Written by Jemaimah
KUALA LUMPUR: A senior English pastor and prolific author has alleged that the growing influence of the Christian Zionism movement in the United States is blocking the superpower's efforts to solve the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Reverend Dr Stephen Sizer of Christ Church in Surrey, England, said the Christian Zionism movement rose to prominence in 1967 with misguided Christians viewing the formation of Israel as the fulfillment of a biblical prophesy.
Speaking at an international forum themed "The Israel-Palestinian Conflict: The Religious Dimension" here yesterday, Sizer said Christian Zionists, comprising 25 per cent of American Christians and five per cent of Christians worldwide, were constantly lobbying the White House to safeguard Israel's lot.
Sizer, author of the book Christian Zionism -- Roadmap to Armageddon?, said the Christian Zionists had opposed the peace initiatives of the US government, United Nations, European Community and Russia.
He said Christian leaders in Jerusalem, meanwhile, had declared their rejection of Christian Zionists and believed they were capable of living together with Jews and Muslims in peace, justice and security.
Sizer added: "This is in accordance with Christian teachings that God's land should be shared by all.
"Christians, as ambassadors of reconciliation, are seeking an inclusive peace plan for Palestine.
"But it is clear that Israel will not give up although it has to ultimately choose between democracy, establishing a Jewish State and holding on to occupied territories."
He added that Israel could only have one or two of these options.
Former Palestinian Ambassador to Malaysia, Tan Sri Ahmad Al-Farra, another speaker at the forum held at the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies Malaysia, said it was a fact that fanatical organisations like the Christian Zionists were supported by Israel.
He said he believed the Arab-Israeli conflict was not a religious one.
"It is a political conflict over land, existence and sovereignty.
"There has been no progress at all on the two-state solution. So why not think about having a one-state solution as we (Muslims, Christians and Jews) can live together in Palestine."
Ahmad said US leaders wanted to help bring about peace to the region but their efforts had been blocked by Zionist's lobbying.
The other speaker at the forum, Professor Achin Vanaik from the Department of Political Science, Delhi University in India said: "Those who believe Israel is a democracy are mistaken.
"Israel cannot be a democratic state as long as it still wants to be a Jewish state."
Vanaik said in a democratic state the citizens must have equal rights which protect the people especially minorities from all kinds of oppression and not just limited to religious discrimination.
He said more and more Palestinians were now coming around to the one-state solution with a breakdown in talks over the two-state peace solution.
"In this respect they could also try out other solutions such as the setting up of a confederation, something like the European Union.
"The one-state solution can work if it involves the principle of equal citizenship rights with everyone contributing equally for the national cause."
Read more: 'US group blocking bid for peace' http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/13mlas/Article#ixzz1OqnDw9uq
