Members of the Presbyterian Church national staff have posted an anti-Semitic article on their web site and have linked their page to organizations that applaud suicide bombing.

BACKGROUND
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Elizabeth and Marthame Sanders served until recently as Presbyterian missionaries in a Christian village in the West Bank. In August, 2004, they joined the head office staff of the Presbyterian Church USA in the prestigious position of missionaries-in-residence.

The Sanders have a flagrantly anti-Semitic article posted on their web page. While Elizabeth and Marthame Sanders did not write the article, posting it makes it appear that they endorse the views expressed.

Here is an excerpt from the article, written by a notoriously anti-Semitic Christian named Israel Shamir.

"The most liberal Jewish plan calls for creation of a few Gentile ghettos fenced by barbed wire, surrounded by Jewish tanks and Jewish-owned factories at the fence, where the Arbeit will macht the Gentiles frei... Israelis are brainwashed from kindergarten, they are taught they belong to the Chosen People, who are Über Alles. They were indoctrinated in the belief that the Gentiles are not fully human, and therefore they can be killed and expropriated at will... "

The material quoted above can be found here.

And also here.

Very, very few Presbyterians would ever use or condone the use of the kind of hateful, anti-Semitic language that Marthame and Elizabeth Sanders have posted on their web page.

The Sanders website also links to a list of organizations that, according to the Sanders, "offer insightful, educational, and hopeful perspectives." On the list are at least three organizations
that serve as enthusiastic cheerleaders for suicide bombers and other terrorists, including Al Awda, the International Solidarity Movement, and Electronic Intifada. Al Awda and the International Solidarity Movement aim not for peaceful coexistence, but for the destruction of Israel "by any means necessary." According to the International Solidarity Movement, suicide bombing is a "noble" form of "jihad."

ACTION
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Write to the leaders of the PCUSA expressing your concern. [Always, always, polite!! Please remember that many practicing Presbyterians do not agree with the actions of their church on these issues.]

Rev. Victor Makari
Coordinator for the Middle East
VictorM@ctr.pcusa.org

Jay Rock
Coordinator for Interfaith Relations
jrock@ctr.pcusa.org
Presbyterian Church (USA)
100 Witherspoon Street
Louisville, Kentucky 40202

Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick
Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church, USA
ckirkpat@ctr.pcusa.org
Presbyterian Church (USA)
100 Witherspoon Street
Louisville, Kentucky 40202