We are approaching the 2nd anniversary of the October 7th attacks by Hamas on Israel. Since then, Israel have been involved in an ongoing military attack into Gaza which started as an effort to free the hostages taken but has become more than that, an existential struggle to try and destroy Hamas completely. Here are some reflections I have as we come close to the anniversary especially in the light of this week’s atrocity in Manchester.
- We struggle to name evil for what it is, especially if that doesn’t fit with our own agenda. So, despite the horror of the attack, there are still far too many who struggle with the idea that we should condemn Hamas. The BBC even refused to describe this antisemitic death cult as terrorists.
- We cannot give antisemitism any space to grow. Every Saturday since the attacks we have seen large scale demonstrations in our cities, often through Jewish areas in their Sabbath. These marches have not been protesting against Hamas or calling for the release of hostages but instead protesting against Israel. Sadly those marches have frequently been characterized by anti semitic changing. This has been against a backdrop of increasing antisemitism in writing, online and even into mainstream politics. So many have been warning about where this will lead, that what is already a violence will lead to worse and to bloodshed. On October 2nd this year, a terrorist attempted to massacre worshippers at a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur. Fears became reality.
- We show an incapability for clear, reasoned thinking when it comes to the Middle East. A number of Western governments have decided that now is the time to recognise a Palestinian State. Now, I favour a form of the two state solution but the idea just you can recognise a state that does not yet exist in practice without thinking about “what”, where are the borders? And “who” are the government, tht judiciary, the police and the army. At the same time, there are Christians who simply reach for OT prophecy and treat the modern state of Israel as a fulfilment despite it in many ways not doing so. They go on to insist that this must include a return to ancient borders, themselves only in place for a short part of ancient Israel’s history and even then with limitations.
- Being “in the right” does not mean you will always do right or act wisely. I believe that Israel are in the right both in the narrow sense of responding to Oct 7th but more generally since 1948. Israel are the only democratic player in the Middle East. Accusations of genocide are inappropriate when a nation is seeking to defend itself and when consistently, their strategy and tactics have included concerns about how to minimize civilian casualties. However, I think it was overtly obvious that a conflict of this nature was going to bring widespread suffering. Further, there are questions about the wisdom of fighting a never ending conventional war in built up urban areas against an enemy with no moral compulsion to stop them allowing their own people to suffer if it helps the cause.
- International institutions and law have not come out of this too well. When I studied law, 30 years ago, International Law was treated sceptically. Was this really a proper category of law or really just politics and diplomacy under a different name. It has become a big player in the legal sector since but this and other situations around the world have exposed the fact that the original issues remain.
Remember though that most importantly, God is still on his throne. This isn’t the guarantee that a current conflict will be resolved. It is though s reminder that though we may be surprised by events, he is not. God does not despair and not should we.
Faithroots 