A Call to the Anglican Church to Refuse to Divest from Israel

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As men and women who long for peace and mutual respect to prevail among the peoples of the world, we call on you to repudiate the initiative of the Anglican Peace and Justtice Network to adopt an anti-Israel divestment policy. Divestment is morally wrong because it unfairly singles out the nation of Israel for opprobrium, and it is bad policy because it is likely to lead not to peace but to war.

Professor Michael Walzer of the Princeton University, a moral philosopher, is the leading scholar in the world today of the Just War theory developed by generations of Christian theologians. He has written, "The current boycott campaign against Israel, modeled on the 1980s campaign against South Africa, aims at a very one-sided delegitimation. And because the other side isn't led by an organization remotely like the African National Congress, or by a man remotely like Nelson Mandela, the success of this campaign would be disastrous. It would strengthen the forces fighting the (Palestinian war to destroy the state of Israel)."

Nor has the Anglican Communion been an honest broker in the Middle East. A study released on Sept. 26, 2004 by the Institute on Religion and Democracy shows that fully one-third of church statements on human rights issues are aimed at Israel. Another third are aimed at the United States.

By contrast, "Only 19 percent of the church criticisms were aimed at nations deemed "not free" in the 2004 Freedom House assessments. Many of the countries rated lowest by Freedom House-such as China, North Korea, and Saudi Arabia-were not criticized even once. Of the fifteen worst human rights abusers listed by Freedom House, only five received any criticism during the four years studied."

The Anglican Church has not divested from China in protest over its illegal occupations of Tibet and Eastern Turkmenistan. It has not divested from Syria despite that nations occupation of Lebanon and massacres of minority Kurds. It has not divested form Nigeria despite brutal efforts to impose shaaria on unwilling Christians. It has not divested from Iran where Bahai are murdered by their own government for their faith. Against this background, the initiative to divest from only one nation state, the national state of the Jewish people, is highly suspect.

As Harvard University President Lawrence Summers said with regard to another effort to promote divestment from Israel, such actions are anti-Semitic in their effect, if not their intent.

The Catholic Church has officially stated: We oppose anti-Semitism in any way and form, including anti-Zionism that has become of late a manifestation of anti-Semitism.

This is a moment when Canterbury would do well to listen to Rome.

1302 Signatures

  • Carol S
    • city, state, country
    • Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
    • congregation or parish
    • Beth Messiah
    • comments
    • Please don't pass up this opportunity to bless Israel and the Jewish people
  • Cynthia G
    • city, state, country
    • Hollywood,FL, U.S.A.
  • Charles B. H
    • city, state, country
    • Bronx, NY
    • comments
    • Remember Martin Luther King's words: When people criticize Zionists, they mean Jews. You're talking anti-Semitism.
  • David M
    • city, state, country
    • London
    • comments
    • I am a Jew who was educated at secondary school and university level at Anglican institutions. I am therefore deeply concerned by the consideration of the Anglican Church to divest from Israel. As a frequent visitor to Israel, I am not insensitve to the plight of the vast majority of the Palestinian people. Neither am I blind to the physical and economic suffering of the population in Israel. Unfortunately, the Palestinian 'militants', funded primarily by Iran, have hijacked both communities. By their on-going policy of wishing to eradicate Israel, they have undone the peaceful arrangements which were implemented up to the start of the second 'Intifada'. I have been clearly aware of the way that the Palestinian Christian communities have been marginalised by the Islamic militants.
  • Meredith G
    • city, state, country
    • Boulder, CO 80301
  • Allan R
    • city, state, country
    • Evergreen CO USA
  • John B
    • city, state, country
    • Auckland, New Zealand
  • Cheryl S
    • city, state, country
    • Chattanooga, TN USA
    • congregation or parish
    • Non-denomination
  • Daniel Romano, E
    • city, state, country
    • Montreal, Quebec, Canada
    • comments
    • Most concerned.
  • Danah S
    • city, state, country
    • Malibu, CA United States of America
    • congregation or parish
    • Church of Christ
    • comments
    • May God give you his wisdom as you seek his ways.
  • Linda H
    • city, state, country
    • Westminster, CO USA
  • Daniel F
    • city, state, country
    • Great Neck, New york, USA
    • comments
    • Your decision is wrong. Please rethink your choices.
  • Brenne M
    • city, state, country
    • Dallas, TX U.S.A.
    • comments
    • Divestment is nothing short of expulsion which the Anglican Church already has a history. Your current scheme to ostracize the Jewish people and Israel - a land of many faiths, is no different and therefore inexcusable.
  • Chris C
    • city, state, country
    • Lakewood, Colorado, USA
    • congregation or parish
    • Faith Bible Chapel
    • comments
    • Genesis 12:3
  • Can M
    • city, state, country
    • Toronto, Canada
    • comments
    • Support Israel...she's on the front lines against terror!
  • Frederic S
    • city, state, country
    • St. Louis, MO, USA
    • comments
    • How can any religious body which believes in the Prince of Prince deny their support to Israel. Why would they rally to these murderous thugs whose deliberate behavior is a brutal attack on all civilized institutions, including religion. Why don't they examine the attacks on the ancient Christian communities in Moslem countries?
  • David A. S
    • city, state, country
    • Needham, MA USA
    • comments
    • Consider how Christians have been oppressed and fled from Palestinian occupation!!
  • Bunny and Haron E
    • city, state, country
    • Thornhill Ontario Canada
    • comments
    • I am so disappointed that my Anglican neighbours do not hear the suffering of the Israelis too
  • b. m
    • city, state, country
    • Hollywood, Florida, USA
  • Dorith B
    • city, state, country
    • POB 58 Even Yehud, Israel
  • barry z
    • city, state, country
    • ny,ny
  • Claudia P
    • city, state, country
    • Morrison
    • congregation or parish
    • Torch Life Church
  • Colleen L
    • city, state, country
    • Ft Lupton Co. USA
  • Derek W
    • city, state, country
    • United Kingdom
    • congregation or parish
    • Baptist Church, Battle
  • David D
    • city, state, country
    • Kansas City, MO, USA
    • congregation or parish
    • Or HaOlam Messianic Congregation
    • comments
    • Grace and Peace to the Honorable Bishops of the Anglican Church and all who fear the Lord everywhere! Please listen. The Land of Israel is owned by G-d Himself. As is written, it was given to the sons of Jacob as an eternal inheritance, to watch over, make productive, and take care of. The sons of Jacob were commanded to treat strangers kindly and offer a city terms of peace, *if* the city was willing to live at peace with them. G-d does not love war and death. But it is His land, and He will accomplish His purpose for it, with or without the Anglican church. We have left many parts of Israel already, and put them in the hands of the PA, since Oslo, and the Arabs have used those areas to stage attacks on us, torture non-Muslims, kill "collaborators", etc. We should permit this on the soil our grandfathers worked? If we do, G-d *will* call the Jewish nation to account for it. If you have constructive suggestions about how we can fullfill our call as a people in the Land of Israel, share!
  • Cheryl M
    • city, state, country
    • Arvada, Colorado
  • Judith & George C
    • city, state, country
    • Freeho9ld, New jersey 07728
    • congregation or parish
    • Marlboro Jewsih Center
    • comments
    • If it wasn't for Israel and the Jews you would not have your Jesus. Remember, israel must exist for His return..
  • Ann C
    • city, state, country
    • NY,NY USA
  • The Rev. Dennis G
    • city, state, country
    • Evergreen, Colorado, USA
    • congregation or parish
    • Church of the Apostles, AMiA
  • Sylvia S
    • city, state, country
    • Denver Colorado
  • Elli L
    • city, state, country
    • Jerusalem, Israel
    • congregation or parish
    • я
    • comments
    • я
  • Elayna L
    • city, state, country
    • Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Elise M
    • city, state, country
    • victoria, australia
  • Dr. David H. S
    • city, state, country
    • 96900 Jerusalem, Israel
    • congregation or parish
    • Roeh Israel, Jerusalem
    • comments
    • I am the Messianic Jewish translator of the "Jewish New Testament" and the "Complete Jewish Bible," as well as the author of the Jewish New Testament Commentary," the "Messianic Jewish Manifesto," and "Restoring the Jewishness of the Gospel: A Message for Christians." As Christians, you Anglicans have been "brought near to the commonwealth of Israel" (Ephesians 2:12) -- that is, brought all the way in, not just to the margin. Since you are part of the people of God, you are harming yourselves by harming the Jewish people. (I leave it to others to make the point that divestment harms the Jews.) Is this what you want to do? What would your Jewish Messiah do? (If in doubt, see Romans 15:27.)
  • Melissa F
    • city, state, country
    • Charlotte, NC USA
  • Johanna H
    • city, state, country
    • Cardiff
    • comments
    • Jesus would turn in his grave at this action - he as a Jew, would not suffer in silence the attitude you are taking.
  • Ernestine W
    • city, state, country
    • Salina, Kansas, USA
  • Frances S
    • city, state, country
    • Grand Prairie, TX 75050 USA
    • comments
    • PLEASE HEED THIS IMPORTANT CALL!
  • Saul F
    • city, state, country
    • dix hills, ny usa
  • wendy m
    • city, state, country
    • Holmdel,Nj, USA
  • Eli S
    • city, state, country
    • New York, USA
  • donnie f
    • city, state, country
    • toronto on canada
  • Esther N
    • city, state, country
    • New York, NY U.S.A.
    • comments
    • your resolution is unsoundly based and resounds with anti-Israel (Jewish) sentiments.
  • Esther E
    • city, state, country
    • Burwood,Victoria,Australia
  • Douglas N
    • city, state, country
    • Lower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand
    • congregation or parish
    • Anglican
    • comments
    • Hamas charter: Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it. No similar statement by Israel on Palestine.
  • Professor Dr. Raphael M
    • city, state, country
    • Montreal, CANADA
  • Professor Dr. Raphael M
    • city, state, country
    • Canada
    • congregation or parish
    • В
    • comments
    • В
  • George M
    • city, state, country
    • Auckland New Zealand
    • congregation or parish
    • St Aidens
  • Gerald H
    • city, state, country
    • Fort Worth,TX,USA
  • John J
    • city, state, country
    • USA
    • comments
    • Go ahead. Israel than can implement sanctions against the Anglican Church in Israel. Israel will simply ban the Anglican Church. Seize its illegally built churches & tear them down.