Editor's Letter
equilibrium
Dear Xtend:
What have you done
with my cellulite?
Presbyterians Regroup
I is a step in the right direction toward reconciling trust
and elevating dialogue between Presbyterians and Jews.
But I'm leery of the largest Presbyterian coalition in
America's seeming softening of a hard-line approach toward
Israel.
Time will tell if U.S. Jews and
Presbyterians really have "salvaged a
fragile unity of purpose as JTA put it
in coverage of the Presbyterian Church
(USA) General Assembly votes cast in
Minneapolis on July 9.
Despite its tempered outcome, the
assembly still recommended that the
U.S. government withhold aid to pres-
Robert Sklar
sure Israel in its conflict with the frag-
Editor
mented leadership of the Palestinians.
The Anti-Defamation League is right:
Anti-Israel bias permeated approved assembly recommenda-
tions that bolt the peacemaking burden on Israel.
But where there's a hint of moderation, there's hope.
Instead of adopting all of the original recommendations
of a PC-USA committee, the assembly adopted an amended
report giving cautious hope for stronger ties between
Presbyterians and Jews. The assembly recognized both sides
in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. That's a start,
but nothing to do handsprings over: The report
first sought to blame Israel for "Palestinian
resistance ignoring the danger posed by
Palestinians sworn to destroy the Jewish state.
k
letter Shive sent. Remarkably, this woman of honor said
Presbyterians who backed the Palestinian side in the conflict
did not know how much Jews in Israel and the diaspora cared
about Palestinians enchained by their oppressive leaders.
"I think that people came from very polarized places sup-
porting the narrative that they had been persuaded by, so
there was a pro-Palestinian camp and a pro-Israel camp:'
Henderson told JTA.
No surprise there.
Henderson perceptively added, "Over the course of the
General Assembly, as people began to listen to each other,
they realized the importance of the other narrative and really
began to learn why people felt the way they did."
JTA explained that she felt Jewish groups had not dialed
into how much Presbyterians and other American Christians
sympathize with Palestinian Christians — and thus
Palestinians as a whole as a legitimate segment of the Arab
community.
I found that take interesting. Angered so by Palestinian
terror, the Jewish world has never been good at expressing
appreciation for the plight of indoctrinated Palestinians,
Muslim or Christian. Christian Palestinians have borne a spe-
cial brunt perpetrated by Islamists, a faction of Muslims who
affirm violence against non-adherents through Koranic verse.
Setting The Stage
The Shive-Henderson letter declared, "Beyond
any expectation, we find ourselves discovering
a new model of ministry together — a model
committed to seeking, hearing and responding
_to the fullness of narratives and commitments
Inciting Canards
with the Palestinian and Israeli peoples, Jews,
The Presbyterians, so influential within
Christians and Muslims."
Christianity, initially put forth a report urging
That assessment has the potential to bring
sanctions against Israel and support to divest
disparate groups together to at least talk about
Church money from Israel. Those recommenda-
coexistence initiatives. The Presbyterian Church
tions arose in protest to Israel's Jewish settle-
(USA) could shed its divisive ways and become
ments in the West Bank and its naval blockade of Katharine H enderson
an interfaith leader. Key to that is emboldening
the Gaza Strip. Bad as those reasons were, what
the notion that a fruitful relationship can develop without
galled me was the report's utter disdain for Zionism via the
agreement on every nuance of Middle East governing. In
expressive "art form" of calumny.
that vein, it's unfortunate the assembly deferred, rather than
The original report cited "Kairos," a Palestinian document
adopted, a recommendation to bolster Presbyterian-Jewish
describing Israel as evil and sinful. Kairos endorses divest-
ment and boycotts and upholds armed resistance. Notably, the relations, which are fickle at best.
Positive byproducts of the assembly included acknowledg-
committee generating the report invited little input from the
ment by Shive's study committee that the approved revisions
organized Jewish community. Rejecting the more provoca-
enhanced the assembly report and by pro-Israel groups that
tive aspects of Kairos doesn't make up for why it was even
Christian sympathy for the Palestinians is deeply seated.
included for consideration.
What now?
The PC-USA change of heart avoided a Presbyterian-Jewish
The Jewish Council for Public Affairs got a dozen national
rift. But the change sidestepped the matter of the Church know-
Jewish groups to sign a statement lauding the assembly for
ing so little about the driving forces of the Middle East. The
unrevised report made selective use of sacred texts, history and shaping "a more inclusive voice." The Presbyterian Church
(USA), however, hasn't absolved itself. It must continue to
current events to craft an alarming narrative against Israel.
hone its understanding of Israeli-Palestinian relations; and it
cannot understate Israel's security concerns.
Building Blocks
Meanwhile, we Jews can't be so defensive about hostil-
Before the historic vote, Ron Shive, who chaired the PC-USA
ity toward Israel's Netanyahu government that we weaken
Middle East Study Committee, released a letter urging assem-
our resolve to improve conditions not only for ordinary
bly-goers to accept changes addressing some of the concerns
Palestinians, but also renewed peace talks. ❑
broached by the Jewish community. The letter acknowledged
lingering differences of opinion, but noted "by God's grace,
we have discovered that together, we may actually be more
0
How significant is the Presbyterian
1— ci
faithful and effective in seeking peace with justice for both
Church (USA)'s shifting course?
ti)
Palestinians and Israelis than separately"
I—
The president of the Church's Auburn Theological Seminary
Z Z Why do some liberal Christian groups
5 0 a show hostility toward Israel?
in New York, Katharine Henderson, played a significant role
in recalibrating what was voted on; she co-authored the
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