The Roots of Terrorism By Geoffrey Whitfield - review

The man who was used by God to baptise me in 1970 is now in his mid seventies. Geoffrey Whitfield was a fairly unusual Baptist Minister then, he is a very unusual pensioner now.

He feels his most important work began just after his 60th birthday. During a visit to the Holy Land he saw the potential to use sport to get Palestinian and Israeli children together. He used his many contacts to build the World Sports Peace Project , later known as Football for Peace, that gave new hope. I was delighted that his work was recognised in 2004 with the award of an MBE from her Majesty the Queen.

At the same time he signed up at Queens in Birmingham, our own Methodist training ground to do an M.Phil. where I met with him several times over lunch.

A few years ago Geoffrey turned to the wider conflict in the Holy Land to see if any of the lessons he had learnt from his work on the sports field could be used in getting resolution on a wider scale.

Geoffrey has always been aware of my views on Israel but valued my friendship and advice, especially the insights I had gained as a Member of the European Parliament's delegation to the Knesset.

Last year he sent me the draft copy of his book, now published, as The Roots of Terrorism in Israel and Palestine by Emeth Press.

It is well written, with lots of interesting detail, but I found it a difficult read because it challenged some of the basic assumptions I had carried with me since my childhood contact with the Plymouth Brethren.

Geoffrey's conclusions about the use of the Abrahamic Covenant, both within Israel and especially among Christians in the United States, points in new and challenging directions. With something of an understatement he says "Organized religion has a great deal to answer for" and attempts to take the argument forward believing that peace is possible.

I know that some will find Geoffrey's book more than challenging - even infuriating, but it is an honest attempt to raise a subject that many, including myself, often see as being off limits.

Those who have obeyed the command in Psalm 122 verse 8 to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem" are disappointed by the progress since the Oslo Accord. I saw for myself the detailed plans for economic and social co-operation that came from that historic agreement.

I was in Israel the day that Yitzak Rabin was murdered by a right wing Israeli. From that day the momentum to peace shuddered to a halt and went into a sharp reverse. A great opportunity was missed.

Geoffrey reminds us that Shimon Peres, who once held my young son in his arms and strikes me as being both a lovely and wise man, said in 2002 "If a nation wants 0ne hundred per cent security, it has to give its neighbour one hundred per cent freedom, because a past enemy can be a future partner".

Too often, we in Europe and the West forget that there are Israelis who are working, and thirsting for peace.

Paperback Edition: 978-0-9797935-1-6
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Other book reviews by Methodist Preacher:

Shades of Grey by Dudley Coates

Where are the Prophets? by Terry Wynn MEP