Sabeel’s Cornerstone: “Israel: An Apartheid State?”
This month’s issue of Cornerstone [a regular publication of the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center, based in Jerusalem] reflects on the issue of apartheid. It is notable that in both South Africa and Israel leaders utilized the scriptures to justify their racist regime, arguing that they were set apart—chosen exclusively by God—to rule over those who were already living in the land. Both the white Afrikaners in South Africa and Israeli settlers have used the exodus narrative to claim that they alone have sovereignty over the land. This reality humbles us to be careful how we read the
scriptures. Do we weaponize the Bible to harm others for our own gain? Or do the words of scripture move us to sacrificial love for our neighbour?