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R. Daneel Olivaw

(12,606 posts)
Mon Jun 23, 2014, 11:10 PM Jun 2014

Fear of anti-semitism accusation did not stop Presbyterians from witnessing occupation

http://mondoweiss.net/2014/06/accusation-presbyterians-witnessing.html

In the U.S. movement for justice in Palestine, the Presbyterian General Assembly vote Friday to divest is a major turning point. It represents the first time that a large mainstream U.S. church took a formal step to do what it’s able to do to end the Israeli Occupation. Perhaps even more important in assessing the impact of this event for the U.S. public, it reflects recognition by the rank-and-file church representatives — its General Assembly, comprised mostly of rank-and-file church members – that the conservative and militant Zionist U.S. opposition to the BDS movement relies only on name-calling and guilt-tripping, rather than fair and reasoned argument on the merits of their position.

Opponents of the divestment proposal wore t-shirts bearing the slogan: “Love us, don’t leave us!” The opposition arguments heard again and again at the plenary were threats that the adoption of the allegedly “anti-Semitic” proposal would anger and alienate the U.S. Jewish community from the Church. Not one argument was heard in defense of the merits of their position. Proponents of the proposal, in response, appealed to the Assembly to do justice, to have the courage to place their values above their fears of being accused of anti-Semitism. These appeals by proponents to the conscience of the voting rank-and-file Church membership were what carried the day.




And what is the best that the immature and morally bankrupt critics of the Presbyterians put forward in response?

"David Duke salutes you!"

When you know you are losing don't use a slander as a closing or opening argument.


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Fear of anti-semitism accusation did not stop Presbyterians from witnessing occupation (Original Post) R. Daneel Olivaw Jun 2014 OP
I get sucked into the arguments on I/P and often feel it's a losing battle tech3149 Jun 2014 #1
That's absurd. Shaktimaan Jun 2014 #2

tech3149

(4,452 posts)
1. I get sucked into the arguments on I/P and often feel it's a losing battle
Mon Jun 23, 2014, 11:37 PM
Jun 2014

It doesn't seem to matter what facts I may present or how I present Palestinians as having valid complaints. The most prevalent argument is that I am anti semetic because I oppose the actions of the government. I have no problem with anyone's faith so long as they don't expect me to live by their beliefs.
My problem isn't with faith but how Israel was established as a state. There is no moral reason that I can find to allow the state of Israel to exist without providing the previous residents equal rights under the laws of the state. How can Israel be considered the only democratic state in the ME when most Palistinians live in an open air prison?

Shaktimaan

(5,397 posts)
2. That's absurd.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 12:42 AM
Jun 2014

The charge that accusations of antisemitism accompany any critique of Israeli policy is simply untrue. It does happen, I'm sure. But in all my years of posting on this topic I've yet to actually see an example of it in the wild. The reality that Palestinians have valid complaints is hardly considered controversial by even the most ardent supporters of Israel.

My problem isn't with faith but how Israel was established as a state. There is no moral reason that I can find to allow the state of Israel to exist without providing the previous residents equal rights under the laws of the state.


All Palestinians who are citizens of Israel do have equal rights under the law though. Non-citizens don't for obvious reasons. The Palestinians seek self-determination and their own sovereign state. They have an autonomous government they elect themselves.


How can Israel be considered the only democratic state in the ME when most Palistinians live in an open air prison?


Well, most Palestinians don't live in an open air prison, by which I assume you mean Gaza. Those who do aren't Israeli, nor do they desire to be Israeli. The blockade resulted from an extended rocket campaign that gaza's elected government chose to wage against Israel following Israel's withdrawal from the entirety of Gaza in 2005. That the conflict exists in no way detracts from Israel's democracy. Gaza isn't part of Israel nor is it currently even occupied or settled by Israelis. Nor is the blockade even entirely Israel's doing. Gaza shares a border with Egypt as well. Israel has no control over the Egyptian border policy regarding Gaza.
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