I do not believe that the God of love is on the side of either Israel or Iran.

Breakfast time is our special time.

 

Christian Just War Framework: Israel and Iran

– Introduction

The Christian tradition of Just War comes from Augustine and Aquinas.
It sets moral limits on when and how war may be fought.

Key scriptures:

• Romans 12:18 (NRSVUE) – “If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
• Matthew 5:9 (NRSVUE) – “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

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 – Just War Principles

• Just cause: War must confront grave evil or defend against attack.
• Legitimate authority: Only recognized governments may declare war.
• Right intention: Aim must be peace, not conquest.
• Last resort: All peaceful means must be tried first.
• Probability of success: War should not be futile.
• Proportionality: Violence must not exceed the evil opposed.
• Discrimination: Civilians must be spared.

Scripture:

• Deuteronomy 20:10 (JPS) – “When you approach a town to attack it, you shall offer it terms of peace.”

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 – Iran Since 1979

• Just cause: Iran frames its actions as defense against U.S. sanctions, Israeli strikes, and Gulf rivals.
• Authority: The Islamic Republic is internationally recognized.
• Intention: Claims of defense, though proxy warfare complicates this.
• Last resort: Often uses deterrence (Strait of Hormuz, missiles) instead of full war.
• Fatwa: Supreme Leader issued a decree forbidding nuclear weapons.
• Weaknesses: Proxy groups sometimes target civilians, failing discrimination.

Scripture:

• Psalm 82:3 (JPS) – “Defend the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the lowly and the destitute.”
• Qur’an 2:190 (Abdel Haleem) – “Fight in God’s cause against those who fight you, but do not overstep the limits: God does not love those who overstep the limits.”

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 – Israel Since 1948

• Just cause: Israel argues survival, but has initiated pre‑emptive wars (1967, Gaza operations).
• Authority: Recognized state.
• Intention: Security, but occupation and settlement expansion complicate motives.
• Last resort: Often resorts quickly to military action.
• Nuclear arsenal: Estimated 80–200 warheads, undeclared.
• Weaknesses: Civilian casualties in Gaza and Lebanon raise proportionality concerns.

Scripture:

• Isaiah 1:17 (NRSVUE) – “Learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.”

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– Comparative Analysis

• Iran: Defensive posture, fatwa against nukes, but proxy violence undermines Just War standards.
• Israel: Strong deterrence, but reliance on pre‑emptive strikes and disproportionate force often fails Just War criteria.
• Both: Neither fully embodies the God of love. Each relies more on fear and force than reconciliation.

Scripture:

• James 3:18 (NRSVUE) – “And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.”

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– The God of Love

• The God of love calls for mercy, justice, and peace.
• Israel’s nuclear arsenal and Iran’s proxy wars both fall short.
• Iran’s fatwa gestures toward restraint.
• Israel’s “Samson option” embodies ultimate violence.
• Both nations are caught in cycles of survival logic rather than love.

Scripture:

• 1 John 4:8 (NRSVUE) – “Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
• Qur’an 5:32 (Abdel Haleem) – “If anyone kills a person—unless in retribution for murder or spreading corruption in the land—it is as if he kills all mankind, while if any saves a life it is as if he saves the lives of all mankind.”

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~ Conclusion

• By Christian Just War standards:
• Iran’s posture since 1979 can be argued closer to legitimate self‑defense.
• Israel’s record leans toward aggression and disproportionate force.
• Neither nation fully meets the demands of love and justice.
• The challenge remains: to move from fear to reconciliation.

Scripture:

• Micah 6:8 (NRSVUE) – “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

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Bibliography

• Augustine, City of God (Book XIX) – Early Christian Just War theory.
• Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II‑II, Q.40 – Criteria for Just War.
• Bible (NRSVUE) – New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (Bible Gateway) (biblegateway.com in Bing)
• Tanakh (JPS) – Jewish Publication Society Tanakh
• Qur’an (Abdel Haleem) – Oxford World’s Classics Translation (Oxford University Press) (global.oup.com in Bing)
• Modern scholarship:
• Just War Tradition Overview
• Israel nuclear opacity
• Iran nuclear fatwa
• Compiled with the help of AI