BIRMINGHAM — Words of ecumenical understanding, reason, and balance from representatives of the three great faith groups of the Middle East challenged Presbyterians attend the pre-General Assembly “educational event” on the Middle East June 15.
A panel of speakers both presented their understandings of what is needed to address the problems in the Middle East–specifically between Palestinians and Israelis–and to respond to questions from the more than 200 persons attending.
Panel members included Joe Stork, deputy director for Middle East and North Africa, Human Rights Watch; Bishop Munib Younan, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and Holy Land; Salam Al-Marayati, director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council; Mark Pelavin, associate director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. Outgoing PC(USA) Moderator Rick Ufford-Chase was moderator for the session, and Victor Makari, coordinator for the Middle East for the PC(USA) presented a brief overview of the policies and activities of the denomination in the Middle East.
Stork outlined the development of human rights structures after the horrors of world wars. Their basis was he said, the Golden Rule–to do to others not as they might do to you, but as you would have them do unto you.
Bishop Younan outlined the effects of the Israeli/Palestinian on the small Arab Christian minority. The church should never play the game of politics, he said. It cares for two things–humanity, God created all, and justice. “To work for justice is not political, but biblical and spiritual.”
For the church to be prophetic it must condemn violations of human rights, sin of all kinds. “The church is called to condemn any kind of racism, Islamophobia, xenophobia on both sides, he said. “We condemn the occupation as being against human rights. We would liberate both Israelis and Palestinians from the evil of occupation and give both justice.”
Religion has been misused in the Middle East and in America, he said. “I don’t call you to be pro-Palestinian or pro-Israeli. Be pro-justice, humanity. If ever there was time to form swords into plowshares, it is now.”
Al-Marayati outlined the American Muslims’ convictions about an equitable answer to the Middle East dilemma. He pointed to four rights:
the right to exist, non-violent resistance, resist occupation, resist settlements. MPAC endorses the two-state solution for Palestinians and Israelis and renounces terrorism, he said.
Muslims have the right to resist occupation, but Islam does not condone terrorism (purposely attacking non-combatants) nor does it allow suicide, he said. “Israeli settlements are illegal and the single biggest threat to peace.”
Mark Pelavin joined the others in agreeing to broad consensus statements about peace, but he pointed to the specifics of resolution as difficult. “My measuring stick (for positive steps toward resolution): is this step/policy more likely to bring us closer to the vision, or the opposite.”
Terrorism, the daily threat Israeli people live under, is the greatest threat to peace, according to Pelavin. “Today, no mention has been made of the fact that a terrorist organization (Hamas) heads the Palestinian Legislature.”
Some would say occupation is the greatest threat, he said; that is what divestment overture did. He called the 2004 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) vote to consider divestment of funds in certain American companies doing business in Israel “a stunning declaration.” Using economic pressure in certain situations is not always a negative, but is in this particular case, according to Pelavin. The aim of divestment is “to weaken Israel at a time it must feel strong enough to take risks.”
