Do Palestinian Christians support peace with Israel?

Jack Nassar, in his piece Especially now, the EU has the moral task to scrutinise Israel, represents a simplification of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Cloaked in spiritual-sounding language, he portrays Israel as the oppressor and the Palestinians as the oppressed, a Marxist rather than biblical paradigm.

While doing so, he forces his theological view on us, the readers, as if we don’t have personal agency to search the Scriptures for ourselves and prayerfully come to our own conclusions.

*Esther Arnusch is a journalist and homeschooling mother of five based in Jerusalem. She and her family have lived in Israel for over sixteen years.*

The EU should stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel and recognise their common enemy: militant Islam. Islamic conquest is a global threat – the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is just one expression of that.

Especially now, the EU has the moral task to scrutinise Israel

12-06-2025

Israel has, against its wishes, been put at the front lines in the battle against militant Islam. Throughout its short but tumultuous history as a modern state, Israel has extended the hand of peace time and time again to her Arab neighbours.

I invite the readers of CNE to do their own research on the Palestinian resistance to Jewish immigration into Palestine during the British Mandate period and later to the presence of the modern state of Israel. Have there been examples of non-violent resistance? How much openness was there for a Jewish national home, as it was ratified during the San Remo Conference? What was the role of Amin Al-Husseini, the Grand Mufti?

“A saved enemy becomes a friend.”

Biblical resistance to tyranny needs to be in line with God’s call. The New Testament calls us to pray for our enemies. As our pastor in Jerusalem says, “A saved enemy becomes a friend.”

Prophecy

Is the modern state of Israel a fulfilment of Biblical prophecy? Jack Nassar talks about “covenant and conquest” as if these are the only two contrasting ways to characterise the modern state of Israel. Under the heading covenant, he compares the Old Testament theocracy to the modern secular state of Israel. According to him, Conquest relates to Israel’s military rule over the parts of the West Bank (or Judea and Samaria) that are not under the Palestinian Authority. This is a straw man fallacy (destroying a counter-argument by misrepresenting it in a way that makes it easy to refute).

Comment on climate change towards Israel: EU gives the wrong signal

24-05-2025

Many prophecies concern the Jewish people’s return to their Biblical homeland. None of these require instant perfection or a return to theocracy. This will only happen at Christ’s return.

Even in Biblical times, Israel was more often imperfect than perfect. Sin was prevalent and had consequences, both then and now. However, does this negate God’s faithfulness to the Jewish people?

I encourage our readers to read the Old Testament prophecies and read them for what they say – not replacing Israel with the church or spiritualising every text as if it now only applies to modern Christians. Romans 9-11 makes it clear that, according to Paul, there is still a place for the Jewish people in God’s plan of salvation.

Blame games

So, what is God’s call to a Palestinian Christian like Jack Nassar in a Muslim-majority society? Throwing rocks? Prayer? Loving his neighbours, both Muslim and Jewish?

Where is the Palestinian resistance to oppression from its own rulers – whether Fatah, Hamas or other factions?

Where are the Palestinian peace partners that Israel is looking for? Where is the Palestinian resistance to oppression from its own rulers – whether Fatah, Hamas or other factions?

Nothing is more powerful than the voice of Arabs who courageously address the real issues in their society rather than automatically blaming Israel (like this anonymous author).

This is a call for discernment. Who is the real enemy? Who will stand with Israel in its hour of need? And what can the Western world learn from these challenging times?