Editor's Letter No Peace Seeker I t purports to be a Palestinian Christian peace group that seeks tolerance between Israelis and Palestinians. It expresses spirituality through "love, justice, peace, nonvio- lence, liberation and reconciliation for the different national and faith communities!' Beneath the veneer, however, the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center of Jerusalem boasts something more: a Palestinian nationalist agenda, an extremist theology and anti-Israel/ anti-Jewish bias. Israel is cast as the evil aggressor and sole instigator of Palestinian retaliation and terror. Metaphors are the deceptions of choice to describe Israel as a Christ-killing nation. Sabeel's religious mission is merely a front for a political force bent on demonizing and de-legitimizing Israel and vilifying the Jewish people. In a calculating way, Sabeel weaves false claims, historical distortions and international law misinterpretations into a cloak of anti-Zionist canards. Israel's record of giving up land and uprooting Jewish communities in the disputed territories as gestures of peace are ignored. I have no problem with legitimate criticism of Israel, its gov- ernment or its policies. But Sabeel is built on a foundation of intolerance. It's not a voice of truth or a champion of peace. No Zionist Friend In a critique I received from its Oakland County-based Michigan chapter, StandWithUs, a Los Angeles-based Israel education and advocacy group, identifies Sabeel as a purveyor of anti-Semitism and a promoter of divestment with Israel as the target. Since 2004, Sabeel has convinced at least three Protestant church groups to divest: Presbyterian Church (USA), Anglican Church in America, World Council of Churches. The Detroit Jewish community must take notice given that a Sabeel regional conference is scheduled for Sept. 25-27 at First Presbyterian Church in Birmingham. The conference theme is: "Peace, Palestine & U.S. Policy 1948-2008:' According to the Ann Arbor/Detroit Friends of Sabeel, the goal of the Friends of Sabeel North America parley is to spur educated dialogue on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, `emphasizing how we, as American citizens, can make a positive impact" in search of "a just peace!' That goal seems reasonable until you consider StandWithUs' dissection of Sabeel. Despite a half-hearted condemnation of violence, Sabeel dismisses terrorism by Palestinians as classic resistance, even comparing suicide bombers with the biblical Samson. Sabeel also brands Israeli Jews as modern-day Nazis, according to StandWithUs. Further, Sabeel revives medieval deicide and blood libels por- traying the Jews as Christ-killers, baby-killers and blockaders of Jesus' Resurrection. Sabeel extends those libels today, believing the Israeli government crucifies Palestinians of all ages and, in an apparent reference to the stone placed at the entrance of Jesus' tomb, has entombed them behind a fence. 0 f - oe 0 z 0 Sabeers Thrust StandWithUs/Michigan Chapter Chairman Eugene Greenstein reinforces that Sabeel blames Israel for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and misinforms well-meaning audiences with one- sided, anti-Israel information. "Missing from Sabeel presentations is the backdrop of the ongoing terrorism that Israel faces from neighbors who are not seeking peace with Israel, but rather the replacement of Israel: Greenstein told me last week. Sabeel founding director Naim Ateek, a Palestinian Anglican canon in east Jerusalem, believes that Israel has no right to exist. He claims the ideal solution is one state including Israel and the Palestinian territories, ending the Jewish-majority state. StandWithUs maintains Sabeel doesn't represent Christians within the West Bank or Gaza. In an attempt to portray Israel as a human rights abuser, Sabeel is silent about the escalating intolerance and persecution of Palestinian Christians at the hands of Islamist terrorists. First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham is only renting Sabeel meeting space; it is not a sponsor nor endorsing the conference. But it could have been more selective. Did First Presbyterian not realize the peace process is mere cover for an exercise in Israel- and Jew-bashing? For its part, the church readily accepted 50 copies of Israel 101 and other StandWithUs literature to learn more about Sabeel. So the church is clearly willing to look at the facts and hopefully tighten its vetting process. 12. col 4 4 w co ce 4 0 z UJ 0 z 0 0 4 z U. to) Lu Wayward Words Given the tenor of the speakers, StandWithUs expects the Sabeel conference to espouse more than the promised "basic history and information!' Expect such hyperbole as Israel being in violation of at least 60 U.N. resolutions and of inter- national law, with full U.S. support — the defense and security of its people, and the more than 1,000 Israeli deaths caused by Palestinian terror since 2000, be damned. The most disconcerting speakers include Naim Ateek, Ilan Pappe, an Israeli revisionist historian, and Joel Kovel, a Jewish U.S. college professor whose book Overcoming Zionism: Creating A Single Democratic State in Israel/Palestine promotes the dis- mantlement of Israel into a secular state. Kovel is a Jewish social studies professor at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y. His book's key pursuit is foreboding: one state, a secular "uni- versal democracy" called Palesrael, for Jews and Arabs with a complete right of return for displaced Palestinian refugees. The State of Israel would cease as we know it. No Peace on page A6 Bringing Light Five local Jewish communal groups are appealing to the Metro Detroit Christian community and larger interfaith community in an effort to heighten awareness about Sabeel's actions and statements. The B'nai B'rith Great Lakes Region, the Jewish Community Relations Council, the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee and StandWithUs hope this intervention staves off damaged Jewish-Christian rela- tions because of the locally held Sabeel conference. The outreach certainly should help Christians learn more about Sabeel, regardless of individual Christians' views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its manifestations. EXCLUSIVE RETAILER OF FASHION'S HOTTEST LABELS 271 WEST MAPLE BIRMINGHAM, MICHIGAN 248.258.0212 TENDERBIRMINGHAM.COM August 21 . 2008 A5