After the Hebrews fought their way into the Promised land in the book of Joshua the word of the Lord came to the people. “I gave you a land that you had not tilled and cities that you had not built, to dwell in; you have eaten of vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.” To put it indelicately, the Promised Land was stolen from its owners. The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians reflects that history — in an analogous way to the tension between the US Government and Native Peoples or the call for restitution for labor stolen from Black slaves. As Christians we cannot fix the crimes of the past but we can create an atmosphere of reconciliation, truth and peace.