Why is Palestine not a religious issue?
On March 16, 2003, when she was just 23 years old; she was brutally run over by a bulldozer belonging to the Israeli military
Rachel Corrie. Every time I hear her name, I would weep. Rachel Aliene Corrie was born on April 10, 1979. She was an American activist; and NOT A MUSLIM. Why is Palestine not a religious issue?.
On March 16, 2003, when she was just 23 years old; she was brutally run over by a bulldozer belonging to the Israeli military. Her bones were crushed into pieces by the Israeli military in their attempt to demolish the homes of Palestinian people. They claimed it was to eliminate weapons-smuggling tunnels.
Her fellow International Solidarity Movement (ISM) activists who witnessed this brutality shared that although the Israeli military saw these activists lining up trying to stop the Palestinian homes from being destroyed, they continued bulldozing them. Even after Rachel Corrie’s body was under the bulldozer; the Israeli military was determined to destroy not just the homes, but also the lives of everyone who stood in their way. This is nothing new to them.
There are other incidents where the Israeli citizens were sent to jail for refusing to enlist in the military. These Israeli citizens refused to serve on moral and ethical grounds. A prison sentence is a guaranteed punishment for those who disobeyed military commands. This is the price they have to pay for choosing to be on the side of humanity.
The aim and goal of the military is to dehumanise the Palestinian people by stripping off their rights in their own land. Every action of the Palestinians will be monitored. Every single day, they have to line up in cramped, prison-like tunnels. They have to go through these tunnels for Israeli military check ups. School children have to go through this ordeal in order to get to their schools. Pregnant mothers and the sick also have to go through this humiliation in order to access hospitals.
The humanity and humanitarian rules do not apply in Palestine.
Standing up for the Palestinians is not an act reserved to only the Muslims. It is a religion-transcending cause supported by people of every faith, political inclinations and outlook. One proof is that the Jews and Chrisitans too, are fighting for the freedom of Palestine.
The churches in Gaza are known to shelter the Palestinian Muslims. The Palestinian Chistians and Muslims used to celebrate the Eid together in the churches since the Muslims were usualy barred from entering masjids or that their homes were being invaded by the Israeli military.
Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) is an NGO that seeks an end to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. JVP’s executive director Rebecca Vilkomerson stated, “We do feel connected to the global BDS movement. We consider ourselves a part of it.”
The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement works to end international support for Israel’s oppression of Palestinians and pressure Israel to comply with international laws which they ALWAYS ignore and evade no matter how many statements the United Nations has issued against them.
In 1977, the United Nations had declared 29th of November as the annual observance of International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. It has been 43 years since the day was declared, yet the Palestinian rights are still being trampled in every possible way.
Do you know about this day? Well, now you do. So, what can we do now, today, together with people of every religious affinity that are standing up for our Palestinian brothers and sisters?
What can we do, that will help the Palestinian child get to school safely? What will we give, to ensure the Palestinian mother could reach the hospital safely? How can we help to ensure the Palestinian homes are not stolen by the Israeli military?
Here’s pastor Morgan Guyton:
“But when you see really evil things happen and the wrong is silenced and bulldozed over in a world where the loudest voice gets to be the truth, then God’s wrath starts to boil like lava in your gut. That’s how I have come to understand what God says to Cain in Genesis 4:10: “Your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.”
Farwina Faroque
Activist
References: Jewish Voice For Peace, BDS Movement, Aljazeera Plus.
