Justice for the Oppressed: A Story from Israel/Palestine

Ariel Royer

Denying “the fullness of life and the integrity of creation” could be an alternate definition of military occupation and it certainly is a hallmark of the Israeli military presence in the occupied Palestinian territories: the Gaza strip, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank. For people living in these regions, every aspect of daily life is affected by the Israeli occupation.

Too slowly, the world is starting to take note of the unjust structure which restricts, confines, and violates Palestinians on a daily basis. The global and local community is starting to hear the Palestinian cry for peace and the harsh reminder that there can be no peace until this domination is lifted from Palestinian life.

Many organizations are engaged in the struggle to end the injustices of the occupation and one of these is B’Tselem, an Israeli Human Rights NGO and a partner of Global Ministries. Through their strong team of field researchers, data coordinators, and supporting staff, B’Tselem documents human rights violations and demands accountability from the Israeli Defense Force and actors involved in the illegal occupation of the occupied Palestinian territories.

Partnering with B’Tselem has opened my eyes to the way civil society should be engaged in calling for justice among oppressed people and I am fortified by the commitment of our partners. The injustices of the occupation resound in every Palestinian village – the inaccessibility to medical services, restrictions on movement, destruction of water and land resources, and on and on. But when I survey this land I am inspired by what I find: the demand for equality, the search for hope and the struggle for justice.

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Ariel Royer served as a Global Mission Intern with B’Tselem in Jerusalem.