Book study focuses on concept of settler colonialism

The Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, author of ‘Decolonizing Palestine,’ joins the first session to offer his personal insights

by Scott O’Neill | Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE — The first of four sessions exploring the book “Decolonizing Palestine: The Land, The People, The Bible” commenced Thursday with the author, the Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, joining more than 50 participants for a 75-minute discussion that encompassed the book’s first chapter, “Settler Colonialism, Palestine, and the Bible.” Participants were also given an opportunity to ask questions directly of Raheb, most of which centered on how to decolonize, appropriate language usage when discussing the current crisis, and whether a democratic state that is also a Jewish state can co-exist.

Raheb, a native Palestinian Christian theologian, Lutheran pastor and founder and president of Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem, is no stranger to Presbyterian audiences interested in Middle East and Palestinian affairs. Earlier this year he was a keynote speaker at the Matthew 25 Summit, where he made the argument that Matthew 25 is a radical call to dismantle settler colonialism. And in a recent webinar series focused on Christian Zionism and Christian nationalism, he used the term “subtle Christian Zionism” to describe the U.S.’s ongoing support of Israel which began after the 1967 Six-Day War against a coalition of Arab states.

The Rev. Marietta Macy, a Presbyterian minister and educator who sits on the Israel Palestine Mission Network’s steering committee and is the series facilitator, opened the session with a prayer and then introduced the Raheb. She identified Raheb as the most widely published Palestinian theologian to date (noting that he has authored 50 books that have been translated into 13 languages), and a “long-time friend” of the PC(USA) with far-reaching influence inside and outside the church. Raheb acknowledged he was once a PC(USA) mission partner in residence serving in Louisville for six months during 2003.

Macy and Raheb spent the first 15 minutes in conversation that began with Raheb’s motivation for writing a book that articulated the concept of decolonizing Palestine.

“There have been a lot of writings on settler colonialism in the field of political science, sociology, and Middle Eastern studies, but this topic has never actually been brought into and engaged with theology,” said Raheb.

“And for me that was intriguing because I thought as theologians, we have a lot to think and see about — especially that the book of Joshua is actually the blueprint for settler colonialism. But nobody has really dealt with it before. Many theologians in the States have dealt with slavery, but I don’t really see serious theological struggles with the issue of settler colonialism.”

Raheb stated that work toward recognizing the U.S.’s settler colonialism past is slowly beginning and building, but it is the country’s history. For Palestinians living in Palestine, it is their current reality.

The Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb addresses the Matthew 25 national gathering held in January. (Photo by Rich Copley)

“Settler colonialism for us started 100 years ago, but what we see happening in Gaza now is what I call in the book ‘sealing the settler colonial project.’ Countries supporting Israel, without exception, are countries with a settle colonial history. Those coming to the aid of the Palestinians are mainly countries who suffered under settler colonialism,” said Raheb.

He concluded by noting that a unique feature of his book is that it’s the first he’s aware of that talks about liberal Christian Zionism. Most books about the topic, he says, focus on evangelicals.

Participants headed to small group sessions for about 15 minutes where they considered three prepared questions to guide their discussion. Those questions centered on sharing personal stories or experiences that frame their understanding of colonialism, language and the role it plays for dealing with the situation in Palestine, and how to define “the land,” “the people” or “the Bible.”

Once the small group discussions ended, Raheb was available to answer questions from each group as time allowed. On the question of how to begin the process of decolonizing without recolonizing people again, he offered a cautious approach.

“It is a great question that I’m not sure is really for me to answer,” Raheb said. “I think it needs discerning and something to be careful about how we go about decolonization.”

The Rev. Marietta Macy

Macy offered her thoughts on the same question.

“I think it’s important to do this kind of learning before you think you are actually decolonizing so that we don’t repeat cycles. Our group asked, ‘How do we break the cycles of people being traumatized and then re-traumatizing others when they have access to power?’ And I think we’re at risk of doing that if we have not done our unpacking for it.”

Raheb was asked if a democratic state that is also a Jewish state is possible. If not, what is the political plan for the land of Israel and Palestine?

“No, I don’t think that a Jewish and a democratic state is possible,” said Raheb. “I think its wishful thinking to cast Israel as a democratic country; it’s not towards the Palestinians under occupation, the Palestinians inside Israel nor the Ethiopian Jews. There is a hierarchy very much marked by color.”

Raheb said there are alternatives to the status quo, but any long-term solution must not compromise on equality.

“We cannot compromise on equality and Indigenous [people] will get their land back so everyone can live. Reparation is important. Equality, land, and reparations are three very important issues if we want a just peace in Israel and Palestine.”

When asked about recommendations for the type of language that should be used when discussing Palestine with friends or family, Raheb said first and foremost to name the country as “Palestine.”

“Historically, that is the name used for this land, not Israel. Many people don’t know it’s not a contradiction to have a Jewish Palestinian. Jews for the last 2,000 years were Palestinian because Palestine, as I write in the book, has always been a pluralistic country,” said Raheb.

“We have to unlearn so many things by listening to Palestinian voices, and I think PC(USA) has been active in bringing those voices to tour U.S. churches and congregations. We need to do more of that because what happened in 1948 is, not only did we lose the land, we lost the narrative. And the narrative is as important as the land because suddenly people in the U.S. and other places started seeing us as the aliens. We need to bring Palestinians into the narrative and listen to their stories.”

The next session is scheduled for Oct. 31 at noon Eastern time. Discussions will focus on Chapter 2, “Christian Zionism.” Subsequent weeks will feature Chapter 3, “The Land, the Bible, and Settler Colonialism” on Nov. 7. The final session will be on Nov. 14, and address Chapter 4, “Chosen People?” and the book’s Epilogue.

According to Macy, each week’s session will begin with a brief overview of the chapter, so while it is helpful to have read the material before a session begins, it is not necessary.

Register here to participate in the remaining sessions.

“Decolonizing Palestine: The Land, The People, The Bible” can be purchased at the Orbis Books website. Amazon offers paperback, digital, and audio versions. Barnes and Noble as well as Target and Walmart also offer the book.

The PC(USA)’s Christian Zionism working group, which consists of the Presbyterian World Mission’s Middle East and Europe office, the Office of Public Witness, the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, and members of the Israel Palestine Mission Network (IPMN), is sponsoring this series.