In the Name of Religion

Religion has a source of both powerful unification and violent contention for mankind throughout history. Today, the native land of the three great faiths on this earth (Christianity, Judaism and Islam) is being ravaged by an endless cycle of hate, violence and mistrust. I am referring to the longstanding crisis between Israel and the Palestinians.

War in this region is not new. Throughout the history of mankind, this arid, harsh and beautiful land has seen endless bloodshed. The irony is that while so many people all over the world live by the message of love and peace that these faiths evoke, the people who live in the very region from which these faiths were born are torn by hatred and conflict. Religious fanaticism has played a significant role in perpetuating conflict in the area. The century-old conflict between Zionist Judaism and Palestinian Islamism now has world-wide implications and can no longer be ignored as simply a regional Middle Eastern issue.

Both the Israelis and Palestinians claim to have a God-given right to call the disputed land their home but have demonstrated time and again that peaceful coexistence within the same borders is difficult to attain. Militant extremist groups such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade have used their influence to evoke the sacred notion of "jihad" (literally translated to mean "struggle" to follow God) to persuade Muslim people that committing acts of violence in God's name and perpetuating the irrational violence is somehow holy and justified.

It saddens me to read about how both sides invoke their holy right to the land upon which they so freely spill one another's blood. The perversions of "God's will" by both parties and the notion of "jihad" by Muslim militant groups have resulted in the senseless slaughter of thousands of people. These militant groups seek attention to their bid for independence through terrorist acts. Never mind that thousands have died while the bloodbath persists in the name of their holy war.

For some people, religion is a source of comfort, strength, and peace. For others, it has become a divisive force. Wars throughout history have been fought in the name of God. The irony is that the three monotheistic religions of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all essentially believe in the same God. They are all what Muslims refer to as "People of the Book."

Unfortunately, religious fanatics in the Middle East abuse the symbolism of their religion to promote their own agendas, which perpetuates an endless cycle of violence. This symbolism, and the religious perceptions that interpret it, determine whether religion is a unifying or a destructive force. It is up to the leaders, both religious and political, to instill within their peoples the conviction that mankind should manifest its belief in the existence of God to effect peace, not war.

In an effort to feel secure, the state of Israel has pursued a policy of building settlements in the occupied territories of West Bank and Gaza. Not only has Israel advanced onto Palestinian land and created a myriad of settlements that isolate Palestinian communities from each other, but it has imposed checkpoints that are degrading to those people who are forced to wait in line for hours in order to get from one pocket of Palestinian land to another.

The barrier wall that Israel has begun to build in order to protect its citizens from the suicide bombers has caused human suffering by cutting off 700,000 Palestinians from their jobs, farms and schools. In the face of such injustice, people may resort to one of two things: seek revenge or seek advice from above. Desperate Palestinians find both desires fulfilled in religious militant groups that profess to do God's will by causing the deaths of innocent Israeli civilians.

I sympathize with the plight of the innocent people who bear the burden of this conflict. I cannot begin to comprehend the suffering and loss they wearily endure in their daily lives. The mistrust that many Palestinians harbor for Israel has pushed many of them right into the open arms of groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which participate in the suicide bombings that ultimately results in more death and destruction for both sides.

Both peoples are caught in the vicious cycle of hate, revenge, and mistrust. The road map to peace was never given a good chance due to a lack of leadership on both sides. Unfortunately, the Bush administration has done nothing to use its leverage to bring about a compromise. Both sides should pursue the road map to peace through negotiations. Israel should withdraw from the occupied territories and allow for the creation of a Palestinian state. Israel is a democratic state, but in order to remain so it has to grant the Palestinians the right of self-determination.

Otherwise, as the demographics in the region change, Israel will eventually become either a non-Jewish state because of the greater Palestinian population, or an apartheid state, in which the minority will rule over and suppress the majority. This is why the creation of two states is a very viable and attractive solution, and why the construction of the wall in the West Bank may come back to haunt Israel.

Both Jews and Muslims call upon the same God in their respective prayers, and continue to kill one another in His name. Children -- tomorrow's leaders, who are growing up in the midst of the conflict -- have been poisoned by the brutality they bear witness to day in and day out. Moreover, the mutual mistrust between Jews and Muslims persists throughout the world because it is passed on from generation to generation. Religion oftentimes serves as the vehicle that conveys messages that would have made God's messengers roll in their graves.