Kansas City Star – Opinion
We denounce violence in the Israel-Hamas war — but we have to find a way to coexist | Opinion
The Kansas City Star Editorial Board – October 12, 2023
We will say it in no uncertain terms: The violent attack on Israel by Hamas Saturday was extreme, brutal and unexpected. More than 2,000 people have died on both sides.
But when war breaks out, we choose sides. It’s a human thing to do. We claim an injured party and give our support through statements, donations, thoughts and prayers. Sometimes those sides involve people far away, thousands of miles from us. But sometimes those sides are our neighbors, those who identify with the people fighting in the war.
Religious and nonreligious ethnic Jews live in the greater Kansas City area. Muslims live here. Palestinians live here. They are our neighbors.
How can we reconcile the grief for those we care about with trying to understand a different group of people who are causing pain and harm to our own?
Just a thought: Are we supposed to find common ground? Or are we just supposed to turn our heads and focus on one side — our side?
A war broke out Saturday, when Hamas, a pro-Palestine organization, attacked Israel. The assault that was launched from the Gaza Strip (a coast sandwiched between Israel and the Mediterranean Sea) killed over a thousand Israelis. Others were captured and kidnapped. On Sunday, Israel retaliated and killed more than a thousand Palestinians. We have seen the news in credible media, but fake headlines and photos have circulated.
What is Hamas? It’s described by the Associated Press as “a Palestinian Islamic political party, which has an armed wing of the same name. The word is an acronym for the Arabic words for Islamic Resistance Movement.” Many call Hamas a terror organization, especially after the horrific and violent attack last weekend.
Immediately, American leaders were sympathetic to Israel. The United States is sending military aid to Israel to fight against Hamas. Rallies were held across the U.S.
On its website, the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City says, “We Stand with Israel,” with a statement that called for donations to its effort to support victims of the violence. A vigil was held Monday in The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah in Overland Park.
The Muslim and Palestinian voice has seemed muted in Kansas City this week, but events where people come together for Palestine are beginning to happen. A “KC Rally for Palestine” is planned Saturday afternoon at the Mill Creek fountain on the Country Club Plaza. The rally notice appeared on the Al-Hadaf community organization’s Instagram account. The organization describes itself as “a Palestinian-led organization dedicated to the centering of Palestinian voices and the liberation of Palestine through community engagement.”
We’ve reached out to several in the local Palestinian community this week, and, when contacted, we vow to lend their voices to our coverage as we have the Jewish community.
Interfaith discussion, history lesson
Monday night, the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council had its monthly meeting. When we learned the theme — Israel and Palestine — we knew we had to join and hear what this multicultural, multiethnic and multireligious organization had to say about what was happening.
That night, a group consisting of members from the Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Scientology and transcendental faith traditions listened to a Jewish man talk about the war and the history of the land people are fighting for.
Alan Edelman, chair of the interfaith organization, said the conflict is as old as the Bible, and that one way to understand it is by asking an important question, maybe the question:
“Is it possible for two people to share one piece of territory that is sacred to both of them?”
Edelman described himself as a member of the peace movement. “In the peace camp, we like to say that the Palestinians (need to) understand that after 2,000 years of homelessness and a good deal of persecution, the Jewish people are entitled to return to their homeland.”
But then he added: “And the Jews have to understand that when they got a homeland, the Palestinians lost theirs.”
After Edelman gave a history lesson on the land and its people, he said the thing on everyone’s mind:
“If you’re confused, join the club. It’s a complicated situation.”
Edelman said he believes both the average Israeli and the Palestinian just want to raise their families in peace. “The innocent people suffer” at the hands of extremist leaders making decisions.
“You really don’t have a government on the Palestinian side or the Israeli side who wants to have conversations about peace. What is going on now isn’t going to encourage anyone to come to the table to talk peace,” he said.
Edelman gave a measured, informative talk, but did he provide solutions? Could anyone?
Zulfiqar Malik, not a Palestinian but a Muslim and Interfaith Council member, thanked Edelman for the presentation, and added, “I am of the Abrahamic faith and, God willing, we have to continue our efforts. We have to pray for it. I know it takes a lot of effort, a lot of patience, a lot of prayers for peace. If we don’t have peace in our hearts how can we expect peace around the world?”
Unprovoked attack, human rights violations?
As we listen to the many sides invested in the conflict, we can say who we think is more right or more wrong. Was it wrong for Hamas to attack the way it did? Many news outlets are using the words “unprovoked” attack. On the surface and at the level of aggression used, it certainly was.
But could the attack be a response to human rights violations outlined in a United Nations Human Rights Council report in April 2023? The UN council said it was “gravely concerned about the dire humanitarian, socioeconomic and security situation in the Gaza Strip, including that resulting from the prolonged closures and severe economic impediments and movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade.” The report called Israel “the occupying power.”
The Rev. Kelly Isola of the Unity faith said she saw terms such as “occupied” and “under oppressive rule” used on social media. She said people are discussing this in a “binary way” but believes there’s more than two sides.
“I don’t support Hamas and yet there’s innocent people everywhere being killed and paying the price. I don’t want to discount that,” she said.
The council wants to educate people and craft a statement against the violence, and we think that’s a good idea, but it won’t end a war. Only peaceful talks will. And as it stands, the ongoing violence, pain and grief will prevent that from happening anytime soon.
A message for those of us neither Jewish, Muslim nor Palestinian: One way to work toward peace in our community is to get to know those different from us. There are many groups, such at the Interfaith Council, that can provide an answer. The council has an upcoming “Table of Faiths” dinner next week. For more information, visit kcinterfaith.org/2023-table-of-faiths
The Kansas City Star Editorial Board wants to hear the voices of Palestinians and Jews on the topic of peaceful solutions to the war. Please send your thoughts to oped@kcstar.com