endorsement of divestment threatens
to gravely destabilize the dynamics
that are indispensable to a real peace
process.
Coming Together
In response to these unprecedented
overtures, some in our community
have called for ending all dialogue
with Presbyterians. I believe that is
exactly the wrong response. What we
need is a renewed dialogue that
would occur on two levels.
On the national level, we need to
reach out to the leadership of PC-
USA and explain to them — with-
out rancor or disdain — that the
repercussions of their actions belie
their stated support for Israel and
deter progress towards a lasting
peace. On the local level, synagogues
across the country need to reach out
to Presbyterian churches in their
communities and embrace a dialogue
about Israel that will be difficult and
may not lead to complete agreement,
but is absolutely essential.
Part of that difficulty will be
_responding to these gestures in a
firm and critical manner without
resorting to exaggeration or distor-
tion. For example, PC-USA's over-
ture did not, as one national Jewish
organization claimed, "call Israel a
racist, apartheid state ..." Such dis-
tortions detract from the - sincerity
and effectiveness of our response.
To address the immense criticism
facing their endorsement of divest-
ment, PC-USA clarified that "the
assembly's action calls for a selective
divestment, and not a blanket eco-
nomic boycott, keeping before us
our interest in Israel's economic and
social well being." While welcoming
that clarification, it is now our job
to explain to PC-USA that divest-
ment in any degree threatens the
very existence of Israel and the
prospects for peace in the region.
And it is our job to ensure that
PC-USA lives up- to its promise to
keep Israel's well being not only in
its words but also in its deeds. Only
through honest and sustained dia-
logue can this be achieved.
We must have the resolve to reach
out across the chasm to our
Presbyterian neighbors. We must do
whatever we can to assure that,
where the Presbyterians have gotten
it wrong, they will work with us to
get it right. ❑
111
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