Friday, July 22, 2005
This is just a quick link to follow -- an "aside." These are links to interesting things that, for one reason or another, I didn't place into a full posting. Click the link to visit the full article. Go to the blog index for a regular listing of posts.
The Jewish Week: Palestinian Nationalists Seen Behind Divestment - 'Radical Palestinian nationalists seeking an end to the Jewish state and not a two-state solution to the region’s woes may be the engine driving the divestment push by mainline Protestant churches...according to several Jewish leaders, traditional theological anti-Semitism is among the tools of groups such as the Sabeel Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem, which played a major role in the recent surprise decision by the UCC reviving the divestment threat, according to several analysts...' (Link)
When there is so much deep anti-semitism among so many of the conservative churches that currently backing israel -- remember they are backing israel only in anticipation of the conversions (or eternal damnation) of all Jews when the messiah returns (or arrives!)
I'm sorry, but the UCC and Presbyterians are the ABSOLUTE LEAST LIKELY to have anti-semetic traditions in their reasoning. They have -- for decades if not centuries -- been the Christian groups most supportive of Jews in the US and Europe and, yes, also in Israel. It is sad that, when there is constructive criticism from a long time frient it is received as an assault from an enemy.
In relation to the proposed boycotts of Israel,it is the depth of our compassion for all people -- no matter how different -- that fuels this effort.
A compassion shown to Jews for a century or two and to Arabs off and on for almost 50 years.
Rather consider that in the past few weeks in Lebenon interviews on the street in Israel have shown how deep the prejudice is against Palestinians often runs among Israeli (and many American)Jews.
Don't confuse concerned friends -- especially the UCC and Presbyterians -- with anti-semitic enemies!