Only Compassion…

This is Avi Dabush, executive director of Rabbis for Human Rights. On October 7^th he and his family hid in their safe room in Kibbutz Nirrim for eight hours when Hamas attacked. He thought, ‘maybe this is the end’. A Guardian article says ‘he speaks with authority when he says the October 7^th attacks have caused a very deep wound and open wound on Israeli society.’

But Dabush is frightened that an even bigger threat to the safety of Israel is the almost overwhelming support for continued bombardment of Gaza. He says, ‘even though we are so many days after the beginning, people still believe that only with force can we make a new and better reality.’ He says, ‘I don’t believe that.’ He strongly supports a ceasefire and doubts Israeli military force will bring lasting peace.

He says, ‘We know from 2014 (Protective Edge) that more and more people in Gaza really hate Israel because of their experience: their houses are ruined, they are starving, their family members are dead.’

He calls what is happening ‘a very deep and radicalizing dehumanization on both sides.’

Hamas has no concern for ordinary Palestinians and 7^th October shows a very deep dehumanization of Israelis; and, from the other side, Israelis who portray a Palestinian child as a potential Hamas sympathiser or future militant, and who believe the horrific death toll and suffering in Gaza is necessary, dehumanize Palestinians.

Dabush and RHR say Israel’s security has to be accompanied by human rights for Palestinians. They are calling for a ceasefire as being consistent with values of peace, human rights, justice and equality.

He says RHR believe it (the struggle) is not about Jews against Arabs, or Israelis against Palestinians, or vice versa. Its about people who believe in peace, human rights, justice and equality against people who do not.[1]

On Monday 3^rd June, RHR with partners, including the Church of Scotland, organized an interfaith walk for peace from Zion Square to Jaffa Gate bringing together people of all faiths who share RHR’s commitment to human rights.  My colleague Stewart Gillan and I joined the walk.

It was not a large affair. It was a colourful and very mixed group: unusual on Jerusalem streets. People met and re-connected and new contacts were made. There was no right wing heckling, as there had been last year. All the speakers emphasized their commitment to peace with justice as the only path out of conflict.

I was particularly struck by some words from Thich Nhat Hanh quoted by Dr David Goren, the Buddhist representative.

Recommendation

Promise me,

Promise me this day,

Promise me now,

While the sun is overhead

Exactly at the zenith

Promise me:

Even as they

Strike you down

With a mountain of hatred and violence;

Remember brother*,

Remember:

Man is not our enemy.

Our enemies are:

Hatred, anger, fear,

Greed, fanaticism, discrimination, and delusion.

Man is not our enemy.

So please meditate on compassion, for all those who do not know that

this is the most incredible power a man can have.

Hatred will never let you face the evil on man.

Only compassion with courage intact can face

and even uproot

The evil in man.

*original non-inclusive language

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[1] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/02/meet-the-israeli-rabbi-and-survivor-of-7-october-attack-now-in-australia-to-campaign-for-peace