Fifteen leaders of U.S. churches and other faith-based organizations have asked Congress to reevaluate U.S. military aid to Israel.
The religious leaders sent a letter to Congress members calling for an investigation into possible violations by Israel of the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act and the U.S. Arms Export Control Act, which would make Israel ineligible for U.S. military aid. The letter called on Congress to hold hearings "to examine Israel's compliance, and we request regular reporting on compliance and the withholding of military aid for non-compliance."
The letter also decried what it called "a troubling and consistent pattern of disregard by the government of Israel for U.S. policies that support a just and lasting peace," citing Israel's failure to halt settlement activity despite repeated U.S. government requests.
The Jewish Council for Public Affairs rejected the call to reevaluate foreign aid to Israel. "U.S. aid to Israel is not 'unconditional,' as the letter claims. It reflects the shared values of America and Israel and furthers our shared goals for peace and security and is vital to advance the security of both peoples," said JCPA President Rabbi Steve Gutow.
The Rabbinical Assembly, the international umbrella organization of Conservative rabbis, called for a reevaluation of the interfaith partnerships between the assembly and the denominations represented in the letter.
Since the letter was submitted, national Jewish organizations have been wrestling with their ongoing interfaith relationships. Much like the concern over divestment attempts, every effort is made to avoid pulling out of relationships completely. However, an interfaith meeting scheduled for late October has been a point of contention and just this week a number of Jewish organizations have decided to pull out of this meeting on principal. In a letter, the American Jewish Committee, B'nai B'rith International, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the Rabbinical Assembly, the Union for Reform Judaism and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism announced they would not attend the meeting. The Anti-Defamation League had announced earlier that it would not attend the meeting.
Many Jewish community organizations have acknowledged that the problem is often with the leaders of these religious organizations who often take actions like this without the full backing of their constituents. According to one Presbyterian group, the letter, signed in their name "... contradicts and diminishes carefully worded [church] policy."
There has been a commitment on the part of many local arms of these national organizations to continue the positive local interactions that happen on a regular basis as a part of very successful interfaith efforts all over the country. The best course of action, according to many local activists, is to engage with your Christian friends, keep involved in interfaith programming, and let them know what their leaders are doing in their name.
READ MORE:
Leaders Call on Congress to Reevaluate Aid to Israel - JTA
Impasse Over US Aid to Israel - Washington Post
Jewish Groups Pull Out of Interfaith Dialogue - JTA
Controversy Over Leadership - Presbyterians for Middle East Peace
