Seeing the "other" as a fellow human being: A reflection on the Middle East crisis by Archpriest Leonid Kishkovsky
 

Article posted: 7/25/2006 2:10 PM  

 
As this is written, we are observing with anguish the violence in the Middle East. The military forces of Israel are in confrontation with Hezbollah in Lebanon and with Hamas in Gaza and the West Bank. Cities in northern Israel are hit by rockets fired by Hezbollah from southern Lebanon. Throughout Lebanon cities are under aerial bombardment by Israeli military airplanes. In Lebanon and Israel the dead and wounded are civilians, women and men and children.

When the Middle East spiraled into a new cycle of violence in early July, I was in Amman, Jordan, participating in a conference hosted by Prince Hassan of Jordan (the brother of the late King Hussein, and uncle of the present King Abdullah). The theme of the conference was “Promoting Political Participation as an Alternative to Extremism.” My role was to represent the World Conference of Religions for Peace. The other participants were diplomats and representatives of foundations and institutions in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

It was my task to draw attention to the “religious factor” in social and political life. Just the simple fact that the world’s population is approximately six billion and approximately five billion are members of religious communities suggests that the religious communities and religious values are unavoidably a serious factor, and either contribute to extremism or offer alternatives to extremism.

The violence in the Middle East is an urgent and alarming reality, with no just resolution in sight. It is not right that the citizens of Israel, both Jewish and Palestinian, are under threat of bombardment and terrorist attacks. It is not right that the people of Lebanon and the Palestinian Authority are under threat of air strikes. When violence is directed against Israel by Hamas and Hezbollah, the innocent suffer. When violence is directed against militants and extremists by Israel, the innocent suffer.

It is obvious that offering political solutions or strategies is usually not in the competence of churches and religious communities. It is in our competence, however, to insist on the value of human life, on the importance of mercy and compassion, on the urgent need to see the “other” as a fellow human being. In other words, it is the task of churches and religious communities to confront hatred and prejudice, to offer insistently the insight that the suffering of the “other” is not something to rejoice over, but something to grieve over.

And perhaps this is the spiritual strategy which will be the beginning of the road leading away from the cycle of violence, whether in the Middle East, or the Balkans, or Africa, or anywhere in situations of fear, suspicion, and conflict. Only the recognition of our common humanity can show us the way to the recognition of the presence of the living God among us.

With regard to the Middle East there is another issue which is of concern to Christians, and should be of concern to all. The story of the past fifty years has been the story of a declining Christian population in the region, due to emigration. In the confrontations between Israel and the Arab populations and states, there is less and less space for Christians, since more and more of the space is occupied by Muslims and Jews. The Christian presence in the Holy Land, therefore, is likely to become a custodianship of holy sites, rather than the presence of living Christian communities.

While this can appear to be a matter of concern for Christians only, it is in reality something which affects the future of the Middle East region and its people, whether Jewish or Christian or Muslim. If the Christian population continues to dwindle, it will mean that the Jewish and Muslim communities will eventually be left as the only religious communities in Israel and the Arab States, respectively. This is not promising for the creation and maintenance of societies in which alternatives to extremism are promoted. Two religious communities are likely to be in confrontation, while three communities have a greater possibility of interaction.

We pray that all those who look to Abraham as their father – Jews, Christians, and Muslims – will offer the world a sign that their common spiritual origin is not a cause for conflict, but an invitation to recognize in each other and in every human being the image and likeness of God.

Fr. Leonid Kishkovsky
 

http://www.oca.org/News.asp?ID=1036&SID=19
 
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Synod of the Russian Church calls conflicting parties in the Middle East to refrain from imprudent statements and actions
Moscow, July 19, Interfax - The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church called the conflicting parties in the Middle East ‘to refrain from any words and deeds that could engender reciprocal violence and further inflame the hatred.’

‘This especially concerns the killing of civilians, and destruction and defilement of religious buildings, ’ the statement adopted by the Synod on Wednesday reads.

The Church hierarchs think that the healing of the Middle East conflict, as of any conflict, is impossible until all states and all political forces give a rebuff to terrorism, offenses against civilians and taking of hostages. ‘Attempts to justify these actions by faith are absolutely inadmissible, ’ the documents emphasizes.

The Holy Synod reminded of the World Summit of Religious Leaders recently held in Moscow that condemned terrorism and extremism and urged all believers ‘to respect and accept one another regardless of their religious, national or other differences.’ ‘We address this call to Christians, Muslims and Jews in the Holy Land, ’ the hierarchs added.

They are convinced that ‘no one should remain indifferent to what is happening in the Middle East’ and that ‘the recent developments demand effective response of the countries having historical influence in the Middle East’.

While admitting that the efforts taken by world community so far failed to stop the conflicting parties ‘from destructive and provocative actions,’ the members of the Synod believe that the situation must be improved through the means for restoring peace envisaged by international law.

‘The decisions taken by world community earlier must be observed. At present it must stop the escalation of conflict and the violation of the established borders and demarcation lines,’ the document reads.

In conclusion the hierarchs expressed their hope that all peace-loving states, including Russia, would combine their efforts to stop bloodshed and to establish just peace in the Middle East. May the land, sanctified by the Lord’s feet, finally become a place ‘where righteousness and peace will kiss each other.’ As the holy psalmist David put it, ‘May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness,’ - these are the final words of the Synod’s statement.

http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=1743