Former Church of England Bishop ministering at Newark Parish Church speaks of hope for peace and reconciliation in Israel and Palestine

A retired bishop from Newark has reflected on his own time in the Middle East as the latest conflict between Israel and Palestine continues.

Peter Hill is a retired Church of England bishop now ministering at Newark Parish Church.

Last Sunday he spoke in the church’s morning service about the eruption of violence in southern Israel from Gaza with concern and attempted to answer the question of how we respond to such violence.

“The complex politics of Israel and Palestine are a minefield and it is so easy to be misheard and misinterpreted,” said Peter.

“Whatever our political or religious perspective, the horrendous terrorist violence and murder that Hamas has brought about from Gaza these past days is rightly condemned as utterly immoral and unjustifiable whatever the wider circumstances.

“I stand with that condemnation. That has to be our first response.

“Now further terror and violence is raining down on Gazan Palestinians: the guilty and the innocent. These horrors are nothing new in this place which some of us call the Holy Land.

“Twenty six centuries ago in the face of the terror experienced at another time of conflict an Old Testament prophet wrote these words of lament at what he saw: ‘Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, which was brought upon me.’

“I believe we must also lament, but also hope and act.”

Peter reflected on his own time in the Middle East on pilgramage, speaking of the many injustices he witnessed on both sides of the divide.

He said: “I have been falsely arrested by corrupt Palestinian police in Jericho and had to pay a bribe to be released.

“I have argued with Israeli border guards who mistreated Palestinian workers for no apparent reason at the security wall crossing in Bethlehem.

“I have witnessed Palestinian youths taunting nervy young Israeli soldiers.

“I have been harassed in the Christian Quarter of the old city of Jerusalem by religious Israeli extremists demanding the expulsion of all Muslims and Christians.

“I have also been to Gaza, and as many in the media have stated it is in effect a massive open air prison camp with two and half million people crammed in.

“The conditions there are dreadful. I have talked to young people in a Gaza school about their life ambitions, which were much the same as many young people here in Newark.

“But they are trapped and cannot fulfil their dreams. Some of them may no longer be alive.”

Peter then spoke of hope and those working towards peace and reconciliation, including two men he met who had suffered loss from opposite sides.

Bassam, a Palestinian Muslim and ex-terrorist who lost his 10-year-old daughter when she was shot in the back by an Israeli soldier while leaving school.

Former Israeli soldier, Rami, lost his 14-year-old daughter during a Palestinian suicide bombing.

They were brought together as grieving parents by The Parents Circle, an organisation created by grieving Israeli and Palestinian parents who have lost children to conflict.

Peter said: “At first, in their understandable grief and anger they hated each other, but now are firm friends who tour Israel, Palestine and other countries telling their stories to other grieving parents from across the divide and encouraging reconciliation and peace.

“My wife and I have several times got them to speak to our pilgrim groups in Jerusalem where they have shown us photos of their daughters and spoken of their work. Many tears are shed. It is heartbreaking, yet so hope giving.

“These things don’t get publicised, especially at times like this. Bassam and Rami are true loyal radicals, faithful to their own community traditions but radical in their call and action for reconciliation.”

He ended by speaking of British friends supporting community work in the West Bank now trapped by the military lock down on the Palestinian territories who had asked for prayers of peace.

“In his day Jesus was a loyal radical too,” said Peter.

“He continually spoke out against the injustices he saw in the Holy Land without fear or favour. He acted not through violence or grasping for power, yet neither did he advocate cautious goodness.

“Amidst observing the agonising horrors of this conflict, he calls for us to be loyal to him and radical in serving up reckless kindness and generosity.

“Making peace in our own personal relationships and working for reconciliation in the wider politics of our terribly broken world.

“May God have mercy on The Land of the Holy One and on us.”