STOP THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST'S ANTI-ISRAELRESOLUTIONS
On July 1, 2005, the United Church of Christ (UCC), founded in 1957 asthe union of several Christian traditions, convenes its General Synod, in Atlanta, Georgia. On the agenda areresolutions calling for the dismantling of Israel’s security barrier, and divestment from companies doing business with Israel.
This comes at a time when Israel is removing all Jewish settlements fromGaza, when she has released 900-plus Palestinians held for abetting terrorism, and as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Authority PresidentMahmoud Abbas meet face-to-face in pursuit of an equitable peace.
The Wiesenthal Center has directly urged the head of the UCC to defeatthese unfair and dangerous initiatives. We have also asked United States Congressmen who are members of the UCC to raise their voices against theseresolutions. And, finally, we have asked that we be allowed to address the conclave directly to ensure that the voice of the victims of Palestinianterrorism are heard. To date, the Church has been silent to our pleas.
Recently, when another Protestant denomination considered similarresolutions against Israel, Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, had this to say, "Israelis are already traumatised and feel that theworld is against them. This proposal, if it is agreed, would be another knife in the back. Christians who owe so much to the Hebrew Scriptures and toIsrael itself should not be among those who attack Israel in such a way."
Since the Holocaust, Jews have appreciated the attempts of many churchgroups including the UCC to promote cooperation and good will. But the passing of resolutions so arrogantly oblivious to the safety and future of Israel'scivilian population will result in inestimable damage to the relationship between our communities.
Or send mail to: Simon Wiesenthal Center 1399 South Roxbury, Los Angeles, California 90035 310-553-9036 http://www.wiesenthal.com
This e-mail was sponsored by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, aninternational organization with 400,000 members, promoting tolerance and combating antisemitism worldwide.
SWC Snider Social Action Institute
This e-mail was sponsored by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international organization with 400,000 members, promoting tolerance and combating antisemitism worldwide.
