Columbus, Ohio, June 15, 2006 - Christians for Fair Witness on the Middle East condemns the Episcopal Peace Fellowship for bestowing a peacemaking award on the Rev. Canon Naim Ateek during the Episcopal General Convention in Columbus, Ohio. Ateek is the founder of Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem and has portrayed Israel as crucifying the Palestinian people.

"The use of this imagery against the Jewish state is inexcusable," says Sister Ruth Lautt, O.P., Esq., National Director of Fair Witness. "This language is not the language of peace and justice. It does not uplift the Palestinians, but demonizes Israel."

In a recent article in the Columbus Dispatch, Rev. Richard Toll, Sabeel's chairman in the U.S., admitted that Rev. Ateek has toned down his rhetoric, demonstrating awareness that this imagery is unacceptable. Nevertheless, a more robust repentance on Ateek's part is necessary says Rev. Dr. Bruce Chilton, Bernard Iddings Bell Professor of Religion at Bard College in Annandale, New York. "Anti-Semitic language is sinful. If Canon Ateek wishes to put his past rhetoric behind him, I welcome that, but he should repent of what he has done and express an intention to change. By the same token, if he wishes to acknowledge today that his previous suggestion of dismantling the State of Israel was destructive, the way of repentance is open to him."

On repeated occasions, Ateek has expressed support for a one-state solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, which would effectively mean the end of Israel as a Jewish state, says Dennis Hale, Ph.D., a professor of Political Science at Boston College.

"An acknowledgement of Arab refusal to admit Israel's right to exist behind safe and secure borders is the bottom line to any legitimate peace campaign," Hale said. "The Palestinians have been offered a state of their own on numerous occasions, but have turned it down in favor of a fantasy of destroying Israel. Church leaders who do not acknowledge this reality are not serving the interests of peace."

Dexter Van Zile, a member of Fair Witness' executive committee, says churches embrace Ateek's agenda at their own peril.

"A number of churches have asked Israel to take down the security barrier without asking the Palestinians to stop terror attacks," Van Zile said. "Unfortunately, all these churches rely on Ateek for guidance."