Escalating Conflict

There is more fighting in the world than there was last week. The conflict between Israel and the Hamas is nothing new but the level of fighting escalated a few days ago. I heard one report said that the attacks in the last few days are the worst fighting there in 50 years. Lord, we pray you bring an end to the conflict.

What is going on in the world? Why can’t we find ways to get along? What does the fighting accomplish? Let’s look at the fighting between Ukraine and Russia. It has been going on for over 1 1/2 years. What has been accomplished besides destruction and killing? When Russia began attacking the Ukraine, I didn’t understand their motives (see my article “Some Preliminary Thoughts on the Situation in the Ukraine”) and I still don’t. How many resources (military and humanitarian) have been consumed by the conflict between the Ukraine and Russia that could have been used to help others in need?

Turning back to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the conflict is not new. Religion plays a significant factor. However, I wonder how much more is it about land than religious hatred. How much is the ongoing conflict about how each side treats the other today?

I was greatly saddened when the Prime Minister of Israel rushed to say Israel is at war. I don’t deny there is military conflict. However, while the present conflict is worse than in many years, I don’t see how rushing to call it a “war” serves any good purpose. Israel has a right to defend itself (see my article on “Just War Theory”). However, innocent human lives must be protected. Even if one side does not respect innocent lives that does not justify the other side ignoring innocent lives. The question of collateral damage must be addressed.

Perhaps the most common consideration of just war theory is who has the authority to make the decision for war. I find the criteria of “the probability of success” very important in present world conflicts. What does success look like? Success cannot be defined as Russia wiping out the Ukrainian people or removing Ukrainian government officials they don’t like. Likewise, success for the Hamas cannot be the destruction of the Jewish nation of Israel nor can it be Israel destroying the Palestinians. We need to be an end to war and terrorism but that is not the same as destroying an ethnic or political people. Jesus says, “love your enemies.”

After we determine a reasonable definition of success in any conflict, then we must ask ourselves what is the probability of achieving that success and at what cost? How many lives will it cost? How much destruction will it cost? How long will the conflict last, days, weeks, months, years? And will the success last? If the hatred remains, true peace has not been achieved.

We must find a way to come together in genuine dialogue and with true love for all our neighbors if we want peace. This isn’t just true for the conflict between Israel and the Hamas or the Ukraine and Russia. It is true for all of us. It’s true for people of different political parties, religions, races, or beliefs about lifestyles. Peace does not come from ignoring our differences. We need to find a path for genuine dialogue. Only then is peace possible.

The time for action is now. The money spent on bombs and fighting would be better spent on humanitarian efforts to those in need of the basic necessities of life like food. The money spent over political differences would be better spent on completing corporal works of mercy. It could be used to help the victims of recent earthquakes including one just this week in Afghanistan. When we focus on our differences, the conflict only gets worse. We cannot ignore our differences. We must face them in a way that respects the dignity of every human life.

We seek peace. So, we pray:

Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen
(see my reflection on this prayer).

Peace,

Fr. Jeff