I received this book for free from the publisher via LibraryThing and The Speakeasy in exchange for an honest review.
The bottom line of Crump’s weighty tome is expressed in his conclusion, where he states, “No one can possibly delegitimize Israel more than the Zionist state delegitimizes itself through its deeply entrenched, structural racism and brutal military occupation. For that reason alone, no person of conscience can ever affirm Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish ethnocracy.” Crump has made his case from the beginning of the book where he examines the legitimacy of Zionism from a researched, academic perspective that interacts with history, philosophy, Biblical Studies, and theology. Interwoven with those sections are personal stories and anecdotes from the author’s visits to Palestine and Israel.
Crump is mostly successful, though I fear he will only “preach to the choir.” All of the criticisms of historicity and hermeneutics will fall on deaf ears to those whose lives are built around the worldviews demanding particular readings of history and the Bible. Crump asks us to empathize with suffering in an age where lack of empathy seems at epidemic proportions. Still, he makes a valid case against an expansionist, undemocratic, and violent nation-state, and the arguments he raises should be addressed by defenders of the modern state of Israel. Few will actively and honestly engage with his criticisms, though.
Anticipating such lack of critical engagement, Crump answers several common objections that critics of Israel face. One of those is the cry of anti-Semitism. Crump points out the reality and real danger of anti-Semitism but makes clear that his critique of Israel should not be viewed as such.
Interspersed throughout the book is a subtle critique of the brand of American Evangelicalism which helps sustain Israel. This critique runs from Fundamentalism and Premillennial perspectives through to less defined cultural Christianity that is the bulk of conservative Christianity in America, today. Crump calls those of us who identify as followers of Jesus to act ethically, recognizing that even if the ends are good (though that is challenged in this volume), the means themselves must be moral. To date, “we” have been complicit in great evil, but one that fits with the mythical ethos of our nation, so it is usually excused.
Read this book for the stories and calls to action. What I take from the stories is that even if you are a committed Zionist, the blood of Palestinians must be accounted for if there is a hope for peace. Furthermore, Palestinians have a human right to homes, secure and stable. Simply arguing for the preservation of a Jewish state is not enough. Simple recommended actions include the like of booking tours of Palestine and refugee camps along with your other guided tours of the Holy Land. There is a lot to read here, and it is not an easy read. The topic is dense and convoluted. The book does a great job with the material, but it is still heavy. It is also worth the investment of time and effort.
Preach Responsibly 