhammad], how your Lord dealt with the companions of the elephant?Did He not make their plan into misguidance?And He sent against them birds in flocks, striking them with stones of hard clay, And He made them like eaten straw. (Sahih International)

This is a reference to a story in which God interfered to protect Mecca and The Kaaba. The implication is again the same: God is on Hamas's side and he will protect them. 

This rhetoric is confirmed and repeated in the social media's responses and comments on the war. A Twitter account called IDF Rabbi (@IDFrabbi) is tweeting biblical verses that send the message that this is a religious war and that God will lead Israel to victory. Among the verses: 

The implication is that Gaza people are the wicked! 

(It is hard to confirm whether this is an official Twitter account related to the IDF)

The arabic social media is filled also with responses and comments that basically say that God will surely bring victory to Hamas and that the opening of Jerusalem is near. 

So it is God vs. God! 

To make things worst, some Christians are taking sides as well! Christians United for Israel are calling for urgent prayers for the IDF:

The Christian Embassy in Jerusalem is reiterating that God will stand with Israel, and calling for prayers for Israel, with no reference to the victims in Gaza. 

Similarly, many Palestinian Christians and pro-Palestinian Christians are calling for prayers for the victims in Gaza, with little if any reference to the victims in Israel. 

Sadly, this religious employment to this war is having tragic consequences that go often unnoticed. By claiming God on our side, we demonize the other. "God is for us" means that "God is against them". This is reflected in the many nasty and often racist comments that we see in the social media. The comments by some Palestinians and Israelis (and some Christians) on the news are terrifying! In some comments, Jews are called "pigs and monkeys" and in others there are calls to utterly destroy Gaza and kill the "Arabs". 

In addition, by giving the war a religious narrative, it no longer is a conflict over land. Justice is no longer the real issue. Occupation is no longer the problem. The removal of the unjust siege on Gaza is no longer the goal. Instead, people are driven by hate and a religious, and often exclusive, cause. 

So does God take sides? I believe he does. I believe that God is weeping over the death of innocent people on both sides. He is with the oppressed and needy. He is against the violence of both sides. 

He blesses the peacemakers, and will give the land to the meek - regardless of their ethnicity or nationality. 

I believe that, on top of all, God is the God of justice. I believe in the ancient biblical truth that says: 

Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the LORD your God is giving you. (Deuteronomy 16:20 ESV)

There Are Only Losers in War

Here are some of the facebook status of some of my friends in Gaza: (while they had electricity to use the internet)

"My Lord! this is enough! What is this?"
"Lord protect us. What is this ? terror terror"
"Mistles lot os them"
"The ground is shaking"


There are no winners in war. Only losers. And as is the situation in all wars, the real losers are innocent civilians from both sides. As I write these words the death toll continues to rise, and a high number of the casualties are children. We are now in an unequal cycle of violence.

The Israeli narrative is, as has always been, that it is self defense. The Palestinians have a strong counter to this narrative, specially as it relates to what is happening right now. This has been backed by a knowledgable Israeli peace activist, who stressed that this crisis could have been avoided. But regardless of who threw the first punch, we must keep in mind that we are talking about a very unequal balance of power. The irony is that the force that is besieging and controlling is claiming to be defending itself from the besieged. When will Israeli leaders realize that until they start treating the Palestinians as equals, humans deserving their full rights, that only then can true peace be achievable. Gaza is under a severe Israeli siege. (See also here). Israel today even calculates the number of calories the Gaza people need in order to secure as tight a siege as possible. What do they expect in return from Gaza people?

Please understand that I am not defending or supporting the launching of missiles from Gaza into Israeli towns and cities. Please realize that to call for understanding is different from justifying. I mourn with the Israelis who lost their lives just as I do with the Palestinians. All human lives are valuable, and innocent civilians shouldn't be subjected to this. War is evil - period. I do not believe in war or in violence or the so called redemptive violence. In addition, I do not approve of the ideology or the policies of Hamas. I believe that Hamas is a hinderance to peace just as the current Israeli government is. But we must understand why things are as they are today. I believe that the real problem in Gaza is the siege and the dehumanizing of 1.7 million Palestinians in Gaza. This is what feeds the radicals.

War is evil, and there are no winners in war, only losers. We must pray for the end of this war. We must pray that there will be no more casualties on both sides. We must pray that leaders will be more accountable for the lives of their peoples. Lord have mercy.

My Take on the American Presidential Elections

The American Presidential Elections are over, and Barack Obama has secured a second term. Having followed the elections from distance, here are some remarks I have. These points reflect my perspective as a Palestinian and as a Christians:

1. Americans should appreciate the freedom and democracy they have. Other nations in the world are struggling to have such a privilege. In addition, Americans should be proud that they elected (and reelected) a president from an ethnic minority. 
2. With that said, would American politicians please stop calling America “the greatest nation on earth” or the “greatest country in the world”. This comes across as very arrogant in other parts of the world. I mean, have some modesty please! 
3. As a Palestinian, I continue to wonder: why does all this talk on freedom and democracy stop when it comes to the Palestinians? Don’t we too deserve this right to have freedom and statehood? Some consistency please! 
4. Americans should not be surprised to know that most people in the Middle East and indeed the rest of the world favored Obama. Romney came across as too aggressive, stressing power over respect. For me as a Palestinian, Romney’s dreadful analysis of the Palestinian Israeli conflict was scary to say the least, and I must admit that I was a bit relieved that he lost. Not that Obama's foreign policy record is a major upgrade. He still conducts drone killings, and his position on the Palestinian situation is disappointing, to say the least. 
5. I applaud the enthusiasm and involvement of American Christians in the political arena. I wonder however if they are too invested in making a difference through political means, rather that being engaged in their societies. The transformative message of the Gospel, when preached and applied holistically, can solve many issues related to poverty and even abortion – more than politicians can achieve. My advice to my American Christians friends is to channel their spirit filled energy in the right direction.
6. American Christians who supported Romney based on moral and biblical values have to expand their definition of morality and biblical values. I suggest that in addition to family and marriage values, and rejection of abortion, that they include opposition to war and care for the poor. It’s all part of loving our neighbor as ourselves. 
7. I am still amazed that Americans are not able yet to go beyond the two party system. The world we live in is to so diverse. Having a worldview that sees everything as two apposing poles is too simplistic.