I have written previously on some of the challenges facing Jewish-Christian Relations. Essentially Church policy statements upon the Israel-Palestine conflict have led to criticism from many Jewish people that the Churches are turning their back upon Dialogue and are ready to embrace “replacement theologies” once again. Meanwhile within the churches there are people who use the words “Jew” and “Zionist” interchangeably, and regard “Zionist” as a pejorative term.
This polarised – and caricatured – debate between “Zionists” and “Palestine liberationists” is probably one of the most depressing aspects of inter faith relations at the present time.
We need some fresh thinking!
That is what I started to do when I was asked to speak to the London Society of Jews and Christian a few months ago. The text of what I said can be found here http://www.ctbi.org.uk/pdf_view.php?id=853
From a very different point of view Robert Cohen has some of that fresh thinking I’ve looking for: http://micahsparadigmshift.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/jewish-nationalism-christian-theology.html
I don’t necessarily agree with his conclusions, but it does helpfully expose the moribund nature of current Jewish-Christian disagreement on Israel-Palestine.