Bridging the Rift

This book envisions a way forward through a unique confederation model-a path not dependent on dominance but on coexistence, not on division but on shared governance. This confederation is a structure that respects the autonomy and self-determination of each community while fostering cooperation on shared issues. It allows both Israel and Palestine to maintain their own governance, culture, and identity, yet provides a framework through which they can work together as neighbors, partners, and ultimately, as a shared community. In a world that has seen enough of war and division, a new chapter of humility and hope is required. True peace, as pacifist theologian Stanley Hauerwas reminds us, is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of justice, respect, and mutual understanding. Hauerwas writes, "The work of peace is nothing less than the work of worship." Peace is not a passive state but an active practice, a deliberate commitment to see and honor each other as human beings made in the image of God. It requires humility to set aside pride and past grievances, and it demands courage to extend a hand rather than a fist.