A more honest perspective and courage

by Letters Editor · November 18, 2010

From Rabbi David Rosen,� International Director of Interreligious Affairs, AJC, Jerusalem

I am responding to G�nther Simmermacher�s editorial comment (November 3) regarding my reaction to the concluding statement of the special synod of bishops on the Middle East.

If Mr Simmermacher would have read the text of my own presentation to the synod given on October 13 (it may be found on the Vatican�s website covering the synod) he would know that I myself raised the importance of addressing the plight of Palestinians and also referred to my own role as a founder of Rabbis for Human Rights which has pulled no punches in criticising Israeli policies where appropriate.

Of course it is not anti-Semitc to criticise particular positions or actions of any Israeli government, like any other government. However, when Israel is used as a scapegoat for other problems and issues, then something much more problematic is revealed.

The primary reason for the diminution of the Christian presence in the Middle East (incidentally except for in Israel, where� inter alia various demographic factors have led to very substantial increase in the Christian presence in the last decades) is an increasing exclusionary Islamicism (as opposed to the traditional inclusionary spirit of authentic Islam towards Christians and Jews.)

My point simply was that if Israel did not exist, Christians in the Middle East would still be facing this challenge.

Moreover, the majority of the most destructive conflicts in the Middle East in recent times, from the millions killed in the Iran-Iraq war to the tens of thousands killed in Algeria, with their multifaceted consequences, have had nothing to do with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Accordingly to almost hide the principal challenge and to place the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the top of the list of problems relating to the diminution of the Christian presence in the Middle East, is at best disingenouous if not downright dishonest.

Again I reiterate that no such disingenuity is an excuse to avoid seeking to resolve the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and bring dignity, security, justice and peace for all involved.

All I was calling for was a little more honest perspective and courage from the Arab bishops, whose task I do not minimise and whose fidelity to their faith is generally most admirable. Nevertheless in very many cases they allow political considerations to vitiate their theology and to remain in a pre-Vatican II mindset as far as Jews, Judaism and a Jewish polity are concerned.