To foster a deeper understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian issue, the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit hosted a forum which was attended by over a hundred people.

Organised by Caritas Malaysia and the parish, the event aimed to delve into the origins, context and current realities of this long-standing issue.

Speaking at the forum were Dr Francis Loh, a retired professor of politics from USM; Anil Netto, president of Aliran; and Fr Bernard Hyacinth SJ, who previously worked with the Jesuit Refugee Services in Jordan. Dr Francis’ decades of academic rigour provided a solid foundation for the discussion. Anil, an accountant-turned activist, brought his commitment to social justice and advocacy for human rights to the forefront. Fr Bernard offered a unique perspective informed by his firsthand experiences, working with displaced communities in Jordan. Together, they dissected the complexities and origins of this modern-day conflict, deepening the audience’s understanding of the issue.

The situation in Gaza has now reached a critical juncture. The staggering statistics of displacement, destruction and loss of life are horrifying. The International Court of Justice’s recent ruling, accusing Israel of potential genocide in Gaza, underscores the urgency for informed perspectives.

Going back to history
Francis began by embarking on a journey through time in the land where Jesus once lived ? from the time Israel gained official statehood in 1948 to the present day. He talked about how settler colonialism has led to an ever-expanding occupation of the Palestinian territories and the siege of Gaza ? “the world’s largest open-air concentration camp”. This gave the audience a better understanding of the Intifada (Palestinian uprising) and the Palestinian resistance to the occupation.

The second session by Anil provided a Christian perspective of the conflict. Amid the often-polarised discourse, Christians need to anchor ourselves on the teachings of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, who wanted to build a new kingdom of love and justice, Anil said. The Gospel’s timeless message serves as our guiding light in our efforts to promote peace. We are called to be the salt and light of the world amid the genocide taking place now, he added. Unfortunately, Anil noted, many mainstream Christians have been influenced by the “End Times” worldview of Christian Zionists in the US and elsewhere. This has prompted many Christians to unquestioningly take sides with Israel, even though it is the Palestinians who have suffered the brunt of the occupation and now genocide.

Fr Bernard invited the audience to open their hearts and minds to the inherent dignity of all persons, especially the refugees who do not differ from us. All they want is to be treated with dignity, to live a dignified life with basic human rights and freedom. He cautioned against the ease with which individuals are swayed by superficial narratives and unreliable sources in trying to understand the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The danger is that biased information and misinformation could poison our minds towards the refugees, many of whom are Palestinian. He urged the audience to exercise discernment and critical reflection when consuming the news.

As the Q&A session opened, the room buzzed with anticipation. Several participants raised thoughtful questions and shared personal reflections. They touched on the historical oppression of the Palestinians and how the mainstream media have described the genocide in Gaza as a response to Hamas’ “unprovoked attack” on October 7, 2023 ? whereas the history of the occupation and subjugation of the Palestinians goes way back to 1948.

Also raised was the possibility of a two-state solution (this will be difficult now as the West Bank has been ghettoised), the demand for an immediate ceasefire and the military-industrial complex in the US.

Prominent guests
In the audience was former UN assistant secretary general for peacebuilding support, Judy Cheng-Hopkins from Penang, who welcomed the forum: “It was informative but more importantly, it showed another side of this very complicated situation we have today.” Unfortunately, Judy noted, the ultra-conservative evangelical movement and Jewish lobby, in the USA especially, is so overpowering that people around the world, including Malaysia, are unlikely to hear another side of the story or get the full historical picture. “This was really innovative on your [the organisers’] part, and I wish other churches would do likewise,” she said.

Also in the audience was Mary Symmonds from Barbados. Mary was formerly country director of the United Nations Development Programme in Zimbabwe and other African countries. “The effort to counter the biased propaganda emanating from the US, including through religious institutions and some European nations, is indispensable,” she said.

“I liked the combination of the history and reality of the Palestinian people with the religious foundations of Zionism and the role of the Church.” Mary also liked the way Fr Bernard humanised the refugees. This she felt was especially important, given how Israeli propaganda makes much of the 1,200 lives lost reprehensibly on Oct 7 – a massacre which is then used to justify the relentless slaughter and displacement of Palestinians for selfish ends.

Importance of informed opinion
In closing, Fr Fabian Dicom, the National Director of Caritas Malaysia, stressed the importance of an informed awareness. He said we need to constantly re-evaluate our opinions and seek wisdom to understand the historical context of Israel-Palestine. With no end in sight to the current genocide, it is easy to fall into hopelessness and despondency. The act of praying for peace and speaking out against genocide is something that all Christians can do as we work for a most just world. Fr Fabian urged everyone to be guided by the principles of justice, mercy, peace and love as we become beacons of hope, in the quest for peace in the Holy Land and beyond. Christians need to discern what is happening. We yearn for peace and the teachings of love, justice and reconciliation. All this resonates deeply, especially during this season of Lent, when we reflect on the suffering of Jesus, whose passion was to build the kingdom of God.

The evening ended with a heartfelt prayer from a Methodist pastor, Rev Hwa Jen, seeking God’s help for all Christians to continue to work for peace.