One of many reasons the mainline has become the sideline

Mainline Leaders: Israel Must Stop Defending Itself

from Stand Firm by David Fischler

With the attack today on a civilian bus in Tel Aviv, the chances for a cease-fire between Israel and the terrorists of Hamas declined dramatically. But that doesn’t mean that the mainline denominations in the U.S. aren’t still pushing for Israel to stop defending itself and Hamas to work out a “diplomatic solution.” Exhibit A: This call to action from the PCUSA’s Washington lobbying office:

As violence escalates in Southern Israel and Gaza, we must urge the US government to spare no effort in securing a cease-fire between Israeli forces and militant groups in Gaza.  At least 72 Palestinians, many of them civilians and some children, have been killed in Israeli attacks since the latest round of violence began following Israel’s assassination of Hamas’ military commander Ahmed al-Jabari last Wednesday. Over 900 missiles or projectiles have been launched at Israel from Gaza over the past few days, with at least three Israeli civilians killed and many more injured.  More deaths are likely if there is an Israeli ground offensive into Gaza.

It is urgent that United States call on all the parties in the current conflict to restrain from using force and, rather, to trust a diplomatic process. We mourn the loss of life on both sides and call now on the United States to exercise bold leadership in an effort to immediately end the violence, restore the cease-fire and lift the blockade of Gaza’s borders.

Even as Americans head into a season of Thanksgiving and preparation for the gift of Christ’s peace – let us pause to remember those in Israel and Gaza who know no peace but instead face only violence and the threat of violence. We pray and act for the day when violence will end and a just peace will dawn in the Middle East and in our world.

The White House needs to hear from concerned American Christians that the U.S. must work with international partners to bring about an immediate cease-fire for the sake of both Israelis and Palestinians.

Without an urgent diplomatic solution, both Palestinians and Israelis will suffer, the risk of a broader confrontation will increase, and hope for a renewed peace process will grow ever dimmer.  The Obama administration has an opportunity now to take serious action on behalf of Israeli-Palestinian peace and to safeguard U.S. interests. Congress too must encourage and support American diplomatic leadership.

It should be noted that Hamas has been lobbing rockets and mortars into southern Israel all year (over 700 by the end of October). The PCUSA had nothing to say about that. It was only when Israel began fighting back that its Washington honchos sprang into action.
Churches for Middle East Peace, a National Council of Churches creation, has called for a strongly worded emailto be sent to President Obama:

The United States must call on all the parties in the conflict to end the use of force and engage in a just, durable and comprehensive agreement to end the conflict.  An effective ceasefire must include lifting the Israeli blockade on Gaza and an end to rocket-fire from Gaza into Israel.

This is hard work, but we turn to you, our political leader to do what must be done. We stand with you in your work for an end to the cycle of violence and the beginning of a real peace.
It is time that the U.S. use its influence and resources to end this conflict so that we may engage in the work of community-building with both Israelis and Palestinians together.

CMEP, as well as virtually the entire leadership of the mainline churches in America, seem to be oblivious to one crucial reality: Hamas doesn’t accept Israel’s existence as a nation, or rhe Jewish presence in the Holy Land. Yet another hudna (a ceasefire for the purpose of re-arming), if accompanied by the lifting of the blockade, will result only in Hamas being able to stockpile ever more, and ever more sophisticated, weapons from Iran. That it will eventually use such weapons to try to kill as many Israelis (Jews or Arabs, they don’t care which) is as inevitable as the sun rising tomorrow. Hamas doesn’t want peace, no matter how much the naifs of liberal American Christianity try to convince themselves otherwise.

Meanwhile, the Global Ministries organization of the United Church of Christ and Disciples of Christ has posted an appeal from the “National Coalition of Christian Organizations in Palestine,” and umbrella group that includes among its membership the notoriously anti-Semitic organization Sabeel. According to this appeal, which makes no mention of Hamas, Israeli deaths, or Palestinian terrorism, lays blame on one party, and one party only:

The current distressing situation in the Gaza Strip is the result of the impasse in the political process and the absence of peace. We strongly believe that the cause of all this is the continuing Israeli occupation and the blockade and restrictions imposed by the Israel authorities on the Gaza Strip and its 1.6 population. The Israeli policy of target killings, which started the current episode of fighting, is morally wrong. it also provokes strong emotions that fuel determination for revenge and furthering the endless cycle of confrontation. The scenes of innocent Palestinian children killed by bombings of family homes that are spread on the internet further promote uncontrollable emotions that are directed not simply against those responsible in Israel but also against Western and other powers and governments that support Israel in its actions in the Gaza Strip.

No surprises here.