Working For Justice is required in the world including the UK and Israel

This week I'm taking some time off but also trying to make sure some of the issues that I've been supporting are followed up. I've just written a letter to the Prime Minister , David Cameron encouraging him to keep his word and follow up the more positive reply he gave to Michael Connarty, relating to  the Private member's Bill entitled Transparency in UK Company Supply Chains (Eradication of Slavery) Bill  last Tuesday at  PMs Question Time in the Commons. For your info, the transcript of the Private Member's debate is here:http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm121019/debtext/121019-0002.htm#12101926000005 I also hope to follow up on a very interesting meeting that took place on Wednesday of last week. Let me explain the background. It was  with a feeling of frustration that I prepared myself to meet with Daniel Taub, Israel's ambassador to Britain in the Church of Scotland Offices in Edinburgh. I knew the above Bill had been a bit of a disappointment and thinking about the intractable situation that people in the Middle East live through. I must confess I was thinking what can we in the Church of Scotland possibly contribute towards Peace in the Middle East? At that point the door opened  ion my office and I was introduced to the current Israeli Ambassador to the UK. With over two decades of experience in Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Daniel Taub is an experienced diplomat, playing a key role in a range of legal and political arenas. He has also been extensively involved in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. The meeting was set up because the week before I had been a guest at 10 Downing Street to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Council of Christians and Jews. It was a timely meeting because a delegation from the Church of Scotland had just returned from a visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. After the introductions I opened my iPad and read from Isaiah 51. It's an interesting passage that speaks about the life of Abraham as an example of faith. It turned out to be an excellent introduction to our conversations. Ambassador Taub is a man of faith and he enjoyed commenting on the Book of Isaiah being read with a Scottish accent.  What followed was what I believe to be a frank exchange of ideas and views. Ambassador Taub spoke of the significant contribution people of faith can make to strengthen opportunities for peace. As we talked I could see that this was a perceptive man who had come to invite the Church to continue to build friendships both in Palestine and in Israel. Everyone fully understands the Israeli government's right to protect the people of Israel and Wednesday was a particularly sad day, one which highlighted the dangers that Israelis face daily.Both sides have their views on the wall but it is my prayer that the wall will come down so that the peoples of the Middle East will live in peace. I explained to him how the  General Assembly feels about  Israeli/Palestine relationships. The concern we have for Christians living in very difficult circumstances.  The wall may now be the greatest impediment to peace. The longer people are kept behind a wall the greater chance they will forget that people exist on the other side. Israel, with the creation of the wall has created a sense of separation and hopelessness in the eyes of those whose movement is restricted.  Ambassador Taub  reminded  us that taking the   wall  down will be difficult as the Israeli's see it as a success. Fewer suicide bombers get through.  However if the wall continues to to be  there how will there be a chance  for those on both sides to be able to co-exist?  We listened to Ambassador Taub speak of the anxiety which had led to the building of the wall. In turn we spoke of the evils that the wall had brought. The restriction of movement, the lack of trade, the loss of human dignity as people wait for hours to pass through the checkpoints. We spoke of specific people in Gaza and the West Bank who struggle to have their human rights respected. It was at times a difficult but courteous exchange. My colleague Ian Alexander was able to explain  the Church's history in Palestine. The Church of Scotland has more than 150 years of experience in that land, we have partnerships with the indigenous Christian community there and we hear from them of the injustices they face from the Israeli government and military. They have issued a heartfelt plea to their brothers and sisters in the worldwide Christian family, a plea that we will pay attention to their cry of "faith, hope and love" from the heart of their suffering. We need to listen to those who are marginalised and to speak out for those who feel they have no voice. Ambassador Taub spoke of the inspiration that he had felt when meeting those who had agreed the peace in Northern Ireland. He said, "yes it's a fragile peace but it is recognised as peace." I found that a telling statement. Peace need not be perfect but it requires to be recognised and the agreements kept.  This surely is the building block of a lasting peace. Its begins with a fragility that many would see as weak but if trust can be built is can grow into a lasting peace. So what of the Church of Scotland's role in all this? We certainly must  not think of ourselves more highly than we ought. We are a small church in the northern hemisphere, our contribution will be small, but it could be significant. We are called to be peacemakers to help people on the ground live at peace with their neighbours. To be the voice of the poor speaking when we can to those with power to ensure justice is accessible to everyone. Our greatest strength is that we don't just speak from the iced chilled winds of a winter  Edinburgh city. We have a presence on the ground in Jerusalem and Galilee and it is from within Israel that we can most surely make our contribution toward peace. As I shook hands with the Ambassador, I was aware we had started a conversation that has to continue. The Church of Scotland may be a small denomination, and the Moderator may indeed come and go , but God uses the weak to confound the mighty. It is my hope that the conversation will continue.      

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