By Emily Soloff
NEW YORK — The recent Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly was about to condemn Israel. Commissioners had been asked to “prayerfully study the call from Palestinian civil society for boycott, divestment and sanction against the state of Israel,” and to endorse a one-sided report calling into question the viability of two states, one for Israelis and one for Palestinians, suggesting the inevitability of one state in which an Arab majority would rule.
But they said “enough.” Rather than continue down the path of demonizing Israel, commissioners said they wanted to hear both sides. They wanted to be in dialogue with Jews and Palestinians. They want to see the big picture, and not the blame picture.
The step was small but significant—the commissioners, in committee, insisted that churches also study arguments against the BDS movement, and engage with partners who oppose, as well as those who favor, BDS.
By endorsing the committee recommendations, the General Assembly turned what could have been yet another one-sided, falsely labeled “educational” opportunity for Presbyterians to learn only the Palestinian narrative into an opportunity for Presbyterians to grasp the complexities of the Middle East, to acquaint themselves with the history and theology of Jewish attachment to the land of Israel, and to engage with their Jewish neighbors.
Unfortunately, efforts to send a 50-plus page anti-Israel report, “Israel-Palestine: For Human Values in the Absence of a Just Peace,” back to the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy for complete revision failed. But the commissioners’ amendments did make explicit the PCUSA’s support for two states for two peoples.
While some in the Jewish community may view this as a minor victory, it may mark the beginnings of change in a denomination that has published, promoted or endorsed, over the past dozen years, an extremely biased view of Israel. Going way beyond criticism of specific Israeli government policies, elements in the Church have tendentiously dismissed Jewish attachment to Israel and damned Zionism as an illegitimate expression of Jewish peoplehood.
The potential shift toward greater balance has been spearheaded within the denomination by people who have participated in dialogue with the Jewish community and with Palestinians who support two states. Groups like Presbyterians for Middle East Peace have provided factual educational material, and mainstream Jewish community organizations, including AJC, have provided an important perspective. The action taken by PCUSA very late in their General Assembly last week reflected their input.
While Jews and Presbyterians will surely continue to disagree on policies and actions, last week’s votes will encourage the PCUSA and Jewish communities to see each other as potential partners in reconciliation and in supporting peace for Palestinians and Israelis.
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Emily Soloff is AJC’s Associate Director of Interreligious and Intergroup Relations. This column was provided by the American Jewish Committee (AJC). Comments intended for publication in the space below MUST be accompanied by the letter writer’s first and last name and by his/ her city and state of residence (city and country for those outside the United States.)