No neat answers to be found in Israel

As such, the idea that the clergy trip was designed to brainwash the participants into a simplistic “Izzies good, Pallies bad” mindset is ridiculous.

The trip was designed to confuse the participants. It was designed to show them that there are countless opinions on the conflict, each with its own merit. It was designed to show them that black and white analyses are usually not based on local knowledge. It was designed to show them that policy decisions and statements by foreign governments and influential people have real impact on the lives of Israelis and Palestinians. It was designed to show them that black and white analysis of this most complicated of conflicts results in more conflict, not less and too often, more needless death.

The trip succeeded. Initial feedback from the participants has a common feature: the realisation by them of the complexity of the conflict. Not one of the clergy has come back preaching the righteousness of Israel’s case. Not one of the inter-church organisations they represent have radically or even at all changed their policies because of the trip. But if the participants approach the conflict with more awareness of the whys and wherefores of what happens in that part of the world, then it will be money well spent.

That is why we sent the clergy. These people influence Australian Christians because of who they are and what they say. If we can make them realise that the conflict has no easy answers, then that realisation will filter through to the people sitting in the pews. The sooner Australians, including those who are anti-Israeli realise that the Arab-Israeli conflict is really, really hard to solve, the sooner the world will find openings toward its resolution.

Ultimately, though, if pro-Palestinian people aren’t happy at that result and if they want Australians to remain ignorant of the conflict’s complexity, let them organise and fund their own trips to the area. Because, unlike the cause they sponsor, Australia promotes free speech and the right of all citizens to engage with our religious and political representatives.