Israel and Zionism in the Eyes of Palestinian Christian Theologians

Abstract

Christian activism in the Arab−Israeli conflict and theological reflections on the Middle East have evolved around Palestinian liberation theology as a theological−political doctrine that scrutinizes Zionism, the existence of Israel and its policies, developing a biblical hermeneutics that reverses the biblical narrative, in order to portray Israel as a wicked regime that operates in the name of a fallacious primitive god and that uses false interpretations of the scriptures. This article analyzes the theological political−theological views applied to the Arab−Israeli conflict developed by Geries Khoury, Naim Ateek, and Mitri Raheb—three influential authors and activists in different Christians denominations. Besides opposing Zionism and providing arguments for the boycott of Israel, such conceptualizations go far beyond the conflict, providing theological grounds for the denial of Jewish statehood echoing old anti-Jewish accusations.

Keywords

• Palestine
• Israel
• Zionism
• Christianity
• antisemitism