What do you know about Palestinians? In this eye-opening interview with Gloria Olivier, we discuss the plight of Palestinians today. Did you know that thousands of Christians live in the West Bank today under Israeli occupation? In this interview, you’ll learn a little about the history of this conflict as well as what conditions are like on the ground. Now I realize this can be a sensitive subject, but I just ask that you hear out Gloria and keep an open mind on this important topic.
Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
Also, here’s a picture of some of Gloria’s family when she was only 9 years old and visited Ramallah. (She’s on the right with white top and dark skirt.)
—— Links ——
- Books mentioned in this episode: Blood Brothers by Elias Chacour, Fast Times in Palestine by Pamela Olson, Justice and Only Justice by Naim Ateek, and A Wall in Jerusalem by Mark Braverman
- Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
Dear Sean, I have just listened to interview 52 with Gloria Olivier.
This lady’s viewpoint is exceedingly biased against Israel. She omitted to give a well balanced interview, as did not explain why walls have been built – to protect people from terrorism. She did not mention the “pay to slay” policy of Hamas in Gaza, which encourages Palestinians to kill Jewish people so that they can have a life long pension. The hundreds of rockets that are being fired across the border from Gaza into the civilian population of Israel, making daily life miserable for those people, the fire balloons that are sent across the border destroying hundreds of acres of farming land in Southern Israel. She did not mention how ridiculously wealthy the leaders of the Palestinian people have become on all the foreign aid, whilst their people live in poverty: the lack of democracy and free elections.
BDS is Jew hatred in practice: it will also be damaging for the Palestinian people who are employed by these companies. Genesis 12:3 still stands: the Father of lights will continue to bless those who bless Israel.
I do hope that you will be sufficiently even-handed to ask for a comment on this interview from some of the messianic Jews living in Israel; try Amir Tsarfati of Behold Israel Ministries or Zola Levitt Ministries.
Kind regards, Abigail
Well said Abagail except you equate political Israel with the Israel of God
The appalling treatment of the people of Palestine and Gaza is overlooked by the US because of the Jewish banker lobbyists. This isn’t a conspiracy theory or hate speech but an absolute, but well disguised, fact.
Political Israel will be destroyed by Christ because they occupy an assumed position before God.
Behind the scenes money talks, and the Israeli, Palestinian, American etc financiers are all friends
Friends with an agenda
All this posturing with innocent people’s lives is just boardroom semantics for them because their master is Satan
The promise to Abraham will be fulfilled by God not false prophet politicians!
Yes. I agree with Abigail Hall.
American Christians are very aware of the rocket attacks and other acts of terrorism that the Israeli people have suffered. Most American Christians, however, know little or nothing about the plight of the Palestinian people and especially the plight of Palestinian Christians. I don’t think this episode is intended to be a comprehensive overview of both sides of the issue. Rather, it is raising awareness about a side of the issue that is not well known or understood by American Christians. For that reason, this episode is serving a very important purpose. I would welcome a follow-up episode that offers the Israeli perspective – I hope Sean will consider that. However, this episode in and of itself is serving a very important purpose by offering a perspective that most American Christians are woefully ignorant of.
I agree with you that Genesis 12:3 is still in effect, but I disagree with your assumption that the modern day State of Israel under the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu is somehow the same as or equal to the Israel of the Bible and the Israel of God. I would refer you to Romans 9, where Paul makes the point that not all who call themselves “Israel” are actually Israel. According to scripture, the true Israel of God are those who believe in God and his Messiah – and the modern State of Israel has nothing to do with that.
God will not bless those who bless the State of Israel. God will bless those who seek justice for the oppressed.
It’s pretty difficult not to have a biased view about the Israeli-Palestinian situation. I won’t fault Gloria for having her view.
There are a few things that were simply wrong or strangely worded. Here are a few:
-Evangelism is not against the law in Israel. Not sure where you got that, Sean. The law for any religious “conversion” is 1) you can’t induce someone with financial benefits to change religion/faith. No one has ever been prosecuted under that law. 2) You can’t “evangelize” a minor without there parents consent. Otherwise, have at it. I think you would find that most “missionaries” think it much easier to “evangelize” in Israel than they would in Arabic areas.
-The Israeli occupation of the disputed territories is like the Nazi occupation of Paris in WWII? Ah, no.
-Sorry, Israel is not apartheid. Not even close. Go visit one of their main hospitals in Jerusalem. You will change your mind.
-I recommend that Americans be very slow to enter into political affairs of the Middle East, Israel-Palestine included. Ask Gloria if her family in Ramallah would like to be under the government of the Arab Islamic Hamas from Gaza. Ask her if her family would like to be ruled by an Arab Muslim leadership from Hebron.
-You didn’t know that there were Arab Christians in Palestine. Do you know that there are Arab Muslim citizens in Israel with total, full complete rights as any other Jewish citizen (so much for apartheid)? Did you know that there has been and currently is an Arab Christian that serves on the supreme court of Israel?
-Have Arab Christians, or Arabs in general, been in a better situation the last 10 years, in places like Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq? The disputed territories (so called West Bank), not to mention Israel, has been a relatively stable place.
-No one is saying it is all rosy for Palestinians in the territories, but I can with much confidence say that there probably won’t be significant change unless from the Arab (Muslim and Christian) side they admit that a good deal of their difficulties have been from their own mistakes (you can say the decisions of their leaders if you want). They are not just victims. Much of their situation stems from their refusal to accept a Jewish State. Be it their decisions to initiate wars or terrorist acts. They’ve attacked, and lost. The wall (90% fence), Sean, is there because Arabs from the territories decided to blow up people they never met in public buses and restaurants. There are consequences for such actions. Israel didn’t want to build the wall/fence, but unfortunately, it’s been effective.
Appreciate all these points of view here. Glad to hear perspectives from all sides.
Great comments Bill. I have Palestinian relatives, by marriage, who were there in the 67 war. They have told me that they think Palestinians are safer in Israel than any surrounding countries. They now live in the US. Yet if they were to go back, they would live in Israel.
Bill Shlegel excellent.
I agree 100% with you on this.
Bill,
Thanks for your work in Israel heading the ISBE.
What is your take on modern-day Zionism?
And should Christians support any type of movement like that?
I am heartened to see at least some Christians are able to call genocidal practices by their rightful name. Occupy someone’s homelands, displace them with extreme violence, slaughter them with impunity, and call it terrorism when they fight back? Imagine Jesus telling us Blessed are the conquerors? blessed are those who dispossess their neighbors?
Visit a clinic in Gaza, not a hospital in Jerusalem, if you want to help your neighbors lying in the road.
Thank you for your interview Gloria. It was very well done. I do agree that the Palestinians have been given a very poor deal when it comes to Israel. The entire British and “other nations” in corroboration gave one group of people a homeland that was somebody else’s property and didn’t give anything themselves. They just voted appropriation of someone else’s property. Having been baptized with a Jewish woman who became a messianic Jew, she too would agree with you. She can’t really even visit her own family there in Israel due to her taking the Christian faith. Again thanks. We are called to love one another. Being a biblical unitarian should go a long way to opening dialogue with Muslims. Thank you and your husband for sharing your story.
Although you, Sean, and your guest, and many Palestinians are sincere in what you believe, it is unfortunately the result of decades of anti-Israeli propaganda. Your guest just casually mentioned the war of Independence in 1948 resulting in the occupation of Arab territories. But the way she mentioned it, you would not even know who started the war. In fact the newly established state of Israel, which had no real standing army to speak of, was attacked by at least five Arab nations intent on totally destroying the fledgling nation. Against all odds Israel was victorious, a miracle in itself. As a result of Israel’s victory Arabs lost land – sorry but that’s how it is when a nation attacks another nation. The interview was one sided as even you admitted at the end. Please consider having an opposing viewpoint interview.
I’m afraid you’re not getting the whole story Troy M. Salinger. Prior to Zionism becoming a thing in the 1880’s if a Jew wanted land owned by an Arab he just made an offer and paid enough to make a win/win situation for everyone involved. And the Arabs welcomed the Jews who fled Russian pogroms. They got along well.
But the Zionist manifesto was to occupy the land even if the Arabs didn’t want to sell. Then, and you won’t hear this from Christians United for Israel, prior to the expiration of the British Mandate and the Jews declaring themselves a country, the Jews started bulldozing Arab villages, killing them or running them off. This is why the Arab nations got involved. For HUMAN RIGHTS.
The Jews did have a standing army, and it wasn’t a miracle they won. They were much smaller, but smaller armies win when they are motivated. The Arabs were not motivated and couldn’t get their act together on the battlefield, fighting over who should be in charge. This type of thing has happened numerous times in history but we want God to be in this so much we call it a miracle.
Then, the United Nations, in a decision with authority not given to them by anyone, gave the Jews who were 1/3 of the people 2/3 of the land. How do you suppose the Arabs (Palestinians) would react to that? I for one admire their patience and tenacity at not giving in to this injustice that has been going on and still goes on to this day.
As for the “terrorist” acts of Palestinians I’ve got two bits of advice: 1) If you don’t want to get bit by the dog – don’t beat the dog, and 2) Jesus said “you reap what you sow.” What has Israel been sowing among the Palestinians? If you don’t know, you might want to read https://ifamericansknew.org/