Apartheid then and now (original) (raw)
Related papers
Apartheid then and now - where are we heading? The case of Israel
Stellenbosch Theological Journal, 2023
Arguments that the State of Israel practices apartheid are contested by many. In recent years debates on the secular State of Israel's oppression of Palestinians gained prominence also in ecumenical circles. Several stark ecclesial differences prompted this review of Israel as an apartheid regime, and the implications for reformed theology. Christian Zionist beliefs fall short of living up to religious moral high ground because of uncritical support for a country with a scurrilous record for flagrant disregard of human rights. An understanding of ethnic cleansing, occupation, settler-colonialism, and apartheid as defined in international law, are crucial in examining the nature of Israel's regime. The task of reformed Christians-in churches, church bodies, theological schools and in public life-in response to ideologies and theologies of empire and exclusivity is to be united in acknowledging complicity in injustice and in fostering an ethos of honesty, inclusive dignity, equality, and compassion.
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies
I first attempt to draw a comparison between the Israel-Palestine conflict and the South African experience of apartheid. Drawing on other established sources and personal experience, I conclude that, while there may be some differences between the two contexts, in essence, the similar experiences of colonialisation and racialisation makes the apartheid comparison compellingly relevant. I then proceed to theologically explore the themes of justice and reconciliation and what it may mean in the context of Israel-Palestine whilst extracting from the South African experience. The article also offers some reflections on the role of the Church in addressing the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Christian Zionism as a Factor in the Conflict in Israel and Palestine
Vida y Pensamiento, 2024
Although Christian churches have been in Israel and Palestine since the 1st century, popular understandings front Judaism and Islam for the roles these religions play in conflicts between Israel and Palestine. Jews and Muslims are both challenged with oft-deadly oppression and discrimination in many global contexts, and both groups use religion to frame and understand conflicts and their histories. Christian Zionist ideologies also use religion in this way and play a role in the conflicts, impacting event interpretation and working to engender uncritical global support for Israel. Using Africa-Israeli relations and the work of Christian Zionism in Africa as a lens, this article explores the impact of Christian Zionism on the operation of race and racial consciousness, understandings Africans and others hold about Africa and Africans, and the impacts of these on current and ongoing conflicts in Israel and Palestine.
Christian Zionism: A Missiological Emergency
Journal of the Evangelical Missiological Society, 2023
Zionism historically refers to the international movement to establish a Jewish homeland, a hope that was fulfilled by the present state of Israel. Christian Zionists were instrumental in facilitating the establishment of the modern state. Their continuing support for Israeli political interests, territorial expansion and security has been at the expense of pursuing peace-making, justice, and human rights for Palestinians. The result has been to create a missiological emergency with serious harm to the Church in the Middle East and its mission in the Muslim world. Personally observing the adverse consequences on Arab Christians and Muslims forced the author to reflect upon and discern flaws in his dispensational theology – a theology that is widely held by Christian Zionists. The article proposes a corrective that is (a) true to Scripture, (b) truly dispensational, and (c) compassionate and just toward the Palestinian Christians and Muslims, as well as Israelis, by addressing seven arguments of Christian Zionists. Focusing on misinterpretations or misapplications of scripture relating to the modern state of Israel, this study demonstrates that theological and political support for modern Israel does not logically follow from a dispensational interpretative framework. Nevertheless, future fulfillment of biblical promises to national Israel can still be expected. This theological corrective that can serve to advance the mission of God in the Middle East.
Stellenbosch Theological Journal, 2019
In September 2018 John de Gruchy presented a paper at the Volmoed Colloquium entitled “Revisiting the Message to the people of South Africa,” in which he asks, “what is the significance of the document for our time?” In this expanded version of the author’s response to de Gruchy, two further questions are pursued: First: how can the churches today meet the challenge of today’s global system of economically and politically-driven inequality driven by a constellation of individuals, corporations, and governments? Second: in his review of church history, de Gruchy focused on the issue of church theology described in the 1985 Kairos South Africa document, in which churches use words that purport to support justice but actually serve to shore up the status quo of discrimination, inequality and racism. How does church theology manifest in the contemporary global context, and what is the remedy? The author proposes that ecumenism can serve as a mobilizing and organizing model for church action, and that active engagement in the issue of Palestine is an entry point for church renewal and for a necessary and fruitful exploration of critical issues in theology and ecclesiology.
On the Relationship Between Christianity and Zionism
In recent years, some Christian leaders have argued for Christian Zionism, a belief system that supports political Zionism and the policies of the State of Israel as an expression of Christian theology, in particular, end-times eschatology. This paper engages in a critique of the arguments of Christian Zionism and lays out several objections to it ground in Christian theology and fundamental Christian doctrine.
Beyond Discrimination: Apartheid is a Colonial Project and Zionism is a form of Racism
EJIL:Talk! , 2021
In this essay, I will explore the dominant Palestinian tradition first by highlighting Palestinian intellectual thought on Zionism as a form of racism and racial discrimination. I will also review the legal analysis underpinning Israel’s apartheid regime, which reflects its Zionist ideology rather than the outcome of a failed political project to establish a Palestinian state. The essay will then show how Zionism is better understood as a political and intellectual analog of apartheid in order to emphasize that Israel did not become a discriminatory regime but is defined by such discrimination. I will conclude with thoughts on the international responsibility to end the apartheid of our time.