[Dialogue] Palestine/Israel conflict

[KarenBueno at aol.com]

The Israel/Palestine Issue
by Karen Bueno
7-1-07

I picked up the April issue of "Response" magazine, a publication of United 
Methodist Women this morning.  Though it is June, I was behind in my reading.

This magazine issue dealt with Palestine and Israel, through stories of women 
and children who are living in the conflicted areas and through essays of 
what needs to happen to stop the violence.

One of the articles is entitled "Understanding Christian Zionism", a term 
that refers to the right wing United States churches which preach the second 
coming of Jesus.  According to the article, the right wing belief is that the 
second coming and the end of the world will happen when the temple is rebuilt in 
Jerusalem and the mosques are removed.  Therefore, those theologians, and the 
politicians they support, believe that United States’ financial support of 
Israel is justified.

Since the United States is supporting Israel, the rest of the Middle East 
Muslim countries are angry with the US, and this has led, at least in part, to 
the unrest and the terrorist movement.  The authors from the United Methodist 
Women are calling for financial divestment in Israel to bring pressure on the 
Israelites to stop the violence.  That kind of financial pressure helped to end 
apartheid in South Africa, and could help here.

I have greatly simplified the argument, I’m sure, but please respond with 
your opinions and facts regarding this peace and justice issue.

*******
Karen Bueno, formerly Karen Wright, spouse of Terrence Wright, served in 
Fifth City and other locations of the Ecumenical Institute from 1969 to 1973, then 
were affiliated with the Denver House.


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