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Why I marched for Palestine

Gordon McBain, BMS Regional Secretary for the Middle East and North Africa on why he took part in the Palestinian solidarity march:

Palestinian solidarity march. Photo courtesy of Alex Baker, Baptist Times.

I took part in the march on Saturday because I felt it was important for British Christians to be showing solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters.

Last year, I had the privilege of meeting with Palestinian Baptists in the West Bank. What I saw there affected me deeply.

Before I made my visit I had a theoretical understanding of the issues but, once I spent time experiencing first-hand the conditions under which many Palestinian people are being forced to live, it became far more personal for me.

It strikes you from the very start of your visit. At Tel Aviv airport only Israeli and foreign passport holders were anywhere to be seen, as Palestinian passport-holders are simply banned.

What was a simple flight from Heathrow and a two-hour trip for me was somewhat more complicated for my Palestinian friend.

He had to fly to Amman in Jordan and take a nine-hour bus trip to meet me in Bethlehem.

In Bethlehem, on the Palestinian side of the wall that Israel has built, the difference is tangible.

There is rubbish in the streets, a lack of basic facilities and a general standard of living that is noticeably lower than Israeli parts of Jerusalem, only a few hundred metres away.

At various check-points, the difference was even more marked. As a Westerner there were times when I did not even have to show my passport, whereas Palestinians travelling with me were always forced to leave the car and enter via a different gate by foot.

The respect and friendliness with which I was treated was markedly different from the aggressive way in which my Palestinian companions were treated.

But the travel restrictions, security checks and lifestyle that one sees as a brief visitor are not the only reasons why I took part in the demonstration.

I took part in this march because Palestinians today are suffering unjust treatment, and as a Christian, with a special interest in that part of the world, I believe it is our duty to speak out against these injustices.

Import restrictions imposed by Israel have resulted in dire food, fuel and medical supply shortages in Gaza and the West Bank.

Palestinians, who already feel that their right to self-determination has been repeatedly denied, even in democratic elections, and who are suffering massive rates of unemployment within an occupied territory they are often not permitted to leave, are naturally feeling frustrated.

The many-tiered system of citizenship and the different rights accorded to different groups within Israel and the Palestinian territories cannot by anyone’s estimations be called just or egalitarian.

As a Christian I feel it is our duty to show solidarity, not only with Palestinian Christians, but with all Palestinians, as we have done and will do for many other oppressed peoples.

The suffering among Palestinians and the desire to stand alongside them are some of the reasons why BMS World Mission is looking at developing partnerships within Israel and the Palestinian territories.

This is a controversial area, geographically, politically and theologically, but this is not primarily about politics, but about people whose position in society or personal circumstances mean they are suffering on a daily basis.

Their trauma, poverty and need for justice is why BMS will be building more links with Palestinian Christians in the future.

Please pray for BMS as we navigate these difficult waters, seeking always to serve God’s purposes, with God’s justice, love and integrity.

I believe that, by standing alongside Palestinian Christians and Palestinians generally, we will not only be helping them, but helping the work and message of Christians in the Middle East as a whole, by showing them that Western Christians really do care.

More pictures from the event (all photos courtesy of Alex Baker at the Baptist Times and Gordon McBain):

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