Dear Mr. Trump, President of the United States

 

In response to your recent statement concerning Jerusalem, I’d like to share the following letter. I am an Evangelical Palestinian born and raised in Jerusalem. Thank you for asking God to bless both Israelis and Palestinians. I have been asking God to do the same since decades and I continue to dedicate my life for this purpose. However, it seems that we don’t have the same understanding of the word “bless”. No doubt that blessing includes the peace of Jerusalem and its peoples. No doubt that blessing includes living in a community of equality, equity, and justice for both Palestinians and Jews in Israel/Palestine. No doubt that Jesus blessed the peacemakers. In addition, divine blessing is much more than “political justice”. It includes human rights as the minimum requirement. It expands the requirements with the logic of divine love that seeks justice/righteousness and holistic peace for both Palestinians and Israeli Jews.

 

Blessing must be relational. It communicates not only good will but also empowerment to fulfill the divine mandate. But what kind of empowerment did the move of the embassy accomplish? The Israeli government is happy and thankful but the decision empowered Netanyahu’s government to become more rigid in their on-going systemic oppression of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Jerusalem. It empowered the Israeli government to ignore many UN resolutions concerning Jerusalem. On the other hand, Palestinians are depressed and hopeless after the failure of the Peace Process. The recent decision about moving the embassy provokes their despair and convinces them that the United States is not a fair mediator. It empowers the war-makers among Palestinians and attenuates the legitimacy of Palestinian peacemakers. In addition, the region of the Middle East is struggling with extreme religious ideologies and such a decision is giving further ammunition for more speeches rooted in hate. 

 

            We are very close to Christmas and perhaps it is appropriate to be reminded of the prophet Micah (chapter 4). He envisioned Jerusalem as a city of peace and justice for all the nations. Jews and Palestinians are included. Everyone can sit freely, not under occupation or oppression, but in their property. The ones that were forced out of the city because of political or religious oppression shall be restored. Refugees shall come back to Jerusalem. There are no checkpoints or visa restrictions or ethnic superiorities. Honoring God in showing love, mercy, and justice to all shall be our first priority. Thankfully, the prince of peace, Jesus Christ is the only way for making this vision possible (Micah 5: 2). But everyone else is also called to uplift Micah’s vision and be its messenger. Unfortunately, I don’t believe that the recent decision of moving the embassy is compatible with the blessing of Micah that is rooted in his vision for promoting peace and justice to Jerusalem, and from Jerusalem to the rest of the world. 

 

            Mr. President, I do hope that you will further reflect on the issue of Jerusalem and seek to be a true messenger of blessing to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to all those who love Jerusalem. I do hope that you will not only reconsider the unwise decision pertinent to Jerusalem but will also reflect on practical strategies to advocate peace and justice for Jerusalem and all of its inhabitants. May God truly bless you and empower you to do His will. May the prince of peace whom we celebrate his birth in Christmas strengthens us to build bridges instead of barriers especially in Jerusalem. 

 

 

Rev. Professor Yohanna Katanacho, Ph.D.