The Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations (UMJC) appreciates the efforts of numerous denominations to address issues of peace and justice, including anti-Semitism, over the years. The recent move by some groups toward selective divestment and against the Israeli security barrier, however, appear to promote a one-sided and highly politicized view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which can only serve to further polarize the parties involved.

 

 

In the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, there are two claimants to justice. Israel's claim to legitimacy as a Jewish state rests not only on a particular interpretation of the Hebrew prophets, but also on broadly accepted standards of human rights and international law. Jews have maintained a presence in the Land of Israel throughout history, and have constituted the majority population in Jerusalem since the mid-nineteenth century. The state of Israel was born in response to the homelessness and suffering of the Jewish people in exile, which reached its horrible climax during World War II. Israel has reluctantly fought several wars for its very survival as a state, and has made numerous efforts to develop a plan for peace.
 
The current move toward divestment among various churches ignores the historical context of Israel's struggle with the Palestinians. Furthermore, it comes at a time when the Israeli government is seeking to dismantle all settlements in Gaza and to widen negotiations with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas toward a viable and lasting peace. Instead of reflecting biblical justice and responding to the sensitivities of the current situation, this movement would seek to impose an unrealistic outside solution upon the conflict.

Divestment is a potent and rarely used form of protest. Indeed, various groups have specifically cited the precedent of using it against the policy of apartheid in South Africa. It is a gross distortion to compare Israel's policy toward the Palestinians with apartheid. Indeed, it is hard to imagine that Israel's policies alone in the world deserve such a response, especially when Israel is taking steps to regain a peace process with the new Palestinian leadership. 

The PLO, with its axiomatic rejection of ANY Jewish state, came into existence in 1964, three years before "the occupation" began. Its legacy has been transferred to the Palestinian Authority, which continues to envision a Middle East with no Israel at all. One need look no further than children's educational materials produced under the PA, including during the years when the Oslo Accord was still alive, for proof of this assertion.
 
Palestinian leadership has consistently failed to acknowledge Israel's right to exist. Surely, this failure must be recognized as a root of conflict and terror, along with Israel's continuing military presence in the West Bank and Gaza. To speak credibly concerning this tragic conflict requires calling on Palestinian leadership to recognize Israel's right to exist. To leave this factor out of the equation, as the divestment movements does, vitiates its call for justice.

Divestment from companies doing business with Israel, even if "selective," ignores the entire historical context of the conflict, and the responsibility of both sides. Is there nothing that the Palestinian Authority might be called to do to restore momentum toward peace? Or is it enough for the church to moralize over today's tragic situation with no reference to its historical roots? Neither side is happy about the security barrier. Israelis view it as a grim necessity after years of unrelenting attacks and the discovery that they had no viable partner for peace. Tearing down the barrier does nothing to address these issues, and would only bring a return of the status quo that inspired the barrier in the first place. 

The UMJC, representing Jewish followers of Jesus around the world, is uniquely placed to help Christians understand Jewish concerns and priorities. In pursuing justice and peace for the Middle East, we insist that recognition of the justice of a Jewish homeland in Israel is essential.

Along with the wider Jewish community, we appreciate the attempts of church groups since the Holocaust to promote understanding and good will. Divestment from Israel, however, only serves to weaken the current movement toward peace, encourage violence and extremism, and damage the relationship between the church and the Jewish community. Most of all, they fail to express biblical justice or  genuine Christian testimony.