| Ceasefire and Peace by Jonathan Kuttab We are all glad, I am sure, that the ceasefire between Iran and Israel seems to be holding and that a long protracted war between these two countries seems to have been averted, for the time being. Every life spared, every one less missile and bombing raid paused or withheld is something to be grateful for. This is why it is so incredible to me that the call for a ceasefire in Gaza has been seen as “controversial” in certain circles. Netanyahu and Trump have also shown that indeed they can be firm and decisive and put an end to fighting in a very short time span. Yet, even though these two giants have decided not to slug it out any more—for now, we cannot ignore the fact that the underlying reasons for the fighting have not been addressed, or that around 70-100 Palestinians in Gaza continue to be killed every single day, and that the genocide in Gaza and displacement in the West Bank has, if anything, only intensified. One reason for this is that there are conflicting visions for what constitutes peace and how to achieve it. Unfortunately, the very word peace has been so corrupted that many oppressed persons have come to despise the term and are reluctant to even use it. For the powerful, “peace” is often synonymous with servile acceptance of an unjust status quo, abject submission, and the abandonment of any resistance. Prime Minister Netanyahu gloated that his military had achieved “peace through strength” (and what great strength we showed, he chortled). Trump also glorified his military actions, laying claim to a Nobel Peace prize for his efforts in the process, even before the dust had settled on the Iranian targets of his massive bombardment. Palestinians have often chafed under a “peace process” that simply acted as cover for continued oppression, apartheid, and displacement, and which became an easy alibi for suppressing any movement towards liberation or an end to the occupation. Resistance itself, even nonviolent resistance, then becomes a “breach of the peace,” an intolerable destabilizing of the quiet and tranquility of normalized daily oppression and suffering. Subsequent savage repression becomes a legitimate response to the disruptive resistance of the weak and the oppressed. A whole industry has arisen of organizations dedicated to “peace” between Israelis and Palestinians while normalizing and whitewashing existing oppression. The Abrahamic Accords are touted as a framework for peace between Arabs and Israelis, while they are openly and specifically based on the by-passing of Palestinians and the need to address their needs and demands. Resistance, in all its forms, and identification with the Palestinian cause is thus labelled as extremist, as undermining “peace efforts.” The basic ingredient missing in all these so-called visions of peace is the element of justice. True peace is not the absence of fighting or conflict but the presence of justice. A just peace is a peace which addresses the grievances and needs of all parties. It is a peace built on coexistence, mutual dignity and tolerance rather than power and oppression. It is a peace that grows in the hearts and minds, creating its own momentum towards the mutual benefit and a better life for all. It is a peace that recognizes the humanity of all, strives for a life of dignity, honors human rights, and which respects and heals rather than exacerbates old grievances and enmities. It is not only the absence of violence but the absence of injustice. That is why authentic peace is often necessarily disruptive of the status quo and demanding of radical change. On the other hand, the absence of peace is not always measured by military activity. In fact, for many Palestinians, the symbols of Israeli violence are not the gun and the tank but the bulldozer, the Apartheid Wall, and the checkpoint. It is ultimately the siege of Gaza, more than its bombardment, that has resulted in the greatest suffering. Redeploying the army is meaningless as long as the oppressors control all points of entry and exit and exercise their power in that fashion. Christ once said, “Peace I will leave with you my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” He recognized that the peace of the world, the peace of Empire, is built on force and coercion. At FOSNA, we work, pray and strive for peace. A true peace. Peace with justice. This is what is needed, and it is the only peace worth having. |
South Africa seeks justice for Gaza
I’m republishing this post from my friend, Dr Chandra Muzaffar – president of the International Movement for a Just World (JUST). Chandra has been a long-term advocate for Palestine and is one of the best-informed people on the subject that I have ever met. Father Dave
