Thursday, June 8, 2006
OK, so in that corner is Norm Finkelstein, and in this corner are the Anti-Defamation League, American Jewish Committee, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Hadassah, American Jewish Congress, Jewish Labor Committee, B'nai B'rith International, National Council of Jewish Women, Union for Reform Judaism, Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, and the Jewish War Veterans: Dear Commissioners and Advisors to the 217th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA): [PDF]
Since your last General Assembly in 2004, representatives of the Jewish Community have been actively involved with your church concerning the use of ‘phased, selective divestment’ as a means of addressing the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis. These past two years have seen an animated debate on this critical issue. In fact, many of the overtures that have been submitted to the 217th General Assembly concern divestment. Several encourage rescinding this policy, others seek a change to positive investment in peace and confidence-building projects, and some call for implementation of the spirit of the overture presented at your last assembly. As you prepare to represent yourselves, your presbyteries, your synods and your church, we would like to reiterate our concerns. We pray that you will understand the importance of this issue to the Jewish community, and appreciate that we have faith in our ongoing dialogue. Our hope is that the church avoids a position that will harm our ongoing relations, harm the very people you hope to protect, and harm the prospects for a peaceful two-state solution for the Palestinian and Israeli peoples...
