Looking Eastwards

Abstract Two significant events in the Middle East are challenging many of the assumptions of the Jewish–Christian encounter. The Abraham Accords between Israel and some of the Gulf States has resulted in Israel “looking east,” with Jewish–Muslim relations being brought more strongly into focus. Meanwhile, the war between Israel and Hamas has had a devastating effect upon the civilian population and has also placed an enormous strain on interreligious relations in Western nations, with a significant rise in hate crime against Jews and Muslims. These two developments pose a significant challenge in the relationship between Jews and Christians that requires looking eastwards. This includes a deeper consideration of Jewish and Christian responses to geopolitical matters, the place of “land” in interreligious dialogue, and how the Jewish–Christian encounter relates to Islam. Concomitantly and critically, the article examines the roles that Middle Eastern churches play in these dialogues.