Stop Divestment From Israel

Truth telling?

In an article titled "Truth Telling," the Presbyterian News Service tells of a South African minister, The Rev. Maake Masango, who tells America to "stop accepting lies from its leaders." And what would an article of this sort be without a little Israel-bashing:

"Masango praised the PC(USA) for its decision 'to divest from Jerusalem,' which he said 'is destroying God’s people.' He said the Assembly’s action and the resulting criticism from some American Jews and conservative Presbyterians 'at least made the ‘frozen chosen’ start talking truthfully' about the situation."

Apparently the Rev. Masango, along with many in the PC(USA) leadership, defines "truth" differently than the rest of us.

An open letter to the lay members of the UCC

Our friends at the Judeo-Christian Alliance have published an open letter to lay members of the UCC that is required reading as we anticipate this weekend's vote on divestment at this weekend's UCC General Synod.

Also revealing is Sabeel's Teachings of Contempt, which looks at the activities of the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center, an anti-Israel group based in Jerusalem that unfortunately has a great deal of influence in the mainline Protestant churches.

Evangelicals rush to Israel's side as Protestants consider divestment

A nice write-up in yesterday's JTA focuses on our anti-divestment campaign and features quotes from Gary Bauer and our own George Mamo:

NEW YORK, June 28 (JTA) — A clash between evangelicals and mainstream Protestants on divestment from Israel marks what appears to be the groups’ first direct confrontation over the Jewish state.

Following the lead of several Protestant churches who are considering dropping their holdings in companies that do business with Israel, the United Church of Christ will debate divestment at its July 1-5 synod in Atlanta.

In response, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, which is primarily supported by evangelical Christians, launched a petition drive Monday urging the UCC to reject the anti-Israel resolutions: two considering divestment and one condemning Israel’s West Bank security barrier.

“It’s absurd to paint democratic Israel as the world’s worst human rights abuser. And hearing the leadership of the UCC dictate to Israel ... read more>>

Fellowship tells UCC: "Divestment is racism"

For Immediate Relesase

INTERFAITH GROUP TELLS UCC: “DIVESTMENT IS RACISM”

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, a national interfaith organization with hundreds of thousands of members across the country, this week attacked plans by the United Church of Christ to consider divestment from Israel.

As UCC delegates gather in Atlanta for their conference July 1-5, their agenda features three anti-Israel resolutions that would put them in the company of several other mainline Protestant denominations that support divestment.

"Divestment is just one more form of anti-Semitism," said Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, Fellowship president and chairman of Stand for Israel, the Fellowship’s advocacy initiative. "To single out Israel as a human-rights abuser while turning a blind eye to actual abuse in tyrannical regimes around the world, especially in many Arab countries, is not only delusional, but smacks of anti-Jewish attitude."

The Fellowship on Tuesday, June 28, delivered to UCC leadership copies of an online petition against divestment that gathered more than 6,500 names in one week. The Fellowship is also placing two full-page ads in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution to run immediately before and during the conference.

"The response to our petition drive has been overwhelming," said George Mamo, Stand for Israel executive director. "We have received not only names for the petition, but also emails from pro-Israel Christians of all denominations, including UCC members who are aghast at what is happening in their church. We even got messages of support from a self-described atheist and a Muslim."

Christian political strategist Gary Bauer, Stand for Israel co-chair, noted the absurdity of "painting democratic Israel as the world’s worst human rights abuser." He added: "Hearing that the leadership of the UCC wants to dictate to Israel how she may or may not protect her citizens ought to anger anyone who believes in the right of sovereign nations to defend themselves against terrorists."

All three Stand for Israel spokesmen indicated that divestment will remain on The Fellowship’s radar screen as not only Protestant denominations, but also universities and local governments continue to propose economic sanctions against Israel.

“People need to know that divestment is not just a bad idea -- it is racism,” said Mamo. “We’ll keep spreading that message until these biased and unjust policies are a thing of the past.”

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, based in Chicago and Jerusalem, promotes understanding and cooperation between Jews and Christians and builds broad support for Israel and other shared concerns. The Fellowship has contributed more than $100 million in recent years toward Jewish immigration, resettlement, social welfare and security projects in Israel, as well as food, housing and social-service programs in the Former Soviet Union.

Tell mainline churches: Stop targeting Israel!

Evangelical Christians -- myself included -- watch in dismay and anger as “mainline” Protestant churches line up to attack Israel. What a tragedy that these once-influential groups have wandered so far from their roots! It simply makes no sense that they ignore the debt Christians owe the Jewish faith -- the fact that Christianity is a “branch” that has sprung from and is supported by the “root” of Judaism, as the apostle Paul says.

Unfortunately, this tragedy may be about to repeat itself. In two weeks, when the United Church of Christ (UCC) holds its denominational meeting, participants will consider three anti-Israel resolutions, two calling for divestment and one condemning Israel’s security fence, which has saved so many Israeli lives.

Anyone can see these resolutions are biased. They blame “the occupation” and Israeli “colonization” for all the ills in the area; they don’t even try to consider the legitimate concerns of Israelis who live daily with the threat of terrorist attack; they make the deeply insulting comparison of Israel with apartheid-era South Africa.

I appeal to everyone -- and especially to my fellow pro-Israel Christians -- to take a stand for Israel today. Please take a moment right now to add your name to our petition urging the UCC to reject these resolutions. We’ll forward it to UCC leaders on your behalf. Together, we must make our voice heard and stand for Israel!
George W. Mamo
Executive Director, Stand for Israel