Christians for Fair Witness: Episcopal Resolutions on Palestine/Israel are Biased

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 1, 2009

Contact: Christians for Fair Witness on the Middle East

(212) 870-2320

Christians for Fair Witness Says Episcopal Resolutions on Palestine/Israel are Biased

Christians for Fair Witness on the Middle East ("Fair Witness") is concerned about four resolutions regarding Palestine/Israel that have been submitted by the Standing Commission on Anglican & International Peace with Justice Concerns for consideration at the Episcopal General Convention in Anaheim, California, July 8-17, 2009.

In the preamble of these resolutions the Standing Commission quotes an article by Dr. Sara Roy, whom it describes as a "daughter of a [Holocaust] survivor," exploiting the history of the Jewish Holocaust and using it as a weapon against Israel in a statement condemning the occupation.

In the preamble the Standing Commission writes at length about the Israeli occupation, the settlements and the separation or security barrier as the obstacles to a two-state solution. It is completely silent however, when it comes to Palestinian terrorism, Qassam rockets from Gaza, suicide bombing from the West Bank, the Hamas/Fatah split, and the rejection on the part of the Hamas government of any negotiated peace with Israel as possible obstacles to a two-state solution.

One of the proposed resolutions asks for prayers so that "the Wall around Bethlehem and all other barriers [can] come down." But it does not ask for prayers to end terrorism against Israeli citizens.

If the Standing Commission has even a pretense of fairness, why does it name only the actions of Israel as obstacles to peace, while ignoring the actions of the Palestinians and Palestinian leadership? Adopting a blame Israel for everything approach is unrealistic, unfair, and unlikely to advance the goal of achieving peace in the Middle East.

Sr. Ruth Lautt, O.P., Esq., National Director of Fair Witness asks "are these resolutions reflective of real dedication to Gospel justice? Or are they reflective mostly of a bias against the Jewish state and a willingness to unfairly blame Israel for all of the violence and injustice in the region"?