Dershowitz On Presbyterian Anti-Israel Decision

Israel National News ^ | 10 Aug 04

[xzins]

No, it was not China, which has occupied Tibet for half a century and continues to deny basic human rights to its own citizens. No, it was not Iran, which threatens nuclear holocaust, executes dissenters and denies religious freedom to Christians and Jews. No, it was not North Korea, Libya, Russia, Sudan, Cuba or Belarus. It was - you guessed it - Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East and America's most reliable ally in a troubled part of the world.

Well stated

[Tulane]

Alan D. is a little full of himself here. Since when is it "bigoted" to excercise a right to do business with whom one (in this case the church) chooses?

Yes, in many Americans' (including mine) opinions, Israel has done nothing (or little) wrong in dealing with the scourge that is the Palestinian "resistance." However, its not like the church is advocating violence, or even denying the funding of social and/or educational ventures.

The church has simply taken a peaceful position of protest. Playing the "bigot" card is totally disingenuous and pig-headed, in my humble opinion.

For what its worth, I'm Jewish.

[KJacob]

Is Dershowitz supportive of the WOT and specifically the war in Iraq? I have not heard him pan Bush which is suprising based on his record during impeachment. I suppose he is just a strong supporter of Israel.

[susiek]

The PCUSA denomination has a history of being far more liberal (both socially and biblically) than many other denominations, including the PCA--Presbyterian Church of America. While I agree with the poster who pointed out that the church is a private group that is free to support or do business with whomever they want, from a religious standpoint this denomination's opinions on Israel are not comparable to many other protestant denominations' opinions.

[xzins]

Since when is it "bigoted" to excercise a right to do business with whom one (in this case the church) chooses?

When it's based on ignoring the hatred and genocide spewing from the lips of the people you are supporting.

Just because you have the "freedom" to do business with whomever you wish, doesn't mean that your choice isn't for bigoted reasons.

In this case, it's anti-semitic.

[js1138]

Alan D. is a little full of himself here. Since when is it "bigoted" to excercise a right to do business with whom one (in this case the church) chooses?

I think if you look up the word bigot, you will not find any reference to legal rights. Bigots are free under our constitution to engage in bigoted behavior. It is their attitude that is bigoted.

Prehaps you mave mistaken bigotry for "discrimination", a word which has taken on legal implications.

[rcofdayton]

I respectfully disagree. To ignore the atrocities committed by the Palestinians is to condone them. It's like the Holocaust deniers. They state that they are against genocide. But then they deny it existed. In reality they condone what Hitler did.

[wideawake]

The PCUSA is a dying denomination anyway.

The only thing that I found surprising in their voting was the support of missionizing Jews.

Apparently the only people the PCUSA are comfortable witnessing to are Jews.

[dukeman]

PCUSA vs. PCA

I'm a PCA member. Through the Bible teaching I've heard at my church and my own reading, I've developed a great admiration and love for Israel and the Jewish people. Israel has no greater friend than a believer in Christ who reads the Bible.

[Zionist Conspirator]

I still say that Dershowitz (who insists that supporters of Israel are the "real radicals" and whose "pro-Israel" book carries only a single blurb--by Mario Cuomo) will eventually endorse Kerry for Pres.

Meanwhile, the decades-long overwhelming support given to Israel and Zionism by Fundamentalists probably offends him even more. After all, "these people represent evil, genuine EVIL!!!"

[Steve_Seattle]

"In this case, it's anti-semitic."

No, it's pro-Palestinian and therefore pro-terrorist and therefore anti-American and therefore anti-Western and just plain stupid. The central motive of this is not anti-semitism.

[Akira]

Since when is it "bigoted" to excercise a right to do business with whom one (in this case the church) chooses?

Ok, how about "pathetically hypocritical"? You can build a Presbyterian church in Israel, but not in Saudi Arabia. So why aren't they divesting from Saudi investments? What about all the other countries whose civil rights pale in comparison to Israel?

It sounds as of the Presbyterian Church gets its sermons from Noam Chomsky, who has been preaching Israeli divestiture for years. This is as pathetically hypocritical as the UN.

[Steve_Seattle]

To use one of O'Reilly's favorite words, the Prez-bits leadership are pinheads.

[Gurn]

Apparently the only people the PCUSA are comfortable witnessing to are Jews.

Maybe we should be glad (I'm surprised) they witness to anyone! I'm told that several years ago at their national convention, PCUSA debated a resolution that held that faith in Christ was the only means to Heavenly salvation.

Excuse me? Do they use a different version of the New Testament than the rest of us?

How could they even debate something like that?

[xzins]

In that it's pro-palestinian, and the palestinians want to destroy the Jewish state, it is in that sense anti-semitic.

[Steve_Seattle]

I'm surprised to hear A.D. use the word "sinful." His liberal buddies won't like that one bit.

[Mamzelle]

re: I suppose he is just a strong supporter of Israel.)))

Maybe we could do a fundrace.org or a newsmeat.com on him and see if he's donating to Kerry--then we'll know if he supports Israel.

[xzins]

Someone above asked if AD supports Pres. Bush's WOT...I don't know...but this makes it sound like if AD doesn't, then he's so internally conflicted that he'll soon explode.

[Steve_Seattle]

There are Jews who oppose the state of Israel, so I wouldn't necessarily say that opposition to Israel is antisemitic. This whole thing just is part and parcel of the far-left positions taken by American liberal Christianity. In my opinion, these people are among the most irredeemably stupid people on earth. They are like the pacifist parson in "The War of the Worlds" who advances towards the Martians mutterung "they are creatures of God, just like us," moments before he is turned into a cinder by their heat ray.