The Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb brings precision and passion to a talk at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church

The Palestinian author and theologian shares five theological challenges he’s struggling with

by Mike Ferguson | Presbyterian News Service

The Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb concluded his plenary at the Matthew 25 Summit in January with several action steps Presbyterians can take to work for peace in Gaza. (Photo by Rich Copley)

LOUISVILLE — Widely published theologian the Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, the founder and president of Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem, spoke with passion and authority this week at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C., as part of the McClendon Scholar program. Watch his 97-minute presentation, titled “Understanding Gaza: Political Context and Theological Challenges,” here. In January, Raheb addressed the PC(USA)’s Matthew 25 Summit.

Raheb’s friend, the Rev. Dr. Sarah Johnson, New York Avenue Presbyterian Church’s senior pastor, introduced him, saying he has “challenged me to shuffle and recalculate my narratives.” Johnson also noted Bright Stars of Bethlehem, which supports Dar al-Kalima, the only university of arts and culture in Palestine. Its motto, Johnson said, is, “Hope is what we do.”

Raheb’s family has lived in Bethlehem for millennia. He uses the term “settler colonialism” to frame what’s going on in his homeland. Such colonists intend to stay in the place “for good,” he said. “The ultimate aim is to replace the native people, not live with them.” Native people become aliens, and settlers become more like natives, he said. A police state has to be created and granted extra power, including over the civil affairs.

He described five stages of colonialism in Palestine since 1948: seeding the seeds, taking the land, expanding the boundaries, negotiating a compromise and sealing the colonial project, which is what’s happening now, Raheb said. “As a Palestinian whose ancestors have been living there for thousands of years, I am an alien. I have no rights in the land, and I’m not allowed to question it. They’re not shy about it,” he said of the Israeli government. “They are proud to be a settler colonial state.”

“The whole idea is to make life unlivable in Gaza,” he said. “They will have no choice but to be displaced and seek refuge somewhere else.”

Raheb next turned to five theological challenges he’s struggling with:

• The question about God and humanity. People feeling the pressure of an occupying force often ask, “God, where are you?” But according to Raheb, in Gaza they say, “God is my defender. Where is the Arab world? The Muslim world? The church?” “They don’t feel abandoned by God. They feel abandoned by humanity, and the silence of the world is deafening,” he said. “We need to think about what this means, when people lose their faith in humanity. It’s much tougher than losing faith in God.”
• The question about human rights. As they see the support for Ukraine following the Russian invasion, “Palestinians wonder if human rights are really universal,” Raheb said. Governments have funded human rights initiatives around the world, “but when we needed human rights defended, they’re not there,” he said.
• The question of what Raheb called “genocidal theology.” He noted that some of Israel’s prime ministers have compared themselves to Joshua, leading conquests in God’s name.
• The warrior God and the warrior state. While liberation theologians look to God’s liberating acts in Exodus, God as warrior “is more visible in Joshua and Judges,” Raheb said.
• Decolonizing Palestine and decolonizing the Bible go hand in hand. “We have so much to do as theologians, politicians and as human beings to bring justice, peace and reconciliation to the world,” Raheb said. “We have to end settler colonialism so Israelis, Palestinians, Christians and Muslims can share the land on equal footing.”

During a question-and-answer session following the talk, Raheb made it clear that “our problem is not with the Jewish faith. They were part of the Palestinian people until 1948.” When people talk about God giving the land of Palestine to Israel, “they mean to support settler colonialism,” he said.

The United States has “many young people against settler colonialism” who “support equality and reconciliation and the end of occupation,” he said.

He reminded the hundreds of people online and those gathered in person at the church that history for Palestine didn’t start with Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7. “At the time of Jesus, Palestine was under imperial Roman occupation,” Raheb said. “As long as there is occupation, there will always be resistance.”

“Is armed resistance the best way? I personally am not for armed resistance,” he said. “The best way to fight terrorism is to offer people hope. Fighting terrorism with more military power is counterproductive. It creates more terrorism.”

People in Israel “don’t want to close their businesses and go chase people in Gaza,” Raheb said. “The land is losing its best people on both sides.”

He called efforts such as Peace through Development “a failed policy. You cannot replace dignity by throwing money at people … Development is needed, but we need people to have agency.” Genesis 1 teaches we are “created in the image of God,” and most people believe humans are endowed with inalienable rights. “That is what the Palestinians are thirsty for,” Raheb said, receiving applause.

Asked what churches can do, Raheb replied there are “some courageous churches in the country who stood up to speak truth to power, and the Presbyterian Church is one of them. We don’t always recognize the good things some churches are doing.”

He urged seminaries to continue their efforts to “decolonize the Bible,” and encouraged those in attendance to travel to Israel/Palestine when they can. “Once you go there, you understand better than reading 10 books,” he said. “Raising awareness in this country is important, and this lecture is an example of what one church can do.”

In addition, “support viable projects that help the resilience of the people.” He called Palestinians “very resilient people. Others would have given up a long time ago. It is part of our DNA, and we have to celebrate it so they will not lose hope and will continue to believe in a just peace for everyone.”

Also on hand to speak briefly were Kyle Cristofalo, senior director for advocacy and government relations for Churches for Middle East Peace, which counts the PC(USA) as a member. In addition, a pair of Palestinians, social scientist Dr. Lamma Mansour and Fr. Dr. Fadi Diab, also spoke.

Dr. Lamma Mansour

Mansour is among the 20% of citizens of Israel who are Palestinian. “We are supposedly equal, but dozens of laws discriminate against us,” Mansour said. “We live in segregated towns and villages, very separate from Jewish towns. We have been systematically de-developed.” She has friends who’ve been arrested for their social media posts.

“Our hearts are in Gaza,” she said at the end of a day she and Diab completed a round of discussions on Capitol Hill. Christian Zionism “dehumanizes us, or it demonizes us. It’s hurting your brothers and sisters in Palestine.”

“If that’s not enough,” Mansour said, “I don’t know which Jesus you worship.”

Raheb will participate in the Confronting Christian Zionism webinar, which is set for noon on Sept. 19. Register here to attend the Zoom-based event.