Reflections from the West Bank: how faith is overcoming fear
By David McColl, Embrace’s Programmes & Partnerships Manager for Israel-Palestine
Last month [March 2024], I had the privilege of visiting some of our partners in the West Bank. It was the first time we as a team have visited since the events of October 7th. While the attention of the world media has been on the catastrophic situation in Gaza, life in the West Bank has also become intolerable during the past six months.
A de-facto lockdown has made movement between cities and towns both restricted and dangerous. An increase in settler attacks and IDF raids have killed hundreds and injured thousands. And an economic crisis - caused by no tourism and over 160,000 Palestinian work permits being revoked - has left millions of people without an income.
As we met with partners we heard first-hand about how the situation is affecting them both personally and professionally. They told us about the fear they feel for themselves and their families as they live under increasing insecurity. They told us about the fear they have for the future of the West Bank and whether the situation will ever improve. One partner told us about three people they support through their projects who have been killed during the past few months, while others vividly told us about the violence they have witnessed as they have travelled between project sites.
Olive groves in the West Bank
Continuing to serve boldly
Daily life in the West Bank is therefore filled with danger and fear. Yet what intrigued me as I heard the stories and saw the reality of the situation was that even in the midst of this fear and danger, our partners are continuing to boldly serve those in need. Not only are they continuing with their existing projects but they are expanding their work and implementing new projects in some of the most difficult areas. Rather than letting the fear paralyse them, they are actively moving towards those in need.
As I reflected on this and how to explain it, I was reminded of a sermon that Martin Luther King Jr preached about the Good Samaritan. The parable is a story about dangerous roads, violence and fear, a situation that bears many similarities to life in the West Bank today.
Lessons from the Good Samaritan
The mystery of the parable is why the Samaritan stops to help the injured man at the side of the road, but the Priest and the Levite don’t. In his sermon, Martin Luther King Jr suggests that the reason that the Priest and Levite did not stop was fear. Both men knew the road was dangerous and when they saw the man in need they both asked themselves the same question: “If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?” They wondered if the robbers were still nearby and watching. They wondered if this was maybe a trap. The result of this was a paralysing fear which led to inaction.
However, when the Samaritan saw the man in need he reversed the question and asked himself, “If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?” It was not that the Samaritan wasn’t fearful. He too knew the risks and the danger involved in stopping. Yet his compassion outweighed his fear. This was the example that Jesus urged his listeners to imitate, and it was what I saw in our partners throughout my visit.
David (middle) visits an accessible play area at a centre we help fund near Bethlehem, through our partner BASR. The centre is a welcoming space that supports children with additional learning needs.
Living out Jesus’ teachings
Life in the West Bank is fraught with danger and the fear that our partners feel is real. Yet they are also filled with compassion to serve and help those most in need. They are asking themselves the same question the Good Samaritan asked himself: “If I do not stop to help this person, what will happen to them?”
And so throughout the last six months what we have seen is our partners move towards those who are in need. It is faith in action. A compassion that outweighs fear and it as an example to all of us of what it looks like to put the teaching of Jesus into practice.