For thousands of years, the land now known as Israel or Palestine has been a cauldron of competing ethnicities, religions, empires, and nations. It was at different times controlled by Canaanites, Philistines, Hebrews/Israelites/Judeans, Assyrians, Babylonians (from 597 B.C.), Macedonians (from 332 B.C.), Seleucids, Romans (from 63 B.C.), Arabs (from 637 A.D.), Seljuk Turks, Ottoman Turks (from 1517), and Britain (1922-1948). Although some Jews continued to live in Palestine from biblical times onwards, Arabs far outnumbered them for most of the last 1300 years. Both Israel and the local Arab population can make historical claims to have the right to live in that land.

In the 19th century, the idea developed of a Jewish re-settlement in Palestine. In 1947, mindful of the appalling horrors of the holocaust, the United Nations endorsed the establishment of restored Jewish homeland, along with a contiguous Arab state. In 1948, Jews declared the inauguration of the State of Israel. Arab nations invaded the next day. Israel prevailed, and over the next few months significantly extended its territorial reach.

The reconstituted Israel has been championed by some Jewish Zionists – and by many Christians too – as a miraculous fulfilment of biblical prophecy. Much of the Arab/Palestinian population, however, have seen the Israelis as intruders, and themselves as oppressed and dispossessed. While many ordinary Israelis and Palestinians have often done their best to co-exist peacefully, there has been continuing tension, violence, and war. As Christians, we can readily understand the prophetic aspect, and can respect that God alone knows the full picture. But as Christians, we also respect that all people should be able to live in peace and security, and with freedom and justice. The one true and living God is loving and just in all his ways, and as Christians we serve the Prince of Peace.

The war in Gaza reflects the utterly opposite viewpoints of the deeply radicalised Hamas leaders and the current Israeli government. Following the very brutal Hamas raid on Israel in October 2023 and the taking of hostages, Israel asserted its right to defend itself. Israel’s invasion of Gaza is understandable, but has led to a huge loss of life among Palestinian civilians, mass dislocations, the destruction of innumerable homes and buildings, and much distress. As in all wars, neither side is without fault, and all human beings are flawed and sinful.

Two things are sure: peace is much needed, and achieving true peace will be very, very difficult.

This week’s most recent peace proposal reflects several previous peace plans, contains many promising aspects, and includes some things that both sides may struggle to genuinely accept and implement.

For all of us, our perspectives about these matters may get some things more-or-less right, and some things wrong. At this time, though, perhaps the best thing Christians can do is not to debate our differing perspectives, but to redouble our prayer that God’s will may be done on earth, even in this very troubled and complex context where peace is undoubtedly a very big ask.

Author: Dr Stuart Lange

Dr Stuart Lange is the National Director of the NZCN and is a Senior Research Fellow at Laidlaw College, where he was formerly Vice Principal. Stuart wrote and presented the historical DVD documentary Te Rongopai: 200 years of the Gospel in New Zealand, 1814-2014.