IRTPJ's Statement on Israel and Palestine

Statement on Israel and Palestine January 25, 2024

After significant research, investigation, deliberation, and consultation with the wider interfaith community, we, the Board of Directors of the Institute for Religious Tolerance, Peace and Justice, are compelled by our collective consciences to issue this statement.  We are comprised of scholars, activists, and clergy of a variety of different faith traditions, and we have drawn upon millennia of godly wisdom available to us in our faiths and those of our allies and colleagues. 

We grieve with the State of Israel for the horrendous loss of life sustained on, and subsequent to October 7th, 2023, resulting from the raid by Hamas insurgents.  As has been rightly proclaimed, this is the greatest loss of Jewish lives since the Holocaust, with over 1,300 Israelis dead and 240 hostages taken in connection with that assault—and many still not yet released as of the issuing of this statement. 

We also grieve with the people of Gaza and all of Palestine, whose suffering matches that of Israel, in its own way, owing to the tremendous losses of civilian life due to “collateral damage”—now in excess of 25,000 deaths—many of whose lives have been taken indiscriminately through bombing by IDF forces during the subsequent campaign to subdue Hamas and liberate the hostages taken.  The daily death rate of 250 is now higher than any other major 21st century conflict.[1] 

We do not believe that any civilian lives are ever expendable, and while we unequivocally condemn the murderous actions of Hamas, we also ardently challenge the current protocols, policies, and tactics used by the IDF in response to this situation.  According to the Geneva Conventions, the UN Declaration of Human Rights, as well as Just War Theory, civilians are never to be targeted by military forces, and civilian casualties are always to be avoided at all costs.  And as such, this requirement to avoid civilian deaths is equally binding upon both Israel and Palestine.  It is also not lost on us that the current death toll in Gaza, exceeding 25,000 lives (mostly civilian), is over half that of the initial deaths immediately resulting from the bombing of Nagasaki in 1945, thereby in the same order of magnitude.  One cannot decry the deliberate targeting of civilian life in one situation, but ignore the other.  

We adamantly reject the notion that one must only grieve for, or show compassion for one side, or that by sympathizing with the suffering of political adversaries, one is necessarily “taking sides”.  Or that by calling for a change in policy or tactics, or by opposing the State of Israel’s current pathway, that one is anti-Semitic.[2] 

What is needed for a long-term solution is a coordinated and comprehensive program of peacebuilding, incorporating justice, reconciliation, and education.  Before this can be accomplished, an immediate and lasting ceasefire and the safeguarding of all civilian lives must be considered a prerequisite. 

As such, we urge the entity of Hamas to return all Israeli hostages without further resistance, for the sake of their countrymen, the civilians of Palestine, and for the sake of pursing peace and reconciliation.[3]  Thus, we call upon Hamas to agree to an immediate and lasting cease-fire with Israel.

As such, we also call upon Israel and the IDF to make dramatic, immediate, and lasting changes in its policies toward Gaza and all of Palestine.[4]  Taking the lives of over 25,000 Palestinian civilians, as well as at least three Israeli hostages killed carelessly and mistakenly by IDF forces, along with numerous journalists and non-combatants both inside and outside of the theater of operations is unacceptable.[5]

In as much as the State of Israel has the upper hand militarily, yet the current military campaign tactics have failed to accomplish the stated goals of dismantling Hamas and effecting the return of the Israeli hostages; 

In as much as the current tactics of intentionally bombing cities, schools, refugee camps, and hospitals—with the goal of targeting a minuscule number of insurgents claimed to be hiding in those civilian locations—transgress the rules of Just War Theory, the inordinate death toll will necessarily create more ill will among Palestinians as well as the rest of the world;

In as much as the State of Israel is touted as a democracy, founded on the principles of human rights of all people, including a promise of “equal citizenship” and enfranchisement to the Arab inhabitants of Israel, as well as extending their “hand to all neighbouring states and their peoples in an offer of peace and good neighbourliness,”[6] we believe that the State of Israel has the responsibility to set an example that is put forth by Biblical scripture and morality, and to be the light amongst the nations that it is called to be.[7]  Thus, we ardently implore the State of Israel to implement an immediate and lasting ceasefire, followed by a comprehensive program of peacebuilding and reconciliation with the Palestinian people.[8]  

[1] https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/daily-death-rate-gaza-higher-any-other-major-21st-century-conflict-oxfam

[2] https://www.laloyolan.com/opinion/guest-editorial-justice-for-all-in-the-holy-land/article_dd80c661-57e0-5ea9-a5d6-5343e9cd9415.html

[3] As it says in the Holy Qur’an, “On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.” (Qur’an 5:32)  Also, “If the enemy is inclined towards peace, make peace with them. And put your trust in Allah. Indeed, He ˹alone˺ is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” (Qur’an 8:61)

[4] “Seek peace and pursue it” (Ps. 34:15).

[5] Similarly to the above citation from the Qur’an, the Jerusalem Talmud states, “Therefore man was created single in the world to teach that for anybody who destroys a single life it is counted as if he destroyed an entire world, and for anybody who preserves a single life it is counted as if he preserved an entire world.” (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:9)

[6] https://www.gov.il/en/departments/general/declaration-of-establishment-state-of-israel  The Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel expresses its intent toward peace with all neighboring Arab countries, some of which were already at war with Israel; the nascent State of Palestine is now such a neighbor, and a state of peace must be restored.  Concomitantly, Palestinian Arabs within Israel must be reassured of their equal rights under Israeli law, and of their full and equal access to complete enfranchisement and participation in the nation. 

[7] "I the LORD have called unto you in righteousness, and have taken hold of your hand, and submitted you as the people's covenant, as a light unto the nations" (Isaiah 42:6)

[8] As it states in the Torah; “You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. You shall not ill-treat any widow or orphan. If you do mistreat them, I will heed their outcry as soon as they cry out to Me, and My anger shall blaze forth and I will put you to the sword, and your own wives shall become widows and your children orphans.” (Exodus.22.20-23, JPS translation)  Also, “When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not wrong him. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I the LORD am your God.” (Leviticus.19.33-34 JPS translation)

Moving the Needle Towards Peace

Hello, Friends:

People have been asking us what we are doing with respect to the tragic situation in Gaza and Israel—and even what can be done.  Some have asked us to issue a statement about the ongoing violence.  I need to confess that we have deliberately refrained from issuing a statement until we are sure that we have the right words to say.  Emotions are much too high right now, and far too many people are entrenched in their own subjective opinion of this highly nuanced situation to issue such a statement carelessly and hastily.  Our reticence to pronounce and proclaim is not due to timidity, but owing to a desire to get it right.  So please watch this space for an upcoming statement.  What we can say at this moment is that we have always supported, and continue to support, the rights of all people to live safely in their countries and to worship freely as they see fit.  We stand with all civilians, regardless of nationality, religion, or ethnicity.  We support the inalienable rights of human beings, as articulated in the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  Any attempt to characterize one demographic as blameless and another as the epitome of evil is to misunderstand both human nature and the history of the region. 

In the meantime, I feel it crucial to attest to how the work we do helps to move the needle toward peace.  We act both locally and globally, because we believe that the two are linked.  And we begin the practice of our ideals at home, here in the U.S., as we also seek to carry our ideals abroad in the work we do outside the U.S. 

In all our work, we’re trying to ensure that the hatred and animus that is going on in the Holy Land, or anywhere, does not spill over into our proximity in the United States.  We are working—and always have done—to ensure that people of different demographics, for instance Jews and Muslims, always see each other as friends and partners in making the world better, so that when a divisive issue comes along, they will not automatically see each other as adversaries—or even bitter enemies—but as close friends and partners who have a different perspective on a very serious issue, and who can surmount those differences and work together to solve the problem. 

The Ninth Annual Interfaith Solidarity March Los Angeles has been scheduled for Sunday, April 14th, 2024, and planning is now underway.  The theme of our march will encompass the aforementioned issues.  Through this march, we seek to strengthen the bonds between all religious and ideological and philosophical communities, especially those whose origins lie in the Middle East and the Abrahamic Holy Land. 

As always, we do a lot of great work with very little.  Much of our costs are covered by in-kind donations from our partnering organizations.  Printing costs, design costs, bottled water, snacks, and much more are donated by these indispensable allies.  But there is so much more that needs to be covered, including advertising costs.  In order for us to reach the thousands of people who need to know about this march, we’re going to have to increase our marketing.  That’s going to take funding beyond what we’ve had in the past years. 

Every time I hear of a Neo-Nazi march or a white supremacist rally, I think that we can do better; we can overpower the voices of hatred with the voices of collaboration and respect.  With that in mind, if you want to see hundreds, if not thousands of people marching together to proclaim that they support their neighbor’s right to worship freely as they see fit; that they support their immigrant and refugee neighbors; that they support their friends of different sides of very serious social and political questions—then please give generously this year.  In our day and age of entrenchment and polarization, we are seeing more emboldened displays of hatred around our country.  Now is not the time to be silent.  Now is the time to support your neighbor and to march together and be counted.  Can we count on you?

-Dr. Arik

Article: Religious Pluralism and Inter-religious Friendship in Los Angeles

Article in Perspectives by Prof. Christopher Key Chapple

http://perspectives-jdmc.in/religious-pluralism-and-inter-religious-friendship-in-los-angeles/

A Successful, Virtual, #InterfaithMarchLA 2021!

Dr. Arik shares his reflections on this year’s “march”, and looks to future events and projects.

Full event details

Media

Call to Faith Leaders to Condemn Lawless Violence & Admonish the Perpetrators

Dr. Greenberg has authored a missive to address the lawless violence that has been happening in the past week in the United States, taking a step toward preventing more destruction and loss of life in planned events of the upcoming week.

We hope you will join us in signing and circulating this document right away. Sign on your support here.

A Call to All Clergy and Faith Leaders to Condemn Lawless Violence; to Admonish and Reprove the Perpetrators

On January 6, 2021, our nation witnessed one of the most dangerous coordinated assaults on its democratic process that it has ever seen. Rioters stormed the Capitol building, inflicting untold property damage, and causing duly elected public officials to flee in fear for their lives, as rioters broke windows, stole podiums and damaged priceless public property, and took selfies in the hallowed chambers of Congress, wearing costumes and carrying banners and slogans whose very nature made a mockery of the sacred process of governing a nation such as ours. In the tumult, at least five people lost their lives. Simultaneously, there were rallies around the country which echoed the anarchy in our nation’s capital, but one such rally in Los Angeles stood out from the rest in that it saw the assault of an innocent bystander, an African American woman named Berlinda Nibo, who was accosted verbally as she walked past a gathering of protesters (later declared by LAPD to be part of an unlawful assembly) who then physically took her captive and began to assault her in numerous ways, including the use of pepper spray and physical battery. Read more...

IRTPJ Forming Emergency Response Network

PLEASE NOTE: All of the site visits of our Interfaith Ambassadors program are currently cancelled due to the directives to practice social distancing during the Coronavirus pandemic.  But we will begin to offer some online opportunities for connecting with people of different traditions and viewing their services for educational enrichment and community building.  Stay tuned for more.

Dear Friends:

The IRTPJ has begun to partner with other groups and faith communities to form an emergency response network.  In light of the current Coronavirus pandemic, we invite you to partner with us to help support each other’s communities during the present crisis, as well as in future times of risk and uncertainty.  We are all working very hard to care for our families and our communities.  Some of you may already have regular programs like food pantries, meals on wheels, and missions to the needy.  While many of us are part of very solidly connected and supportive faith communities, these can often be somewhat insular and we are unable to benefit from the larger connections that the interfaith community has come to foster.  As such we can be very disconnected from one another.  This initiative will serve to help communities fill in the gaps where they may exist, so that we can partner to share resources to ensure the safety of each other’s communities and therefore our own, since we are all connected.  It will also have the longer-reaching effect of building trust and community between our often disparate groups. 

It may be that elderly or infirm members of our particular communities live outside of the geographical area that is normally served by our houses of worship, and they may be at a loss for obtaining groceries or basic necessities during times of social distancing and quarantine.  While it may be difficult in times of emergency for members of their community to reach them quickly or regularly to give support and supervision or to carry out welfare visits, there may be members of other faith communities in their neighborhood who have extra supplies or the ability to drop off necessities and items that we are seeing shortages of.  And what better way to engender a good relationship between communities than to have emissaries of one sharing resources and basic care and compassion with another?  Many Christians have never met a Muslim or a Sikh.  Many Jews or Muslims are told by members of their communities not to trust each other, due to certain perspectives of historic interactions.  But to know that there are houses of worship from other communities who are willing to lend a hand and ensure the common safety of all of our communities is very valuable.

In order to take the next steps, we ask you to put us in contact with the leaders of your faith community.  Many of these folks are likely already overwhelmed with work at this time, so we are not asking much of them.  We just need to know if they are interested in coordinating with us during this time of need, in order to help share resources and make everyone’s lives a little easier.  They can then delegate someone from your community to be a point of contact.  And if you have any extra necessities and urgently needed items, we’ll put them in touch with those from other communities that are experiencing shortages in those areas.  It’s just a matter of taking a moment to recognize that we will all be lacking something at some point, even if it is just a caring voice to see if the most at risk members of our communities are alright. 

Please email us to indicate your intent to participate in this initiative.  We’ll take the next step of putting you in touch with the organizers of this partnership.  And for those who feel able, please consider making a tax deductible contribution to the IRTPJ in order to make sure that programs like this, and other extant programs, such as our Interfaith Ambassadors and our Interfaith Solidarity March, are able to continue and thrive in the coming years. 

Many blessings to you and your communities and loved ones at this time.