What do you do if you live in a country where one side is allowed to have guns and the people who fire them at you are not arrested? What do you do if you live in a country where the side with the guns starts setting fire to your olive trees? What do you do if you live in a country when the military comes in and then shoots at you, who have no funs, who have just seen your olive trees burned, and the army shoots at you?
The policies of the Israeli government -- read Netanyahu – continue to allow these attacks in order to hold onto power, critical for him since he faces serious corruption charges. In a New York Times piece today, it is noted that while ordinary Israeli parents have seen their children die in ill-advised military ventures, Netanyahu’s son sits in Miami far away from the fray.
On Saturday a mob of settlers attacked members of a delegation from the European Union and a French mayor near Taybeh, the last entirely Christian town on the occupied West Bank, smashing their car window and assaulting them. Sunday, a 63-year old Washington Post journalist was attacked, beaten, and kicked repeatedly while she was on the ground resulting in a broken rib. Witnesses say the IDF joined the settlers in the attack on the Palestinians, killing one of the olive harvesters
Although the Israeli police arrested 10 persons involved in the latest series of attacks, it was the first time a settler had been arrested, clearly because of EU pressure after their diplomats were attacked. This is the so-called democracy we send millions upon millions of dollars to in military aid? Don’t you think that it is more than time to reassess our priorities?
Prayer for the Day
Had God tears, the violence between the children of Abraham,
Causing injury and death, would surely make them flow;
Anger and distrust, increasing with each day, month, and year,
But the land is God’s not to be owned through force.
Hold us to your demand that we seek peace, not conflict,
And help us develop the will to achieve it.
In the name of the One who sustains us in our search,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
This is the latest in a long line of violent attacks by Israeli settlers against journalists and other civilians in the occupied West Bank. Yet our repeated calls for action to confront this lawlessness have been ignored by Israeli authorities.
Foreign Press Association statement
Deliver me, O Lord, from evildoers, protect me from those who are violent,
Who plan evil things in their minds and stir up wars continually.
They make their tongue as sharp as a snake’s,
And under teir lips is the venom of vipers.
Psalm 140: 1-3