Gordon Lynch at the Guardian writes about how religion can bring peace to the Middle East, rather than cause problems:
To regard the Middle East conflict in simplistic religious terms—for example as part of a wider war on Islam—fails to recognise the complexities of Palestinian and Israeli societies and does little to build a broader political coalition. The use of the Middle East conflict to pursue an antisemitic agenda by some Muslims is also morally bankrupt and has done more harm than good to the Palestinian cause.
But if we are to see the development of a stronger political movement for an end to the siege of Gaza and the creation of a viable and free Palestinian state, religious groups and ideas have a key role to play. Groups such as the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel have already played an important part in monitoring human rights violations in the occupied territories, and others including Islamic Relief and Christian Aid are still trying to maintain some kind of relief effort in Gaza. Of particular symbolic importance are groups on the religious Jewish left such as Tikkun and Rabbis for Human Rights whose criticisms and direct action against Israeli policies demonstrate that criticism of Israeli policies are not intrinsically antisemitic, but can reflect a deeper commitment to social justice within the Jewish tradition.
Read the full article here.