Reconciliation is Not Neutrality
February 2025 Newsletter
The first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza, under which dozens of Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees were freed, reached its expiration date on Saturday. Hamas insists that negotiations include the withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of Gaza they still occupy and a permanent end to the war, as envisaged in the second phase of the deal. Yet, Israel refuses to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor, the stretch that borders southern Gaza and Egypt. There are thought to be 24 Israeli hostages still alive in Gaza and thousands of Palestinians to be released from Israeli prisons. On Sunday, at the beginning of Ramdan, Israel announced it would halt humanitarian aid to Gaza until a further agreement was reached. As we hold our breath in prayers and hope that phase two will continue, we are also witnessing the “Gazafication” of certain areas in the northern West Bank, particularly in Jenin, Tulkarem, and Tubas. The Israeli army has been bulldozing buildings and basic infrastructure and have forcibly displaced over 90% of the populations in the refugee camps, uprooting around 50,000 Palestinian brothers and sisters. Simultaneously, we are seeing further embodiment of Israeli-Jewish settler attacks, which have become a weekly norm in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
In the face of these troubling developments, we at Musalaha continue to ask ourselves: How do we ethically continue to bring people together under these circumstances? How do we restore broken relationships between Palestinians and Israeli-Jews considering these political developments? How does reconciliation function in a context of oppression when one side objectively oppresses the other?
We often encounter people who mistakenly believe that reconciliation requires neutrality. Insisting that when bringing people together, we must remain neutral. They argue that speaking up about injustice compromises our credibility as reconcilers. Nowhere in the teachings of Jesus do we see a call to be neutral in the face of suffering and oppression, nor do we see it in the lives of other non-violent peacebuilders. While neutrality may have its merit in certain situations; when it comes to injustice, it becomes complicity. It is troubling that some are more concerned with whether we remain neutral than with the human and environmental suffering that compels us to speak out. The ability to restore relationships becomes futile if we do not address the political realities that prevent reconciliation in the first place. How do you restore a relationship with someone who is pinning you down with their boot to your neck? A reconciliation that truly seeks the just restoration of relationships cannot be neutral toward injustice. In some contexts, reconciliation demands speaking against oppressive powers and rejecting the notion that some humans have more rights than others.
In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, many of his most famous quotes come from this text. He criticized the position of White churches, who would criticize the ways of the civil rights movement while preaching agreement to its principles. “Shallow understanding from people of goodwill is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection”, he wrote. It is disheartening to hear these 62-year-old words resound as if they were written today. We still face those who say they would support us if only we struggled in a correct manner.
As Dr. King explained, peace is not only about the absence of tension, but about the presence of justice. Reconciliation is an active pursuit of justice, truth, and healing, a powerful and costly endeavor. It is not about standing on the sidelines, waiting for conflict to resolve itself, nor is it about maintaining a false balance in the face of deep injustice. It is not about asking for both sides to compromise as if both sides were equally powerful. True reconciliation demands that we acknowledge pain, confront systemic wrongs, and seek the restoration of relationships in a way that honors the image of God in every person. We will continue to insist that reconciliation means listening to those in pain, amplifying their voices, and walking together toward a just peace. Let us reject the false notion that neutrality is a precondition to reconciliation. Instead, let us embrace the hard, transformative work of standing for justice, giving voice to the unheard, and being peacemakers who do not shy away from the weight of truth.
– Daniel Munayer, Executive Director & Camilo, Intern
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES/IKON IMAGES
Israeli-Palestinian Civil Society Leaders Update:
This month, our Civil Society Leaders gathered for their 3rd Follow-Up Meeting, focusing again on History & Narrative. It was a much-needed space for everyone amid the realities around us which led everyone to open up towards a deeply emotional and thought-provoking weekend. Participants shared powerful personal stories on their journeys that led them to reconciliation, one from a Palestinian refugee whose father, a former PLO member, inspired him to have sympathy towards Israelis. Another was from an Israeli who had served in the military and shared the realities from inside and how his mindset switched to pacificism. These stories sparked tough yet meaningful discussions, leading to a collective effort to identify root causes of the occupation. Together, Israelis and Palestinians began mapping key issues and brainstorming ways to address them in a joint project, taking steps toward impactful change.
Daniel Munayer
Executive Director
&
Wasim Nasser
Programs Director
Muslim-Christian Young Adults Update:
This month we kicked off our 2025 – 2027 Muslim Christian Young Adult Program! Even with the cold weather, 25 young women and men joined us. It was special to see previous participants reconnecting with each other and engaging with the new participants who joined the program. The event was successful with the leadership of the Core Committee, a group of 4 returning youth leaders who are helping with the planning and implementation of the program. For this meeting, our Core Committee orchestrated icebreakers and team activities. After the games, a presentation was given showing pictures from the last Young Adults project as well as the plans for the next two years. It was encouraging to see all the participants looking forward to what we have ahead. Exciting things are to come!
Saleem Anfous
Project Manager
Artistic Recommendation:
Given the ongoing escalation in the West Bank, we recommend watching this Palestinian short film.
The Present
( الهدية)
2020 ‧ Short Film ‧ 24m
Directed and written by Dir-Farah Nabulsi
The film tells the story of a father and daughter in the Palestinian enclaves of the Israeli-occupied West Bank trying to buy a wedding anniversary gift. What is a simple task turns into a journey that shows the cruel reality and the restrictions on the right to movement in the West Bank. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film and won the BAFTA Award (British Academy Film Awards) for Best Short Film.
You can currently watch the short film on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Youtube, and Google Play Movies. The movie was available on Netflix with a collection of movies named “Palestinians Stories” that were later removed from all platforms.
Please join us in praying for:
- An end to violence and injustice in the region and for the ceasefire to continue. May God have mercy on our peoples and land.
- Our Civil Society Leaders for their upcoming weekend meeting. That deep conversation would continue and for forward movement toward our project brainstorming.
- The Young Adults starting a new commitment. May these next two years be full of growth, constructive challenges, and new opportunities.
- The Palestinian Muslim Christian women who are feeling hopeless and frustrated with the current situation. Would they continue to experience friendship and support with each other.
- To continue our resistance as we practice understanding, empathy, love, and grace towards our neighbors and enemies.