AJC Calls on American Christians to Reject U.S. Kairos Response as Demonization of Israel

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Jun 18, 2012, 04:45 ET

NEW YORK, June 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC expressed deep disappointment with an American Christian group's endorsement of a Palestinian Christian document demonizing Israel. "The original Kairos document did nothing to advance peace," said Rabbi Noam Marans, AJC's director of Interreligious and Intergroup Relations.

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Claiming to speak for all Christians, a Kairos U.S.A. committee issued today a lengthy screed that reiterates anti-Jewish tropes while claiming to atone for anti-Semitism; delegitimizes Israel's right to exist; and calls on American Christians to embrace boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS) of Israel.

By willfully ignoring the complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the authors of the "Call to Action: U.S. Response to the Kairos Palestine Document," take themselves one step further from what they claim to want -- peace and justice for Palestinians and Israelis.

"People of goodwill recognize that direct negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis are the only way sustainable peace will be achieved," said Rabbi Marans.

"The tragedy is the single-mindedness of a small cadre of Christians attempting to change American understanding of the history and complexity of the Middle East. No pseudo-apologetics or claims to atone for anti-Semitism can disguise their true goal, which is not peace, but the undoing of Israel," said Marans.

Nowhere does the U.S. Response to the Kairos Palestine Document acknowledge ongoing terrorism against Israeli civilians, Arab rejection of Israel's right to exist or obfuscation by Palestinians at the negotiating table. Rather, Palestinians are exonerated from any responsibility in resolving the conflict.

"It is disheartening to see some Christians promote a fantasy solution to the conflict which sees Israel alone as able to resolve the dispute without a willing partner," said Rabbi Marans. AJC has repeatedly called on the Palestinian Authority to return to the negotiations with Israel. "Legitimate criticism of Israeli and Palestinian policies is welcome but one-sided judgments strengthen those who oppose peace," said Marans.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee