The Israeli-PalestinianThe Israeli-PalestinianConflictConflict

The One-Sided View of theThe One-Sided View of the

United Methodist ChurchUnited Methodist Church

The UMC consistently presentsThe UMC consistently presentsa one-sided view of thea one-sided view of the

Israeli-Palestinian conflict Israeli-Palestinian conflictin its print and online in its print and online

resources.resources.

““New World OutlookNew World Outlook is not attempting is not attempting to provide balanced views about the to provide balanced views about the conflict in this issue. conflict in this issue. New World New World OutlookOutlook is attempting to be the balance. is attempting to be the balance. Readers can find the Israeli viewpoint in Readers can find the Israeli viewpoint in the mainstream media, on the internet, the mainstream media, on the internet, and in many books on the issue.”and in many books on the issue.”

––New World OutlookNew World Outlook Editor Christie House Editor Christie House

The “Wall” The “Wall” on the cover on the cover

of UMC’sof UMC’smission-mission-activitiesactivitiesmagazinemagazine

“ “Israelis constantly inflict harsh measures on Israelis constantly inflict harsh measures on all Palestinians. They attack and kill all Palestinians. They attack and kill Palestinian Muslims on a regular basis in the Palestinian Muslims on a regular basis in the name of security. When Israelis strike at a name of security. When Israelis strike at a neighborhood in the Gaza Strip and scores of neighborhood in the Gaza Strip and scores of Palestinian men, women, and children get Palestinian men, women, and children get killed, the cries of these oppressed hardly killed, the cries of these oppressed hardly make it into the airwaves of our digital world.”make it into the airwaves of our digital world.”

——““Unheard Voices” Unheard Voices” New World OutlookNew World Outlook March–April 2007March–April 2007

UMC’s Web ResourcesUMC’s Web ResourcesTap Into ExtremismTap Into Extremism

As part of its Israeli-Palestinian Mission As part of its Israeli-Palestinian Mission Study, the UMC promotes a bibliography Study, the UMC promotes a bibliography heavily dependent upon heavily dependent upon Americans for Americans for Middle East UnderstandingMiddle East Understanding, a group , a group funded by various Saudi concerns such funded by various Saudi concerns such as the as the World Muslim LeagueWorld Muslim League..

The long list of offerings are The long list of offerings are without exception one-sided, with without exception one-sided, with titles including:titles including:

Israel: An Apartheid StateIsrael: An Apartheid State

Original Sins: Reflections on the Original Sins: Reflections on the History of Zionism and IsraelHistory of Zionism and Israel

Does this belong on Does this belong on any mission study any mission study

resource list?resource list?

One entry in the bibliography, One entry in the bibliography, The The Mythic Past: Biblical Archaeology and Mythic Past: Biblical Archaeology and the Myth of Israelthe Myth of Israel, makes a fiction of , makes a fiction of the Israel of the Old Testament.the Israel of the Old Testament.

Some entries in the bibliographySome entries in the bibliographygo beyond a one-sided examinationgo beyond a one-sided examination

of the conflict.of the conflict.

A few are staples of anti-Jewish A few are staples of anti-Jewish and neo-nazi websites:and neo-nazi websites:

““Remember the Liberty”Remember the Liberty”

Jewish History, Jewish Religion: The Jewish History, Jewish Religion: The Weight of Three Thousand YearsWeight of Three Thousand Years

The Holocaust Industry: Reflections The Holocaust Industry: Reflections on the Exploitation of Jewish on the Exploitation of Jewish SufferingSuffering

Global Ministries’ Global Ministries’ Photo Gallery shows Photo Gallery shows only the Palestinian only the Palestinian

narrative.narrative.

Where are the pictures of Israeli civilians Where are the pictures of Israeli civilians blown up by suicide bombers?blown up by suicide bombers?

Where are the pictures of the victims of Where are the pictures of the victims of terror in discos and clubs in Tel Aviv?terror in discos and clubs in Tel Aviv?

Where are the pictures of Qassam rocket Where are the pictures of Qassam rocket attacks on classrooms in Sderot?attacks on classrooms in Sderot?

UMC’s bias is contrary to the balance the UMC’s bias is contrary to the balance the 2004 General Conference specified:2004 General Conference specified:

““We urge We urge allall United Methodists in the U.S. to United Methodists in the U.S. to encourage members of each congregation … encourage members of each congregation … to study the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to study the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

by inviting speakers to church events, reading by inviting speakers to church events, reading books, using audio visual resources in books, using audio visual resources in educational forums, and getting information educational forums, and getting information from websites.”from websites.”

from all perspectivesfrom all perspectives

The UMC laid the groundwork The UMC laid the groundwork for the anti-Israel resolutions for the anti-Israel resolutions

of other Protestant of other Protestant denominations:denominations:

UMC’s May 2004 statement, “Opposition UMC’s May 2004 statement, “Opposition to Israeli Settlements in Palestinian Land,” to Israeli Settlements in Palestinian Land,” preceded the Presbyterian Church USA’s preceded the Presbyterian Church USA’s divestment resolution.divestment resolution.

That one-sided measure dwells on “the That one-sided measure dwells on “the separation wall,” “intensified closures, separation wall,” “intensified closures, curfews, dehumanizing checkpoints, curfews, dehumanizing checkpoints, home demolitions” with scant attention home demolitions” with scant attention given to the terror war waged against given to the terror war waged against Israeli civilians.Israeli civilians.

UMC has been instrumental in the UMC has been instrumental in the formation of and ongoing leadership of formation of and ongoing leadership of the the BDSBDS (Boycott, Divestment, (Boycott, Divestment, Sanction) movement through its Sanction) movement through its involvement in the involvement in the U.S. Campaign to U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli OccupationEnd the Israeli Occupation. This . This organization actively seeks to organization actively seeks to delegitimize the Jewish State:delegitimize the Jewish State:

Global MinistriesGlobal Ministries Executive Secretary Executive Secretary David Wildman and missionary Ashley David Wildman and missionary Ashley Wilkinson-Meyer sit on the Steering Wilkinson-Meyer sit on the Steering Committee of the Committee of the U.S. CampaignU.S. Campaign..

Global Ministries’Global Ministries’ Women’s DivisionWomen’s Division urged one million members of urged one million members of United United Methodist WomenMethodist Women to participate in the to participate in the U.S. Campaign’sU.S. Campaign’s June 2007 demon- June 2007 demon-stration called “The World Says No to stration called “The World Says No to Israeli Occupation.”Israeli Occupation.”

UMC consistently presents a UMC consistently presents a one-sided view on its fact-one-sided view on its fact-finding visits to the region.finding visits to the region.

From a 2007 trip briefing: From a 2007 trip briefing:

““Emphasis was on hearing the Palestinian Emphasis was on hearing the Palestinian side of the story… because most Americans side of the story… because most Americans are already familiar with the Israeli side of are already familiar with the Israeli side of the issue.”the issue.”

— — David Wildman David Wildman Executive Secretary, Executive Secretary,

Human Rights and Racial Justice,Human Rights and Racial Justice,General Board of Global MinistriesGeneral Board of Global Ministries

Christians for Fair WitnessChristians for Fair Witness: “…replete with : “…replete with factual errors, misrepresentations, material factual errors, misrepresentations, material omissions and distortions…. A somewhat blatant omissions and distortions…. A somewhat blatant attempt to portray Jews and Israelis in as attempt to portray Jews and Israelis in as damning a light as possible.”damning a light as possible.”

Jewish Council for Public AffairsJewish Council for Public Affairs: “…the most : “…the most egregious thing that has crossed my desk that egregious thing that has crossed my desk that was not put out by an overt hate group.”was not put out by an overt hate group.”

Global Mission'sGlobal Mission's study book on the study book on the Middle East has drawn intense criticism Middle East has drawn intense criticism from Christian and Jewish groups:from Christian and Jewish groups:

The study book portrays Jews, both in The study book portrays Jews, both in ancient and modern times, as a contentious ancient and modern times, as a contentious people, unlike Muslims who are presented as people, unlike Muslims who are presented as paragons of tolerance.paragons of tolerance.

Nineteenth- and twentieth-century Jewish Nineteenth- and twentieth-century Jewish immigrants to Palestine are depicted as immigrants to Palestine are depicted as European usurpers and a people too European usurpers and a people too psychologically damaged by a history of anti-psychologically damaged by a history of anti-semitism to be able to live in peace with their semitism to be able to live in peace with their neighbors.neighbors.

““The viewpoint of the early The viewpoint of the early [Jewish] settlers was that of [Jewish] settlers was that of Western European colonialists. Western European colonialists. Today we would surely judge Today we would surely judge that outlook as basically racist, that outlook as basically racist, and it still is.”and it still is.”

——Israel-Palestine:Israel-Palestine:

A Mission StudyA Mission Study

for 2007-2008, p. 32for 2007-2008, p. 32

““[The Israelis] have seldom [The Israelis] have seldom taken responsibility, at least taken responsibility, at least publicly, for their belligerence publicly, for their belligerence and their intentional and their intentional undermining of attempts at undermining of attempts at resolutions to the conflict.”resolutions to the conflict.”

——Israel-Palestine:Israel-Palestine:

A Mission StudyA Mission Study

for 2007-2008, p. 71for 2007-2008, p. 71

For its day-long “Israel-Palestine For its day-long “Israel-Palestine Mission Study” seminars, Mission Study” seminars, Global Global MinistriesMinistries provides handouts provides handouts designed to inform Methodists of the designed to inform Methodists of the region’s history.region’s history.

These handouts make the case These handouts make the case against a Jewish presence in the land against a Jewish presence in the land of Israel.of Israel.

Only alleged Jewish aggression is Only alleged Jewish aggression is chronicled, with Arab attacks either justified chronicled, with Arab attacks either justified or simply omitted. Consequently:or simply omitted. Consequently:

the outbreak of the Arab Revolt of 1936, the outbreak of the Arab Revolt of 1936, orchestrated by Arab leaders and leading to the orchestrated by Arab leaders and leading to the killing of 85 Jews, is attributed to “legitimate killing of 85 Jews, is attributed to “legitimate grievances”;grievances”;

no mention is made of the invasion by six Arab no mention is made of the invasion by six Arab nations after Israel’s May 1948 declaration of nations after Israel’s May 1948 declaration of independence;independence;

Israel’s 1967 occupation of Gaza and West Bank Israel’s 1967 occupation of Gaza and West Bank is presented without context. Recipients of the is presented without context. Recipients of the UMC’s handouts are not informed of the events UMC’s handouts are not informed of the events leading up to the Six-Day War when a combined leading up to the Six-Day War when a combined threat from Egypt and Syria saw 80,000 troops threat from Egypt and Syria saw 80,000 troops massed at Israel’s borders with a simultaneous massed at Israel’s borders with a simultaneous naval blockade;naval blockade;

no mention is made of Egypt and Syria’s no mention is made of Egypt and Syria’s surprise attack of Israel in 1973 on Yom surprise attack of Israel in 1973 on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar;Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar;

no reference is made to Hamas’ anti-semitic no reference is made to Hamas’ anti-semitic charter calling for the obliteration of Israel;charter calling for the obliteration of Israel;

Hezbollah, which rained rockets on Israel’s Hezbollah, which rained rockets on Israel’s north, is not mentioned;north, is not mentioned;

the handouts ignore a sustained Palestinian the handouts ignore a sustained Palestinian campaign to glorify martyrdom to children campaign to glorify martyrdom to children and to viciously depict all Jews as enemies and to viciously depict all Jews as enemies who ought to be killed.who ought to be killed.

The net result is that Methodists The net result is that Methodists who receive their lessons in Middle who receive their lessons in Middle

East history from the UMC come East history from the UMC come away misinformed, with no sense of away misinformed, with no sense of

the real complexities involved in the real complexities involved in addressing the conflict.addressing the conflict.

What can Methodists do?What can Methodists do? Become aware of the extent that UMC resources show Become aware of the extent that UMC resources show

bias in the depiction of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.bias in the depiction of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Eugene Korn’s Eugene Korn’s The Jewish Connection to Israel, The Jewish Connection to Israel, the Promised Land: A Brief Introduction for the Promised Land: A Brief Introduction for ChristiansChristians..

Paul Johnson’s Paul Johnson’s A History of the JewsA History of the Jews;;

Read from a broad array of sources. Two books that Read from a broad array of sources. Two books that provide a larger context are:provide a larger context are:

Please share this presentation with concerned friends.Please share this presentation with concerned friends.

Insist on balance in all UMC resources Insist on balance in all UMC resources and church events in keeping with the and church events in keeping with the 2004 General Conference mandate:2004 General Conference mandate:

““We urge We urge allall United Methodists in United Methodists in the U.S. to encourage members the U.S. to encourage members of each congregation … to study of each congregation … to study

the Israeli-Palestinian conflictthe Israeli-Palestinian conflict

from all perspectivesfrom all perspectives….”….”