Some ‘Peace Now’ faithful dispute its claim that divestment will stoke ‘global anti-Semitism’

Betsy | July 5, 2012 11:59 AM

I am shocked by this — it is factually incorrect to suggest a) that the Presbyterian resolution ‘targets’ Israel rather than the occupation or b) that the Presbyterian church is making ‘common cause’ with anti-Semitic networks. …

For decades, Jewish faith communities & Presbyterians have worked closely in all sorts of social justice labors and in interfaith dialogue. I, for one, am a Presbyterian who feels strongly that Jewish contributions to America’s spiritual, moral, intellectual & political life have been splendid — uplifting our general culture with marvelous ethical critique, insights & ethical passion. It has been a terrible shock in the last decade as key organizations in the organized Jewish community have attacked our sincere & painstaking efforts to follow what we understand as God’s call to work for healing, peace & social justice in the horrible tragedies of the Middle East. How dare you stereotype & distort what we have been saying & doing? It has been an exceptionally painful & labored process in which we have struggled to listen to all voices. You might disagree with our conclusions & we might very well be wrong. But, why aren’t you focusing on the SUBSTANCE of our arguments? Why are you focusing more on categorizing (unfairly) the messenger, rather than the message? Why are you miscasting us as linking ourselves with horrific anti-Semitic forces — when we have explicitly fought against such? That we are involved in “campaigns” that”reflect a deep-seated hatred for and rejection of Israel.”??? COME ON, GET REAL! We are your allies, neighbors, co-workers on so many social justice labors! do not stereotype us! This sort of statement is damaging interfaith relationships! Are you listening to us? Or, are you trying to manipulate us?

Dan | July 5, 2012 4:00 PM

Dear Ori [Nir],

As a former APN intern and someone who deeply respects your reporting, I am upset to read your statement smearing the U.S. Presbyterian Church’s effort toward responsible investing.

…As a Jew, I feel endangered when right-wing groups cheapen the word antisemitism by applying it to critics of Israel. As someone who has encountered antisemitism and been in the proximity of two fatal antisemitic shootings (one in Connecticut and one in DC), I am sad to see APN partake in this same behavior which makes the word meaningless.

I also feel that such statements will discredit APN in the eyes of many young Jews like myself. You appear to be playing a part in derailing a sincere interfaith effort (which includes Jews) toward ending the Israeli occupation, and I would like to know why.

Sincerely,

Dan Fischer

Hal Weiner | July 5, 2012 5:04 PM

Get serious. If it works for the Verwoerd Government it will work for the Israelis. They don’t understand anything in the Knesset. Their vile treatment of the Palestinians is a travesty on the Zionist belief in a homeland for the Jewish People….. they perverted the original ideas of Herzl and all my Russian Jewish forbears. I have nothing but contempt for the current regime, and the Palestinians are long overdue for social justice. You want Peace? Try Justice. Divestment is a mere slap on the wrist compared to what I would think up to persuade them to act more human.

James Weller | July 5, 2012 5:17 PM

Bullshit, APN. The Occupation is a continuing practice of injustice and unmitigated evil, and it is the policy of the state of Israel. All its citizens are complicit in this evil. I make no distinction between Israel and the Occupation. To do so is ridiculous ratiocination, a distinction without a difference. No sane person believes your cries of “global Anti-Semitism” any more – no more than anyone capable of critical thinking believes in the so-called “global war on terror.” Israel is not threatened with destruction, not by any stretch of the imagination. As a vassal of the Anglo-American imperium, it is the overwhelmingly dominant military power in the Middle East. Israel is a rogue state, and it should be sanctioned politically and economically by all available measures, until it is forced to reform. South Africa in decades past is a directly comparable model.

Ann Crosby | July 5, 2012 5:45 PM

Excuse me? As a WASP member of J Street, I don’t agree with you on this one. Its wonderfully marvelous that PCUSA is onto the fact that Israel is openly committing genocide with most of the world’s blessing.

Ed DiCesare | July 5, 2012 7:23 PM

I joined APN believing it to be a fair minded organization which can make change happen from within ; While I still believe this, your position here seems to ignore the obvious, that the policies of the Israeli government can not be decoupled from the occupation. I’m in complete agreement with the comments of Dan Fischer and James Weller. South Africa did not get the message until real, financial pressure was applied. Oppression is oppression, no matter how it might be rationalized away by the oppressor..

Gerhard Stoll | July 5, 2012 8:33 PM

Sorry Peace Now. I’m a Jew who has supported Sholom Aschav [Israeli Peace Now movement] for years, and will continue to do so. But you blew it on this one and need to give a sincere apology to the Presbyterians.

Caterpillar will survive, and you may not agree with this tactic, but the State of Israel must bear the responsibility for what happens within its borders. Those of us who know that Israel is destroying itself, and undermining its very reason for existence–the vote of the United Nations in 1948– need to focus on that responsibility. The Presbyterians are on our side, and we need all the peaceniks we can get.

Eric Wilson | July 5, 2012 10:13 PM

I am puzzled and disappointed by APN’s response. This sort of carefully targeted divestment from companies directly involved in facilitating the human rights abuses of the Occupation seems to be exactly the type of action we should be supporting, and very different from the calls for a blanket boycott of Israel that APN appears to have confused it with.

Alan Levin | July 6, 2012 1:52 PM

I agree with the vast majority above. This is an outrageous and hypocritical position. Using the word ‘anti-semitism’ in your argument against the Church’s proposed statement is abusive. The fact that, after all this time, you continue to distort the position of those who seek to act ethically and divest or boycott the settlements and their supporters is unacceptable.