Press Release: Christians for Fair Witness Appreciates Step Forward By UCC on Israel/Palestine

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 1, 2009

Contact: Sr. Ruth Lautt, O.P., Esq.

(212) 870-2320

Christians for Fair Witness Appreciates Step Forward By UCC on Israel/Palestine

Christians for Fair Witness on the Middle East ("Fair Witness") appreciates the step forward on Israel/Palestine taken by the United Church of Christ ("UCC") General Synod this past week in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The UCC held a consultation on Israel/Palestine June 1-3, 2009 in response to the 2007 Resolution and the 2007 Executive Council Action which directed the denomination to, respectively, conduct "ongoing and balanced study of the causes, history and context of the conflict," and to "engage in dialogue with traditional as well as new voices among ecumenical colleagues, regional partners, and interfaith colleagues representing diverse perspectives."

After listening to Palestinian, Israeli, and American speakers representing a broad range of opinions and perspectives, the resulting consultation report acknowledged, among other things, that "There exist multiple narratives between Israelis and Palestinians, as well as within the Israeli Jewish and Arab communities, and within the Arab and Palestinian communities."

Fair Witness appreciates the step forward that this consultation and this acknowledgment represents on the part of the UCC, which historically has not given any voice to the mainstream Israeli narrative. Fair Witness also notes, however, the failure in the consultation report to completely abandon the unfortunate tendency to focus primarily on and overemphasize Israel's culpability for the conflict in the region.

Rev. Stephen G. Thom, UCC pastor and Fair Witness Executive Committee member, was present at General Synod and said "Fair Witness applauds the UCC's on-going commitment to justice. We strongly encourage the denomination to continue its efforts in moving towards a more moderate, balanced and just stance on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict."