Palestinian Christians have deep roots in Palestine.  Over the last two millennia, we have learned to live with our neighbors and to relate to the powers that be.  Our life in our homeland has always had its ups and downs but our faith in God has sustained our existence regardless of the political, religious, social, and economic upheavals that affected our land.  We have learned to maintain a basic statement of faith.  Our faith and hope are anchored in God and not in kings and rulers.  It has not been optimism that has kept us open to the future, it is our faith in the sovereignty of God “in whom we live and move and have our being.” Therefore, we continue to walk through history in trust and confidence in the loving and gracious mercy of God.

Our theology of the Incarnation is real and strong.  Jesus Christ is with us and in us as we journey on.  Even when we falter and fall, even when some of us are frustrated and in despair, and even when others pack up and emigrate, there are those who stay and maintain this innate trust in God.  We choose to remain faithful to God in the context of life where God has placed us.  Most of the time, we do not live up to this statement of faith.  Yet it remains a beacon that guides and inspires us, consciously for some and unconsciously for others, and we are able to face the vicissitudes of everyday life.  As we say in colloquial English, “This is where we are coming from.”

As to the recent Palestinian elections (January 25, 2006), Palestinian Christians understand the victory of Hamas:

1. as a direct result of the deadlocked peace process resulting from Israel’s unilateral policies and their dismissal of President Mahmoud Abbas and his moderate government as a partner for peace.

2. as a judgment on the corruption and inefficiency of the Palestinian leadership that preceded it. 

Palestinian Christians expect Hamas to meet and honor its promise of tolerance and just rule, and to rise to the expectations of the Palestinian people for good governance and a peaceful ending to the conflict with Israel.  

At the same time, many people, especially abroad, have serious fears and concerns about Hamas.  No sooner than the elections were over, western journalists started asking the same basic questions:  what will become of the Christian community of the land?  Are they threatened?  Will they now emigrate?  And so on.  Much of these fears are exaggerated due to media bias.  Hamas has been linked to violence.  We do not deny that Hamas was involved in violent activities and we believe that all terrorist activity needs to be condemned.  People, however, need to remember that Hamas’ violence was provoked by Israel’s policies against the Palestinians as well as Israel’s contempt of International Law through its confiscation of Palestinian land, building settlements, creating Jews-only roads, checkpoints and closures, targeted killings, demolishing of Palestinian homes and so much more.  

Morally we must look at the whole picture rather than on one side only.  We must not see the violence of the oppressed without recognizing the prior violence and terrorism of the oppressors.  And we must condemn both as acts of terror.  Many western governments and people live in such a double standard.  Terrorism and violence are not the way of peace.  Whoever is guilty of violence and terrorism needs to be condemned with no exceptions.

Indeed, Hamas needs to change and needs to adopt nonviolent resistance but it is mandatory on us to stand prophetically against the injustice of the powerful and champion the cause of the poor and oppressed Palestinians.  Such a stance is in line with our biblical prophetic tradition. 

Now that Hamas has formed the new government, we hope it can negotiate an honorable peace.  The danger that Hamas might impose Islamic law in Palestine is a concern not only for Christians but equally for most mainstream Muslims.  If that happens, I expect that many Palestinians both Christian and Muslim will turn against such religious extremism and through democratic and nonviolent means bring about the necessary change.  

Hamas is not the real threat to the presence of Christians, the occupation is.  The major reason for the emigration of Christians from the Holy Land is the illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories by Israel.  There are other subsidiary factors as the need for housing, employment, education of children, and the growing religious fanaticism on both sides.  Therefore, Palestinian Christians work and pray for a permanent peace.  Peace can be achieved by tearing down the racist wall and ending the Israeli occupation of all the occupied territories.  Palestinian Christians would like to see direct negotiations between the two sides rather than the negation of the Palestinian government because it is led by Hamas.  After all, peace is negotiated between enemies and not friends.

In fact, the two new governments of Palestine and Israel need to begin negotiating with each other.  Both of them are guilty against morality and International Law.  Neither of them can brag about possessing a higher ethical standard.  Both have targeted civilians and killed innocent people.  In fact, the government of Israel must be held even more accountable because it is the more powerful party and it stands in breach of International Law and United Nations resolutions for illegally occupying and dominating over three million Palestinians against their will.  Therefore, as we look with hope to the future, we would like to highlight the following way for peace:

1. The Quartet needs to immediately start facilitating direct negotiations between the new Israeli government and the new Palestinian government with no prior conditions. 
2. The two governments need to give up violence and terrorism.  There is no future for peace if only Hamas gives up violence while Israel continues to practice it.  Both must be held equally accountable for ending all violence.
3. There is no future for peace if Hamas recognizes Israel while Israel does not recognize the legitimate national and human rights of the Palestinian people in all the occupied territories in accordance with International Law and UN resolutions. 
4. There is no future for peace if the international community does not act fairly with both sides, without bias or partiality, in the imposition and implementation of International Law so that a just-peace is established.

Palestinian Christians are concerned about the welfare of all the people of our land – Palestinians and Israelis.  Many of us today are wholeheartedly involved in seeking a peace that can last.  We are inspired by the words of Christ “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God.”  We also know that peace can only be based on truth and justice and this is why we continue to speak prophetically.  Those who have ears let them hear! 

Naim Ateek

1 May 2006

This article was written for Joint Advocacy Initiative Magazine, May 2006.