(PNS) After months of talking the beat goes on.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) explains why it’s considering pulling investments from some companies doing business with Israel, and Jewish leaders dismiss the church’s position as unfair and misguided.
The story was no different Feb. 11 when Jay Rock, the PC(USA)’s interfaith relations coordinator, addressed ADL leaders to tell the church’s side of the divestment story and to discuss interfaith relations. The ADL invited Rock to speak at its annual National Executive Committee meeting in West Palm Beach, Fla.
The New York–based ADL is among a number of Jewish groups upset with the PC(USA) after the denomination’s 216th General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in early July to begin to selectively divest stocks in its $8 billion portfolio from corporations that profit by supporting Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories.
Rock said the church’s Assembly has in the past approved numerous resolutions repeatedly affirming Israel’s right to exist in safety within secure borders and has called on Arab nations to cease any conduct that might support terrorism. He said the PC(USA) has long supported a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has condemned the killing of innocent civilians by both sides.
ADL leaders shrugged off Rock’s comments, accusing the PC(USA) of siding with the Palestinians in its conflict with Israel and suggesting that the call for divestment was aimed at hurting Jews.
Many Presbyterians opposed the move as well.
“I want to assure you that the Presbyterian Church did not take the actions of last summer out of a hatred or dislike of Jews,” said Rock, whose father was Jewish and mother a Presbyterian. “In fact, many Presbyterians understand why most Jews are upset by the actions that we have taken.”
Rock said that the 2004 General Assembly in Richmond, Va., also directed the church to re-examine and strengthen the relationships between Presbyterians and Jews. He said the study grew out of serious and widespread concern among Presbyterians that “we not engage in deceptive forms of evangelism,” and that the denomination understand its particular relationship with the Jewish people.
However, ADL leaders were not impressed.
Abraham Foxman, ADL national director, said divestment talk smacks of comparing Israel to apartheid-era South Africa. He accused the PC(USA) of playing up Israeli violence while playing down Palestinian terrorism — charges Rock denied.
Rock adamantly refuted ADL claims that the PC(USA) does not pay attention to terrorism, saying the denomination views terrorism with “revulsion” and as a “particularly ugly” obstacle to peace.
He pointed out that last year’s church Assembly also adopted a strongly worded statement condemning terrorism as immoral because it wrongfully and deliberately attacks innocent civilians.
“We join Christian leaders in Palestine, and decent people everywhere, in speaking out against suicide bombings and other acts of terror committed by Palestinians,” Rock said. “There is no justification for terror in any form,” Rock said. “We as a church believe terrorism is one source of the lack of security and peace between Israel and Palestine.”
However, he said the PC(USA) also believes Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory is fueling the violence.
“Our view is that there is a moral problem with terrorism and that there is a moral problem with the occupation,” Rock said. “So we need to talk about them both.”
