points of view >> Send letters to: letters@thejewishnews.com Editorial Protestant Letter's Israel Bias Is Vexincj Disingenuous Palestinian leader miseharacterizes conflict. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas repeatedly referred to Israel as "the occupying power" that's "altering the city's historic character" in Jerusalem, "preventing vital infrastructure projects" in the West Bank and inflicting "suffering" in the Gaza Strip. n Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' mind, the West Bank settlements present the major obstacle to renewed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. "The approach required for saving the chance for peace must, first and foremost, be predicated on the understanding that racial settler coloniza- tion must be condemned, punished and boycot- ted in order for it to be completely halted," Abbas exhorted in his Sept. 27 speech to the U.N. General Assembly in New York City. He said he spoke as "the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people," a dig at his nemesis Hamas, the U.S. Department of State-designated terrorist organization that rules the Gaza Strip. Hamas routed Abbas' Palestinian Authority in 2005 once Israel pulled up stakes in that fenced-off crucible of Islamist indoctrination. In his speech, Abbas staked his claim early and often to the Palestinian people's goal of an indepen- dent state of Palestine, with eastern Jerusalem as its capital and on all land of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip "that Israel occupied in the June 1967 war" — a shameless slam at West Bank settlements. Maintaining tradition, Abbas repeatedly referred to Israel as "the occupying power" that's "altering the city's historic character" in Jerusalem, "prevent- ing vital infrastructure projects" in the West Bank and inflicting "suffering" in the Gaza Strip. He said the settlement policy constitutes a breach of international humanitarian law and U.N. resolu- tions. He said it dashed the hopes that sprouted from the 1993 signing of the Declaration of Principles at Oslo between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel — a signing meant to bring "a just peace in our region that allows for the fulfillment by the Palestinian people of their inalienable national rights." West Bank land not only is subject to negotia- tion, which Abbas refuses to do, but also is part of the biblical Land of Israel. Israel would never evacuate the larger Jewish settlements near the Israel would never evacuate the larger Jewish settlements near the West Bank border — and shouldn't have to. They are integral to the Jewish state. West Bank border — and shouldn't have to. They are integral to the Jewish state. And they provide an essential buffer from terrorists unmoved by Palestinians weary of war. Abbas still subscribes to the notion that Israeli statehood in 1948 caused Al Nakba, the Arabic term for "The Catastrophe:' Concern about Arabs considered refugees of Israel or their descendants (estimated at 500,000 to 1 million in total) must be resolved; but certainly not by giving each free rein back to Israel, which would destroy the Jewish majority. Little discussed is the fate of the more than 800,000 Jewish refugees who, generally under duress, left, fled or were compelled to leave their homes in Arab lands following Israeli statehood; what about them or their descendants? A Sticky Wicket New settlements and continued construction within the West Bank and Arab-populated eastern Jerusalem certainly are problematic in pursuing new talks. But there's no justification to curtail development without evidence that would accom- plish something; the Palestinians have made no effort to negotiate, even after a Netanyahu-imposed 10-month settlement construction freeze that expired in 2010. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak's settle- ment proposal, first pitched 12 years ago, remains intriguing as a negotiating tool. With conditions, Israel would unilaterally leave outlying West Bank settlements and outposts. The settlement blocs of Gush Etzion, Maaleh Adumim and Ariel, represent- ing 90 percent of the Jews living in the West Bank, would continue under Israeli control and receive military support. Abbas, meanwhile, is clueless in complaining eemingly out of nowhere, 15 American Protestant leaders have beseeched Congress to take a hard look at U.S. aid to Israel, and suspend it if warranted, because of "widespread Israeli human rights violations." Yes, sup- port for Israel must be transparent. But it's nonsense to allege "unconditional" U.S. military assistance to Israel has helped spur "deteriorating conditions in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories" – conditions that endanger the "real- ization of a just peace." Keeping Israel militarily strong is critical to the security of America's closest Middle East ally. The Israeli government must be held to a high standard, but no higher than any other U.S. foreign aid recipient. It's disheartening, to say the least, that leaders of the Presbyterian Church (USA), United Methodist Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, United Church of Christ and National Council of Churches USA are among signers of an Oct. 5 letter seeking investigation into possible Israeli violations of pacts with Washington involving Israeli use of U.S.-supplied weapons against Palestinian civilians. Acknowledging they have "witnessed the pain and suf-_ fering" of Israelis as well as Palestinians, the letter urges Congress to ensure U.S aid isn't supporting an Israeli govern- ment undermining peace prospects. It urges congressional hearings to determine Israeli compliance. The letter cites "specific, systematic human rights viola- tions related to U.S. military support." That's helpful informa- tion: Assess the allegations and punish proven violations. But such scrutiny should be a matter of course in appropriating foreign aid. What about U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority, whose lack of reins over local terrorist groups is immensely troubling? Key to the letter is the insinuation that "it is the moral responsibility" of U.S. Christian leaders to question "uncon- ditional" U.S. aid to Israel, given such lack of "accountability" serves to "sustain the status quo and Israel's military occu- pation of the Palestinian territories." The letter alleges Israel consistently upends peace efforts in the region and defi- antly sustains settlement activity against U.S. government requests – ignoring that a past settlement freeze did nothing to bring the Palestinians back to negotiating. Jews everywhere want what the letter signers envision: "a peaceful and resilient Palestinian civil society." The so-called Israeli occupation of the West Bank is strictly a defensive posture precipitated by years of Palestinian-driven terror. Israel is an advocate of a two-state solution to 64 years of real or potential strife and has tried to appeal to civilized Palestinians. The Anti-Defamation League spoke for the American Jewish community in proclaiming the surprise letter bypassed a history of interfaith dialogue and partnership with mainstream church leaders, causing a "serious breach of trust" and damaging "the foundation for mutual respect." Certainly, the letter in no way should be read as represen- tative of a large segment of Protestants in America. Still, in singling out Israel, letter signers have distressingly set back Protestant-Jewish relations at a time when, as the American Jewish Committee put it, "religious liberty and safety of Christians across the Middle East are threatened by the repercussions of the Arab Spring." Disingenuous on page 42 October 18 d 2012 41