Christians for Fair Witness on the Middle East Continues to Urge Caution Regarding the Kairos Palestine Document

NEW YORK, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On December 11, 2009, a group of Palestinian Christian leaders issued a document now commonly known as the "Kairos Palestine Document."  The document calls for "the beginning of a system of economic sanctions and boycott to be applied against Israel."

Christians for Fair Witness on the Middle East ("Fair Witness") urges our churches to exercise some caution while they read and reflect on this document.  Rev. Dr. Scott S. Ickert, Senior Pastor of Resurrection Evangelical Lutheran Church in Arlington, VA and Fair Witness Executive Committee member, says, "While the stated purpose of the document is 'to make known to [the international churches] the truth of [Palestinian Christian] reality . . .' we have to question whether that subjective reality is always reflective of the entire truth and all the facts on the ground and the history of the region."

Fair Witness therefore strongly cautions the U.S. Churches and encourages them to read the Kairos Palestine document with an open heart but not with an uncritical mind.  "We also encourage our churches to seize the current opportunity to act like peacemakers.  We encourage them to hear and strive to understand all of the voices in this conflict -- rather than to merely punish and show contempt for one side through acts of divestment and boycott," adds Sr. Ruth Lautt, O.P., Esq., Fair Witness National Director.

Visit the front page of our website for Part II of our analysis of the Kairos Palestine Document.

www.christianfairwitness.com

SOURCE Christians for Fair Witness on the Middle East