Apartheid in the Holy Land: Theological reflections on the Israel and/or Palestine situation from a South African perspective

Abstract

I first attempt to draw a comparison between the Israel-Palestine conflict and the South African experience of apartheid. Drawing on other established sources and personal experience, I conclude that, while there may be some differences between the two contexts, in essence, the similar experiences of colonialisation and racialisation makes the apartheid comparison compellingly relevant. I then proceed to theologically explore the themes of justice and reconciliation and what it may mean in the context of Israel-Palestine whilst extracting from the South African experience. The article also offers some reflections on the role of the Church in addressing the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Keywords

• South Africa
• apartheid
• racialization
• colonialization
• Israel
• Palestine
• theology
• church
• justice
• reconciliation