Israeli Apartheid Week 2009 poster.
(Image by Wikipedia (commons.wikimedia.org), Author: Gaza.png: Carlos Latuff derivative work: Israeli Apartheid Week Collective) Details Source DMCA
Readings for 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Isaiah 25: 6-10a; Psalm 23: 1-6; Philippians 4: 12-14, 19-20; Ephesians 1: 17-18; Matthew 22: 1-14
One of the often-repeated memes justifying Apartheid Israel's oppression of Palestinians was repeated yesterday by presidential candidate, Marianne Williamson. In an otherwise admirable statement (see below) "On the Israeli-Hamas War," and in reference to Hamas' surprise attack on Jewish settlements Ms. Williamson wrote:
"Hamas is a terrorist organization, and this was a terrorist attack. The aspirations of Hamas have nothing to do with striking a peace deal with Israel; their stated goal is the complete eradication of the state of Israel, and they will settle for nothing less."
Of course, we're all familiar with such perceptions, even though Hamas is much more complicated than Ms. Williamson allows.
Nevertheless, what if Hamas' position as alleged by Williamson is correct? What if Apartheid Israel has no right to exist and as such deserves to be eradicated?
That might be a shocking idea for most. But what if it's correct?
That's a thought I'd like to explore in today's homily which will try to relate it to today's Gospel selection. There the Jewish author Matthew attempts to explain why Israel actually did cease to exist as a nation and was driven from the Holy Land after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE. The words Matthew attributed to Yeshua also suggest a rejection of Israel as God's "Chosen" in favor of the socially marginalized who more resemble today's Palestinians. Read them for yourself here.
My reflection will also include candidate Williamson's wise and highly practical recommendations for ending the current conflict in Palestine.
Finally, I'll add a call for truthful reconciliation between Jews and Palestinians who are actually brothers and sisters according to the religious traditions of both peoples.
Apartheid Israel
Begin by briefly thinking about apartheid and state legitimacy.
Did apartheid Rhodesia have the right to exist? What about apartheid South Africa? And Nazi Germany?
I'd say NO in each case. Apartheid systems are abhorrent, immoral, and always terroristic. And according to Amnesty International, Israel's version represents an egregious crime against humanity.
Yes, Israel's system is illegal. To begin with, it flies in the face of UN Resolution 242 which mandates return of all Palestinian lands seized since 1967.
This means that every one of Apartheid Israel's settlements on the West Bank and its incursions into East Jerusalem and Gaza are illegitimate. So are its periodic bombings of Palestinian neighborhoods, and its associated and regular mass killings of Palestinians including women, children, and members of the press.
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