Daniel LatorreI am deeply grateful for having taken this course. Honestly, studying with Robert Nicholson, who was our teacher in The Religious and Political Ideas of the Israel-Palestinian Conflict, has been a revealing experience. I believe this course is essential for everyone, especially for Christians and believers, as it helps us understand a reality that is often distorted by the media and even universities.
I had never felt so exposed to how highly politicized narratives are used to promote destructive ideas, such as antisemitism and hatred against Jews. Frequently, under arguments that appeal to pity, the true core of the conflict is overlooked, and even the solution proposed by Professor Nicholson is ignored.
I firmly believe that the only way to achieve stable and lasting peace is to recognize the other as a human being with rights and responsibilities, and to accept that there are two peoples in this place. Only through mutual recognition of both states can the conflict be resolved. However, I am still concerned about how social media and news outlets reinforce deeply antisemitic and violent narratives against Jews, completely ignoring the fundamental solution: two states within the same territory, with genuine efforts for peace.
My question for Robert Nicholson, after this reflection, is the following: How can Christians prepare themselves to avoid being manipulated by sentimentalism or distorted news, which constantly portray Israel and the Jews as the sole culprits and never as victims? In a context where war brings horror, sadness, and devastation, how can we better defend our conviction that peace requires recognizing Israel’s right to exist, without losing sight of the goal of two states sharing the same land?
