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Tuesday, January 10, 2006

It's good to see the ADL continuing to speak out on this:

ADL Troubled by United Church of Christ's Embrace of Radicalized Palestinian Christian Group

New York, NY, January 10, 2006 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is troubled by the United Church of Christ's continuing partnership with the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center, a radicalized Palestinian Christian group whose leaders have openly questioned Israel's right to exist.

"While it is heartening that the United Church of Christ has come out strongly against those who advocate for Israel's destruction, it is troubling that church leaders continue to embrace the Sabeel Center while ignoring statements from its leader questioning Israel's right to exist," said Rabbi Gary Bretton-Granatoor, ADL Director of Interfaith Affairs. "You can't have it both ways."

In October, leaders of the UCC, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the Common Global Ministries Board issued a statement condemning both suicide terrorism and recent statements from the Iranian President calling for Israel's destruction. "With our partner the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center," the church leaders said, "we assert the moral reprehensibility of suicide bombing."

While welcoming UCC's clear denunciation of violence, ADL is troubled by the church's continuing partnership with the Jerusalem-based Palestinian Christian group until such time as they recognize Israel's historic validity and right to exist. Sabeel's founder and leader, Rev. Naim Ateek, has on several occasions openly questioned Israel's right to exist, at one point telling an audience of Christian and Jewish interfaith leaders: "I have come to the point of the reality – but not the right – of Israel's existence."

In a letter to Rev. John H. Thomas, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ and Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and other church leaders, ADL National Director Abraham H. Foxman and Rabbi Bretton-Granatoor asked: "If Sabeel is your partner, how can you countenance these words, and not see a relationship between the words and those who attack Israel physically and verbally?"

That's exactly right. You cannot express doubt about Israel's right to exist and simultaneously and sincerely claim to be against the violence taken to ensure its demise. Groups like Sabeel provide the moral cover for those willing to take more direct action.

3 Comments

I'm glad they've taken up the issue.

Though I must say I'm a little disappointed: the ADL is late in taking such a stand . . . it does not provide anywhere near the most offensive statements from Sabeel . . . and it doesn't seem to notice how many denominataions actually support Sabeel.

Yeah, I noticed that, too. They didn't include any of the deicide imagery that Dexter is always writing about, for instance. The ADL has mentioned Sabeel before (see here, for instance), but this is the first time that I'm aware that they've really taken a stand. Better late than never I guess.

Dexter is right on the imagery used. I also think he is probably right that whenever that type of libel is used people end up dying.

I'd just like to see the ADL direct the same level of vehemence at this as they directed at the "Christian right". As is, they clearly regard this as the less offensive action.

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