Nakharar Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 Boycott Israel, Christian group urges BY CAROL EISENBERG STAFF WRITER February 24, 2005 The World Council of Churches has asked its 342-member denominations to consider divesting from companies that profit from Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. The vote Monday by the Geneva-based umbrella organization was the second such action by a major Christian organization in seven months. Coming amid revived peace efforts in the Middle East, the resolution by the ecumenical group of mainline Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox churches infuriated American Jewish groups which called it biased. "Here you have Mahmoud Abbas and Ariel Sharon reaching out to one another in peace, and the WCC is trying to slap people down," said David Elcott, interfaith director for the American Jewish Congress in New York, referring to the Palestinian and Israeli leaders. "The timing couldn't be more embarrassing." WCC officials said the resolution had been in the works for several months, and noted that the text acknowledges "renewal of hope, although there is not yet a reduction of the threats that separate the parties." While the declaration is not binding on members, it unsettled Jewish groups concerned that a divestment campaign against Israel may be picking up steam. Seven months ago, the Presbyterian Church (USA) voted to seek "phased selective divestment" from companies that do business in Israel. In its resolution, the WCC's 150-member Central Committee cited the Presbyterian initiative as a model "commendable in both method and manner," referring, for instance, to companies involved in the demolition of Palestinian homes and the construction of the wall separating Israel and the West Bank. And similar calls have come from a handful of college campuses and cities, as well as from other churches. "I think there are a number of churches looking at similar actions, although right now there are only internal conversations going on," said Shanta Premawardhana, an official with the National Council of Churches. The efforts seek to emulate the 1980s effort to bring economic pressure against South African apartheid. Jewish groups say the comparison to South Africa is specious, noting that Israel espouses no ideology of racial segregation or persecution. "Tell me where in apartheid South Africa you had black members in Parliament or a black member of the Supreme Court," said Rabbi Jack Bemporad, director of the Center for Interreligious Understanding in Secaucus, N.J., noting that Arabs hold such seats in Israel. "I'm the first one to say the Palestinians have been treated terribly," he said. "But to look at Israel as the complete cause of Palestinian suffering is simplistic." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormig Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 There's even this Jewish group that does not recognise Israel - I have the article in my mailbox, but the server seems to be down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armen Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 I have the article in my mailbox, but the server seems to be down. style_images/master/snapback.png You're always like that when we need your support Oh well, I have to deal with this painful reality... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormig Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 Anti-Israel rabbis speak out in Beirut UPI - Thursday, February 24, 2005 Date: Thursday, February 24, 2005 6:19:16 AM EST BEIRUT, Lebanon, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- U.S. and British rabbis participating in a Beirut conference on Palestinians' right of return said they did not recognize Israel, founded on Palestinian land. Rabbi David Weiss from New York was quoted Thursday in Beirut's daily An-Nahar as saying, "I am a Jew and not a Zionist ...We believe that Israel was founded in Palestinian territory and that is wrong." Weiss and three other Rabbis are taking part in the conference which opened in Beirut Wednesday in the presence of Arab and foreign dignitaries and parliamentarians. "Arab leaders who cooperate with Israel and established ties with it committed fatal mistakes ... We tell them, Judaism is different from Zionism," said Weiss, who belongs to a Jewish organization called "Natouri Karta." He said, "The Palestinian people are a victim of Zionism which lacks any morality and which has ignored the existence of the Palestinians and their rights." Weiss said he would be willing to live in a Palestinian state "but we refuse to live under the umbrella of the Zionist rule." -- Copyright 2005 by United Press International. All rights reserved. -- http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?St...yw5VBI1YywjIAxm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armen Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 Stormy I was joking but thanks, that was interesting news for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ED Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 here is another web site, there is a very strong movement developing among Jews who are against the state of Israel, oddly this new wave has taken a new turn for some mysterious reason, I have spoken many Russians Jews and few who actually cared for Israel, and many thought they , the Jews have nothing tied to that land. http://www.jewsagainstzionism.com/zionism/index.cfm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arvestaked Posted February 26, 2005 Report Share Posted February 26, 2005 There's even this Jewish group that does not recognise Israel - I have the article in my mailbox, but the server seems to be down. style_images/master/snapback.png http://www.nkusa.org? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arvestaked Posted February 26, 2005 Report Share Posted February 26, 2005 Few things piss me off more than Israel and the Jews that support it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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