ZOA press release regarding the UCC
ZOA press release regarding the UCC
From the ZOA site:
ZOA Condemns United Church Of Christ's Call For
Divestment And Economic Pressure On Israel
New York - The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) strongly condemned yesterday’s decision of the 25th General Synod of the United Church of Christ (UCC) which called for using “economic leverage,” including divestment from at least some companies that do business with Israel. ZOA also criticized another resolution which equally denounced all forms of violence in the Middle East, both Israeli and Arab.
ZOA President Morton A. Klein said, “The UCC’s call for economic pressure on Israel is wrong, inappropriate and immoral and punishes the victim of violence and murder, namely Israel. The UCC says it wants to promote peace and not target anyone when in fact it regards Palestinian terrorism and Israeli self-defense measures as equally immoral. But, there is no moral equivalence between the suicide bombings of Palestinian terrorist groups, which aim to kill and maim as many innocent Israeli civilians as possible, and the legitimate measures of self-defense used by the Israel Defense Forces to thwart terrorist attacks. This position makes as much sense as condemning both the firefighter and the arsonist.
“The UCC claims it recognizes Israel’s right to self-defense, but then it empties its own words of meaning by suggesting that Israeli self-defense is a form of condemnable ‘violence.’ If Palestinians were not killing Jews every day, there would not be a single bullet being fired from an Israeli gun. Israeli measures are a legitimate and necessary response to terrorism.
“The UCC shows a complete lack of understanding of the ongoing Arab war against Israel. Since 1993 Israel has given away one-half of Judea and Samaria to the Palestinian Arabs and 90% of Gaza. Despite these major concessions, the Arabs have launched the most severe terror war Israel has ever endured, killing at least 1500 Israelis and maiming 1000's more. Appeasement of this Palestinian regime has simply caused more terror, not less. And it has not produced the fulfillment of any of the Palestinian promises under Oslo or the Road Map. They haven’t disarmed or dismantled the terror groups, ended the incitement, closed the bomb factories or arrested the terrorists. The UCC’s attempt to punish Israel only sends a message that Arab terrorism pays.
“The ZOA urges that the United Church of Christ rescind these appalling resolutions and urges that the UCC should instead demand that the Palestinian Authority begin to fulfill their 12 year old obligations they signed on the White House Lawn on September 13, 1993.”
Posted by Joseph Alexander Norland at July 9, 2005 08:11 AM
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1
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BobW
said:
Is this the best use of scarce Jewish resources?
ZOA is not the appropriate vehicle to take on United Church of Christ. If UCC's "economic leverage" blends into boycott matters, there are easier - and more effective - ways to neutralize UCC's non-theological programs. Probably any Jewish legal-beagel can send UCC back to Bible study classes.
The ZOA statement failed to announce that Manger Square now features a mosque and Bethlehem will soon become part of the new state of Palestine.
ZOA is no longer the vehicle it once was. Only state of the art Jewish organizations can respond and address these UCC threats against Jews - and Christians.
Kol tuv,
BobW
Posted by: BobW on July 9, 2005 02:53 AM
2
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Jeff B
said:
I agree with BobW and would add that the UCC gets their moral support from Israeli radical left intellectuals, academia, and politicians as well as most of the press in Israel, America and Western Europe. To counter this movement of divestment there must be cooridinated counter offensive firstly by the govt. of Israel and by christian evangelitical right. Major Jewish Organizations and major letter writing effort by millions of ordinary private citizens from around the world. reverse economic sanctions should be looked into, specifically those roof organizations which might include class action civil suits and introduction in congress and state legislatures bills that might be harmful economically to their organizations. Jewish Power should be brought to bare with the help of friends and allies. All of the relevent information about Israel and rest of middleast is available so trying to educate them through informational enlightment is a waste of time, that they may be ignorant is possibility but they will never let facts get in the way of their antisemitism.
Posted by: Jeff B on July 9, 2005 10:56 AM
ZOA press release regarding the UCC
From the ZOA site:
ZOA Condemns United Church Of Christ's Call For
Divestment And Economic Pressure On Israel
New York - The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) strongly condemned yesterday’s decision of the 25th General Synod of the United Church of Christ (UCC) which called for using “economic leverage,” including divestment from at least some companies that do business with Israel. ZOA also criticized another resolution which equally denounced all forms of violence in the Middle East, both Israeli and Arab.
ZOA President Morton A. Klein said, “The UCC’s call for economic pressure on Israel is wrong, inappropriate and immoral and punishes the victim of violence and murder, namely Israel. The UCC says it wants to promote peace and not target anyone when in fact it regards Palestinian terrorism and Israeli self-defense measures as equally immoral. But, there is no moral equivalence between the suicide bombings of Palestinian terrorist groups, which aim to kill and maim as many innocent Israeli civilians as possible, and the legitimate measures of self-defense used by the Israel Defense Forces to thwart terrorist attacks. This position makes as much sense as condemning both the firefighter and the arsonist.
“The UCC claims it recognizes Israel’s right to self-defense, but then it empties its own words of meaning by suggesting that Israeli self-defense is a form of condemnable ‘violence.’ If Palestinians were not killing Jews every day, there would not be a single bullet being fired from an Israeli gun. Israeli measures are a legitimate and necessary response to terrorism.
“The UCC shows a complete lack of understanding of the ongoing Arab war against Israel. Since 1993 Israel has given away one-half of Judea and Samaria to the Palestinian Arabs and 90% of Gaza. Despite these major concessions, the Arabs have launched the most severe terror war Israel has ever endured, killing at least 1500 Israelis and maiming 1000's more. Appeasement of this Palestinian regime has simply caused more terror, not less. And it has not produced the fulfillment of any of the Palestinian promises under Oslo or the Road Map. They haven’t disarmed or dismantled the terror groups, ended the incitement, closed the bomb factories or arrested the terrorists. The UCC’s attempt to punish Israel only sends a message that Arab terrorism pays.
“The ZOA urges that the United Church of Christ rescind these appalling resolutions and urges that the UCC should instead demand that the Palestinian Authority begin to fulfill their 12 year old obligations they signed on the White House Lawn on September 13, 1993.”
Posted by Joseph Alexander Norland at July 9, 2005 08:11 AM