World Council of Churches slams Israel
George Conger,
THE JERUSALEM POST
May 22, 2006
Israel bears the burden of responsibility for the present crisis in the
Middle East, the World Council of Churches has announced, following a
meeting of its Executive Committee in Geneva from May 16-19.
The Christian Left's leading ecumenical organization stated Israel's
actions towards the Palestinians "cannot be justified morally, legally
or even politically."
The failure "to comply with international law" had "pushed the situation
on the ground to a point of no return," they concluded.
The WCC condemned the killing of innocent civilians by "both sides" in
the conflict and called for the Palestinians to "maintain the existing
one-party cease-fire toward Israel" and asked Israel to base its
security on "the equitable negotiation of final borders" with its
neighbors.
However, the present disparities between Israel and Palestine were
"appalling," the WCC said.
"One side is positioning itself to unilaterally establish final borders
on territory that belongs to the other side; the other side is
increasingly confined to the scattered enclaves that remain. On one side
there is control of more and more land and water; on the other there are
more and more families deprived of land and livelihoods.
On one side as many people as possible are being housed on occupied
land; on the other side the toll mounts of refugees without homes or
land. One side controls Jerusalem, a city shared by two peoples and
three world religions; the other-Muslim and Christian-watches its
demographic, commercial and religious presence wither in Jerusalem," the
WCC said.
The WCC claimed a double standard was at work in the international
community that favored Israel, saying, "The side set to keep its
unlawful gains is garnering support from part of the international
community. The side that, despairing at those unlawful gains, used
legitimate elections to choose new leaders is being isolated and
punished."
"Democracy must be protected where it is taking root," the WCC said,
calling for a relaxation of American, British and EU sanctions against
Hamas. "Peace must come soon or it may not come to either people for a
long time," they concluded.
The WCC's Executive Committee called upon its 340 member churches in
over 100 countries representing approximately 550 million Orthodox,
Anglican and Protestant Christians to "share solidarity with people on
both sides of the conflict," and to "use legitimate forms of pressure to
promote a just peace and to end unlawful activities by Israelis or
Palestinians."
It also asked its members to "find constructive ways to address threats
experienced among the Jewish people, including the nature, prevalence
and impact of racism in local, national and international contexts."
In March 2005, the WCC urged its member churches give "serious
consideration" to pulling investments out of Israel and endorsed the
2004 decision by the Presbyterian Church of the United States to seek
"phased selective divestment" from Israel. "This [Presbyterian] action
is commendable in both method and manner, uses criteria rooted in faith
and calls members to do the things that make for peace," the WCC said.
The Presbyterian Church will revisit its 2004 divestment decision next
month at its 217th General Assembly in Birmingham, Alabama, in response
to criticism that the divestment call was one-sided and ill-informed.
Those who kneel before G-d can stand before anyone! Please daven for the
safety of Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael and for G-d's Shalom for
Yerushalayim ! Am Yisrael Chai! Please support Healing Teddies --- (
write to <handsfiasco@webtv.net>
Help Israel and show the world you care! SWI Israel Store: http://www.cafepress.com/isenburg . These items can be used anytime and
anywhere to let your community know that wherever you stand, you stand
with Israel!
Please support the victims of the expulsion and those whose communities
are still in danger. Eretz Yisrael le'am Yisrael! Wherever we stand we
stand with Israel! Forever!
How odd of G*D to choose the Jew. But not as odd as those whochoose
the
Jewish G*D, and hate the Jew! ~ Francis A. Schaeffer
__________________
"Blessed is He who Comes in The Name of The Lord"
How odd of G*D to choose the Jew. But not as odd as those whochoose
the
Jewish G*D, and hate the Jew! ~ Francis A. Schaeffer Alex I've never heard it put like that but sadly it's the way alot of misguided people look at theJewish people. What ever happened to love thy neighbor?
__________________
For ever running, but losing the race. If it were not for grace.
Is Israel a country, or a religion? Is there a "seperation of church and state" in Israel? If one comments on the political actions of a country is that not a seperate comment from any religious group in that country?
Whether we or anyone else for that matter, agrees with Israel...They are Gods chosen people and we must deal with that reality-as do those who would see Israel changed to reflect their own personal views...
Israel has made some poor choices and they will live to regret them...
It would behoove them to go back to the Bible and follow Gods commands..
Certainly not all of them as there are many, many of them who stayed true to the teachings of God..
Sad and worriesome times we all have to witness...
Take care..
Leep Out:
Whether we or anyone else for that matter, agrees with Israel...They are Gods chosen people and we must deal with that reality-as do those who would see Israel changed to reflect their own personal views... Israel has made some poor choices and they will live to regret them... It would behoove them to go back to the Bible and follow Gods commands..
Certainly not all of them as there are many, many of them who stayed true to the teachings of God..
Sad and worriesome times we all have to witness...
Take care..
Leep Out:
....the Bibles' full of the evidence of this...they've made 'em & paid the price for thousands of years.
I'm in a rush, but will make a couple of comments. First, I don't believe being born in Israel or of that lineage means you are one of God's chosen people. The verses have been posted many times that show where the "natural branches" were cut off and cast into the fire (Romans 11), and where any Christian has become the adopted seed of Abraham (Galatians 3, Collossians 3). I have nothing against Israel, but I believe the Bible when it says God is no respecter of persons. Neither Jew nor Greek, neither bond nor free, neither male nor female--all are the same under Christ.
Second point: I believe this is one reason that, under the New Testament, there is no authorization given for earthly Church leaders above elders, and they are to help govern the congregation they attend. Obviously corruption follows sooner or later when man is put in such a position of power.
Chad
__________________
"We can have no '50-50' allegiance in this country. Either a man is an American and nothing else, or he is not an American at all."-- Theodore Roosevelt
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. Ecclesiasties 10:2
The last four letters in American..........I Can
The last four letters in Republican........I Can
The last four letters in Democrats.........Rats
I have nothing against Israel, but I believe the Bible when it says God is no respecter of persons. Neither Jew nor Greek, neither bond nor free, neither male nor female--all are the same under Christ.
Chad
Amen.
__________________
Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
So, would it be wrong is the WCC condemed actions the United States took? Or England? Or France?
Obviously, the WCC is not attacking the Jewish faith, they are pointing out something they consider to be bad form for a country to be doing.
They are pointing the finger at the wrong party, no Jew has ever strapped dynamite and walked into a palestinian bus or restaurant and blown palestinians, Israel has time and time again retaliated after the palestinians have done acts of murder on the Israelis.
Israel's actions can be considered as strong arm police work, seeking out terrorists and destroying their capability to do more terrorism.
Israel gave billions of dollars in aid to palestinians despite the attacks, even this past week, israel supplied all teh palestinians hospitals with much needed meds and supplies.
So it is not a matter of pointing the finger ,but who you point it at.
__________________
"Blessed is He who Comes in The Name of The Lord"
The verses have been posted many times that show where the "natural branches" were cut off and cast into the fire (Romans 11)
Chad
Brother Chad..I do not see any verses where the jewish branches were thrown into a fire.Rather I see that God said in His Word."He is able to graft them in again if we boast against the branches.
C7
World Council Of Churches Slams Israel
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