Almost all of Gaza is in ruins, the fighting continues and a major regional war threatens. No peace is in sight. Is it possible to open a conversation about reconciliation at such a time? And if so, what role can religious actors play in such a process?

The war in Gaza and Israel has created enormous suffering for millions of people. The war already involves several parties and many fear that it will escalate into a major regional conflict.

Here in Norway, too, the war has left deep scars. The conflict has a deeply polarizing effect on Norwegian society. This also includes the well-established dialogue environment in Norway's religious and life stance community. The war has put dialogue to the test. However, the dialogue community has also managed to talk about this issue, which is more difficult than anything else they have dealt with in their forums.

I sincerely believe that I and the Norwegian government are a friend of Israel and the Israeli people (Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs).

Several key figures in the dialogue community were gathered for this conversation, namely Anne Sender from the Mosaic faith community, Senaid Kobilica, chairman of the Muslim Dialogue Network and Sigurd Markussen, Catholic parish priest in Arendal. Together with Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, international lawyer Cecilie Hellestveit and former judge of the European Court of Human Rights, Hanne Sophie Greve, they would once again talk about the conflict. This time, the starting point was the reconciliation work that must begin in one way or another, and the role that religious leaders and communities can play in this.

Is it too early to talk about reconciliation?

Ingrid Rosendorf Joys, Secretary General of Caritas Norway, opened the event and put into words what many were probably thinking:

- In a way, it feels premature to have this conversation.

Joys was, of course, referring to the fact that the war is still raging and that there is a risk that rather than ending, it may increase in scope.  

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide, then gave a speech. He began by responding to Joys:  

- This is definitely not premature.

Eide talked about his own experiences of working with religious actors in conflict management in Cyprus. There, too, the conflict is partly along religious lines - Greek Orthodox, Marionites and Muslims. According to Eide, the religious leaders were very supportive. "When they were very clear that the conflict was not religious, they made it more difficult for those who tried to turn the conflict into a religious war.

The Foreign Minister was clear that things are difficult now:  

- There are so many people suffering, so many traumas. It's easier to see your own, or your in-group's trauma, and not so easy to see the others.

Eide believed that religious leaders have something to contribute here. To help their people understand that the suffering of others is also real. He also shared his view on what the final outcome must be.

- "I believe there must be a Palestinian state. It must be established in such a way that people can also live peacefully and safely in Israel.

The Foreign Minister maintained that he is a friend of Israel:

- I sincerely believe that I and the Norwegian government are a friend of Israel and the Israeli people. We are also friends of Palestine and the Palestinian people.

Reconciliation is part of the war

- "Reconciliation is an integral part of war," said Cecilie Hellestveit in her introduction.

She explained that reconciliation, purely chronologically, is part of the course of war. "All conflicts depend on the stereotyping and dehumanization of the other side. As the war moves away from its most intense phase, when the guns start to fall silent, then you have to start breaking down the images you have formed of the enemy.

- "All wars have religious dimensions to them," Hellestveit continued. "Whether a war is religious or not depends on who you ask.

- "Religions become more important in wartime," she added.

She used the Soviet Union in World War II as an example. The regime, which had brutally fought religion, had to turn to the Orthodox Church to mobilize for the defense of the country after the Axis attack.

In conclusion, Hellestveit pointed out that this is a very special war. It has a completely different optic in the world, it is far more visible than other conflicts. Furthermore, it has a very special symbolism. As a battle between different religious groups, between secular and religious, and between the high-tech and the poor.

- "I think religious leaders and communities will have a very important role to play here," said Hellestveit, "because this war won't last forever either.

Israel must say what it wants                        

Hanne Sophie Greve had a challenge for everyone who supports Israel. She believed they should ask for a clarification of what Israel wants. They cannot say no to a two-state solution and at the same time be against a state where everyone has the same human dignity.

- May the world challenge Israel to be clear about exactly what they want.

The religious dialogue has contributed to better handling of the war in Norway

In addition to Espen Barth Eide and Ingrid Rosendorf Joys, the panel discussion, chaired by Emil André Erstad, consisted of Anne Sender (Det mosaiske trossamfunn), Senaid Kobilica (Muslimsk dialognettverk) and Sigurd Markussen (Den katolske kirke i Arendal).

Senaid Kobilica thought it was clear that religious leaders have played a key role after war. "You have to use that," he said. "However, reconciliation cannot be the only task for religious leaders in connection with wars. They must also speak out.

- "We have to end the violence, the killing, the genocide, before we can talk about reconciliation," said Kobilica.

Sigurd Markussen was asked directly what he thought the Catholic Church could contribute in terms of conflict management. He replied that the Church can act as a bridge builder:

- After all, we are all over the world and have a very good network between us.

Furthermore, Markussen believed that religious actors, such as the Catholic Church, can often have great credibility.

- Being a religious actor can be a key role, as religion is often given a role in various conflicts.

Anne Sender had looked at the background to reconciliation in Jewish tradition, where it can mean, among other things, a kind of detoxification that is part of a holistic healing process. Sender agreed that religious people can be important in such a reconciliation or detoxification process.

- But they can also be incredibly dangerous.

Eide talked about the opposite of detoxification, using the Oslo process as an example. All those involved, on both the Palestinian and Israeli sides, had agreed that what had been agreed was right. When the parties returned home, they were subjected to strong pressure from various circles and pressure groups. In the end, it all fell apart, and we were left wondering whether the Oslo process was part of the problem?

This was obviously not the case," said Eide.

Being a religious actor can be a key role, as religion is often given a role in various conflicts (Sigurd Markussen, Catholic parish priest in Arendal).

Anne Sender agreed with much of what the foreign minister said, but she still had some criticism of the way he says things. At least when he talks about the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. She felt there was a lack of sensitivity, warmth and spaciousness in the way the Foreign Minister describes reality, seen through Jewish and Israeli eyes.

- You are also our (the Jews') foreign minister!

- I certainly am," replied Eide, who added that he was very happy with all the meetings he has had with Norwegian Jews.

- "We want to take very good care of all our Jews here in Norway," continued Eide. "Anti-Semitism is a very big problem. That's why it's important not to confuse criticism of Israel with criticism of Jews. If you say they're the same thing, then you give those who believe that criticism of Jews is criticism of Israel a pass, and that's not good.

The religious actors are there all the time

- "Religion and politics are potentially a dangerous cocktail," said Ingrid Rosendorf Joys, agreeing with Sender that religion does not always play a positive role in conflicts. Religious leaders must therefore be held accountable.

Joys felt it was important to point out an obvious reason why religious actors have an important role to play in conflict areas. They are there before, during and after a war. In Caritas , for example, it's not Norwegians who travel down and help the others. The aid workers in Caritas are the people who live where the help is needed.