...Thomas begins by minimizing the gravity of the lethal July 12 Hezbollah raid on Israeli soil, calling it an "attack on military personnel near Lebanon."

"Near Lebanon"? Thomas is unable to face facts and join with the United States, the United Nations, the G8 nations, China, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Kuwait -- all of which have recognized that Hezbollah -- branded a terrorist organization by much of the world community -- violated a nation's sovereignty by crossing the internationally recognized Lebanon-Israel border.

Thomas writes: "Making this situation even more burdensome is ... that there are many in the United States, including many Christians, who see only Israel's need for security, who focus only on a few terrorist acts ..."

"A few terrorist acts"? For the past two decades, and especially after the July 12 attacks, thousands of deadly missiles -- not a "few" -- have hit Israel, randomly killing both Jews and Muslims.

I doubt Thomas would be so blase if, God forbid, terrorists fired "a few" missiles at Cleveland (home to UCC headquarters) from launchers in Canada, just across Lake Erie.

Thomas complains that "Many in our own churches are subject to intense lobbying by Jewish groups ..."

"Intense lobbying"? After 35 years of active participation in the interreligious encounter, I do not believe it is "intense lobbying" when Jews talk to their Christian neighbors about deeply felt concerns, or when rabbis speak to UCC ministers about important issues of mutual interest...

The commentary was written by A. James Rudin who is the senior interreligious adviser of the American Jewish Committee. You'll recall that it was the American Jewish Committee which was mildly supportive of the UCC's "Economic Leverage" resolution at the last General Synod. It's worth noting that the author of the commentary is not part of any right-wing conspiracy either. Far from it. Rudin is the author of the recently published book "The Baptizing of America: The Religious Right's Plans for the Rest of Us."