Tragic news from Israel
Dear Church Family,
I just wanted to share some thoughts on the tragic news from Israel.
'Deliver Israel, O God, from all their troubles' - Psalm 25:22
The level of violence of the past few days has left us all shocked. Firstly the barbarity of the attacks on quiet Israeli communities resulting in hostage taking and leaving many dead. And then the number of lives lost in Gaza as a result of the uncompromising response. All we can do is pray for God to grant the leaders of both sides wisdom, restraint, a desire for justice, and ultimately peace. Also that this conflict won't spread further into the Middle East
But news of the violence took me back to my visit to Israel back in January 2018.
Many of you will remember dear Joan Bradnam who was part of our church family until her death three years ago. Joan had a deep love for Israel and wanted me as her minister to have the chance to visit the Holy Land for myself. So thanks to Joan I found myself booked onto a nine day Clergy Study Tour organized by the Angol-Israeli Association and Christian Friends of Israel.
It was a complete revelation!
During the nine days our group of twenty clergy met entrepreneurs, priests, politicians, academics, ambassadors and holocaust survivors; we visited the West Bank, the Gaza border, the Golan Heights, Galilee, Bethlehem, Jerusalem and the Dead Sea; we sat with Israelis and Palestinians as they shared with passion the realities of their daily lives in this beautiful but troubled land; and visited the biblical sites that form the backdrop of our faith.
I didn't come away from my visit any clearer as to a solution to the conflict, but the depth of conviction with which both Israelis and Palestinians spoke meant I came away with a much deeper understanding as to why the situation is so complex.
As a result of my trip I wrote two papers. One was a short article for the Anglo-Israeli magazine. This is quick read and will give you a helpful summary of the trip - the people we met and what life is like for them in the shadow of the conflict. Article Israel January 2018.pdf
The second is a detailed account of the many conversations we had (Israeli and Palestine) - each one a fascinating encounter. If you want to understand the depth of passion felt by those on both sides you might find this helpful. But it is a long read, and you may just want to go to p.26 and my concluding thoughts. (There is also an added account of our meeting with Israeli Ambassador in London three months later and his extraordinarily prescient comments given the events of the past few days). Diary Trip to Israel 15th - 24th Jan 2018.pdf
In the hope that this will help us understand and hold this troubled corner of the world in our prayers over the coming weeks and months.
Every blessing,
Patrick.