[Dane Litchfield]

The current media and internet culture seems to be filled with this notion that support for Palestinian liberation is incompatible with recognizing the legitimacy of Israel as a state. In this world of hyperpartisan politics, there exists this tendency in discourse to suggest that if one thing is true on behalf of a side, then another thing absolutely cannot be true if conflict arises between the two groups. Drawing from this course and my theological training, I would emphasize two things in a pursuit of justice for both Israel and Palestinians: Scripture and Tradition. These two pillars of Catholic teaching on Revelation illustrate the relevance of both the Jewish people to the land but also the communities of Palestinian Christians who have lived in the land since antiquity. Decolonial thought is central to many of the discussions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and I believe that this must entail ALL forms of colonialism throughout history, beginning with the Roman colonialism that is responsible for the Jewish diaspora and setting the stage for Christian antisemitism to develop on the European continent. Reckoning that all history matters, not just modern colonial history, is important for understanding Zionism as a decolonial movement and can thus bring better common ground between Jews and Palestinians, united in their emergence from the ashes of colonialism.