A tiny strip of land at the eastern end of the Mediterranean is probably the most disputed piece of territory on earth. For thousands of years it has been fought over; in the last 60 years or so, it has been the focus of international attention as rival peoples have claimed their rights to the area. From time to time there have been promising moves toward reconciliation, and bitter enemies have signed cease-fires and peace treaties — yet the state of tension and unrest has continued.
The parties which are directly at odds with each other in this dispute are the Israelis and the Palestinians. Each side provokes the other: Palestinians, often with the backing of other Arab states and political movements, have launched rockets into Israel, undertaken suicide bombings, and promoted unrest among Israeli Arabs. Israel, with the backing of the United States and international Jewish groups, has conducted heavy reprisals, and pushed ahead with its policy of building Jewish settlements on land claimed by the Palestinians. Serious-minded people are concerned about the worsening situation and its implications for Middle East stability.
In this booklet we shall first attempt to define the Palestinian Question and then look at what the Bible has to say …