Thoughts on the Palestinian Elections

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

By H.G. Dr. Munib Younan
Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land

This week the Palestinian people have spoken in a clear and democratic process that they want a new and more effective government. With a voter turnout of 77%, one of the most effective expressions of democracy in the Arab world was achieved despite the hardships of occupation. We are proud of this great achievement and believe it illustrates our people’s desire for a modern, civil, democratic state.

By H.G. Dr. Munib Younan
Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land

We are still somewhat in shock, however, at the extent of the Hamas victory. We need time for self-evaluation to ask ourselves why this happened and what it means.

We believe it was probably an accumulation of many things:

1) Desperation in the street that despite an ongoing “peace process” occupation continued unabated as did land confiscation, settlement growth, home demolitions, the deteriorating situation in East Jerusalem and the creation of the Separation Wall that enclosed us into enclaves intended to someday be euphemistically named a “state.” In talking with many who voted for Hamas, they did not support a radical Islamist agenda or violence, they wanted change and reform in a system that has been broken for a long time.

2) Division, corruption and lack of accountability within the former ruling party of Fatah;

3) Lack of substantial political support by the US and Israel for the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) and his non-violent mandate – support which could have led to more tangible signs of improvement – instead caused less security and more disorder.

4) In the face of the economic hardship, Hamas’ social programs provided the aid and comfort Palestinian families needed, while the administration continued in mismanagement and deadlock over the ongoing conflict.

5) The unilateral nature of the withdrawal from Gaza was then interpreted by some as a sign that Israelis weren’t negotiating with Abu Mazen anyway, and that perhaps it was Hamas that ultimately triggered the withdrawal;

Today there is fear and hope, threat and promise, and time will tell whether we as two peoples can seize this opportunity to break out of our tortured history of standoff and conflict. Partners for peace are made, not born, by the ways we treat one another and shape together our common destiny.

We in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) will continue our Christian witness and service for justice, peace and reconciliation. We will still continue to renounce any kind of violence from anyone – including suicide bombing, extrajudicial assassinations, incursions, home demolitions, land confiscation or any other kind of destruction of life and liberty. We still envision a two-state solution with two, viable, contiguous and independent states living equally side by side with shared resources, a shared Jerusalem and a just resolution for the refugees and the problem of illegal settlements and land confiscation according to international law. We will continue to work adamantly for a modern, civil, democratic society that respects freedom of religion, freedom of speech and equal rights for women and men.

We ask the Palestinian people, especially Palestinian Christians, not to panic and arrive at hasty conclusions but to perservere and remain steadfast in this land. Now more than ever we need to continue to be an active, integral part of the people and to continue as Christian witnesses for justice, instruments of peace and ministers of reconciliation.

This is a moment of challenge and possibility in the midst of unexpected change. We as a church pledge ourselves to watch, pray and work unceasingly and prophetically so that the policies implemented for the Palestinian people will be guided by justice, equality and freedom.

We ask you as faith and world leaders to support these positions of our church because this is the path that will ensure pluralism, human rights, justice and freedom for all at this crucial stage. We urgently ask our Christian sisters and brothers to work with our ministries in schools, churches and organizations to ensure that Christian witness is strengthened and not diminished. Please keep us in your prayers, thoughts and actions.

We also challenge both sides to go beyond the tired old rhetoric that has only brought us stalemates and conflict. Let us work together to find new language and proposals to build common ground on our shared interests for justice and reconciliation and an end to occupation and violence. We believe that isolation of those with whom we disagree only adds to prejudices and stereotypes and the probability of more extremism.

We continue to believe that Israeli security is dependent on freedom and justice for the Palestinians, and freedom and justice for the Palestinians is dependent on the security of the Israelis. We urge both sides to recognize this because our futures are intertwined, and our children should be able to live in freedom without fear, occupation, violence or any violation of Human Rights.