Israel/Palestine

King_David

(14,851 posts) Wed Jun 25, 2014, 04:14 PM Jun 2014

Why Presbyterian Divestment Feels Like Anti-Semitism

In a hotel ballroom in Jerusalem jammed with journalists from all over the Jewish world, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a rambling speech that covered everything from Iran’s nuclear ambitions to an Israeli cow that he claims produces more milk than any other cow in the world. Really.

But I want to focus on his riff about the Presbyterians.

This was June 22, the day after the Presbyterian Church (USA) voted to sell off its stock in three American companies who manufacture products they claim are used to further Israel’s occupation of the West Bank. Netanyahu mentioned the vote in the context of global anti-Semitism. Then you could sense he was extemporizing.

He invited the Presbyterians to come to the Middle East and look around. He’ll arrange a bus tour through Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq. But the bus will need armored plates, he suggested. And the visitors should not announce that they are Christians. Then they should compare what they see to Israel, the “only beacon of freedom” in the region.

This was said in the snide tone Netanyahu employs when you are not sure he is trying to be funny or just being mean. I thought he verged on the obnoxious.

But, dammit, he had a point.

http://m.forward.com/articles/200724/why-presbyterian-divestment-feels-like-anti-semiti/

8 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Why Presbyterian Divestment Feels Like Anti-Semitism (Original Post) King_David Jun 2014 OP

Presbyterian decision could seem biased, hypocritical and, yes, anti-Semitic. King_David Jun 2014 #1

Here's the whole quote. It's good.... shira Jun 2014 #8

Bollocks. That is like saying South African divestment was anti-White. riqster Jun 2014 #2

the divestment is from American Companies that do business in the settlements azurnoir Jun 2014 #4

If S.African divestment was built around lies, half-truths, and demonization.... shira Jun 2014 #6

It seems like some are really frightened R. Daneel Olivaw Jun 2014 #3

not anti-semitic, but pro-peace for I/P VAliberal Jun 2014 #5

It's PCUSA's ties to IPMN and the BDS movement (JVP included) that's alarming... shira Jun 2014 #7

King_David

(14,851 posts)

1. Presbyterian decision could seem biased, hypocritical and, yes, anti-Semitic.

Reply to King_David (Original post)

Wed Jun 25, 2014, 04:16 PM

Jun 2014

Channeling Netanyahu (something not easy for me to do) I could understand how the Presbyterian decision could seem biased, hypocritical and, yes, anti-Semitic.

http://m.forward.com/articles/200724/why-presbyterian-divestment-feels-like-anti-semiti/

shira

(30,109 posts)

8. Here's the whole quote. It's good....

Reply to King_David (Reply #1)

Wed Jun 25, 2014, 07:13 PM

Jun 2014

As for their love for me and my Jewish brethren, it may be sincere but it’s awfully misguided. You’ll not usually find me in the Netanyahu amen corner, nor am I prone to identify anti-Semitism at every turn. But when Jewish treatment of Palestinians is judged worse than the way any other dominant group treats a minority, when it is deemed worthy of unique sanction, when other horrors around the world are ignored — how can I believe that this isn’t about the Jews? And that, my Presbyterian friends, is anti-Semitism.

riqster

(13,986 posts)

2. Bollocks. That is like saying South African divestment was anti-White.

Reply to King_David (Original post)

Wed Jun 25, 2014, 04:18 PM

Jun 2014

Silly statement on his part.

azurnoir

(45,850 posts)

4. the divestment is from American Companies that do business in the settlements

Reply to riqster (Reply #2)

Wed Jun 25, 2014, 04:33 PM

Jun 2014

the settlements are the focus of this group-odd how often we see the settlements equated to all of Israel, perhaps that says more than the writers intend

shira

(30,109 posts)

6. If S.African divestment was built around lies, half-truths, and demonization....

Reply to riqster (Reply #2)

Wed Jun 25, 2014, 07:00 PM

Jun 2014

...then that would have been very wrong too. Unfortunately, S.African apartheid was every bit as bad as advertised.

R. Daneel Olivaw

(12,606 posts)

3. It seems like some are really frightened

Reply to King_David (Original post)

Wed Jun 25, 2014, 04:23 PM

Jun 2014

that BDS is really taking off.

I truely hope that more businesses divest from Israel just like they did from South Africa during the dark days of apartheid.

VAliberal

(297 posts)

5. not anti-semitic, but pro-peace for I/P

Reply to King_David (Original post)

Wed Jun 25, 2014, 06:20 PM

Jun 2014

The PCUSA's General Assembly passed a divestment overture that included a reaffirmation of Israel's right to exist and a commitment to a 'two-state' resolution. Divesting from three U.S. companies whose products contribute to the oppression and misery of Palestinians was consistent with the denomination's social conscience policy regarding its investments (no holdings in tobacco, alcohol, firearms, etc.). Jewish Voice for Peace, among other organizations and individuals, was at the GA actively bringing a Jewish voice to the conversation in favor of divestment.

shira

(30,109 posts)

7. It's PCUSA's ties to IPMN and the BDS movement (JVP included) that's alarming...

Reply to VAliberal (Reply #5)

Wed Jun 25, 2014, 07:11 PM

Jun 2014

A more positive development in Jewish-PCUSA relations was the passage of Item 04-10, which declares that the controversial PCUSA study guide Zionism Unsettled “does not represent the views of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)…” Zionism Unsettled was denounced by Jewish groups for its “biased hostility” to Israel, for portraying Israel as the sole instigator of all the problems in the Middle East and for accusing the nation of ethnic cleansing. Item 04-10 passed the Middle East Issues committee by a vote of 54-8 and passed the GeneralAssembly via consent agenda, a process reserved for uncontroversial items.

http://juicyecumenism.com/2014/06/20/pcusa-votes-for-anti-israel-divestment/

JVP (Jewish Voice for Peace) was acting as cover for IPMN. JVP is as representative of mainstream Jews as flat-earthers are among geologists. Mainstream Jewish groups were outraged at IPMN's Zionism Unsettled and PCUSA obviously agreed, although PCUSA is still advertising and selling the IPMN booklet on their website.

Reply to this discussion