GA and Beyond: Middle East Issues

by Len Bjorkman

82% of the commissioners approved an amended Middle East Study Committee report, "Breaking Down Walls." Introducing the recommendations is this statement: "In service to its ever-linked concerns for peace and justice in Palestine and Israel, and its concern for the enduring integrity and witness of the Christian Church there and in the United States, [the MESC recommends….] It also refers to the "daunting and mounting obstacles to the viability of a ‘two-state solution' [and] affirms with greater urgency our historic Presbyterian stances...."

Among the recommendations are matters relating to basic moral principles (e.g. the Universal Declaration of Human Rights), Israel's existence related to borders and UN resolutions, ending all violence, ending the occupation, freezing Israeli settlements, relocating the separation barrier, US aid (withholding it in re: settlements and making it "contingent on Israel's compliance with international law and peacemaking efforts"), continuing corporate engagement and "denounc[ing] Caterpillar's continued profit-making from non-peaceful uses of its products," sharing Jerusalem, rights of Palestinian Israelis, ending any violations of human rights, resuming negotiations leading to a two-state solution, the Kairos Palestine document, the blockade of Gaza, reconciliation between Palestinian political parties, Jerusalem (with the current Israeli discriminatory practices), Bethlehem (to be accessible to all), nuclear issues relating to Iran and Israel, and overcoming anti-Semitism and Islamophobia,

2010-12 will be a special time for prayer and action, including travel, study, interfaith dialogues, participation in the World of Council of Churches' accompaniment program, and possibly an interfaith delegation to "identif[y] opportunities for positive investment." A special monitoring group is to be appointed by the end of Aug.

There are some 20 additional actions relating to the whole Middle East and various US responsibilities and laws. Also, nn extended historical narrative in the report is to be replaced by "a series of eight narratives."

We can eagerly await the publication and implementation of this comprehension action.

In separate, related actions, the Assembly rejected the call for divestment from Caterpillar and approved the Mission Responsibility Report, which, among other things, stated: "Caterpillar's unwillingness to engage with authenticity and openness is unique and disappointing." In this context, "the 219th General Assembly (2010) strongly denounces Caterpillar's continued profit-making from non-peaceful uses of a number of its products."

The overture calling for "Recognizing that Israel's laws, policies, and practices constitute apartheid against the Palestinian people," was rejected with the comment: "While we are deeply concerned with the policies implemented by Israel in relation to the Palestine territories and Palestinians under its jurisdiction, we believe that dialogue is hampered by words like 'apartheid'."

In a separate action, related to US aid to Israel which was dealt with in a general manner in approving the amended MESC report, the GA "Express[ed] its extreme disappointment with the U.S. government that while the State of Israel has been found not to comply with the above statutes, it continues to be the recipient of U.S. military aid." The listed statutes were the US Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the U.S. Arms Export Control Act of 1976.

Dealing additionally with the situation in Gaza, the GA called for both Israel and Hamas to set up independent commissions, as recommended by the United Nations' Goldstone Report, to investigate what happened during Israel's Operation Cast Lead of late Dec. 2008 to mid-Jan. 2009. It also called for the US "to actively engage with all authorities involved in the Gaza conflict to initiate and sustain the proposed independent investigations." This action is in sharp contrast to the US rejection of the Goldstone Report.

There was one overture dealing with Iraq. The GA commended the ways in which the PC(USA) has supported the Churches in Iraq, and recommended some improvements in how we may relate to them as well as to displaced Iraqis and to refugees in the Middle East and in the US. It also called upon the US to keep its commitments relating to withdrawal of US troops and contractors, to rebuilding Iraq, and to follow its policy of protecting the civilian population.