Justice: Human Rights

The Uniting Church in Australia believes that it has a responsibility to help build a society free from violence, persecution, abuse and poverty; a society in which all people can live a decent life and hope for a peaceful future. Human rights are one important tool in this endeavour. It is the only church formally supporting a Human Rights Act in Australia.

As individuals and as a congregation, we act out our faith in the world by speaking up about everyday human rights. You can scroll down to see some of our activities and events in this area.

As promised, we have made space on this space to list resources by the Engadine Uniting Church Book Club who have been exploring the history of the conflict in Gaza since 1948.

History of the conflict in Gaza

It’s hard to ignore the war in Gaza. It’s been in the news every day since October 2023 and for generations before that. But what do we know about the history that has led us to where we are today?

Title: The war in Gaza, Palestinians, and Israelis – what can we learn from the past about the future?
Genre: Video
Date: 11 April 2024
Producer: Big Ideas
Estimated reading time: 54 minutes
Synopsis: What is the future of Israelis and Palestinians in the Gaza strip and surrounding region? Can the past help us understand the tumultuous, horrifying present? And is a two-state solution a realistic response to the war in Gaza or not? Walkley Award-winning Australian journalist John Lyons, Israeli historian and political scientist Ilan Pappé, American essayist and author Nathan Thrall, and American political advisor Bruce Wolpe share their perspectives.

Title: Staring into the void – of neither two states nor one
Genre: Opinion piece
Date: 11 April 2024
Author: Bob Bowker
Estimated reading time: Four minutes

Title: Guilty Bystander
Genre: Video
Date: 7 December 2023
Producer: Scottish Laity Network
Estimated watching time: One hour + 23 minutes
Synopsis: Part of the Scottish Laity Network’s advent journey.

Title: What will Israel and Gaza look like when the war is over?
Genre: Analysis
Author: ABC New global affairs editor John Lyons
Date: 1 January 2024
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Synopsis: Since October 7, fear abounds among both Israelis and Palestinians. Now there are two major questions being discussed in Israel. Be prepared, it is a graphic read.

Title: An Improbable Friendship
Genre: Biography
Author: Anthony David
Estimated reading time: 304 pages
Synopsis: This book is a personal/lived experience of the friendship of two women – Yasser Arafat’s mother-in-law and the wife of Israel’s top general, Moshe Dayan. The book brings to life the lived reality of two people caught up in the Middle East conflict.

Title: What are the one-state and two-state solutions for the Israel-Gaza war?
Genre: News piece
Author: former Middle East Correspondent Ben Knight
Date: 12 January 2024
Estimated reading/watching time:
Synopsis: For decades world leaders have agreed the only way to bring about peace between Israelis and Palestinians is through a two-state solution. So why hasn’t it happened? What is an acceptable solution to this impossible situation? An overview of the history of the past 80 years or so.

Title: The Art of Banksy: Without Limits
Genre: Installation (online) + video documentary
Producer: Banksy
Date: 2017
Estimated reading/watching time: 13 minutes
Synopsis: The Walled Off Hotel stands as the most recent significant exhibition by Banksy. This unique establishment is a collaborative project between the Banksy team and a local Palestinian entrepreneur who has roots in the London art world. Beyond being a mere hotel, it embodies a remarkable piece of political art in every aspect. Every detail of the hotel contributes to its artistic and thought-provoking nature, making it an immersive experience that transcends conventional boundaries.

Title: Bartcast 60: Don Wagner & Darrel Meyers
Genre: Podcast 
Author/Producer: Bartimaeus Cooperative Ministries
Date: January 2024
Estimated listening time: 33 minutes
Synopsis: Discussing a memoir by Rev Donald Wagner, Glory to God in the Lowest: Journeys to an Unholy Land’ (2022). 

Title: Prayers for Peace
Genre: Video
Composer: Nani Vazana
Date: December 2023
Estimated reading/watching time:
Synopsis: A video of Prayers for Peace for the Gaza/Israel war was shown.  A song from the three Abrahamic religions (Christian, Judaism and Islam) is sung together. The words of the three songs are here.

Title: Across the Divide
Genre: Podcast
Producer: Palestinian and American Christians
Date: 2023-2024
Estimated watching time: 9 hours 25 minutes (total)
Synopsis: Across the Divide explores the intersection of the Christian faith and social justice in the context of Palestine-Israel and its relationship to the church in the West. The nine episode podcast is hosted and produced by a group of Palestinian and American Christians and seeks to provide a space for thoughtful and critical conversations that reflect on the situation in Palestine-Israel through the lens of Christian faith, theology, and the Bible. Provides a contextual overview of the conflict from a Palestinian perspective. Very illuminating. The later podcasts delve into the Christian perspective. Very gracious and intelligent conversation from a person whose family and friends are still in Gaza.

Title: The world is waging war on its children, in an obscene mockery of international law
Genre: Opinion Piece
Author: The Observer’s foreign affairs commentator, Simon Tisdall
Date: 10 February 2024
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Synopsis: Not only Gaza but around the world, children are impacted by wars.

Title: Silencing Francesca Albanese – Pearls and Irritations
Genre: Opinion Piece
Author: community organiser and activist, Eugene Doyle
Date: 15 February 2024
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Synopsis: It’s time we kick this ghastly trope, this despicable manoeuvre equating anti-Zionism with antisemitism into the dustbin of dirty tricks.

Title: Crossword clues and bullying – the influence of Australia’s pro-Israel lobby unveiled
Genre: Comment and analysis
Date: 3 October 2021
Author: Kim Wingerei
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Synopsis: The intimidating influence of Australia’s pro-Israel lobby does not only limit what mainstream media outlets dare publish, it forces self-censorship on editors and journalists alike, writes John Lyons in his latest book – Dateline Jerusalem: Journalism’s toughest assignment.