Editor: Kim Redigan, Meta Peace Team.  Originally posted on January 20, 2024

For nearly two decades, I have been passionately engaged in interfaith work to advance inclusion, justice, and peace through genuine interfaith dialogue and alliance. Today, I am disillusioned. Sadly, I have found that in times of crisis, crucial issues go unaddressed, and hard conversations are off the table, shrouded in a silence that maintains the status quo. Too often, interfaith efforts revolve around social gatherings, shared values, and tolerance, forfeiting the opportunity to delve into the deep and pressing issues of our times, issues that demand our attention and solidarity. While fostering love and service to humanity across all traditions is vital, these conversations often shy away from conflict and complex topics and, consequently, tend to be painfully irrelevant. Superficial. Maddening. 
My initial commitment to this work was driven by the hope that interfaith dialogue would eventually focus on substantive issues. However, the disheartening reality that has emerged as the recent genocide in Gaza unfolds reveals a stark truth about the flaw of interfaith work that refuses to embrace the best in each of our religions - the call to be prophetic truth-tellers and voices of justice. The truth is that, at this moment, there is an utter lack of responsiveness from within many interfaith communities. Regrettably, the absence of a collective voice from the interfaith community to engage in a meaningful conversation during such a critical humanitarian crisis is deeply disturbing and has shattered my ideals of genuine dialogue and collaboration. It has profoundly disappointed me and prompted my decision to resign from my position at an interfaith organization.

The genocide in Gaza has traumatized all of us. 25,000 Palestinians, most of them children and women, have been slaughtered. Thousands are buried under the rubble. At least 61,504 are wounded, and 85% of Gazans have been displaced from their homes.  This demands our urgent attention and unified action. The blockade of life's most basic necessities and relentless carpet bombing have created a dire humanitarian crisis. After 100 days of war, Gazans are dying from hunger and the spread of disease. Nothing is protected in Gaza, where the Strip's infrastructure has been deliberately annihilated, including hospitals, schools, churches, mosques, and refugee camps. 

Meanwhile, in the West Bank, another Nakba is unfolding. In his Christmas message from Bethlehem, Palestinian pastor Reverend Munther Isaac, said, "This is an annihilation. This is genocide". He went on to say. "If you are not appalled by what is happening in Gaza.…If you are not shaken to your core, there is something wrong with your humanity." His words have fallen on deaf ears within many interfaith organizations that refuse to recognize the gravity of the situation, much less expose the lies and propaganda that could be revealed through honest dialogue and a mutual search for the truth. Their silence and refusal to call for a ceasefire raises serious concerns about the impact of interfaith work, which should be a positive force for humanity rather than a space for empty discussions and social networking. Sadly, it appears that interfaith dialogue has been reduced to a superficial kumbaya.

All of us have a moral and religious obligation to call out this genocide.  How far will the ethnic cleansing go?  Have we forgotten our history?  Faith played a crucial role in the U.S. Civil Rights movement, the fight against apartheid in South Africa, and many other freedom struggles around the globe.  It was faith that kept Nelson Mandela going throughout his 27 years of imprisonment in apartheid South Africa.  He said, "Religion is one of the most important forces in the world. Whether you are a Christian, a Muslim, a Buddhist, a Jew, or a Hindu, religion is a great force, and it can help one have command of one's own morality, one's own behavior, and one's own attitude." It was faith that drove the most significant Civil Rights leaders of our nation, Dr. King and Malcolm X, toward tireless activism for social justice and equality.  Both utilized their faith as a power, strength, and inspiration framework. Indeed, regardless of our religious beliefs, faith catalyzes us and inspires us to keep moving under challenging circumstances.
Interfaith groups should also be at the forefront of calling out hatred in all its forms. Hate speech and violence against American Muslims and Palestinians have become normalized as a result of biased Western mainstream media, which offer one-sided reporting, as well as politicians who disingenuously increase hatred and Islamophobia by demonizing people who protest or speak out for human rights. This has a chilling effect on entire communities. Students are being doxxed and labeled as terrorists for supporting Palestinian rights, which is alarming. The distorting misrepresentation of legitimate protest only deepens the crisis and highlights the failure of interfaith work.

Silence is complicity, and the silence of interfaith groups in the face of this rising hatred has contributed to an atmosphere that has resulted in death. Three college students were shot because they were wearing keffiyehs (a Palestinian scarf, a symbol of culture and identity) and speaking Arabic. Students are being censored, universities are being pressured to restrict free speech over the Israel/Palestine issue, and bills are being introduced in U.S. state assemblies to stifle speech on campus. The peaceful chants for Palestinian freedom, like "from the river to the sea," are being misrepresented by propaganda groups and the Israeli government as genocidal chants. In reality, the chant calls for a future of equal rights, justice, and dignity for all. Where is freedom of speech when it comes to Muslims and BIPOC groups? There is selective freedom of speech and rights for American Muslims and Palestinians. Despite these hate incidents and censorship, there is hardly a word of dissent from interfaith groups. This war has exposed people's true colors, revealing blatant hypocrisy and double standards.
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It is crucial to emphasize that criticizing Israel and its policies is not synonymous with antisemitism.  Zionism is a political ideology, and conflating the two is dangerous, unsafe, and undermines the pursuit of justice and peace. Zionism does not reduce or address the reality of antisemitism. Instead, it weaponizes it. Antisemitism is prejudice directed at Jews because they are Jews and involves stereotyping, hatred, and other forms of violence. Antisemitism is real and should always be denounced, but it should never be an accusation hurled at those advocating for Palestinian rights. We must be clear that this is NOT a religious issue; rather, it's about occupation and the violation of human rights. Criticizing the policies of Israel should be no different than critiquing the policies of any other government. Palestinian Christians and Muslims (who are also Semitic people), along with many Jews, are united in their efforts to call for a permanent ceasefire and a just peace. Jewish Voice for Peace, the largest progressive Jewish anti-Zionist organization in the world, is at the forefront of many of the demonstrations and organizing efforts to bring an end to the genocide in Gaza. This is a model of real interfaith work in action.

Injustice and violence should never be accepted anytime, anywhere! No matter who is affected, it is our responsibility as human beings and people of faith to speak and act. Our Creator gave us consciences, hearts, voices, and hands to use on behalf of the human family. Interfaith work cannot be reduced to mere platitudes. Why have interfaith groups chosen to remain silent when it comes to Palestine? The active support shown for Ukraine after Russia invaded by many interfaith groups has evaporated into silence while Palestinians are dehumanized and exterminated. This raises serious questions about their consistency, sincerity, and commitment to inclusion and peace. 
Achieving peace cannot be attained through military actions. It is imperative to confront the root cause of violence to secure a fair and equitable future for both Israelis and Palestinians - namely ­­the 75-year Israeli military occupation. If interfaith groups are afraid to discuss occupation, apartheid, the violation of international law, and the role of the U.S. has been in funding and sustaining this systemic oppression, then one must question why such interfaith groups exist. The lack of tangible outcomes, the superficial discussions, and the failure to acknowledge power imbalances suggest that such groups are doing little more than maintaining injustice.

Unable to reconcile this reality with the reality on the ground in Gaza, many are beginning to withdraw from interfaith groups. I find myself grappling with a growing inclination to disengage from interfaith efforts that appear to be compromised by fear and external influences. We cannot be complicit in the crimes against humanity that are being outlined in detail by such reputable organizations such as Human Rights Watch,  Amnesty International, and the Israeli human rights group, B’tselem. 

Justice is integral to every faith tradition that compels us to acknowledge the truth and take the side of justice. "Free Palestine" is a call to our moral conscience that echoes around the globe. It represents a dedication to justice, a liberating light of freedom for all oppressed people, and a dream of sweet peace for all humanity. It appears as though many interfaith groups have failed to hear this call…Or have chosen to look away. They have failed in their humanity!
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I would like to pose a simple question to those of you in the interfaith community who have failed to act. "Why is it so hard for you to speak for humanity given your faith traditions rooted in justice and truth?" 
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During this time of genocide and crimes against humanity, your silence is violence. History will remember!

In a recent panel discussion David Finkel of the Jewish Voice for Peace, Kim Redigan of Meta Peace Team, and Huwaida Arraf, co-founder of ISM shared crucial ideas about the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Their perspectives—historical, on-ground, and legal—help us better understand the complexity of the conflict.  
 
The Historical Roots of the Conflict:
David Finkel opened the discussion by addressing the deep-rooted history of the conflict. He traced the roots of today’s violence back to the early days of the Zionist movement and the subsequent establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, which led to the mass forced displacement of Palestinians. Known as the Nakba, this event saw the ethnic cleansing of Palestine, displacing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. David emphasizes that this was not an incidental result of war but a premeditated strategy. “The ethnic cleansing of Palestine was not a fog of war or a semi-spontaneous thing. It had been planned a long time in advance,” he noted.
This historical understanding is imperative, according to David, for anyone seeking to comprehend the current realities in Gaza and the West Bank. Gaza, under blockade since 2006, is still reeling from the violence that escalated after the October 7 attacks. David highlights the precariousness of the situation—with Gaza experiencing near-total destruction and lethal military violence in the West Bank. The past informs the present, and without recognizing this history, any potential solutions will be superficial.

The Weaponization of Antisemitism:
David also touched on the growing weaponization of antisemitism, particularly in the United States, to stifle pro-Palestinian activism. He warns of a growing crackdown on expressions of solidarity with Palestinians, particularly on university campuses. “An enormous crackdown and repression on expressions of pro-Palestinian solidarity and activism,” he described, calling attention to the dangerous conflation between Zionism and Judaism—a conflation that serves to silence legitimate critique of Israeli policies under the guise of combating antisemitism.
David stressed the importance of distinguishing between Zionism, the political ideology that drives the Israeli state, and Judaism, the religion. “It is absolutely essential to be very clear that Zionism and Judaism are not the same thing,” he said. Too many fall into the trap of equating criticism of Israel policies with antisemitism. This weaponization not only undermines the fight for Palestinian rights but also endangers Jewish communities by associating them with the actions of a state they do not all support.

Life on the Ground: Kim’s Perspective from the West Bank
Kim, who recently returned from her third trip to the West Bank, gave an important account of the dire conditions she witnessed. “If I had one word that was said over and over again during the time we were there, it was unprecedented,” she remarked, shocked by the atmosphere of violence and despair percolating the region. Settler violence, home demolitions, and administrative detention have intensified. “Settlers are operating with complete impunity and extraordinarily violent,” she shared, recounting how communities are being destroyed by settlers emboldened by the Israeli government.
Kim’s accounts were not just about violence but about the resilience of the Palestinian people. Despite living under what she called a “full-on military police state,” Palestinians continue to resist through nonviolent means, rebuilding their homes after repeated demolitions and striving for food sovereignty despite relentless settler encroachment on their farm lands.
One of the most harrowing moments she shared involved the practice of administrative detention, which allows Israeli authorities to detain Palestinians without charge. Kim recounted meeting with the mother of a student, Layan Nasser, who was detained by Israeli soldiers. "She's been detained for four months, and her mother has not been able to see her. No visitation rights, no food, no clothing can be brought in," Kim explained.

The Struggle for Human Rights and Global Solidarity
David, Kim, and Huwaida all emphasized the importance of standing with human rights organizations and Palestinian civilians. Kim underscored the systematic criminalization of human rights advocates, recounting meetings with organizations like Al-Haq and Defense for Children International, which have been labeled “terrorist entities” by Israel. “Israel is completely trying to dismantle [these organizations] to strip Palestinians of any kind of refugee status,” Kim stated. Such criminalization not only silences dissent but also attempts to erase Palestinian identity and rights.
Kim shared an example of this suppression, recalling a story of settlers attacking a Palestinian child with dogs. The trauma was so profound that the child has not left her father’s side since. In the Jordan Valley, settlers frequently poison livestock—a tactic designed to drive Palestinians off their own land. Kim’s stories paint a clear picture of the grim situation on the ground: the occupation is aimed not just at land but at the very survival of Palestinian communities.

International Law: Limits and Opportunities
Huwaida offers a sharp critique of international law’s effectiveness in resolving human rights abuses—especially with the Palestinian struggle. As a human rights attorney, she acknowledges the skepticism surrounding the law’s role, stating, “the law is only a tool, and it is not something to put our faith in.” She elaborates that international law, while developed during colonial times and later reformed post-decolonization, often continues to serve “the expansionist types of interest of the powerful” rather than actually delivering justice to oppressed peoples.
One key example she highlights is the 2004 International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion on the illegality of Israel’s apartheid wall in the occupied Palestinian territories. Despite the ICJ ruling in favor of Palestine, Huwaida notes that “20 years later, the wall hasn’t been dismantled, and the ruling is not being abided by.” The example serves as a stark reminder that even when legal victories are won, their practical impact is limited by the lack of enforcement mechanisms. Huwaida emphasizes that while the ruling was binding in the sense that it determined what the law is, it also exposed a serious weakness in international law: “There is no international enforcement mechanism...you are relying on states to actually take action.”
Despite such limitations, Huwaida stresses that the law still plays an important role in organizing and mobilizing movements. She acknowledges, “we use it where we can use it to strengthen our organizing and our movements in the streets,” comparing it to how civil rights law in the United States has historically functioned alongside grassroots activism. Indeed, legal tools— although imperfect—can help raise awareness and put pressure on states to act.
Huwaida also discusses the more recent legal actions taken against Israel, such as South Africa’s case at the ICJ, accusing Israel of violating the Genocide Convention. In January 2024, the ICJ issued provisional measures, finding that “Israel is plausibly committing genocide,” though Huwaida points out that Israel has continued to ignore the court’s orders. 
Ultimately, Huwaida stresses that international law alone cannot resolve the conflict. While it can clarify legal rights—such as the ICJ's reaffirmation of Palestinians' right to self-determination—it remains essential that actions on the ground support these legal frameworks. She concludes by saying, “we need the actions on the ground,” referring to efforts like the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) and other grassroots initiatives working to support Palestinians in their daily struggle against occupation.

A Path Forward
All speakers were clear: the international community—particularly the United States—plays a pivotal role in either perpetuating or resolving this conflict. “The US could stop this war, not in a day, not in an hour, but within five minutes,” Kim quoted a human rights worker as saying. The US, with its massive political and financial support of Israel, holds the power to push for change. But this will require reform within the US political system itself, particularly with regard to campaign finance reform, as lobbyists with vested interests influence US foreign policy.
Huwaida, David, and Kim called for a renewed commitment to the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which seeks to apply economic and political pressure on Israel to end the occupation.
 
“The onus is on us,” Kim said. Whether through supporting the BDS movement, reforming campaign finance laws, or simply educating oneself and others, there is no shortage of ways for individuals to contribute to the struggle for justice in Palestine.

These panel stories remind us that the conflict is not an abstract political issue but a human rights crisis that demands urgent attention. It is only through collective action, grounded in solidarity and justice, that we can bring about meaningful change in Palestine and Israel.

*Looking for ways to support Palestinians _ get in touch with these organizations to join a peace team on the ground in Palestine!
Meta Peace Team: https://www.metapeaceteam.org
International Solidarity Movement: https://palsolidarity.org/about/
Sabeel: https://sabeel.org​

​Thirty years after the UN resolution 181 II adaptation of Palestine partition into two states, the United Nations approved another resolution on November 29, 1977, for an annual observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. This day promotes Palestinian rights, the ongoing struggle for freedom and dignity, cultural events, and remembrance that Palestinians have not yet achieved their inalienable rights.

The question of Palestine is about colonization, occupation, and policies of the Israeli government targeting Palestinians and their human rights, which the US funds. Since World War II, Israel has been the largest recipient of US foreign assistance, receiving $3.8 billion of American taxpayer dollars in 2020 alone, and during this Gaza war, another $14.3 billion, funds that should be directed to alleviate issues affecting the US today.
 
Israel continuously violates international laws and currently keeps five million Palestinians under military occupation. The story did not start on Oct 7th. Unfortunately, the loss of civilian life and ethnic cleansing had been going on before 1948, and 2023 is already the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank since 2005. From the Huwara pogrom to the deadly raid on Jenin, the home demolition and the demolishment of schools, the attacks on Al Aqsa Mosque, arrests and killing of children, West Bank settlements, checkpoints, apartheid system, and pushing annexation policies, Palestinians face injustice in every aspect of their daily life. In the occupied West Bank, raids and settler violence are increasing, and more Palestinian are being detained in prisons. There is also a growing harassment against Palestinian Christians. Another Nakba is unfolding in the occupied West Bank.
 
Gaza, the largest and densely packed concentration camp, is the home of 2.3 million Palestinians, including 1.1 million children, and has been besieged by Israel for the last 16 years. Right now, a genocide is materializing while the world watches, with continuous carpet bombing in Gaza. The indiscriminate bombing of multiple hospitals, schools, refugee camps, mosques, and churches and the use of white phosphorus, have destroyed the whole infrastructure. According to Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, from 10/7 to 11/27, the number of people killed in the Gaza Strip has increased by 20031 (8176 children), and thousands are still buried under the rubble. According to the UN, "1.7 million are now displaced" since October 7. There has been a complete blockade of food, water, medical aid, and any other necessities since Israel started the war. Now, a temporary pause. We do not need a pause; we need a complete ceasefire and peace in the region.
 
How is the world not able to stop it? The Palestinians’ voices are being eliminated. These stories need to be heard. The dehumanization of Palestinians is not hidden. This war has shown the real faces of those who are on the right side of justice, humanity, and fundamental human rights and who are not. The silence reveals the complicity of genocide.
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Criticism of Israel and its policies or criticism of Zionism, which is a political ideology, is frequently portrayed as anti-Semitism. A critique of Israel backed with truth and evidence, should be understood as a valid critique of an oppressive government. Just as other countries are held accountable for human rights violations, Israel can be as well. Using the same mindset to criticize violence and abuse in the US or in other histories, Israel’s history should be assessed critically as well. But anyone who speaks about Israel and its human rights abuse against Palestinians is deemed anti-Semitic. It is notable and well-recognized that in the history of Jews living in Muslim lands; they were protected, whether in the Middle East, the Ottoman Empire, or Al-Andalus.
 
UN resolution 194 officials recognize the 'right of return' of Palestinians who were expelled during 1948. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are respected organizations that agree on the right of return. B'tselem, the Israeli human rights group, also documented that Israel is an apartheid state. In the words of Noam Chomsky, "The last paradox is that the tale of Palestine from the beginning until today is a simple story of colonialism and dispossession, yet the world treats it as a multifaceted and complex story—hard to understand and even harder to solve."
 
So, What’s Next…Acquire Knowledge and Support
 
The biased mainstream media is portraying Palestinians in negative ways, and some politicians are fueling hate against American Muslims and Palestinians. This has resulted in increased hatred directed at them. This past weekend, three Muslim college students were shot. Activists from all walks of life and college students are being censored and silenced but this will not stop people from standing on the right side of history. It's a struggle for everyone who is conscious of basic human rights. Also, this is a crucial time to counter fear, stereotypes, and suspicions by speaking up as an ally and reaching out to your colleagues and neighbors.
Jewish Voice for Peace is commendable for being on the front lines against this war and fighting for justice and liberation for Palestinians. They are taking a stand against Israel's actions in Gaza and are continuously on the streets holding protests, sit-ins, and rallies across the nation.
 
Learn the facts, do research, listen to experts, read books and history and make up your own minds, listen to the stories of Palestinians, hear the other side, and remember that misleading media does not necessarily show the facts. Do your homework. Sign a petition to end the occupation of Palestine and donate to a charity that is helping Palestinian people.
 
We all need to take sides against apartheid, against violence, against murder, against oppression, against injustice. Ask yourself, are you okay with home demolition, checkpoints, separated walls, and ethnic cleansing? The question is, are you up for human rights, dignity, and justice for all? You just need to be human to see the injustice in Palestine.
 
The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People serves as a reminder that Palestinians continue to struggle for their land and rights. This day offers an opportunity for the worldwide community to reflect on why the Palestinians have yet to achieve the inalienable rights recognized by the General Assembly. This day symbolizes the intensely rooted history of the destruction of the native people of this land but also a struggle for peacemaking and upholding the principles of equity, justice, and dignity for humankind.